Summer Walks at Dawn

Being in the summery countryside at dawn often shifts the worst of my melancholy. Of course, being distracted in this way is only a temporary respite. Nevertheless, it brings an unflustered security, fleeting yet precious. Injured minds can be fragile at times so we need this kind of thing. By design we can richly enjoy the blessings we have.

I get a sense of this calm when I watch some of the walking videos I've made, or when I shoot a few scenes that catch my eye. I'm soothed by the peaceful solitude I find in the countryside when a summer day’s earliest glimmer colours the misty horizon and dances among the fullness of the leaves. In contrast, winter’s biting starkness is better than nothing. But early daylight from October to March isn't anything like early enough for me.

It’s a satisfying process using software to enhance those few images that draw me in, even when I feel nailed to my identity here in the unpredictable middle of everything. Happily however, I’ve been breaking free of the oppressive clouds now and then to record what touches me meaningfully, including audio. It's a blessing to be able to hear normally.

Getting out into my local countryside is essential. Only the worst of things have stopped me. You can see below a couple of local images that have blunted a few of life’s cutting edges. If it’s of interest, I’ve also included on this page the unprocessed RAW images and an example of how I edit them. Thanks for dropping by and taking a look. I appreciate it.

This local view hasn't changed much in a hundred years.

Follow the path, especially if it sets you apart.

I brought just one lens for my Fujifilm X-T3, the impressive Viltrox AF 9mm F2.8 Air. I also used a tiny Godox flash unit that I never turn off. I hope it gives the images a more distinctive look.

Editing in software. There's a lot to learn, and forget again. The complexity demands regular use.