May on Combs Lane (2021)

As I mentioned in my previous post, May’s weather was dominated by rain. And, whilst this often curtails many of the photography plans, there are some opportunities to capture the conditions particularly when there is a mix of dark clouds and sunshine. For example, I manage to capture these lime trees on Combs Lane with their new spring leaves shining in the sunlight:

A little further along Combs Lane is another fine lime tree which I captured during April as it moved into spring, from bare branches to the first signs of new leaf growth:

Staying with the lime tree theme is yet another fine tree on the near-by Blanchbeck Lane. By the end of May the crown had fully developed although the leaves still retained their spring freshness:

May on the Southwell Trail (2021)

April was said to be the coldest since 1922 and May followed with more record breaking weather. This time is was rain and the wettest May on record!

The persistent daily downpours curtailed some of the photography plans I had for the month which included going further afield for a change of photographic scenery. In the end, I was left with the usual local walks with a keen eye on the forecast, looking for periods of brightness and trying to dodge the inevitable sharp shower. 

I didn’t always judge it well and occasionally pushed my luck capturing the incoming weather. The most dramatic of these came whilst walking along the Southwell Trail. Heavy dark rainclouds from the west marched their way across a bright sunlit landscape and I chose an unusual sky dominated composition to emphasise the weather. These were some of the results:  

Prior to the above shots I had started to capture the sunlight looking towards Cockett Barn Farm. Again the dark, but less threatening clouds, made the scenes more appealing:

These were the final shots before scurrying for cover:

Combs Wood (April / May 2021)

I have been watching the emerging spring colours on the edge of Combs Wood during April and May from a footpath which is part of the Robin Hood Way, circular walk no.6. The route follows Combs Lane before climbing through the wood towards Greaves Lane and Robin Hood Hill. 

Each time I have passed the location I have documented the seasonal changes with the camera and whilst there isn’t one particularly outstanding shot, they work together well as a small collection or sequence. For example, these were a couple of scenes taken at start of April:

By early May the season was well underway (this is a more wide angle version of the above shots):

Similarly, the cold looking evergreens that stood out in early April eventually played second fiddle to the warmer colours as the new season progressed:

Just below Combs Wood I spotted this very simple, yet alternative spring scene. I particularly like the seasonal yellow-greens and the curve of the dividing fence:

Bluebells (April 2021)

Having missed last year’s bluebells due to the Covid restrictions, I made an early visit to my usual location - a wood on the edge of Clumber Park. 

Normally there is a thick carpet of flowers but on this occasion it looked a bit thin. Initially I thought I was too early for the peak of the colour but then noticed that a number of trees had been cut down. At some point, either last year or during the winter, there had been some management of the wood. There wasn’t the usual shaded beech canopy that I associate with this location and I struggled for a decent shot. 

When I returned home I checked the photo catalogue to see that I had visited this location in the same week in previous years, so timing shouldn’t have been a problem. I also noted on social media other local  photographers commenting on this year’s poor display at this venue. May be next year will be better. 

In the meantime, these were results including some close ups of the flowers and general views of the wood. I have also added a couple of photographs from my last visit in 2019.

These are the scenes from the same week in 2019…

Having had little success in the bluebell wood I tried to make use of the time by walking towards Hardwick Village where I found a few patches of bluebells before getting diverted by close ups of tree bark. All in all, it wasn’t the greatest afternoon out with the camera, but sometimes that happens, and I move on to the next location and subject...