I don’t tend to stray to far from home in the winter. Maybe it is a hibernation thing, or I am just lazy! January tends to be my time for catching up on all the non-urgent admin jobs put off during the previous year and planning photography trips for the coming year - assuming we will ever be allowed out.
So, I have been fortunate that the UK’s third Covid-19 lockdown hasn’t really had a major impact on my plans so far. I made one trip out of the village for a paying job that had to be done this winter but apart from that I have kept my excursions to places I can reach on foot through muddy fields.
Snow rarely visits home. While most of the country seems to have enjoyed several periods of snow this year, we have only seen one light dusting that was gone almost as soon as it arrived. Rain and cloud have been the constant during the short days of winter, but that suits me.
There are several circular walks I can do from home and each has one or two subjects that never fail to hold my interest. This row of oak trees is currently my favourite. The footpath is north of the trees and at this time of year the low sun to the south often illuminates cloud behind the trees turning them into wonderful, intricate silhouettes. When dark rainclouds hang in the sky overhead at the same time it is hard to walk away.
I am finding the images from my infrared camera perfect for some low-key treatment. The end results are full of the wintery darkness I feel when I am out there on my walks.
