The opportunity for a January morning walk in the mist in Glastonbury. Everything still, muted and serene…
The last series of images I took in mist were in Ely, Cambridgeshire in 2022. Boats in the Mist focussed upon narrowboats and river boats on the River Great Ouse; we were living aboard a narrowboat at the time. Now back on dry land, the location has changed dramatically but the mist always presents opportunities to abstract the world.
The above image was one I felt captured the moment. More images at murpworkschrome
I return to blog, this blog in particular after a considerable amount of time. I realise that although a lot has changed, a lot hasn’t. When I pinned the image of the Ukraine flag to the top of the blog in 2022, I thought it would be a temporary thing. I thought a few months, and a sense would have returned to the world. In 2026 however, the world has become a less sensible place; more wars, the threat of AI, Social media’s manipulation, a further moving to the right across Europe and the world. It feels as if there is little an individual can do, so I photograph.
Change is Constant
Looking back through the first part of light on a lens, I see the car has changed, where we live has changed, the cameras I use have changed and what we want to do has changed. As a consequence, what I photograph has changed. However, murpworkschrome will remain the home of my images
I photograph in black & white and colour, although black and white is probably going to dominate. I’m predominantly using a Nikon Z 7 II with a Z 28mm f2.8 lens. I’m going to start using the Fujifilm XPro-1 and from the end of May, I will have the Nikon Df again; I immediately regretted selling it but have managed to obtain one in a great condition (thanks to MPB).
So, a return to blog – renewed vigour in a time of uncertainty and worry.
Following on from seeing the marina in the mist, another misty morning presented itself. This time, the mist was thick, as thick as fog in places. There is a distinct difference between the two as discussed here, but I will go with mist.
I love the indistinctness the mist brings. Images can be conjured out of the air. Objects loom or recede with a delicate fall-off that is difficult to replicate without it. There is mystery. I used both the Fujifilm X100V and the Fujifilm XPRO1 (with the 50mm f2 lens) and was very pleased with the images from both.
On my walk, I limited myself to the marina and the river Great Ouse around Waterside and along to the railway bridge, in Ely. The subjects of structures, trees and boats made great images. I was particularly pleased with several.
Here are some of the images taken for another misty morning, with the Fujifilm X100V. Find more at larger size, at murpwokschrome
Since moving to what can be considered the side of the river Great Ouse (I’m in a marina, just off the river), I’ve seen swans. Every day, a flock of swans appear by the slipway at Waterside (though in truth, there are only a handful). They are there, waiting for tourists to feed them. The feeders are rewarded with waddling hulks of bird within arms length. Occasionally, a glide by in the river itself.
So, I’ve bee trying to capture the essence of a swan in a photograph. It’s early days yet but some of my attempts are up on murpworkschrome.
I initially started photographing in colour but I feel my best effort so far has been in B+W. See what you think, I’m posting the best image from several separate attempts here.
Taken from my first attempt in Swan 2022 at murpworkschrome – I feel colour works here
From Swan I 2022 at murpworkschrome – Colour but maybe B+W would have been better to ‘abstract’ the shape
Swapping to black and white from Swan 2022 at murpworkschrome – B+W and beautiful but the top of the image distracts
The latest from Single Swan 2022 at murpworkschrome – B+W and getting there…
I’ll keep on the look out for a flock of swans in future, whilst trying to capture the essence of these magnificent birds.
A first real treat of the experiencing the marina in the mist here in Ely. It took me straight back to A Misty Morning used in the Contact Card post. There was an ethereal feel, just like before. I find I really like the indistinct. I think it’s the idea that a thing has the possibility be something else. There is mystery.
From a photographic perspective, it provides great opportunities for mood. The autofocus hunts at times, depending upon the thickness of the mist or fog but it worked in most cases. Manually focussing is always a solution.
I was using my newly obtained, old Fujifilm XPRO1 with its new 50mm lens. It captured the images in black and white just how I wanted them to be.
In the flat field in Cambridgeshire. I now live in a remarkably flat area of the country. This image was taken looking out toward Queen Adelaide. Looking out across the land, it made me think of Bauhaus
“I do get bored, I get bored…” (Bauhaus)
Head over to murpworkschrome to see an ever so slightly different take in Field II
I love tea but each morning, I climb the hill from Waterside to Market Square for coffee. On each day of the week, come rain or shine, the large black trailer from Silver Oak Coffee is stationed in the square. All except Monday’s that is. However, there is a solution to Mondays…
The Bagel Bar is open and selling Silver Oak Coffee coffee.
Cawdle Fen is situated just outside of the city of Ely. It is a drainage board for the surrounding area, taking rainwater from the higher area, into the river Great Ouse.
This was a first walk I took, in which to photograph. It had been raining slightly and this provided a doomy, moody feel.
Between Two Boats
“You’re Going the Wrong Way!”
A Cut in the Landscape
The Curve
Tracks
To the Bridge
Passing…
I’ve added the best images of this day to murpworkschrome here and here.
Ely is famous for several things but one of the main ones is: its cathedral.
Founded in 672, it stands atop a hill in the flat landscape of Cambridgeshire. It has been likened to a ship: The Ship of the Fens. I see it every day and it stone pervades any walk I take around the small city.
Initially, I photographed in the cathedral in colour. This is my second attempt at capturing something of the majesty of the building, this time in black and white.
The following photograph was taken on a walk, back from the garage (had to take the car in for some work) and it’s the one I really like.
Go to murpworkschrome to see further images of the walk’s Ely cathedral.
A lot of boats of varying sizes can be found on the river Great Ouse. The river is serviced by the Cathedral Marina, Waterside in Ely. It provides the facility to lift boats out of the water and does this via a boat lift. It is basically a metal frame, with straps that can be placed underneath a boat, and the boat lifted out of the water.
The marina has a fixed boat lift that faces onto the Great Ouse. However, around the back, it has an older, movable lift. This is (or was) basically a large wheeled crane, which presumably used similar straps to the fixed boat lift.
It sits out of the way and provides a looming presence but one of old power, waning…
