Something Sticky

 

Earlier this year I had very few new pictures to share and that was really frustrating. I wasn't getting out nearly enough with one thing or another so I felt like things were drying up a little bit. More recently I have been out, photographing all manner of things; fast jets, sand yachts, landscapes, star trails, medieval architecture, woodlands and beaches and now I have so much stuff I don't know what to post, I have felt a little stuck.

So if you will pardon the pun, I thought I would share something sticky and what is more sticky than a stick? I can hear the groans now, sorry.

These shots were taken on a recent walk in a Welsh forest on a cold day early in November. The light was not the best but every  now and then as the winter sun managed to break through the clouds there were moments when the woodland colours shone through the grey.

The forest was mostly pine so there wasn't a lot of colour but I thought these pine cones, mosses and lichens made for interesting images which I hope you will enjoy. 

Rooftop Garden

It may be difficult to work out exactly what you are looking at in today's picture so the title of the post might help a bit.

You are actually looking down onto the top of a wooden fence post which has rotted away to form a concave space which has been colonised by lichens and moss and what looks a bit like a bramble. 

I think it is rather beautiful and it is one of those things that we would more often than not walk past without a second glance but I think it makes a wonderful image and from this particular perspective it looks really good.

Part Of The Circle

As well as shooting pictures of the whole stone circle at Castlerigg I selected this stone for special treatment. I loved the colour and shape of the stone and from this perspective I think it makes a great image.

The stones at Castlerigg have been standing for around 5000 years and when they were erected they must have served a purpose, perhaps for a ritual with some spiritual meaning. Now they are cold, abandoned and mysterious. But a closer look at the stones show them to be host to colonies of moss and lichens which give them rich tapestry of layers of colour and texture.

Old Wood

I have posted pictures from Silver Islet before (and no doubt will post more in the future) but one part of the community that isn't generally noticed is the cemetery. This is because it is secluded within the forest at the end of a short trail (approx 1km) and it is overgrown and decaying; a hidden relic of the villages' past.

Some of the graves have headstones and others are marked by simple wooden markers and some of the plots are enclosed by small wooden fences like the one in this picture.

We visited on a hot and sunny day but even so there was a certain chill as we walked among the graves and it was particularly moving as we read the inscriptions on the few stones that were legible, especially when we found the grave of a ten month old child underlining how challenging conditions must have been for the settlers in Silver Islet back in the day.

I like this picture because of the rugged look of the old wood and the mossy growth which adds extra depth and texture.

Wonder Wall

The title to today's post is not an homage to Oasis or even Mike Flowers Pops, it refers to this actual wall and the fact that I wonder why there is a random wall in the middle of a forest.

As I wandered through the forest looking for fungi to photograph I came across this tumble down wall or part of a wall which didn't seem to be going anywhere or even enclosing anything. I guess that at some time in the past it was part of an enclosure of some sort and perhaps the forest has grown up and taken over.

I have always like dry stone walls especially when they have a covering of moss. here I like the texture and colours in the shade of the pines.

Tiny Fungi

Creeping around in the undergrowth I found these little fungi nestled in a bed of fresh green moss. It was worth getting a little wet and dirty to get down low and get the shot.

A Bit of Wood

Four bits of wood to be precise, ok three.

Well a woodland walk wouldn't be complete without some shots like these would it?

I like the mossy tree but i really like the gnarly log which looks alien

Meet My New Friend

If you like robins then today you are in for a real treat...

Whilst walking up Tom Gill and around Tarn Hows I paused for a short while in the shelter of a rocky ledge to get out of the rain. As I stood there this little robin flew down and approached me.  I didn't have any food for it and so it quite happily searched for insects in the moss and leaf litter. He seemed to pose at times and let me get really close.  He even sat and watched while I changed lenses from my 24 - 105mm to my 100mm macro. With that lens I was able to position my camera just inches from him and he didn't move, he even seemed to take an interest in what I was doing. I have zoomed in for a real close crop in the fourth image so that you can see how clearly defined the feathers are down to the black whiskers either side of his beak and around his eyes.  If you look into his eyes you can see me reflected there too.

Castle Walls

From the rocky texture of the bark in yesterday's images to the smooth texture of dressed and eroded stone in today's.

These pictures are from Ewloe Castle, built in 1257 by Llewellyn ap Gruffudd. It is an interesting castle because although it has a keep and a D shaped tower and very thick walls it is unclear why it was built because it would not have been easy to defend and perhaps it was built more as a show of wealth or strength than anything else. In any case what struck me was the quality of the stone work that has survived for over 750 years.  The colour of the stone has depth and warmth and is enhanced by the mossy growth in the joints. The stairs in the tower lead to an exposed parapet which left me feeling a bit wobbly and the uneven surface on the way down, in the wet, demanded extra care even for such a short distance.

On The Forest Floor

I was disappointed when I was woken up this morning with the sound of heavy rain as I had hoped to get out with my camera. I checked the forecast and although it wasn't all that promising I decided to head up to Grizedale Forest in the Lake District where I was sure that regardless of the weather there would be some good photo opportunities, and of course I was hoping for some good autumn colours.

Although the title of today's blog is "On The Forest Floor" in the first of the pictures the vivid green moss was actually growing atop a low stone wall. I love the structure of the moss, each individual plant with its tender leaves funneling water down to the roots and the rest of the colony of plants, and the fresh green colour particularly as the trees around are changing colour and shedding their leaves.

The second picture shows a small segment of the massive carpet of leaves which was a riot of amber, gold and yellow.

The final picture is my favourite of the three.  I saw the tree stump which initially had some fallen leaves laying on top but I could see the  rusty colouring of the wood shining through so I cleared the leaves away to reveal the rough cut surface. There is actually so much in this picture that I like but I will let you decide what you like about it.

Mini Forest and the Ivy League

So its a mass of green and  texture today.

The first of today's images is moss growing on the trunk of a tree.  The whole trunk was covered from roots to branches.  I took this picture because with the contours of the bark the mossy covering looks almost like a forest canopy over hills and valleys.  I like the texture and the different areas of light and shade.

The second shot of the ivy, growing on a stone wall caught my eye because of the way the leaves had caught the sun through the shade of the trees.  I like the waxy appearance of the leaves and the shapes and colours.


#Moss #Ivy #Woodland Walk

Old Wood

These two fence posts have clearly seen better days but while they may be past their best with regard to their original purpose to me they stand out.  I love the textures of the rotting wood, the moss and the worn colours.  

I also like the way the shape of the screw in the first post has been preserved while all of the wood surrounding it has rotted away 

I Like Lichen...

Today's pictures from my walk on Saturday are different to the ones which will follow over the next few days in that while the others will all be of the wider landscape these focus on the things we don't tend to notice.  

The first is of a small cluster of lichen and moss which were growing in the shelter of a small cleft in some rock.  This was taken using my Canon 100mm macro lens.  Pictures 2 & 3 are of lichen growing on the side of a rock at the edge of a fast flowing stream.