too fast

28th February11, Low Newton, 8am

The early morning rain had dispersed and left, as ever, a delicate atmosphere and gentle light.

Daisy was bored with the quiet morning so took to running in giant circles in and out of the sea. Too fast for the little camera...

Northumberland Photo Training - Teaching the Art of Natural Photography
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friendly morning

27th February11, Newton Links, 7:30 am

Beautiful morning so up early to avoid the crowds. Nonetheless daisy managed to go and meet a couple of groups of dogs.

Nice friendly owners (and dogs) so it didn't spoil the atmosphere.

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

Sun Dogs

24th February11, Low Newton, 2pm

The sun was out, it was 12 degC and the crowds were here for the half-term holiday.

It's the first time since last summer that I've seen Embleton bay with this many people.

We went around Newton point and met Maggie and Oscar. Now, Daisy is supposedly a border collie lurcher but Maggie shows us what a border collie lurcher looks like...

Oscar joined in the fun with the big girls too.

I sat for a while enjoying the sun while Daisy dug a big hole.

Dogs look nice in the 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

Everyday History

23rd February11, nr Seahouses, 4pm

My 'patch' ranges from Alnmouth in the South to Budle bay at the North end but there's been a gap between Seahouses and Beadnell. This is one of the few spots on the coast that I've never set foot on and I was pleased to find that it's a nice quiet bit of beach.

Lots of anti-tank blocks along here left over from WWII. It's easy to become nonchalant passing these interesting pieces of history everyday.

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

signs of spring

22nd February11, Low Newton 3pm

We had quite a bright day with bits of sun but as the afternoon wore on the mists came down a bit at the coast. The air temperature fell quickly to close to freezing and there was still no wind. beautiful peaceful atmosphere.

Wild primrose flowering in the shelter of the dunes at Football Hole.

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

Big Dog, Little Dog

22nd February11, Newton Links, 8am

The day started quietly. A peaceful morning with little wind and at last some brightness coming through the clouds.

Optimistic surfers headed for the waves

Then came Ella. Ella's a wolfhound puppy and suddenly all those folk that say how big Daisy is are given something for comparison!

The two pups chased and lollopped around the sand until the were completely zonked; then they ran some more. Lovely to meet Ella and her M+D.

Daisy and I headed home happily...

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

people power

17th February11, Fallodon Woods, 3pm

Democracy is great when it works. We the people said we didn't want the forests privatised and the government were forced into a U-turn. Excellent!

I thought I'd celebrate by walking ironically through a privately owned wood which has very good access via a public footpath and a 'permissive driveway'

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

sunny one way

16th February11, Newton Point, 3pm

This is more like it!

There were still clouds out West but it was sunny the way we were going...

First off, a couple of photos stitched together to make a panorama across Embleton Bay

Up close to the waves.

Happy Dog!

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

early birds

16th February11, Dunstanburgh, 8am

A very wet morning. It was briefly enjoyable standing below the castle in what feels like a remote spot on a lonely morning like this...

This bay is known as Rumble Churn and the whinstone cliffs are already dotted with one or two fulmars that have arrived early for the breeding season.

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

where sheep sleep

15th February11, Christon Bank, 8am

Frosty this morning. Calm and around 0C. Very atmospheric with mists and birdsong.

These patches are where the sheep had slept for the night.

I seem to be drawn to sepia toning on days where there's no wind.

a frosty beech leaf...

...and oak

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

splash of colour

14th February11, Newton Links, 8am

Raining when we got up but it got brighter as we walked so we stayed out for a couple of hours this morning and breathed deeply of the day.

Photoshop trickery here but this is how I saw Daisy this morning; as the only colour in a dull seascape.

Up to, and over, the Long Nanny river for a change... .

..before we headed back down a brightening beach.

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

forbidden fruit

13th February11, Christon Bank, 3pm

I love these 4 ancient trees and they've been on my blog before but not as often as I'd like. The problem is that they lie off the footpath, on a 200m stretch of field that links 2 footpaths to make a nice circuit. I only go this way if there's no livestock (and no farmer).

iPhone and Hipstamatic again. This App adds interest on a grey day...

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

wavy day

12th February11, Howick, 3pm

The beach near Craster is composed of lovely colourful pebbles. sandstone, limestone, whinstone are all here along with numerous variations.

After two days and nights of rain, it was good to see the sun again this afternoon. the passing storm had left a mighty swell in the North Sea which was crashing into the coast at Howick.

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