the compulsive draw of photography ... and bingo!

For a long time now, I've experienced what could only be described as a compulsion to take photographs.  There's something intangible that drives me on to get out with my camera and capture the images that appear in front of me.

When I'm taking photographs, it's almost as though my conscious mind disappears and I'm operating on adrenaline, on automatic pilot or tapping into some special photographic energy.  It's quite common for me to cease to be aware of my surroundings as I become so completely engrossed in what I'm doing.  On several occasions I've been focused on the scene before me that I've failed to see the bus coming directly at me!

I love hearing about others who experience a similar pull from photography.  It's not dissimilar to the draw of Bingo for ardent players.  Years ago, the mother of our next door neighbour, a lady I used to call Nana, loved to play Bingo.  Every Sunday she would play, week after week.  The thrill was all encompassing for her.

I always advocate photography as a creative outlet that lets you forget the every day and immerse yourself in a different world.  Something magical happens when you have a camera in your hand.

ancient woods and the green man

Just a couple of weekends ago I spent the day photographing in ancient woodland.  It was quite something else.  One wood was unmanaged and the floor was carpeted with green.  You made your own pathways and walking through the undergrowth was akin to wading through water.  It was bliss!

Spring close up

Taken near sunset this is slightly different light to my favourite morning time.  Still enthralled with capturing Spring close up, I visited another part of the park.  Although there are some new shoots, there's still a long way to go and a few more opportunities to capture the onset of Spring.

circling stones

Still using my 50mm lens as my main lens, I enjoyed playing with depth of focus at a recent visit to two stone circles in Cumbria.  This was taken at Castlerigg where the circle is situated at the centre of a circle of mountains.  Totally spectacular.

imperfect

For a long time I've had a fascination for the less than perfect in nature.  Bits of grass, dried up leaves, mounds of moss simply appeal to my photographer's eye.  Although Autumn and Winter tend to be the best seasons for this, early Spring can be a good time too.

twiggy

Just a rather anonymous looking tree, hidden away in a little corner of the park.  This gnarly branch caught my eye and I loved the new shoots starting to grow.

early blooms

Flowers have always been a favourite of mine to photograph.  Have you ever looked at a flower really close up?  Photography is all about seeing and exploring the way you look at the world.