BRIAN'S NATURE DIARY FOR DECEMBER 2008
As I write a grey penetrating fog, with the temperature hovering around freezing, has hung around for most of the day. Not pleasant by any stretch of the imagination, yet even days like this have their rewards if you know where to look. Some years ago on just such a day I was walking around the reservoir only a mile or so from my home. The broad path wound its way through the trees, gently sloping away to the left. The trees were dripping heavily, making it seem as if it was raining. The bare bones of the trees were thrown up in contrast to the soup-like, all pervading grey, and hey presto, there was a picture. Good thing I had my camera with me to capture it!
On another occasion, this time on the shore of Lake Vrnwy in north Wales, the clouds broke after a long spell of rain. Sunlight poured its way into the gloomy pines which clothed the hillside, and the heat caused smoke-like wraiths of steam to trail from the foliage. Like puffs of smoke from a fire they emerged to drift skywards, an effect that I had never seen before.
The East Anglian coast is not remarkable for spectacular scenery, yet for those in the know, it more than makes up for this with great towering skyscapes. While walking along the shoreline at Scratby, lowering purple-black clouds offshore were threatening rain. Then just briefly the clouds parted to turn the sea beneath into molten silver. How lucky we are that we have the camera to imortalise these magical moments. (image ref: DIG/SCRA0907)
Where we live on the edge of the Brampton Valley, which contains the infant River Nene on its journey towards Northampton, we have a spectacular westwards-facing landscape, ideal for sunsets. Over the years we have assembled many of these, from understated pinks and dove greys, to the most intense lurid scarlets and crimsons. Likewise at the nearby reservoir, mentioned above, where the sun sets over the water to yield many fine shots. But I have to say that if I was pressed to name my all-time favourite sunset, I would have to return to Wales, to the very tip of the Lleyn Peninsula. I was standing on the edge of the cliffs looking out to sea. The sun was sinking towards the horizon in a blaze of golds and oranges, when a sea-mist started to drift in. It began to blanket the sun, yet the sea was still lit up, creating an ethereal effect, that was crying out for a picture!
Of course, pictures do not have to be wall-to-wall landscapes. I remember one morning at the reservoir, not long after first light, when I was making my way through a young plantation. The low angle of the sun had yet to gain any strength. So a watery light filtered through the trees, and there was yet another landscape, this time framed by just a couple of young trees.
I have done my best to set these events down in prose, but you do not have to take my word for it. Needless to say all these pictures and thousands more are available for you to buy from us to enjoy for yourselves. Prices for A4 sized prints on quality paper are £5.00 while mounted prints cost £8.00, please add £2.50 to these prices for packing and postage. We can also supply them framed, individually priced according to the frame.
Greeting cards for birthdays, Christmas, weddings, anniversaries, etc, come in packs of six at £4.50. Postcards, in packs of ten are at £3.00 All prices include postage and packing to UK addresses.
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