Caught up at last

The last of my backlog of pictures.
Tomorrow will be pictures from Gilsland agricultural show that was held today and a grand day out it was too.
Although clouds gathered and looked black they passed over without any rain falling on the showground.
Still that's for tomorrow,today's offerings now.

Cuddys Crag March 2010 (grid ref: NY782686)

Cuddys Crag June 2010 ( grid ref: NY782686)

Steel Rigg May 2010 ( grid ref NY782686)

Housesteads Crag March 2010 (grid ref: NY784686)

Steel Rigg May 2010 (grid Ref: NY782686)

Cawfield Crags July 2010 ( grid ref: NY719667)

Walltown Crags July 2010 (grid ref: NY672662)

Winshields Crag July 2010 ( grid ref: NY743675)

Playing catch-up part 3

Six more photographs, one of them taken this morning.

Forecast has, once again, headed towards rain - fortunately even with rain there have been bright spells through the day.

Of this batch of six photographs four of them were taken during the day, and on a couple of occasions I've met up with people who exclaimed with surprise to find me out and about with the camera in daylight hours.

I went off to Steel Rigg for sunrise this morning but it was shrouded in a bank of fog, I hung about hoping the rising sun would burn it off, 15 minutes after sun up and it was obvious this wasn't going to happen so I packed everything up and went to Caw Gap.

You can see the bank of fog hanging over Winshields Crag in my picture here, so I think I made the right decision to move when I did.

Caw Gap August 2010 (NY726668)

Crag Lough from Highshields Crag June 2010 (NY763678)

Rapishaw Gap June 2010 (NY780685)

Sycamore Gap June 2010 (NY761677)

Willowford Bridge June 2010 (NY621664)

Winshields Crag July 2010 (NY743675)

Well that's today's selection, another six to come tomorrow.

March on Hadrian's Wall in photographs

I'm not up to scratch at the minute, my brain is all over the place so I thought I'd load some photographs taken in the last week or so and just do you a description of each.

Sunset over Crag Lough, the sun has started to move again and the camera was pointing directly at the sun, I had to wait for it to set before I could take a photograph without masses of flare.

Up on Highshields Crag, just above Sycamore Gap, it's nice to be out on the Wall for sunset again, next week the clocks change and my photo outings start in earnest, anyone for a 3.30am start with me?

Probably my favourite shot from that evening outing, the sun's not too bright and is just catching the mosses on the rocks of Highshield Crags. Hadrian's Wall Path runs along the top by the fence.

A bright sunny day, not my favourite conditions for photographs but a joy to be out in the fresh air.

 Lot's of people Walking the Wall, like this couple coming down from Winshields Crag, it's certainly becoming a year round activity.

The sun was playing hide and seek with the clouds, I'm not too unhappy to have to stand around and wait for the light when I'm looking at a view like this from Winshields Crag.

The wide bit of Hadrian's Wall tapers down to a single wall over the original wide foundation before heading down towards Steel Rigg and the crags beyond.

Heading down Winshields Crag you get a view of the Great Ditch to the north of Hadrian's Wall. The stones here are covered in green lichen making a lovely patchwork effect.

I know I'm always going on about NOT walking on the Wall, well there's one bit you can walk on, it goes through the woods to the north of Housesteads Fort and is a small stretch of the turfed Wall, this is the view you get as you come out of the woods heading west.

Coming down Cuddys Crag before the climb up to Housesteads, lots of lovely Wall curves.

Hadrian's Wall is covered with lichens and mosses while the turf topping has a mass of tiny plants growing in it. I'm setting myself a little task to photograph and identify the various plants growing on the Wall.

Another lichen on the Wall stones, they're an amazing plant and I'm determined to learn more about them. I guess I should photograph a ruler next to them to give an idea of scale, can't work out how to get it to stay put on a vertical wall though.

Off to the Doc's tomorrow so hopefully normal service will soon be resumed.

Catch you later.

Moments of light

Now I know you may have been out with me on these early mornings before but, while the places may be the same, Mother Nature makes sure conditions on each occasion are quite different.

It was touch and go this morning, quite a bit of cloud about but as they say 'you have to be in it to win it', definately no photographs staying in bed, and maybe this morning would be a WOW morning. You just never can tell.

November and December have very low light, the sun doesn't rise in a very high arc through the sky as I'm sure you know if you're trying to drive with blinding sun low in your eyes.

With no mist we decided to go to Cawfields Crag, there's a lovely stretch of Wall there and with a bit of luck the rising sun will catch the stones for me.

Still no birds on the waters at Cawfields Quarry, maybe they'll come in when the weather gets colder, it has been unseasonably warm for November, hasn't it?

While the walk from the car park to the start of the Wall is muddy, the Hadrian's wall Path on Cawfield Crags is suprisingly dry and so if you're thinking of a bit of Hadrian's Wall  to go for a winter walk it's worth condsidering.

We got to the bit of Cawfields Crag, just west of Thorney Doors, where you can see Hadrian's Wall progressing up and down the crags all the way to Winshields Crag.

The sky began to colour up to the south of us, gorgeous light but nothing to put in front of it to make a pleasing composition, one thing we're short of on Hadrian's Wall is nice photogenic trees.

Eventually as the sun began to rise the colour spread across the sky.

We got ourselves ready for action and it started to rain a bit of a bummer when you're using filters (ND soft grads) .

Just as the rain stopped and the filters had been hastily dried off the sunlight caught the stones of the Wall. 

It always feels a bit like those old movies where the troops were told "don't to shoot until you see the white of their eyes". The shutter clattered away and I managed four shots before the light disappeared, so fleeting but it makes such a difference.

Realising that was more or less it we wandered back to the car park stopping to catch a few obligatory shots of Cawfield Quarry, before heading home for breakfast.

Catch you later,

Joan

Luxury of a lie in

Oh! what luxury it is to be getting up for a sunrise at 6.30am, it seems like cheating somehow.

I even had time for a cup of coffee, then was delayed when the outdoor cat made a dash up the stairs as soon as I opened the front door. He's not house trained so I had to ferret him out from under the dressing table.

My plan was to go to Cawfields for some of my favourite mist pictures but when  I got there the mist was so dense my viewpoints were obscured.

Onto plan B, take the high ground and a climb up to the highest point on the Wall at Winshields Crag, (NY742675) was just the thing.

The mist was pooling at the foot of Peel Crags (NY756676) when I arrived at Steel Rigg so of course I had a moments hesitation but as the sun light is to the south at the moment I decided to go with plan B and make the climb.

Walked out of the car park at Steel Rigg (NY750676) and climbed over the wall steps, taking a minute to admire the new kissing gate the NNPA have put in leading onto Steel Rigg.

Onwards and up the hill, very muddy and from the way the mud is churned up I'd guess there are still a lot of people enjoying the Hadrian's Wall Path.

The way up to the trig point is littered with the  wax cap fungi, such bright colours - I'm sure I saw somewhere that they are becoming rare and you're supposed to record sightings but I'm blowed if I can remember where I saw it.

Texel ewes are out in the fields, soon the tups will be in with them, I told the ladies not to take any notice of his sweet talking ways.

The view from Winshields is breathtaking at most times but today it was doubly so - the mist was rising like waves crashing up over Highshields Crag and I probably spent more time watching it that I did taking photographs.

Sun is rising over the Long Stone momument and, as it happens, the Twice Brewed Pub.

Of course, as Winshields is the highest point, you get views all around and to the west you could see pools of mist with the Nine Nicks of Thirlwall standing proud above the sea of white.

I was out for ages this morning but eventually rumblings reminded me that I hadn't had breakfast so I headed back downhill to the car.

As is my habit I called into Cawfields Quarry (NY713665) to see if there were any birds on the lake there.

I found a big yellow gully cleaning truck chugging away so any wildfowl were long gone.

Click on the pictures if you'd like to see them at a larger size.

Catch you later.

Joan

The golden glow

Sunshine at last, just after tea on Saturday the sky cleared and I decided that I could miss the programme Merlin just this once, and headed off to Hotbank.

The climb up from Crag Lough to Hotbank is, to my mind one of the steepest on the Wall and, because it's not one of the paths that has been repaired with good stones to step on, it twists and turns.

I don't know about you, but when I'm out and about I look everywhere but where I'm putting my feet and of course I came a cropper. Because I was going uphill this time it was quite a gentle fall and I was soon back up on my feet.

Hotbank Crag (NY775684) doesn't get a lot of publicity, yet it's a lovely crag, (once you're up there) it's good to catch your breath and take in the views. To the east you have a lovely curvy Wall snaking across in front of you with distant views over Broomlea Lough and Sewingshields. At this time of the year the evening sun catches the south side of the Wall, lighting it up. I did take some photo's but it needs a good telephoto lens to exagerate the curves and the 17-55mm I was usuing on Saturday just didn't cut the mustard. That's one to show you another day.

The view to the west, into the setting sun, is just as spectacular, looking across Crag Lough and the crags that carry the Wall all the way to Winshields. Because there was no cloud at all the sun was a bit bright but I couldn't resist a shot.

I spent some time just enjoying the view, I know I've said this of many viewpoints but, this is one of my favourites.

Have you noticed how clouds seem to appear and disappear at the snap of a finger? I never assume anything and I headed back down to Crag Lough hoping some cloud would grace the sky giving a bit of colour. The lake was quite choppy and the golden light streaming across the water was lovely. I took several shots until the sun passed from view then I stood for a while just enjoying the peace of the evening.

I noticed a good number of swan feathers floating near the shore, I haven't seen the resident swans for some time now but hopefully the feathers are a sign that they are still around and moulting.

I've been doing some work to my website I'm aware that the viewpoints are the same throughout the seasons. While I do try to find new angles I have to admit I like the tried and tested spots the best. I suppose while the Wall itself is a constant the weather and the time of year add another layer to the scene.

Looking at the long range weather forecast that layer is thick grey cloud for the next week or so, gauling when the rest of the UK is having good weather.
Hope it's good where you are.

Catch you later....
Joan

http://www.joanthirlaway.com/

The golden hour

Another sunrise, it's coming over the horizon at
about 6.10am now so it's not quite as much of a struggle to get up early.
A clear sky with stars everywhere except right in front of me, meaning the sun was coming up through a big dark cloud.
I climbed up to the viewpoint on Winshields Crag (NY743675) and enjoyed the gentle sounds of a morning coming to life. The sky coloured up in a subtle watercolour effect and I happily recorded the scene.
From here you get a panoramic view to the east, over Crag Lough, Hotbank Crag, way over to Sewingshields and beyond. It's a great spot but because people generally walk the Wall from east to west, people simply don't turn around and miss out.
Then it all seemed to be over and I headed down the hill thinking of breakfast, but, as often happens, the light changed.
I did a very quick about face and headed back up the hill at as fast a pace as I can manage, arthritic knees and all, every step of the way I'm repeating my mantra to the light, 'please wait, please, please wait'.
I passed the two lambs at a trot and was amazed when I got my tripod set up to find them posing so nicely for me, probably stunned by my antics.
It's always difficult shooting photographs straight into the sun, you always get flare, I carry a bit of black card to shield the lens, sometimes it works and with this shot here I had only one intrusive flare spot to clone out. But the Wall is just so beautiful bathed in golden light I just had to try to capture it.
I took loads of shots, a big flock of finches were landing on the Wall then flitting up into the light like sparkling butterflies, moving to quickly for the camera shutter speed to record them, but beautiful to see.
Thank goodness for digital at least I can take photographs with a chance they'll work, it seems to me you have so much more latitude than was ever available with film.
I love being out when the world wakes up and usually I'm alone but I could see another photographer high up on Peel Crags. When I got back down to the car park at Steel Rigg I stopped for a chat with his wife. I think maybe my car coming into the car park had woken them up, he's a professional photographer called Don Bishop from Somerset, and I look forward to seeing what he managed to get of our bit of Northumberland - he's also a renowned steam train photographer and author of several books.
http://www.steamrecreations.co.uk/
There was another Pro photographer at Steel Rigg but he was still asleep in his tent (camping on the overspill car park - and you all know what I think of that sort of behaviour!)
until we woke him up gossiping. He obviously wasn't a morning person and was grumpy, but then you do meet all sorts on Hadrian's Wall.
Catch you later :)

The High Point

I've been treating myself to one of those fancy 'flashing light' spirit levels for my camera, so needing to give it a try out I headed off to Winshields Crag (NY742675)
It's the highest point on Hadrian's Wall and the views are spectacular in every direction.
You park in the Steel Rigg car park, and as it's still the main holiday season the car park was full with the overspill field in use.

(By the way I should mention, the car parking charge is £3 a day but you can go from Walltown to Housesteads and points in between on that one pass -BUT if you're coming for a week get the £8 pass from the Once Brewed Visitor Centre it's much better value)
Back to Winshields, head back out of the car park, turn right over the wall stile and head up the field.

I've noticed there are loads of butterflies warming themselves on the stones of Hadrian's Wall and plenty of wild flowers for nectar, on Thursday there were also masses of black flying insects!

A couple of gates to go through on your journey up hill, please do remember to close the gates behind you and latch them properly, the Wall is single skin for a part of the way up although the foundations of the wider Wall are visible.

Eventually you reach a good solid chunk of Hadrian's Wall and just beyond that is the white (well decidedly off white at the moment) trig point. I believe with all the new technology these trig points are now obsolete but it would be a shame if they weren't there.

Had a chat with one of the NNPA Rangers who was doing a survey to see what jobs needed doing over the coming months. It's easy to think the Hadrian's Wall Path takes care of itself but it would be a very different place if it weren't for the work of the Northumbria National Parks Authority and their team.

I love the view east back down the line of the Hadrian's Wall Path, especially using a zoom lens to exagerate the bumps and curves of the land. I stood around for a while waiting for some light, patience is a virtue, and had a chat with the farmer who came up the easy way, on his quad bike.

Then the light came and I spent the next ten minutes running back and forward to try and capture my shots.

There's a new Cafe at the Winshields Farm Camp site, the farmer had recommended the home made scones with blackcurrant jam, so I felt obliged to do some research on your behalf.

I have to report the coffee, scones and welcome were excellent.

Took ages to clone out all the insects and the spirit level worked a treat.
Catch you later.

29 03 09

Clocks changed this morning, I had my alarm set for a sunrise but when I got up the sky was clear and not ideal for photographs, I need a few clouds to bounce the light off. There was also snow on our Velux window and a heavy frost on the ground, what better excuse did I need to go back to bed for an hour or so :)

When I did get up it was to bright blue skies and a day begging you to take a walk.

Today's destination was Sewingshields Crag, it's one of the up and down sections of the Wall. You climb and climb thinking you're almost there and then as you crest one hill you discover there's an even bigger one still to be tackled.

The Cheviot ewe's from Housesteads Farm were up on King's Hill, making a nice picture against the clear blue sky.

One had managed to get over on it's back and while this looks quite funny it can be fatal for these broad backed sheep, they can't roll back over again and will die. I went over and hauled the sheep upright, she seeemed fine and trotted off. At this time of the year a dead sheep costs the farmer that ewe and also the lambs she's carrying, so if you see a sheep on its back please go and turn it over.

A few people were out enjoying the day, I went up to the trig point at Sewingshields, trying to get a good shot of the bits of Wall and the Old Repeater Station, a B&B unlike any other on the Wall!

From the top there are great views, the Cheviots to the North had snow on them but no matter how I tried I couldn't get the angle right for a shot so you'll just have to come and see for yourself.

The views over Broomlee Lough were lovely, the water looked so blue, I decided to go across and see if I could get some closer shots. There's a Pennine Way footpath that you can access from Kings Wicket ( no idea where that name originated) I set off overland towards the Lough, it was very, very boggy and although I got to the shore the photographs were a bit disappointing, very colourful but not nearly as good as I'd hoped so just enjoy the view from Sewingshields.

The other thing that I like about this area is the view west, you can see this remarkable landscape carrying Hadrian's Wall, it reminds me of a slumberling dragon with the various crags as spines and the head at the Winshields Crag highpoint. I don't have that many favourite views going east to west but this has to be one of them.

Hoping for a sunset tonight, I'm wanting to get the Mare and Foal standing Stones, check back to see if I've managed.

Catch you later.

JoT

23rd March 2009

The forecast was awful so I was expecting a day of
admin working on my computer, not something I look forward to!

I happened to glance out of the window and noticed some wonderful cloud formations, wow a reprieve,
hoping they would last a while, I grabbed my gear and headed out to Steel Rigg.

Now Steel Rigg is one of the most popular sites on Hadrian's Wall, great dramatic crags and awsome scenery, but look to the east and there is Winshields Crag. It looks fairly dull but climbing it brings you up to the highest point on our bit of Hadrian's Wall and the views are amazing.

Today I was looking for cloud pictures and they were there in abundance, lovely black rolling clouds, fluffy white ones and a particular favourite of mine the mackeral cloud.

However it was all to the west, no clouds to speak of down towards Steel Rigg which is a really beautiful panoramic view.
It was a howling gale, so fierce I had trouble keeping everything steady so I had high hopes that the clouds would shift around. They did but instead of going east they went south, isn't that just typical.

Lots of people around considering it's a Monday but they were all heading along towards the Sycamore Tree, that's one for another day although if you can't wait check out the pictures on my website http://www.joanthirlaway.co.uk/

In all today I took a dozen shots and probably got the best of the clouds, it cleared so that by sunset it was an empty sky.

Hope that holds promise for a sunrise tomorrow.

Todays photograph is on the Hadrian's Wall Path up to Winshields Crag, there's a white trig point way up on the horizon that you might be able to see on the larger version.

Catch you later.