Tuesday 27 December 2011

Year's end

27th Dec11, Newton Links, 8am

After a great Christmas I woke up with a miserable cold this morning. Nonetheless we headed to the beach and I let daisy do all the running around while I plodded, sniffed and admired the sunrise.

This will be the last entry of 2011 and I must say Thanks to those of you who have contributed comments now and again either face-to-face or via the blog. It means a lot to me when I see that people are enjoying what I offer via Northumberland360. The blog nearly came to an end in October after 3 years but I received so many nice messages on its birthday that I decided it would survive and it will continue into 2012 while the rest of my photography businesses get a major overhaul and rebranding - watch this space and Thanks again.

We're off to Scotland for Hogmanay so Happy New Year everyone.
Andy







Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Saturday 24 December 2011

Two faces of a Dog's Life

23rd Dec11, Embleton Bay, 8am

I've been driving Su to work for 3 weeks and this was the first chance to get to the beach in the morning for all that time.

Daisy was in her element having the beach to herself. This side of her all quiet and serene...



...but even more fun to share it with a friend.

Dexter the pointer and Daisy were a blur of movement as they chased and frolicked all over the sand. It's great to be able to excercise the dogs while doing no more than standing chatting to friends...



24th Dec11, Christmas Eve, Low Newton, 8am

Happy Christmas everyone from a dark but beautiful Northumberland



Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Tuesday 20 December 2011

Adrian's Wall

17th Dec11, Hadrian's Wall, 2pm

I was on Hadrian's wall for a photoshoot with a musician called Adrian Nation but the light was so gorgeous that I had to snap a few shots of the surroundings without Adrian!

We walked from Steel Rigg along to sycamore gap. There are more photos (with Adrian) on my other blog click here















Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Thursday 15 December 2011

The Sleeping Lady

15th Dec11, Howick Coast, 2pm

What a fine day. I spent the morning hustling through paperwork and getting orders to the post office just so I could get out to play in the sun...

Even at this time of day the sun is low in the sky casting a warm light gently and selectively over the landscape as if it chooses its favourite locations to be lit up.


I spotted a ladybird sleeping her way through winter in the shelter of a metal gate fitting.



Daisy loves to jump up the bank to have a view over the field.


As ever she's very pretty; here against the now setting sun.



Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Monday 12 December 2011

First Snows

10th Dec11, Christon Bank, 08:30am

Saturday was Malcolm's PhotoWorkshop and it was forecast to be clear and frosty. A bit surprising then to find 2 inches of snow and still more falling from a grey sky!

We had an unscheduled wander around the fields and woods of Christon Bank to take in the atmosphere while the snow lay delicately on the trees tracing every branch and twig in white.

Within an hour or two the snow was all gone from the trees and within 24 hours all gone, melted, away.








Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Monday 5 December 2011

3 dawns and the moon

1st Dec11, Low Newton, 8am

The first sunrise of December beautiful out over the sea.



2nd Dec11, Newton Links, 8am

The 2nd sunrise of December kisses the tops of the dunes.



Looking back at the frosty grass and blinding sun.


3rd Dec11, Embleton Bay, 8am

The 3rd sunrise of December was slow and languid. I sat in the shelter of someone's beach house until Daisy got bored and we moved on.






5th Dec11, Newton Links, 3pm

As the light fades the moon's reflection sits on the sand as Daisy waits for me to do something more interesting. The West of the country has snow but we are sheltering behind the Cheviots and staying cold but clear.


Don't forget the 2012 calendar is now available. Click here to have a sneak preview You can buy direct from my website or by contacting me direct.

This year there are 10 A3 sized but also 20 smaller desk calendars

They are priced at £20 and £10 respectively.


Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Wednesday 30 November 2011

busy, busy

30th Nov11, Embleton Bay, 8am

Lots to do at the moment so the blog's not being updated as often...

Nell's first training course was on a lovely morning and we were on location and ready for the sun to come up.

The Skaith was calm and reflective at first...



...once the sun was up the winds started stirring across the surface of the pool.








Don't forget the 2012 calendar is now available. Click here to have a sneak preview You can buy direct from my website or by contacting me direct.

This year there are 10 A3 sized but also 20 smaller desk calendars

They are priced at £20 and £10 respectively.


Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Tuesday 22 November 2011

evening skies

20th Nov11, Howick Gardens, 3pm

Shaggy Ink Cap - We've eaten these before but there was only one so we left it in peace.


My favourite tree in Howick is this tall, slender multi-trunked Scot's Pine.. I've photographed it before and it's particularly striking against the late afternoon sky.


Mist was forming in the fields giving a very English view across to the winter trees.


22nd Nov11, Low Newton, 3pm

Very calm and peaceful as the sun dipped behind the dunes.



Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Monday 21 November 2011

2012 Northumberland360 calendar

The 2012 calendar is now available. Click here to have a sneak preview You can buy direct from my website or by contacting me direct.

This year there are 10 A3 sized but also 20 smaller desk calendars

They are priced at £20 and £10 respectively.

Andy

Sunday 20 November 2011

weekend catch up

18th Nov11, Embleton Bay, 3pm

Fred the Doberman lives in our village and he and Daisy get on fine. Today Fred nicked Daisy's ball as she looked on helplessly






The sunset reflected in a beach hut window.


19th Nov11, Embleton Bay, 8am

Kerstin's training course and we had a lovely morning. The Skaith is dammed by seaweed just now so the water is high and gives lovely reflections.



Where The Skaith empties across the sand there are nice textures in the water but you have to down close to make a nice photograph out of the scene.



Up closer to Dunstanburgh Castle and the 'cannonball boulders' make a nice foreground. With the tide in, it's nice to see a hint of sea.


Details in amongst the rocks.


20th Nov11, Fallodon Woods, 8am

Unidentified fungi around a beech tree.


Lovely autumn colours and textures in the woods



Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Friday 18 November 2011

running up that hill

18th Nov11, Embleton Bay, 8am

Embleton Bay's quieter at this time of year but you rarely get it to yourself. It's a popular place. Daisy and I took to the dunes and her athleticism as she sprinted up the dune is awesome.



She had a well deserved rest at the top while she surveyed the golf course and watched a couple of distant dogs.


With the tide this high, the curve of the bay is emphasised and the view in this direction (North, away from the castle) is much more pleasing to the eye.



Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Thursday 17 November 2011

Look, The Sun!

17th Nov11, Low Newton, 8am

First time I've seen the sun for a few days it seems. At this time of year it gives off no direct heat whatsoever and it just seems to dimly illuminate the landscape.

The textures of the sand, waves and open sea are beautiful in this light.










Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life

Sunday 13 November 2011

silly moos

13th Nov11, Newton Links, 7am

Best morning for a while with hints of colour in the clouds out towards the sunrise.



Meanwhile out West a full moon hung in the sky. Here's its reflection beside Daisy.



Finally the sun made its appearance weakly through the clouds.



As we walked back a herd of cows meandered towards us on the beach threatening to cut off our retreat. Fortunately they wandered further along the sand without giving us a 2nd glance allowing us to reach the safety of the dunes.



Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
andy craig photography - Family Portraits and Wedding Photography
one-eyed-hound.com - Dog Photography ...it's a dog's life