Photography
We hiked the far side of Ullswater from Patterdale and Glenridding. There’s a famous painting by JMW Turner of this view in 1797 (now in the Tate Gallery). It’s instructive to compare the artist’s view and choices compared with the natural landscape. My first picture shows my personal view of Ullswater with Patterdale Old Hall, two hundred years later.
However forcing a picture of a particular view doesn’t always work: Patterdale Old Hall is now unimportant whereas nearby Glenridding is a bustling village which gained unwanted attention due to the flooding following Storm Desmond in December 2015. So I prefer the view framed through the trees and the stone wall, the superficial summer time peace concealing the recent devastation and distress.
But then the publishers of postcards and calendars often feature the open view with the skyline of the Helvellyn range reflected on the surface of Ullswater.
Interesting also having visited Petworth Park just a week ago, the stately home of one of the artist’s major admirers: Nature or Nurture?
Petworth House Park in Sussex. I rather like the expansive park with views to the South Downs beyond: the classic contrast of Nature and Nurture accentuated by the summer colours. The park’s a design by “Capability” Brown. Petworth, the home of the Dukes of Somerset, is more usually famous for its art collection, notably Holbein’s portrait of Henry VIII and many works by JMW Turner.
Victorian railway architecture brings its own elegance to the railway experience. Brighton has long played the part of elegant seaside pleasure town since the Prince Regent established his party pavilion here before even Queen Victoria came to the throne in 1837. Brighton railway station was opened in 1840 then expanded in 1882-3, including the fine canopy of glazed ironwork designed by H.E. Wallis.
Beds of tulips flowering for Easter outside Buckingham Palace, London. Lots of colour, even the taxis aren’t black! A glint of sunshine making the gold shine on the Victoria monument. First picture with my new phone’s camera, using the digital negative workflow: I’ve not used graduated filters but a bit of adjustment of the contrast. The small format sensor of the S7 gives a “thick” or “heavy” image quality but there’s lots of detail and colour range, if not subtlety.
