SteveTanham – writing, mysticism, photography, poetry, friends

Category: Photographic techniques

June 9, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #StillLight, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Grado Confidential

There was something ‘soft and interesting’ about the image: a simple street scene, shot from our table at an Italian cafe in Grado, on the northern shores of the Adriatic. I played with a few of the settings … and settled on this ‘look’. For some reason it reminded me of the poster image of the film ‘L. A. Confidential’ with its luxurious textures … Read More Grado Confidential

January 14, 2024 + #Photography,, #Silenti, Consciousness, iPhone photography, Lake District, Mindfulness, nature, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose, Seasons of the year

The liquid depth of January

by Steve Tanham

(📩 330 words, a two minute read) I love to discover a scene that epitomises (for me) the main characteristic of each month. January is a particular challenge! I took this one dangling the iPhone precariously over the safety railings of the village’s old bridge. As can be seen, the River Kent is in full flood, though not dangerously so. In mid December, 2015, … Read More The liquid depth of January

December 5, 2023 + #iphonephotography, #Phoetry, #Photography,, #Silenti, nature, Photographic techniques, Photography

Beyond the edge of colour

by Steve Tanham

There comes a time when even the most creative use of ‘pale colour’ results in a lesser image than its equivalent in black and white. When we get a shot for which no amount of digital rescue or fine-tuning will deliver success, it’s time to let the powers of monochrome have a go… Good results can often be achieved by taking the original to … Read More Beyond the edge of colour

December 3, 2023 + #Silenti, Lake District, nature, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Pale December Light

by Steve Tanham

The fading light in December is a challenge. There is a temptation to ‘settle’ for a monochrome approach to taking shots; looking only for high-contrast situations. But there are opportunities for compositions that lend themselves to a limited spread of subtle colours. As a second stage, modern editing tools can be applied to bring out a small selection of colours as highlights – such … Read More Pale December Light

October 22, 2023 + #Phoetry, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

The waterways of Bolton-le-Sands

by Steve Tanham

It’s like a Dutch canal system in miniature. It’s usually freezing cold, and seems to go dark quicker, there, than anywhere else we visit. Welcome to the hidden gem of the shore at Bolton-le-Sands, Lancashire. There’s a main channel that divides the long shoreline in two. The collie loves it, as she can vault over the narrow waters in pursuit of the frisbee; then … Read More The waterways of Bolton-le-Sands

October 15, 2023 + #Silenti, Consciousness, nature, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Silver Fast Thread

by Steve Tanham

I’ve often thought what a testimonial to the speed of the modern mind a motorway is. As our principal driver (though my wife is just as competent), I seldom get chance to take photographs. But when this deluge hit the M6, just south of Kendal, she was driving us to meet with her sister in Morecambe. I already had the phone camera in my … Read More Silver Fast Thread

October 8, 2023 + #Phoetry, #Poetry, #Silenti, #TravelwithaMysticalEye, Ancient Landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Summer skin

by Steve Tanham

©Stephen Tanham 2023 Stephen Tanham is a writer, mystical teacher and Director of the Silent Eye, a correspondence-based journey through the forest of personality to the dawn of Being. http://www.thesilenteye.co.uk and http://www.suningemini.blog

October 3, 2023 + #Silenti, #TravelwithaMysticalEye, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography

A Donegal Journey (3) The Last Inch

by Steve Tanham

We thought we’d save it for the final day of our time in Co. Donegal but then – on the way back from visiting a nearby hilltop ring fort and surviving a gale that tried to hurl us off the elevated walkways – we felt in need of a gentler experience. Driving back to our rented cottage, we passed the Inch Banks causeway that … Read More A Donegal Journey (3) The Last Inch

August 20, 2023 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Photographic techniques, Photography, Travel

Edinburgh Fringe 2023

by Steve Tanham

Our first ‘Fringe’. Three days of hectic dashing from one side of the city to the other to find small or even tiny venues where the hopeful entertainers work their socks off. We loved it… but couldn’t have taken another day. Fabulous drama, incredible live music and acrobatic skills to make you gasp. Our favourite was a street juggler cum knife thrower cum reincarnated … Read More Edinburgh Fringe 2023

August 13, 2023 + #Silenti, Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose, Short stories

Yard 17

by Steve Tanham

Kendal has a network of old alleyways. I’ve written about them before. They form useful shortcuts across the town. A kind of ancient ‘worm-hole’ is how it feel when you’re striding along one, knowing that you’re shaving precious seconds off the normal time; or sheltered, collar up on the long raincoat, from the cutting wind and rain of a Cumbrian January. Yard 17 is … Read More Yard 17

August 8, 2023 + #Silenti, Consciousness, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Soul, soul in body

Parabolic Spirits

by Steve Tanham

A friend and I were talking about parabolas; those strange curves which take a wide section of incoming light (or other electromagnetic transmissions) and reflect it back to a single point, concentrated. The radio telescope is a good example. The tiny radio waves from distant objects in space are bounced back off the parabolic dish to a ‘collector’. The two of us (on different … Read More Parabolic Spirits

July 30, 2023 + #Silenti, Consciousness, English Lake District, nature, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Insurgent Thistle

by Steve Tanham

The come by stealth; just when you think the summer landscape is settling down for its slow decline to autumn… Aggressive, spiky green – enough to make you walk several paces to one side. The thistle knows how to make an entrance. But then that beautiful flower emerges; an inonimate shade somewhere between vibrant pink and soothing lilac. A wonderful paradox, reminding us that … Read More Insurgent Thistle