The Grand Union Canal in Autumn.

I am very fortunate that the Grand Union Canal runs along the rear of my garden . Open the rear gate and i am on the footpath . However , i very rarely venture on there .Which i have realised recently is a shame , as there are some wonderful images to be captured, as well as a good dog walk to go with it . It's only taken me twenty two years of living here to decide to make more regular use of it !!!

Today i was driving the dogs to their normal walk along the River Ouse , when i decided that i would take them somewhere different .

We are very lucky in Milton Keynes that there are a great variety of walks , just a short drive or walk from the centre of town or if , like me , you live in the older parts of MK . We ended up going to a small car park near Stony Stratford . There is a private road that takes you towards the River Ouse . So we headed down the road and took a footpath which takes you along the river Ouse itself .
The dogs love this walk as there are a few big open fields that they can charge around in . Maya , the youngest , has recently realised that it's fun to chase the birds in the fields and then chase them all around the field !! She was running around for nearly half an hour trying to catch the gulls !!

Follow the footpath and you will soon see the famous Iron Bridge Aquaduct . This has been carrying boats along the Grand Union canal and over the river ouse for over two hundred years . It has recently been re-painted and looks wonderful . There are two tunnels that allow livestock and people to pass under the canal , to get to the other side . Nowadays you don't see livestock using the tunnel , but it is still used by walkers , cyclists and dogs . My two love to run back and forth through the tunnel .Once on the other side , there are steps that take you to the towpath and then onto the Aquaduct . It's quite eerie walking through the tunnel . However , my legs go more wobbly walking across the Aquaduct !! It's a long way down to the river and i always make sure i get across as quick as i can . I wouldn't want to be up there if it were to collapse ;-)

We then followed the towpath along the canal heading towards Cosgrove locks . I stopped along the way and took a few photos of the Narrow Boats that are moored up for winter . Some boats are moored up all year round . This makes for a wonderful view as you walk along the path . On a cold day you can smell the smoke from the stoves on the boats . Coal , coke and wood burning away keeping the boats nice and snug.

When i got closer to the locks i couldn't see my dogs . Then saw them running around on the other side of the canal ! They had crossed at the lock without me enticing them to walk along the narrow wooden locks . One of them came back to see me , while the other was still on the other side . As i got closer they both tried to cross at the same time , meeting head on !! Maya was pushing past Mabel and it was very close to one of them going in the canal !!! This would have been the third time in a week for Mabel !! But i was worried about one of them going into the lock itself !! That would have made for a difficult rescue . Unlike the two previous dips in the last week , where she simply fell in the first time and was pushed in by Maya . Both times it's just a case of grabbing her collar and she is out , shaking dirty canal water all over me !! Luckily none of them went in today though. So i crossed myself, taking a public footpath along the nearby farmers field . This takes you back towards the Mill next to the river . You go through two big fields , which were full of more gulls !!! Yes , Maya was in her element again and was running like a race horse , chasing birds in the sky .

As i was crossing the fields , the heavens opened and a downpour started . I didn't have a case to put my camera in . So i put an empty doggy poo bag to good use , covering up the camera body . I used another bag to cover the lens . Plus a cleaning cloth to keep the rain out .

Ten minutes later i was putting my camera back in the Land Rover . Then it was onto trying to get the dogs to get in the back of my vehicle . They were still having fun running through the dry crispy leaves on the floor , so i waited for five minutes until they realised i was waiting for them . Then it was a case of popping them in and then drying myself off before heading home for a warm coffee and a few biscuits ....

Here are a few photos of the walk.

 Ropes laying on the roof of a rather large wide beam barge .

 A smokey chimney would make a nice snug warm interior .

 Chimney with great Autumn colours and a life ring .

 Looking into the canal . With Autumn colours .

 More Autumn colours along the Grand Union canal.

 Holy Trinity Church from the river Ouse .

 The Old Mill between Wolverton and Stony Stratford.

 Part of the Iron Trunk Aquaduct . With a plump Duck taking a rest on the top .

 One of the tunnels that allow you to get to the other side of the canal .

 Autumn leaves floating in a bunch on Grand Union Canal .

 View back from the locks at Cosgrove .

 Cottages at Cosgrove locks .

 Simple name for a Home !!

Watching the world go by from inside his Narrow Boat .
 

Hope you have enjoyed my blog and the images that i have uploaded. Once again comments are always welcome.

For more of my work visit my website - www.eternityimages.co.uk
Many thanks Mark.

A day out photographing Working Dogs .

I was lucky to be invited to a day out with a local shoot on Saturday just past . I went along with a good friend of mine . He had his Springer Spaniel , Daisy, with him . He was there to retrieve with Daisy and a couple of other friends that were with him were there as beaters .

I wasn't sure what to expect when i arrived as this would be my first time at a shoot . I know the people who shoot pay a lot of money to go along and i was looking forward to seeing a few Land Rovers or Range Rovers . As these are a passion of mine . I wasn't to be disappointed , with one Range Rover and two Defenders . One being the same age as mine and one being much newer . The newer one was in my favourite dark silver colour and the other was far better looking than mine !!! I need to get the polish out and get the paint work looking like it can . Rather than looking like it has been driven through a swamp for the last month lol.

Anyway , onto the dogs . There were a few there when we arrived . Three Springer Spaniels, a couple of Black Retrievers and a lovely looking Terrier . More arrived over the next thirty minutes . Which included a gorgeous Cocker Spaniel and a gorgeous Puppy Springer Spaniel .

There was a brief given to all the beaters and dog owners about the safety aspects of the day . Plus telling them what areas they were going to be working that day .
As i took my cameras out of my bag and attached the lenses i was going to use for the day . I could see a few people looking at me , realising i wasn't there to beat or retrieve . I know that some shoots get spies from the Anti brigade . But everyone on the day was really cool with me taking photos and were indeed a very friendly bunch of people . I knew i was in for a good days photography . Plus a good laugh as well . As a lot were like me with my sense of humour . Winding up my good friend about his lack of hair being one of the days topics !!

I wandered around where we were all gathered and started capturing images of the dogs as they were waiting to start a days work . I got some lovely images of dogs having a snooze in the back of cars and others in the back of pick up trucks getting cuddles from their owners . All these dogs were pets and family members . As well as a tool for working the land .

I was introduced to the organiser of the day . Then it was off to the first area of the farm for the first shoot .

I was very aware of being in the way of both the guns and the owners with dogs . So i kept a good distance to get an idea of where would be best for me to position myself to capture the best images . I wanted to capture the whole atmosphere of the day . I didn't want to just take photos of the dogs . I wanted to capture the landscape and the guys with their shotguns as well . I wasn't to be disappointed as i could see some great images opening up in front of me . A couple of ladies standing in the distance with their two Black Retrievers sitting perfectly still . This made for a great image with them all being a small part of the image . The landscape around making up the rest of the image .

It was then time to capture some of the dogs retrieving some of the birds . And the first  of my favourite images from the day was next to be captured . It was a Black Retriever giving the lady owner the Pheasant it had just collected . As they were both on a ridge with strong back light . The image made a fantastic silhouette !!!

We went to a few different areas of the farm . Including a field of maze . Which was interesting to watch from a short distance . As you could see the tall plants moving but you couldn't see the beaters that were in there .  A short walk from here to the last of the morning drives . Then it was time for a lunch break .

Lunch was a nice time to have a chat with the dog owners and beaters . We all sat around our vehicles and in the hay storage barn . The weather was being kind to us . Nice cool breeze and gorgeous sunshine . A good amount of the dog owners came over to me asking to see some of the images i had captured of their dogs . Having seen the expressions on their faces . I could see i was capturing some good images . The type of image that dog owners would purchase . Images of their dogs working !! This gave me a real lift . As it's so nice to get positive feedback about your work .

Lunch over and it was time to start the afternoon shoots . This time it was on more flat land . The morning had seen us all walking across wet muddy fields and up onto some very steep hills . I had realised that this day out wasn't a walk in the park !!! So the flatter land was a god send :-)

More great images of dogs retrieving , people having a great day walking the countryside and some more great silhouettes . One of the last images of the day was a lovely image of the sun setting on what had been a great day out with my cameras , a great day out meeting new people , a great day walking a good few miles . To which i was to suffer later that night , as my legs stiffened up and i realised that i hadn't done any walking on hills for some time . I normally get onto The Lake District Fells at least 6 times a year . But with me getting my own business up and running . The Lakes has taken a back seat this year . Although i am itching to get back up there for a few days , maybe a week before Christmas . I also plan to attatch my roof tent to my Lnad Rover and head for the hills to get to some fantastic locations , so that i can be there bright and early and ready for sunrise.

So keep popping back for when i do manage to get away and , blog about what i hope will be a great time away .
Now some photos from Saturdays day out .
I am aware that some people don't agree with some countryside persuits . If this is the case , you may not want to look at the images . As they contain dogs with freshly killed birds .
Your comments are always welcome . But please don't give me any grief about your views on anti shooting etc . As i firmly believe that we live in a free world and everyone should be entitled to follow what ever way of life they choose . So any anti comments will simply be deleted !!

Thanks for having a read . Hope you enjoy the images .
Take a look at a good range of my images on my website .http://www.eternityimages.co.uk/Home.aspx
Regards Mark

Misty Autumnal Moments

 

As most Landscape photographers will agree Autumn can be one of the best seasons to capture stunning colours in the trees.  I decided to take a walk with my two dogs in one of our local woods at Brickhill this week.  It was a misty day and I think the atmosphere in the woods was particularly special with the Autumnal colours and the mist.  Here are a few of the photos I took. 

 

I think they are quite eerie .............

 

 

 

 

 

 

For more of my Landscape images feel free to visit the Landscape gallery on my website www.eternityimages.co.uk

Autumn colours are coming through . A walk in the woods with the dogs and a camera .

Went out for a walk with the two dogs yesterday . We went to a woodalnd a few miles away from us , called Kings Wood in Heath & Reach, Bedfordshire .

I had been to this woodland a week previous and the Autumn colours were just starting to turn . The Oak's are still green as they seem to be the last to turn their leaves at the end of the season . It's not a huge woodland , or i don't think it is as i haven't really explored fully . But i have found a lovely curcuit walk which takes about an hr with the dogs . And a lot longer when you wander round with your camera !!!

The woodland is on quite sandy soil , so is still good to walk around when it has been raining . As the sand dries up quickly . But somehow the dogs still manage to find muddy puddles and stinky water to play in !!! I will never find where these puddles and stinky water are as the dogs dissapear for a while and come back covered !!

I do have a confession to make about going to this woodland for a walk with dogs and to take photos . I went the day before with the dogs and my camera bag . I had loaded up my backpack to make it easier to carry all my gear . When i was about a mile away from the carpark , i got this feeling that i had forgotten to do something . Then the light switch was switched and 'ping' i realised that i had left my memory card holder in the other bag !!!! But had a slight happy thought that the camera had a card in it . How wrong was i ???? So that day i had to walk around looking at the wonderful light and great photos , with my camera bag on my back and everything packed away !!! Hence the visit the following day , i returned armed with plenty of memoery cards ;-)

I bumped into another photographer when we had been walking for about ten minutes . And if like me you enjoy chatting with other camera enthusiasts ? I was stood chatting for around half an hr . We were visited by a couple of local ponies . One of which tried to get into my pockets for any food i might have . The dogs were very good and just played with each other , rather than annoy the horses .

So here are a small selection of my images from this walk . Hope you enjoy them as much as i enjoyed the second walk !!

 Mabel the Doberman amongst the grasses . Reduced the clarity to give this a softer look .

 Lovely long shadows .

 Tractor tracks in the mud . Where moss has now grown .

 Nice tree stump wit highlights on .

 Wonderful moss on the lower trunk of this mighty Oak .

 Loosing it's bark .

 Amazing colours on the Ferns .

 One of the cheeky Ponies who riffled through my pockets .

I am planning a trip to the Westonbirt Arboretum in the coming week . Weather pending , i will post some images if i do make it .
You can view more of my images on my website http://www.eternityimages.co.uk/Home.aspx

Cheers Mark .

A day out to sunny Brighton . There were 2000+ Land Rovers there to look at as well !!!

Being an owner of several Land Rovers . I always enjoy the London to Brighton Land Rover run . This year however it has been spoilt by the fact that you can no longer leave from Crystal Palace ,due to the new regulations on the London Emmision zones . This means that most Land Rovers can't drive through london , without paying silly amounts of money for the privelage !!! So this year the start point was moved to Epsom . So the run went for Epsom to Brighton  .

This year , having two dogs and no one to stay at our house to look after them . We realised that we wouldn't be able to do the whole event . As you can't fit two Doberman's   and the wifes electric wheelchair in the back of a Defender 90 !! Plus i had some goodies to collect from a friend . I was lucky to get my hands on a set of genuine side steps for my 50th Anniversary Defender  . The image of the 50th in front of the mountains on the link is  my actual vehicle :-) . The previous owner had taken them off for more clearance when out Green Laning and sold them on to fund buying other bits for the vehicle . I have been looking for a set for some time . But the ones i had seen were either battered and bent or way to expensive . I was offered a set from the guy who runs the 50th forum . At a very reasonable rate . So to killl two birds with one stone , we agreed to meet up in Brighton to exchange the cash thatwas burning a hole in my pocket , for a set of shiny side steps .

We set off in very foggy and horrible driving conditions . But as we got closer , the weather got better and better . And when we arrived in Brighton the sun was shining !!!

As there was only 385 50th's made for the UK market , you don't see many at shows . This year however 15 made it to Brighton .Which is a record for the forum .

Money was exchanged and shiny sidesteps were placed in the boot of our car . Then it was off to meet up with friends  old and new . For a cup of tea, some food and an ice cream .

We wandered around looking at all the vehicles that had made it down . Took some photos and let the dogs loose on the beach for a good run . But a word of warning !!! Dobermans will happily steal food from people who are sitting on the beach !! Yes one of mine stole a mouthful of someones fish and chips !! Luckily they had finished eating them , otherwise i would have had to get a replacement meal for them .

We sat down by the beach for a good while with some friends and watched the people go by . There are some great characters in Brighton . And some interesting fashions as well !!

One of our dogs , the youngest one spent about an hr jumping in the air trying to catch the Seagulls flying overhead !! Everyone was looking and laughing at her :-) Typical Doberman , stupid and dopey .

I left my wife chatting to friends for a short while and wandered off with my camera to get some pictures around the Pier .

 View from above the beach .

 Enjoying the beach .

 Relaxing on the beach in the sun .

 The new attraction at Brighton . A smaller version of the London Eye .

 Mabel being happy on the beach .

 Maya looking dopey , as usual !!!

 Underneath the Pier are these doors . Which were used to unload the daily fish catch . Sadly these ones are now derelict and unused .

 A well used Series 1 Land Rover .

 Another Series 1. This one from 1949.

 Close up front view of a Series 1 Land Rover .

 Series 3 Land Rover , trying to hide amongst the trees in the background .

I hope you have enjoyed the photos and the few words i have put together . When i have fitted the side steps , i will post up a few pics . Then sadly the vehicle will be for sale !!! Needs must when you are starting out on your own in business !!!
View more of my images on my website http://www.eternityimages.co.uk/Home.aspx

All the best Mark