If you read my previous post about spending a few days in Dorset doing some landscape photography… I didn’t go. I haven’t been completely well for the past few months and the final straw arrived in the form of Storm Agnes. Neither I, nor my little Smart car do well in strong winds and it would have put paid to all the seascapes and anything with trees. Sadly, I didn’t cancel until after the cabin had been paid in full and I wasn’t entitled to a refund, but it was the right decision made for the right reasons. If I’m up to trying next year, then at least I will have done all my research in advance.
These images were taken earlier this year along a local footpath. A couple of days earlier, I had driven all the way to Thursley Common in Surrey. It used to be one of my favourite spots, but had been out of bounds for many years due to a terrible fire that destroyed all the boardwalks. Having discovered that the reserve was fully open again, I set off on the M25, but got stuck in terrible traffic jams. One accident on the way there and another on the way back, with major roadworks thrown in for good measure. A one hour drive took the best part of two and a half hours each way and I didn’t get much time to explore.
Two days later, I decided to try again, but opted for somewhere much closer to home. However, turning off our lane onto the main A road, I found that it was closed and I had to resort to using my Sat Nav. That took me on a guided tour of every long and winding lane in the area and a drive of just twenty minutes took an hour. Parking up in my normal spot, I set off up the track, but had only gone a few yards when it started raining. I returned to the car and waited for it to stop, but it turned out to be a long wait.
One and a half hours later, I finally emerged to discover that a narrow and overgrown footpath isn’t such a good idea after rain, if you are wearing tracksuit bottoms. The wet grass soaked through my trousers in a matter of minutes and I was wet from my waist to my ankles.
I still had a lovely time looking for bugs and on my way back to the car, I came across this stunning aberrated garlic snail – oxychilius arialius. I spent some time taking photographs, while he munched on the flower. Of course, he wouldn’t have emerged at all if it hadn’t rained so hard.
Steve
20 Oct 2023The trials and tribulations of a photographer! However, this is a super shot that needs to be framed 🙂
Zooey
21 Oct 2023Thank you Steve. I wish we had the room, but the study is already full. I do make matted and framed images for my desktop. They change every minute, so it’s a bit like having my own private gallery 🙂
Sid
26 Oct 2023Another adventure, a great wonderful photo! Love it ♥️
Ciao
Sid
Zooey
26 Oct 2023Thank you Sid. Isn’t every day an adventure? 🙂