SteveTanham – writing, mysticism, photography, poetry, friends

Category: Ancient Landscapes

The flight from Montreal had been short and pleasant. Through the aircraft’s small window, the pastoral landscape of Prince Edward Island (PEI) was expanding into detailed view as our plane from Montreal jostled with the final air currents and descended to land at Charlottetown, the island’s capital. Below us stretched the gentle hills and estuaries of PEI, many of which we would encounter, albeit … Read More Wooden Ships (4 – final) The Lighthouse at Possibility’s End

September 25, 2025 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Mindfulness, Nature and seasons

The soft and clear light of September

by Steve Tanham

September one of my favourite months, though I’m always sad to see the summer end. September is a kind of ‘transition zone’ between the golden end of the warm months and their colder counterparts that live on the edge of true winter. For us on the southern edge of the Lake District, it’s a time when, on the right clear-skied morning, getting the dog … Read More The soft and clear light of September

August 5, 2025 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, #TravelwithaMysticalEye, Ancient Landscapes, landscapes, Travel and Photography

August comes to the Levens Estate

by Steve Tanham

In August, a wonderful peacefulness descends on the estate around Levens Hall – the ancestral home of the Baggot family. The Levens Estate is a few miles south-west of the Cumbrian town of Kendal. The recently upgraded cafe – with its large, open courtyard – makes for an ideal destination by car or, as with me and the Collie, on foot. Many people walk … Read More August comes to the Levens Estate

May 22, 2025 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes

Hidden Valley

by Steve Tanham

Alness: about ten miles north of Inverness on the famous A9 highland road to John O’ Groats and the port of Thurso. We hadn’t planned to visit Alness but an internet lookup for a decent pharmacy showed it was the closest supermarket town to where we were staying on The Black Isle. We bought our supplies at the supermarket then parked up and wandered … Read More Hidden Valley

January 9, 2025 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District

An icy walk in Lakeland

by Steve Tanham

Deep winter comes to the Lakes. Our tiny village of Sedgwick is perilous – already lacking in footways, people are strapping spiked soles onto their shoes in order to get around, But the beauty remains … is even enhanced by the glittering danger. And tomorrow is expected to be even colder… -🔷- ©Stephen Tanham 2024 All photos taken and processed on an iPhone 12 … Read More An icy walk in Lakeland

December 22, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Mystical walks

A Lion in Winter

by Steve Tanham

It’s there quite clearly in the trunk. A lion, claws embedded firmly in the old wood to support its descending weight. Head down, eyes fixed on, well, you! Microseconds from reaching the ground, where it will be lord of life and death. I’ve passed here many times, but never seen it before. That’s the joy of winter light. It’s a whole n’other world out … Read More A Lion in Winter

November 3, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, #TravelwithaMysticalEye, Ancient Landscapes, Lake District, nature

Last Leaves

by Steve Tanham

There’s always a day when you know you are walking among the ‘last of the leaves’. Following the River Kent along the last mile of its length is a good way to experience the ´final fading’ of the Autumn landscape. The steep banks of the river are covered in a variety of old trees – some of them dating back over a hundred years. … Read More Last Leaves

September 3, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Anger management, Canal du Midi, Castles

Seven from Carcassonne

by Steve Tanham

I didn’t expect to be going back to Carcassonne in 2024. A few years ago, we began our cycling trip along the Canal du Midi here. I wrote extensively about the trip at the time. But then my son, who recently moved their family to Canada as part of a job promotion, announced he had booked a few days in Carcassonne to allow the … Read More Seven from Carcassonne

August 18, 2024 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, iPhone photography, Lake District

Summer comes to Kendal

by Steve Tanham

A simple (self) assignment… I was on my way to a haircut in Kendal and – leaving the main car park – I emerged into ‘bright soft sunshine’. It’s a feeling that only happens a few times each year and it has a definite ‘sweet’ quality to it. I decided to try to capture the light (in all senses of the word) mood in … Read More Summer comes to Kendal

July 31, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes

The river and the old bridge mills

by Steve Tanham

The Old Bridge mills once formed the heart of Kendal’s industry. They have since been converted into offices and other commercial properties. The River Kent flows right through their heart, providing a dramatic urban landscape which can be seen from the castle, a twenty minute walk away. The height of summer is a good time to reach into this landscape and capture its lushness. … Read More The river and the old bridge mills

July 2, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness

Bigness…

by Steve Tanham

Some landscapes are just so ‘big’ – in several ways – that you can feel your self being drawn out from your body and into them. There to ‘fly around’, experiencing the curves, the rocks, waters, gradients and breezes that whisper. Some landscapes… ©Stephen Tanham 2024 All photos taken and processed on an iPhone 12 ProMax or created using NightCafe Studio AI. Stephen Tanham is … Read More Bigness…

June 30, 2024 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Photography, Travel and Photography

Santa Croce

by Steve Tanham

It’s just across the bridge; but it’s another world. The bridge in question is the Rialto, which spans the Grand Canal – the central waterway of Venice, so it’s not your everyday transition. On the St Mark’s Square side is Venice at its most popular – and busy. On this side, you can walk till you come to a dead end… or get lost, … Read More Santa Croce