Spring

Spring is here! Flowers are popping up everywhere, and blue sky is dominating the South East of England. I love spring, I love that after a long winter where the cold cuts through the bones and the tree branches are covered in frost and snow, creating skeletal shapes on horizons making it seem like winter will never end. I love that after what seems like months of dark nights, and freezing mornings the earth comes alive again with a big bang. Over night (or so it seems) flowers spring from the ground and from trees, and blossom guides my way on pavements, instead of ice and rain. This year I'm embracing all of spring, from the wind to the April showers, I'm taking it all in, waiting, patiently for Summer to start.

(The above shots were taken on my Rolleiflex, with Kodak Ektar 120mm 100 film and a close-up filter held in front of the lens).

A weekend in the country

   

Our first weekend away together in four years (ours being mine and my boyfriend, Ant) was to a quiet village resting on the fens in Lincolnshire.      While there we stayed in my mums cousins cottage, it was so incredibly lovely. On Saturday we explored the tiny crooked streets of York and the following day we walked the Lincolnshire fens, by night we sat by the open fire surrounded by family with beer and laughter. Over the weekend Lincolnshire was swept over with snow, it made for a lovely walk on the Sunday (our last day), it was so beautiful out. It was my first time shooting film in the snow, and it wa-snow (he) easy task. My light meter was going bonkers, luckily Ant was there with his EP-2 to give me the readings from his camera. Doh. Next time I'll be sure to be better prepared. It was a brilliant weekend though, we'll be back there in the summer for Wendy (my mum's cousin) and Dennis' wedding, which Ant and I said we'd shoot, must remember to get practice in shooting portraits before we do the wedding. Eek!

    

New years reflection

Things I done in 2011 that I've never done before:

1. Handed in a 10,000 word dissertation on how women were represented in film noir.
2. Made a short film.
3. Finished university with a degree in Television Production and Screen Media.
4. Went to crufts.
5. Spent 3 weeks exploring the Scottish Highlands.
6. Climbed mountains and caigs.
7. Went white water rafting (amazing).
8. Went Whale watching.
9. Had nights of endless sun (in the highlands the sun didn't really go down)
10. Went to John o'groats.
11. Explored forests
12. Stood on the most amazing beach.
13. Went on a rib boat on Loch Ness.
14. Graduated (yay!)
15. Went to Washington DC with my mum and my nan.
16. Met up with a beautiful friend who was traveling America.
17. Went exploring all of the monuments.
18. Drove to Delaware to stay on Bethany Beach.
19. Watched dolphins play in the surf at sunrise.
20. Went body boarding in Delaware.
21.Got a job over Christmas in a bookshop.
22. Got given a rolleiflex ♥ Thanks Ant
23. Turned 25.

I think it's fair to say that this entire year has been amazing, I'm grateful for everything that has happened to me over the past twelve months. I'm especially grateful for my family for taking me to amazing places over the world. The year started full of stress with university coming to a close, but it turned into a year of adventure and fun. Keeping with 2011 I hope 2012 brings more exploration and adventure. I hope that I remember every beautiful thing that happened to me this year and treasure it for life.