photography – dwelling in possibility

Angus …advises on Anglesey beaches

Angus in a reflective mood at Llanddwyn,on the Island of Anglesey. “There is nothing to beat a day on the beach… except maybe one with a good cafe a stick throw away from it!”

Angus’s beach tips:

1. As always it pays to investigate doggie rules on each beach before visiting. Especially to avoid confusion on the split ones e.g. Dogs to the left only…if you are not prewarned by the time you have read the sign doggie will surely have sprinted off… to the right!

2. Check the status of the local birds (feathered!), April to September can often be off limits on the whole beach or certain areas to prevent curious kanines disturbing eggs or scaring off parents. Did you know that this is a prosecutable offence?

3. Beaches are often remote and not all have hot drinks and food nearby. For example Newborough is definitely worth a visit and has good toilet facilities but only snack food at high season. The wind sure blows cold out there!

4. Examine the outdoor shower carefully before using it to rinse off sand. There are shower heads and operation leavers at doggie and human height. Confusion over the correct leaver has resulted in a drenching experience for startled dog and owner!

5. Prepare to stay for ages…you will love it here! Photographic evidence below:

Plenty to watch and explore

New friends to meet

Penmore point with it’s picturesque lighthouse

And Llanddwyn Island. This is truly a magical spot reached by a short causeway from Newborough beach

Dog tales from Keswick

This week saw us pack up and head to the lakes for a much needed tranquility top up. Torrential rain,wind snow and glorious sun made sure our short trip was full of drama and beauty. The soft light was perfect for photography and the people we met a joyful inspiration for my new street art project. Angus starts so many conversations and enables me to explore what makes Keswick buzz in such a unique way. Daily life for the locals and tales of travel and adventure from fellow visitors inspired some impromptu street art which I hope captures a little of the delicious atmosphere. There is something magical about the smile on a face or a far away look that opens the door to the mysteries that might lie behind it…

Angus of course met some new playmates…

… Supervised by the local wildlife

Teasing – I won’t turn round for a photo!

A swan family inches away from us on the pier!

No Angus -this is not a real sheep

That’s better- a local ‘Herdie’

… and took in the spectacular views

Oh that light! Just look at how it bounces, sparkles and throws moody shadows, adding atmosphere to these street -photos and the stories that they tell.

I indulged one of my passions- photographing from strange angles and focusing in reflections in puddles.

… meanwhile Angus does what he knows best-relaxing!

Many thanks to Dolly,Dawn,Steven, Max,George and Charlie for being so patient and allowing me to photograph them and share part of their days. It certainly made ours!

Learning to live in the moment

Learning to live in the moment is something that I have become acutely aware of lately- the discipline of thinking predominantly about what is happening now,not the future and certainly not the past. This is a work in progress but has been liberating and rewarding, and yes, making me healthier and happier!

This is easiest for me to do in my photography. Where ever I am ‘looking’ for a photo opportunity focuses my senses:on smell; colour and tone; sound and perspective. Those who know me will be aware that I spend my walks peering into flowers and crouching on the ground to get a better view. The thing is this wonderful world is even more incredible the closer we really look!

The mind however is a peculiar beast and in my case completely omitted creative practice from the present moment process. That is until references to artistic freedom – creative living in the moment- began to crop up everywhere. Psychologists call it ‘selective attention’ and the lay people among us prefer the ‘red car syndrome’ (you know- buy a red car and suddenly there seem to be red cars everywhere because you n
otice them more). Whichever- it has convinced me to take risks and go with serendipitous ‘mistakes’ and chance happenings in my painting rather than doggedly sticking to the original plan at the cost of originality. I am naturally stubborn and resistant to change so it has taken much time and many hard knocks to persuade me to trust in something other than myself. Photography seems to have helped me to accept this process as I naturally look for strange angles and quirky shots. My husband calls them ‘Maggie pictures’! Anyhow- here is to artistic freedom and being brave enough to embrace it … and show the results 😉

Zoom in and take a close peek at the snail.

I love close ups of spider webs.pictures in puddles.