Topsy's Dartmoor Rambles
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Thanks Wayne, I do think when the skies are like that B&W works really well on some subjects.
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Week 29.
It was a bit of a dilemma this week with the high fire risk I didn't want to be too deep into the high Moor just in case so I decided to go up over Meldon Dam and along to Black Tor, still on the high Moor but an easy escape route if needed down to the reservoir, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Black Tor.
Meldon Reservoir Dam.
There's still some standing water around even after the recent weather.
Black Tor.
Meldon Reservoir from the side of Longstone Hill.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
It was a bit of a dilemma this week with the high fire risk I didn't want to be too deep into the high Moor just in case so I decided to go up over Meldon Dam and along to Black Tor, still on the high Moor but an easy escape route if needed down to the reservoir, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Black Tor.
Meldon Reservoir Dam.
There's still some standing water around even after the recent weather.
Black Tor.
Meldon Reservoir from the side of Longstone Hill.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
Nod
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As always, TFS, Paul.
All things being equal, we should be up on the Moor next Sunday but I'd suggest most people avoid it on 4 wheels - it's the Exeter Classic Motorcycle Club's Dartmoor run. This USUALLY heads for Princetown via Okehampton but can go pretty much anywhere!
Usually a lunch stop in Princetown - using the library car park as a base. Paul, if you're there, look for a pair of Bobbers parked side by side!
All things being equal, we should be up on the Moor next Sunday but I'd suggest most people avoid it on 4 wheels - it's the Exeter Classic Motorcycle Club's Dartmoor run. This USUALLY heads for Princetown via Okehampton but can go pretty much anywhere!
Usually a lunch stop in Princetown - using the library car park as a base. Paul, if you're there, look for a pair of Bobbers parked side by side!
Wow beautiful photos
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Thanks Denise.
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Ah, that's a whole other walk Wayne, in the bottom of that Valley is one of the 3 Ancient Oak Woods on Dartmoor Black-a-Tor Copse (the other 2 being Piles Copse on the South Moor and the very well known Whistman's Wood just outside of 2 Bridges). I have been down there on a couple of occasions and it is a splendidn old wood but my preference is for thee open moor so I don't always go down there. It's a steep and rocky clamber and, I think, better when it's a bit wetter so the river can feature as well.
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Week 30.
This week due to various reasons I had to go out a little rushed on Monday afternoon or miss week 30 altogether, I decided to go very local on a walk we used to do during Covid along the Dartmoor Way and back along the River Walkham I just took 2 of my Fujifilm X-T2s for convenience and shot with B&W in mind, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
The River Walkham.
The start of the Dartmoor Way.
It's an old railway so there's infastructure along the way.
This is the newly built Gem Bridge.
From Gem Bridge the track down to the River Walkham is quite steep and overgrown (but it has steps).
The River Walkham under Gem Bridge.
Tyhe main Viaduct that carried the trains.
Back to the Old Station.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week due to various reasons I had to go out a little rushed on Monday afternoon or miss week 30 altogether, I decided to go very local on a walk we used to do during Covid along the Dartmoor Way and back along the River Walkham I just took 2 of my Fujifilm X-T2s for convenience and shot with B&W in mind, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
The River Walkham.
The start of the Dartmoor Way.
It's an old railway so there's infastructure along the way.
This is the newly built Gem Bridge.
From Gem Bridge the track down to the River Walkham is quite steep and overgrown (but it has steps).
The River Walkham under Gem Bridge.
Tyhe main Viaduct that carried the trains.
Back to the Old Station.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
OP
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Week 31.
This week I wanted to try some B&W film in my Bronica SQ-B so I loaded some Ilford FP4+ and went up around Hollow Tor and over to Foggintor Quarry, sadly the film hasn't scanned well, far too contrasty with blown skies so I'll need to re-think meteringwhen shooting for scanning, the negs would print fine in a darkroom but I no longer have one. I did as always replicate the film shots on my Leica D-Lux 7 and they are fine, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Hollow Tor.
Rundlestone Tor Rocks.
North Hessary Tor Trig Point.
Foggintor Ruins.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week I wanted to try some B&W film in my Bronica SQ-B so I loaded some Ilford FP4+ and went up around Hollow Tor and over to Foggintor Quarry, sadly the film hasn't scanned well, far too contrasty with blown skies so I'll need to re-think meteringwhen shooting for scanning, the negs would print fine in a darkroom but I no longer have one. I did as always replicate the film shots on my Leica D-Lux 7 and they are fine, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Hollow Tor.
Rundlestone Tor Rocks.
North Hessary Tor Trig Point.
Foggintor Ruins.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
OP
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Week 31 cont.........
So I spoke to the chap who does my dev & scanning and asked him to re-scan but bias towards the skies, what a difference, here they are.
So I spoke to the chap who does my dev & scanning and asked him to re-scan but bias towards the skies, what a difference, here they are.
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Week 32.
This week I decided to take my Bronica out to Hound Tor and Greator Rocks loaded this time with Portra 160, I also took my M9s to document the walk for my Blog, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Hound Tor (M9).
Greator Rocks looking over Hloowell Tor to Haytor Rocks (M9).
Bronica.
Hound Tor and the summer erosion (Bronica).
Plus of course the Lone Tree.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week I decided to take my Bronica out to Hound Tor and Greator Rocks loaded this time with Portra 160, I also took my M9s to document the walk for my Blog, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
Hound Tor (M9).
Greator Rocks looking over Hloowell Tor to Haytor Rocks (M9).
Bronica.
Hound Tor and the summer erosion (Bronica).
Plus of course the Lone Tree.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
Last edited:
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By the time it cools down enough for me to do the 130+ mile round trip full day it'll be less peopley - can't wait. There's a lovely kist and partial retaining circle on the down just west of Hound Tor. Prehistoric remains are my lone tree...... I photographed it with a lovely low sun and people walking past a few yards away completely unaware it was there. You get that in that area - people walking along glued to their phone screen because they're following a line someone else has uploaded to some tracking app, completely oblivious of what's around them. So glad I was out walking long before any of that and you just went places, and found things, and worked it out for yourself.......... Sort of what I still do - plan a walk, get out of land Rover, throw plan away and make it up as I go along
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Week 33.
This week the heatwave was in full charge so, ignoring that and with clear blue skies and the hottest day so far, I set off with my Leica M9 kit into Willsworthy Range (no firing in August) to Ger & Hare Tors to take in one of my favourite views up Tavy Cleave, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
I thought this Lone Tree in the crags of Ger Tor was very hopeful.
The Bronze Age Settlements at Ger Tor.
Tavy Cleave Rocks.
Hare Tor from Ger Tor.
Nattor Farm on the way back.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
This week the heatwave was in full charge so, ignoring that and with clear blue skies and the hottest day so far, I set off with my Leica M9 kit into Willsworthy Range (no firing in August) to Ger & Hare Tors to take in one of my favourite views up Tavy Cleave, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
I thought this Lone Tree in the crags of Ger Tor was very hopeful.
The Bronze Age Settlements at Ger Tor.
Tavy Cleave Rocks.
Hare Tor from Ger Tor.
Nattor Farm on the way back.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Week 34.
Well, after last week's "Mad dogs and englishmen" Photowalk I find myself well and truly on the injury bench with a shoulder issue that prevents me from carrying a Photo-backpack and also makes moorland hiking a painful business, so, I fell back on my go-to location for such circumstances, Combestone Tor (50 yds from the car park). I just put my Leica M9 kit into a shoulder bag (right shoulder) and bimbled around the Tor, the conditions were pretty much perfect for B&W, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
Well, after last week's "Mad dogs and englishmen" Photowalk I find myself well and truly on the injury bench with a shoulder issue that prevents me from carrying a Photo-backpack and also makes moorland hiking a painful business, so, I fell back on my go-to location for such circumstances, Combestone Tor (50 yds from the car park). I just put my Leica M9 kit into a shoulder bag (right shoulder) and bimbled around the Tor, the conditions were pretty much perfect for B&W, as usual you can see the full story and photos here https://www.ephotozine.com/user/topsyrm-149719/blog.
That’s all for this week folks, thanks for looking in and as always, comments welcome.
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Hope you're feeling better soon, Paul.
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Thanks Kerry, it's slow but I'm getting there.
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Get well soon Paul. Photography is a dangerous business !
Its pleasing to see that the injuries have not affected the quality of your images, beautiful.
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