Wigtwizzle - Norman Smith's Travel Blog.

Ogden Water Country Park

I hadn't been to Ogden water for a couple of years so thought I would pay it a visit and try out my new 85 mm lens. I arrived quite early so managed to get a parking spot by the roadside.

I didn't really get any decent photo opportunities until I got into Odgen Clough with its many small cascades, mossy rocks and fallen trees. Unfortunately the deeper I got in to the Clough, the icier it got which eventually forced me to turn back as the last thing I wanted was to have a fall whilst holding the camara.

I was quite pleased with the way it performed, mainly because it let me take handheld close up slow shutter speed shots. I found that I could easily use a shutter speed of one eighth of a second which gave good enough water motion without it being overexposed.

The next time I use it, I will try it out taking close-up shots, I believe its minimum focusing distance is two feet six inches, which should be ideal for flower photography. For anything closer, I still have a 60 mm macro lens.

I was surprised how good the paths were as many of my local paths (plus the paths at St Ives) are very muddy due to the weather and increased footfall. I did leave the main path and walk up in to the woods, partly to get away from the crowds but mainly for variety because I find the path around the reservoir rather flat and boring whereas the woodland path has many ups and downs.

By the time I got back to the car, it was getting very busy, so I think I picked the right time of day to visit. All shots below are taken with that lens.

Woodland Walk

Moss on wall

Woodland Walk

Ogden Clough

Woodland Walk

Ogden Clough

Woodland Walk

Ogden Clough

Woodland Walk

Weir, Ogden Water

Woodland Walk

Morning Mist

Here are some photos taken on a trip to Ilkley at the end of last year. I stopped off on the way at Dowley Gap in Bingley, hoping to get some misty shots of the canal but, as sod's law would have it, the mist was just starting to lift. I did manage to get a few shots before having to admit defeat.

It was then on to Ilkley to do a bit of shopping, The mist was still lingering in the higher reaches of Middleton Woods, so I parked up and had a walk in the top section. The weather must have put people off as I only saw a couple of dog walkers the whole time I was in there. One of them stopped to grumble about the weather and was a bit put back when I said I loved walking through the woods when it was misty and wet.

Maybe it is a photography thing!

Leeds-Liverpool Canal

Middleton Woods

The Season of Mists and Mellow Fruitfulness

Back up to St Ives the morning after my last blog and wow what a visit. Experiencing a morning like this are a very rare occurrence for me, possibly because I'm usually a pretty slow starter to the day. I would normally rather have that second cup of coffee or hang about for that fog to lift rather than get my backside into gear and get out. Maybe one of the reasons I did get out early was because it was a Saturday and I knew that if I didn't get to St Ives at a reasonable time, I wouldn't get a parking spot plus it would be too busy to be enjoyable.

Anyway putting that aside, the fact of the matter is I did get off my backside, I did get a parking spot, I did have a fabulous walk and took some great photos in the process. There were still a few people about even at that time in a morning, most being dog walkers. Also, there was a young lady from the riding school taking her horse up to the top field for its early morning run. To say it was a bit frisky and excitable would be a slight understatement as she had all-on to keep hold of its reigns and keep it under control.

I did my usual circuit, stopping off at The Druid's Alter before walking through Race Course Plantation to the highest point of the walk. From there it was downhill all the way, and I was back at Coppice pond in no time at all. The Ivy Kitchen was just opening but, as I didn't have a mask with me, I had to miss out on one of their delightful coffees.

Such a shame as it would have been the perfect way to end my walk.