Late start

20th June 11, Craster shore, 11am

Today was a 3 hour PhotoTrail with Terry. We started late as we had swapped the course forward a day due to tomorrow's poor weather forecast.

We spent some time around the harbour, wandered up the shore to Dunstanburgh Castle and back via the heughs where there's a lovely little sheltered valley full of butterflies, insects and wildflowers.

Lots of different textures encountered en route.

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

A sense of scale

20th June 11, Howick Coast, 8am

We humans have a very narrow field of view when it comes to scale. I remember at university going from a lecture on the geology of the solar system straight into a lecture on the chemistry of sub-atomic particles - Fair blew a fuse that did!

Some things are too old for us to fully comprehend like this sandstone that someone has crafted a beautiful pillar out of. 350 million years old - visualise that if you can...

Some things are just too small to see. This wild thyme is so beautiful up close but how many clumpy feet walk by it every day without seeing?

The bees happily buzz from poppy to poppy beating their wings so fast that we can't even see them. Living a life on a microscopic scale; ignoring us and the bizarre things we think are important.

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

Use your eyes to see
the world we normally don't.
Appreciate life

A rare treat

19th June 11, Christon Bank, 7:30pm

Our friend the red squirrel pops over from Fallodon woods every so often. This morning he lifted the nut feeder of it's hook and dropped it to the ground. This knocks the lid off so he can get some peanuts. This evening he's back but he's taking wee bits of nut through the mesh while hanging upside down. Maybe I should invest in a longer zoom lens as my 300mm doesn't do Mr Squirrel justice.

We should never forget just how rare it is to have these guys visit your garden - not rare round Christon Bank but rare just about everywhere else

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

wall elves

16th June 11, Newton Point, 3pm

This wall is being slowly restored and the bit that's finished is really nicely done. I think it's National Trust volunteers on work parties which is why it's built a few feet at a time but I've never seen anyone work on it. Maybe it's Wall Elves?

17th June 11, Newton Point, 8am

The wild flowers on the meadows are beautiful just now. During the winter I have a moan about the sheep and cows that stop me letting daisy off the lead but it's their grazing that allows the wild flowers to grow through so I should remember this scene next winter...

Daisy suddenly camera shy amongst the buttercups...

We had Football Hole beach to ourselves this morning so we each wandered around doing our own thing. Very relaxing.

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

Old friends...

14th June 11, Craster, 8am

It was really nice to meet Gareth and John both, coincidentally, back for another course after they had attended, coincidentally, the same course together last year. As we went to Dunstanburgh last year, we headed towards the castle from Craster harbour this time.

It was a pleasantly warm day and for me the clouds were the thing today.

14th June 11, Beadnell bay, 3pm

Back to just Daisy for company. Although there were a few cars in the car park there weren't many people on the beach.

As usual daisy chose to ignore her tennis ball in favour of a old bit of seaweed.

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

plodging dog

13th June 11, Newton Point, 3pm

After a rainy weekend it was nice to be back to warm and sunny for today.

Football Hole was picture perfect

Warm enough for Daisy to have a plodge in the sea.

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

Two names

6th June 11, Newton Point, 3pm

Thrift (or sea pink) & Bird's Foot Trefoil (or eggs and bacon). It's a great year for wild flowers.

9th June 11, Low Newton, 8am

Training course with Chris this morning and a fine day it was too...

Occasionally visitors will leave something worthwhile on the beach. Simple but effective.

Three leaves but only 2 shadows - why?

A thin slice of Embleton Bay looking Northish from atop 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