Barnbow

This is Barnbow in Elmet and near Leeds. 100 years ago the country's largest munition factory stood here. It was developed to produce shells for the First World War. Opened in December 1915 it employed 16,000 people at its peak and shipped half a million tons of ammunition to the front. By the end of the war the workforce was 93% women - The Barnbow Lasses. The factory is now all but gone.

Barwick

I cycled to Barwick in Elmet, the old capital of the kingdom, to try and get a better shot of the remains of the castle mound there. Not sure that I succeeded, I'll just have to keep trying. It is not an easy thing to photograph.

Albania 2

In Albania I remember the pleasing lack of cars, and soldiers holding hands as they walked around Tirane. All good. This shot was taken from a hotel, as a crocodile file of children head to school one spring morning. 31 years ago.

 

Albania 1

Taken from a trip to Albania in 1989, when the country was still very much a Communist State. I really liked it. This was in a park where people played chess out in the open.

Studio 2

This must have been from the same studio as yesterday's shot. That is not Mike, and the shot is not as good as the hat-shot but still interesting I think

Old Slides

Looking through my photo library. Came across this, taken in a recording studio where Mike Gregovic was working. I just saw the hat and light, took the shot. I remember no more about it.

Wykeham

Had a good walk up at Wykeham Forest in the North York Moors. Great to let the dog run free and roam the forest.

 

Wolds 2

 

One of the things about having done the book on the Wolds is that I don't feel the need to capture it on film with the same intensity that I used to. I can relax a bit now. Then the light does something like this, and I just have to catch it - never mind the book. This is right on the top of the Wolds looking south east.

Wolds 1

 Danielle was busy studying for her MA, so Rowan and I went a walk in the Wolds with the dog. It was very windy, but great to get out there again. Here are the two photogenic members of the party.

Ouse

 The Ouse was very full this week. Had a good walk south of York. Autumn definitely in full swing.

Lunch Break

This was where Layla and I had lunch last week as we walked aside the river Aire. It is a bridge taking a gas pipe over the river. 

Office Life

Three of us together in one small office was difficult with 2 separate zoom calls going on at once, so Rowan has tried out setting up her office upstairs. It fits in really well. Miss her down here though.

Whoopers

Walked on Hatfield Moors last week, and saw these whooper swans on one of the flashes. I have not seen one for a number of years so it was good to see them: much more exciting than your standard mute swan.

Family Affair

 

Here are two of Layla's four siblings. Photos of the other two to follow as we near their 1st birthday.

 

For Peat's Sake

 

The ancient peat bogs of Hatfield Moor have been saved from further commercial extraction and probable extinction. They had not counted on Layla though. As I sat having my lunchtime bap I noticed said dog excavating said peat. Luckily she was distracted by a mangy dog-treat and the moor was saved.

Steeton 2

This is another shot of the Steeton Gate House - I was surprised to find this corbel on the sheltered bit of the building. I really like it.

Barkston Ash

 Another photo from my book ride last week. This is an ash tree at Barkston Ash, the old capital of a wapentake of Yorkshire. Ash trees definitely benefit from being seen without leave; their strange irregular mass of branches come alive when leaves are not around to smooth their ragged outlines.

Steeton

I rode through Elmet taking some photographs for the book. This is the 14th Century Steeton Hall gatehouse. Simple but very pleasing.

Waters Rising

Plenty of water in the River Ouse yesterday when I cycled over the swing bridge. I had a mechanical and faced a walk home of a mile or so, so I was glad to meet friend Steve and walk back with him and have a lockdown catch up.

The Election

In our household we have been in a type of horrific paralysis since the US election. This seemed the best photo to post. Taken in DC in 2003. The two crossed out words are attempts at the spelling of "trust", one was correct.

Viaduct

I got a walk in before Lockdown 2.0 starts on Thursday. This is a viaduct on the long-gone Axholme Railway that ran across the peat bogs to the Isle of Axholme. It is crossing 3 parallel drainage and transport dikes. I find its small scale really pleasing. 

Harrogate

I went away for a few days in Harrogate to concentrate on my Elmet book. It went really well, and I feel I now know what I have to do, and how I will go about doing it. Onto page 20 now!

The weather was terrible, which was great for me, as it kept me at my desk. I did get out to stretch my legs, and take a few shots of the town.

Taken near the old pump house - Harrogate was originally a Victorian Spa Town.