I absolutely love the summertime and even more where i live as im surrounded by countryside and fields.Ive been fascinated by bails from even an early age,altho when younger more to climb on and have fond memories of seeing my brother get run down by one courtesy of my sister.There such an interesting subject for the photographer and no matter how cack-handed the farmer makes and positions them,they just fall into patterns.I must of looked mental sat in the middle of a field as people drove past on a nearby road but hey,i was in my element so didn't care! If there was ever any reason for me to become a farmer then it would be for the sole reason of making bails i think.You have to be quick to find bail fields as i found out the other day as i found some,only for the farmer to be collecting them in at such speed that i thought he was trying to break some sort of Guinness world record! This is just one of the many reasons why i love the summer so much.
Sometimes when it comes to photography,i take the lazy approach and decide to shoot bits in my garden but its still possible to find interesting subjects just a stones throw away from your house....literally! It was early afternoon and the sun had made everything drier then a cracker eating contest with no glass of water that day,but i've always liked the shots of dew soaked flowers so armed with a sprayer i headed out.I felt abit sorry for the insects around my garden,they were probably out enjoying the sun when i came along and rained down a tidal wave's worth of spray for my own photographic needs! I think the heat had caused the bee's to have a day off as they just laid inside the flowers with an all you can eat pollen supply to hand.The colours in the photo's are vibrant and really work well with the dew drops so im pleased with the results.
They say that you have to sometimes suffer for your art,well that certainly happens when dragging your lifeless corpse out of bed at some ungodly hour to capture a sunrise.Ive certainly been called bonkers by a few people now for doing it,but a sunrise is truly spectacular to see.Its like seeing the blank canvas for the day,then seeing it painted in front of your very eyes.This one was a particular tough one as id been playing football the night before and my body had seemed to go into shutdown afterwards.The other problem i have with getting up for sunrises is that my brain seems to stop me sleeping,with constant reminders that i have to be up in a matter of a few hours and so i cant switch off.I think its also excitement because you just never know what your gonna experience that morning.It was dark when i got up and in fairness i wasnt too bad.Certainly eating a packet of chilli crisps and a mars bar at 4 in the morning is an 'interesting' experience for your stomach.It was still dark when i got to Happisburgh beach but it gave me time to walk a stretch of the beach before the main event.I find myself in this constant battle with the tide,with me almost goading it as i try to get the shot and the sea trying its best to soak me.I had a few squeaky bum moments as my camera sat on the tripod,then seeing the sea come in with me having to leave the camera sat there praying the tide didn't knock it over into the murky deep.Slippery rocks are another hazard with one false step and you seeing that your legs can bend into some very unnatural positions! The cloud was heavier too but watching the sun creep over the top still blew me away.While your out you have that buzz but you soon drop when your on your way home and having to take 2 naps that day just to feel human again is a small downside for something so rewarding.
