River Kent – Sun in Gemini

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

January 26, 2025 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, Lake District, landscapes

A Bridge of Frost

by Steve Tanham

There’s a tiny road that leads out of our village of Sedgwick, to cross the deep gorge of the often thundering River Kent. A quarter of a mile later it connects with the busy A590 that links the M6 motorway with the heart of The Lake District. There is usually one day, often in January, when a severe winter frost turns the leafless and … Read More A Bridge of Frost

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

July 24, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Photography,, #Silenti, nature

Summer evening in the gorge

by Steve Tanham

The sun was starting to set when we took the collie for her final walk; along the old canal path … … and down across the fields to emerge at the old bridge over the River Kent. There are certain evenings when the mellowness of the water on limestone is exquisite. Worth taking a few detailed shots to show it off. Still filled with … Read More Summer evening in the gorge

June 25, 2024 + #iphonephotography, #Silenti, nature, Travel

Hot, sultry river

by Steve Tanham

It doesn’t happen often in these parts. You have to make the best of what I call the ‘sultry light’ when it does… The rich greens and golds take on a different hue… more ‘earthy’, a bit like a child’s fairy story. Even the River Kent feels subdued; as though it would rather pose for photos than thunder through the Sedgwick Gorge. ©Stephen Tanham … Read More Hot, sultry river

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 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

September 17, 2023 + #Silent Eye, #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, landscapes, Photography

The waters of early autumn

by Steve Tanham

As a child, I remember being conscious of a few autumn days that had a ‘special gold’ in them. Walking the collie by the River Kent, I realised we were experiencing another. I looked down at the surface of the water and knew I had a short time to record one of the special moments that characterise such mellowness. ©Stephen Tanham 2023 Stephen Tanham … Read More The waters of early autumn

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April 25, 2023 + #Silenti, Ancient Landscapes, Consciousness, Lake District, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose, Seasons of the year

A Rite of Spring Green

by Steve Tanham

As dwellers on the southern edge of the English Lake District, we are very conscious of the seasons. The dawning of what I call ‘the real Spring’ is a feeling rather than an exact date. It is triggered by the sight of a certain shade of green in the local forest’s foliage. I couldn’t define that green; simply state that it has a ‘voice’ … Read More A Rite of Spring Green

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…

August 21, 2022 + #Silenti, Lake District, landscapes, Photographic techniques, Photography

Time, place and lens

by Steve Tanham

The River Kent forms a natural heart to the village of Sedgwick. The river has many faces. In 2015 it saw some of the worst floods in the region’s history. But most of the time, it’s peaceful and beautiful. It has some special moods, but you have to be there to photograph them. Not a matter of skill, rather right place at the right … Read More Time, place and lens

April 24, 2022 + #Silenti, Lake District, nature, Photographic techniques, Photography, Places and Prose, Silent Eye School

Light in the Park

by Steve Tanham

It’s not a park in the usual sense of the word. Levens Park is the ancestral home of the Bagot Family who maintain a footpath along both sides of the often turbulent River Kent as it winds its last mile out to join the vast expanse of Morecambe Bay. The ‘park’ is the perfect place to walk the collie. A round trip from Sedgwick … Read More Light in the Park