Meanygate meanderings (and beyond) - a farmed landscape
- Thread starter Ed Sutton
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- Alan
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A really interesting set of shots showing the work going on and how much the weather influences.
The maize shot is mesmerising.
The maize shot is mesmerising.
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- Dave
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Thanks. I've taken lots of similar shots of maize over the years, but this is the first time I've managed to get a sense of depth in one. I think the more distant rows of maize make the picture.
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- The real Chris
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You don't often see Merlins in private collections.
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He'd traveled to Essex to collect Sprout. It's not the only one he has, plus two Peregrines, and a couple of Harris Hawks. More than he has time for so one Peregrine is going to a new home.
Lovely little bird.
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It's that time of year when night comes quickly.
I was tempted to hang around while the sun was low and casting a golden light, but I knew I'd get bored and take the same pictures over and over on each 'lap' of the forage harvester. I went for a walk instead. If I was lucky they'd still be at it after the sun set.
A pity about the blurred leaf top right. I couldn't get a decent angle that kept it out of shot.
I was tempted to hang around while the sun was low and casting a golden light, but I knew I'd get bored and take the same pictures over and over on each 'lap' of the forage harvester. I went for a walk instead. If I was lucky they'd still be at it after the sun set.
A pity about the blurred leaf top right. I couldn't get a decent angle that kept it out of shot.
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I really like the night time shots - so unusual. 
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It might not have been quite as dark as it looks in the photos.I really like the night time shots - so unusual.
But it was getting dark.This evening's wander.
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All is now revealed! In a rubbish photo...
There were three people there today who didn't look like farming types. And they weren't. This plot is a trial to see if sphagnum moss can be grown commercially. The trial is being run by a company who's name I've forgotten and Manchester Met. University. There was a weather station being put up and soil carbon information being recorded. The sphagnum is being considered as a potential peat replacer in compost, among other uses. It'll be interesting to see how things develop.
Elsewhere I was surprised to see ice still present in places after two frost free nights.
Less surprised to see a ditch diversion had been cut.
And the maize stubble still waterlogged.
More developments from locally, but they're going in my sheep thread.
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A whole month since it's been fit to go for a wander! Not much had changed, apart from more water lying on the fields, some with a covering of ice today.
The sphagnum trial plot was waterlogged and frozen.
Weather station.
Ice. Technically poor (e.g. foolish ISO 22800) but nice enough at this size.
And a sunset - just before a large cloud put the lights out.
The sphagnum trial plot was waterlogged and frozen.
Weather station.
Ice. Technically poor (e.g. foolish ISO 22800) but nice enough at this size.
And a sunset - just before a large cloud put the lights out.
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Thanks. The curve of the pipe is what caught my eye.
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It was only a light dusting of snow, and certain to disappear quickly, but I thought it was worth a walk. I was only out for a little over an hour but by the time I got home most of the snow had cleared.Not sure it was, but the pictures are something different.
Maize stubble always makes me want to take a photo or two.
Couldn't decide where to place the horizon...
Flooded, frozen, covered in melting snow.
It's that pump again!
Maize stubble always makes me want to take a photo or two.
Couldn't decide where to place the horizon...
Flooded, frozen, covered in melting snow.
It's that pump again!
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I think I concur.
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The sots of the maize are intriguing and withut the explanation my first thought was of WWI battlefields
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Interesting. I can see where you're coming from.
The Menin Road
image: A devastated battlefield pocked with rain-filled shell-holes, flooded trenches and shattered trees lit by unearthly beams of light from an apocalyptic sky. Two figures pick their way along a tree-lined road, the road punctuated by shell-holes and lined by tree stumps.
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Also this sort of thing - anti tank obstacles
commons.wikimedia.org
File:Aspergeversperring Muiden.jpg - Wikimedia Commons
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A dry week has seen the growers able to get back on the land and start work. Also a chance to get help the lying water drain away.
Tight or wide? I'm thinking tight as it shows the digger and pump-house and /pipes more clearly while still showing the flood.
Tight or wide? I'm thinking tight as it shows the digger and pump-house and /pipes more clearly while still showing the flood.
ancient_mariner
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I preferred the wide, for the sense of perspective and setting it provided.
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Thanks.
I think I agree after sleeping on it. I guess it could also depend on how large the picture is displayed, as a larger version of the wide shot would also reveal more detail.
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I've got out of the habit of walking the moss with the rain we've had all winter, but this evening looked like it would stay dry and the sun woulds stay out. The land is starting to dry out and there was some tractor activity - and some nice light.
The flooded field is still flooded.
A few seconds later the light went from the trees.
The flooded field is still flooded.
A few seconds later the light went from the trees.
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I like the ones with the trees as backdrop, partic the one with the pylon
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I was wishing I'd had a longer lens for some of those. Not much longer, just enough to make the tractor a little larger in the frame. Can't take everything with me for a walk though.
ancient_mariner
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Can you crop a bit or does quality not hold up?
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Everywhere is much drier now and lots has been going on. Not much of visual interest though.
This one's as near as I get to wildlife photography these days. Can anyone spot the three Wheatears? I've seen them in this field every year since I started walking the moss, but only spot the odd one elsewhere. There must be a reason.
I took another shot of straight tracks in the soil a bit further along, but preferred this one with the kink and the stick.
A motley collection (hardly a flock!) of sheep has appeared in a horse paddock. I'm guessing they are pets.
This one's as near as I get to wildlife photography these days. Can anyone spot the three Wheatears?
I've seen them in this field every year since I started walking the moss, but only spot the odd one elsewhere. There must be a reason.I took another shot of straight tracks in the soil a bit further along, but preferred this one with the kink and the stick.
A motley collection (hardly a flock!) of sheep has appeared in a horse paddock. I'm guessing they are pets.
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Not much going on during my lengthy late afternoon wander. Lot of cultivation has been done, but not much showing yet. Definite signs of spring with the meanygates lined with cow parsley. Even though the light was flat it contrasted well against the dark earth.
I guess the fields being so wet for so long is why one of the greenhouses contained a sea of green.
I've photographed this ditch numerous times, I liked the contrast of colours, and the obvious line where the herbicide had reached, today.
I guess the fields being so wet for so long is why one of the greenhouses contained a sea of green.
I've photographed this ditch numerous times, I liked the contrast of colours, and the obvious line where the herbicide had reached, today.
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So. 4 years in.
Are you done yet?
If not, what's the holdup?
To be clear, I love the images, even if I don't always comment - I'm more curious as to what it is you're looking for, or why you're still going - not from an accusatory point of view, just a curious one.
:grumbles:
Are you done yet?
If not, what's the holdup?
To be clear, I love the images, even if I don't always comment - I'm more curious as to what it is you're looking for, or why you're still going - not from an accusatory point of view, just a curious one.
:grumbles: