Budby South Forest (April 2019)

Budby South Forest is part of the wider Sherwood Forest and is mostly heathland with a number of 'island' plantations. One such plantation is the delightfully named Pigeon Pond Plantation. I didn't find any pigeons or a pond! But there was some tree clearing leaving freshly cut stumps in the ground with a wonderful array of patterns, shapes and colours. I spent an enjoyable hour capturing some of these in an abstract style:

Close to Pigeon Pond Plantation is beech tree wood that I have photographed many times. The new leaves were just sprouting displaying some vibrant spring greens:

Under the beech trees were a small patch of wood anemones:

King's Mill Reservoir (March 2019)

Walking around King's Mill Reservoir in Mansfield, after visiting the hospital across the road, reminded me that still photography is totally silent. It is oblivious to the sounds of the busy road intersection, the blare of emergency vehicles, and the rush of passing trains.

That might seem like an obvious comment to make but one of the greatest benefits of photography as an activity is its ability to screen out the hubbub of life, to see only the present moment. It might not last long but it is enough to help the mind rest, to put all that goes on around into a proper context....and then it is back to normality albeit a bit more refreshed!

This set is about calmness, an oasis in the middle of people’s busy lives...and for some in the hospital, worried and painful lives:

There is a new walkway over the railway, it is still shiny, with yellow rails set against black screens:

I finished up capturing the reflections of trees in the reservoir:

March on the Southwell Trail - Part 3

Having recently completed a post on farming activities from one particular location on the Southwell Trail it was just sods law that I would end up finding more and perhaps better photographs on the subject in the 'waiting to be processed' collections. This set, all taken on the same evening, clearly slipped my mind when completing my earlier post but it does give me an opportunity to combine them with some of the other trail scenes taken during March:

More lovely light but this time the morning sun on fields a little further along the trail:

Royal Concert Hall (March 2019)

Having filled my photographic boots with images from Rock Cemetery, followed by the Chinese Bell Tower in the Arboretum, I finally made my way back into Nottingham City centre passing the Royal Concert Hall.

One side of the Concert Hall always catches my eye. There is a great combination of shapes, angles, warm and cold colours, all enhanced by the afternoon sunshine. I have actually taken similar shots in the past but the light was so good I thought I would give it another go: