SteveTanham – writing, mysticism, photography, poetry, friends

Category: Photographic techniques

December 4, 2022 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Photographic techniques, Photography, Silent Eye School, Travel, Travel and people

Devon Drive (1)

by Steve Tanham

From the ages of two to fourteen, I lived in a small village called Ainsworth, halfway between Bolton and Bury, in old Lancashire. The streets in the new estate were named after places in Devon. The main trunk avenue, where our home was, was Devon Drive; others included Kingsbridge Avenue and Salcombe Avenue. I’d never been to Devon, and these sounded exotic. It was … Read More Devon Drive (1)

November 27, 2022 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, English Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography

Pale sun, November river…

by Steve Tanham

That moment when you look up and realise that the sun is as high as it’s going to get … and, yes, it’s the end of November. On our ‘town and castle’ walk, the Collie and I pass over this old stone bridge and gaze down at the silver-gold of the river Kent. And reflect… ©Stephen Tanham 2022 Stephen Tanham is a Director of … Read More Pale sun, November river…

November 22, 2022 + #Humour, #Silenti, Dark Humour, English Lake District, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Goths on the Lake?

by Steve Tanham

A mid-November trip to Keswick and one of its two lakes – Derwent Water. The last few days of the visit of our artist friend from Oz, before she leaves for a final rendezvous in Manchester and then the long journey back home to Melbourne. A week with us then she had two days with a fellow artist and his engineer wife… who happen … Read More Goths on the Lake?

November 20, 2022 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose, Travel and Photography

The bridge over the railway at Grange

by Steve Tanham

The railway made Grange-over-Sands; and part of that legacy is a wonderful but decidedly odd-looking metal bridge over the line as you’re leaving the town to the West – in the direction of Barrow-in-Furness. It’s a favourite piece of architecture – mainly for the photogenic views up the line, as in the cover shot… The giant L-shaped structure dominates this part of the promenade. … Read More The bridge over the railway at Grange

November 15, 2022 + #Silenti, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Silent Eye School, Travel, Travel and Photography

Orkney’s hidden jewel – the Stromness Museum

by Steve Tanham

My iPad, on which I do most of my writing, these days, threw up a random picture of a marine clock the other day. I recognised it as dating to when we made our first visit to Orkney in 2018, staying in the busy port of Stromness. Stromness has an excellent local history museum. An entire room is concerned with the town’s links to … Read More Orkney’s hidden jewel – the Stromness Museum

November 13, 2022 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Consciousness, English Lake District, Photographic techniques, Photography

The shifting beach…

by Steve Tanham

What I love about the beaches around Morecambe Bay is the way you can go back a day later and find them completely changed. Heysham Beach, near Morecambe, is a wonderful example. In autumn, the tides get stronger, and the landscape upon which you walk – often a liminal zone between rock and sand – changes with each tide. Which is good news for … Read More The shifting beach…

November 6, 2022 + #Silenti, Consciousness, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Scotland

Long Tau Cross

by Steve Tanham

I just love it when you’re looking to capture something artistic, as opposed to just landscape, and nature conspires to assist… There’s a long beach walk that links Rosemarkie, on the Black Isle, north of Inverness, with the lighthouse at Chanonry Point. Halfway along, the sun became so bright that its autumnal ‘long flat’ rays began to create a glare in my side vision. … Read More Long Tau Cross

November 3, 2022 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Consciousness, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography

Homage to Hopper by roadlight

by Steve Tanham

One of my favourite artists is the American Edward Hopper. His ‘Nighthawks’ is a study in late-night loneliness, set in a bar/diner whose light is a stark and emotional contrast to the isolating darkness outside. He also painted isolated and often abandoned scenes, such as outdated petrol (gas) stations; again with a very ‘still’ emotional fascination. The figures within the bar still have barriers: … Read More Homage to Hopper by roadlight

October 30, 2022 + #Humour, #NightMoves, #Silenti, landscapes, mystery, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Night beginnings…

by Steve Tanham

I love images that pull you in and suggest what might follow… ‘The car behind had been gaining on her for the past few minutes, getting closer with every mile. How far was she from civilisation! Would she be able to outrun him…assuming it was a him!’ —- ‘He looked ahead and saw the car slowing… No! It had stopped. And he was hurtling … Read More Night beginnings…

October 23, 2022 + #Silenti, Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography, Seasons of the year

Stages of Mellow

by Steve Tanham

I find the autumn has distinct stages, and that these are subtly different on the coast. I suppose the adjacent presence of the sea – with its residual warmth from the summer – has a modifying effect on the foliage of the trees, but this may be fanciful on my part. Either way, as colour fades, the intensity of shadows becomes more important; knowing … Read More Stages of Mellow

October 18, 2022 + #Humour, #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Ancient Sacred Sites, Consciousness, English Lake District, Lake District, Photographic techniques, Photography, Travel and people

Cartmel, anarchy and the perfect morning…

by Steve Tanham

The Cumbrian village of Cartmel is most famous for its racecourse, but it is difficult to find any part of it that is not also beautiful or at least interesting. There are also examples here of innovative responses to hard times… Something we all need to take note of. Cartmel lies two miles northwest of Grange-over-Sands, on the northern edge of Morecambe Bay, just … Read More Cartmel, anarchy and the perfect morning…

October 16, 2022 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Lake District, Mindfulness, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose

Bardsea Sunset

by Steve Tanham

Just about my favourite shot of October so far. Bardsea is a vast beach a few miles along the coast road from Ulverston. It looks south over Morecambe Bay and is a favourite walk for dog owners. Frisbees can be thrown ‘for miles’! When we returned to the car, the sun was setting and I could see its reflection in one of the pools. … Read More Bardsea Sunset