daveamisdpda

[daveamisdpda]

A cloudy day for walking

These images were shot on a day when the early spring sunshine had disappeared, to be replaced by an almost flat, grey cloud. There was also a bit of a stiff breeze. In other words, it was back to normal spring weather here in the West Country! These light conditions posed challenges with shooting and then processing. It's a good job I like a challenge, isn't it?:) There are a couple of drawing projects that will emerge from these images that will eventually feature here - https://cara.app/daveamis/portfolio

Location: Holm Mead (nr. Bitton), Gloucestershire | Shot: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

No shadow shots…

As I've mentioned previously, weather conditions can really change the mood and feel of a woodland… Hopefully, that's conveyed in this set of images, which stand in stark contrast to previous sets shot when the sun was out, casting some very interesting shadows on the woodland paths. That definitely was not the case when I shot these images!

Location: Meadow Wood (nr. Bitton), Gloucestershire | Shot: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

The old oak in glorious black and white

Yesterday was one of those overcast days where, when it comes to processing images shot in these conditions, rendering them in monochrome seems to be the best way forward. As I've mentioned previously, weather conditions can really change the mood and feel of a woodland…

Location: Meadow Wood (nr. Bitton), Gloucestershire | Shot: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Moody feelings…

It was another overcast day with a breeze that added a certain chill to the air. To offset that, we went walking in the woods where we would get a bit of shelter. The weather conditions really can change the atmosphere in a wood and yesterday, it was distinctly moody. This moodiness is what I've tried to convey in these images, with the aid of a carefully calibrated lomo filter. It's pretty much how I'm rolling at the moment…

Location: Meadow Wood (nr. Bitton), Gloucestershire | Shot: 13.04.25 | Creative filter applied/composite created: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Patterns and textures

This is some more playing around with close cropping of the everyday and mundane, and then seeing what can be done with the application of a carefully adjusted lomo filter to create images with a semi-abstract feel to them. With this, I feel that I'm at the beginning of an interesting, new trajectory with my work:)

Location: Keynsham Lock (nr. Willsbridge), Gloucestershire | Shot: 13.04.25 | Creative filter applied: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

The very last of the bare branches…

Moody images that kind of match the prevailing zeitgeist at the moment…

Location: Holm Mead (nr. Bitton), Gloucestershire | Shot: 12.04.25 | Filters applied / composite created: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

More experiments with 'found art'

This is more playing around with vignettes of the everyday, mundane things that most of us walk past everyday without a second glance. The aim is to get the cropping right so an abstract / semi-abstract image is starting to be created, then apply a lomo filter to give it a certain 'atmosphere'. I'm having a lot of fun doing this:)

Location: Keynsham Lock (nr. Willsbridge), Gloucestershire | Shot: 12.04.25 | Filters applied / composite created: 13.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Walking on a grey day

The pale grey, almost flat clouds are back with a vengeance. The light conditions today (12.4) were to put it mildly, a challenge. The processing of these images was also, a challenge. The result is that we have images that are…more than a bit moody… Which to be honest, kind of matches the prevailing mood at the moment…

Location: Holm Mead (nr. Bitton), Gloucestershire | Shot: 12.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

A walk up to the woods…

Yesterday (10.4) was a perfect spring day - almost too good to be true to be honest. In the spirit of trying to live each day to the full, we're making the most of this fine weather while it lasts by getting out as often as possible. We count ourselves as incredibly fortunate in having some decent countryside almost on our doorstep that we can get out into:)

Location: Holm Mead / Meadow Wood, Bitton, Gloucestershire | Shot: 10.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Calming down:)

The best way to calm down and chill out? Take a walk in the woods, slow down, stop and listen to the sounds of nature and then…start to look around you. That's what we did yesterday and we were richly rewarded with birdsong, the gentle rustle of the breeze and, the sight of many butterflies and insects, more than we've seen for a few years…

Location: Meadow Wood, Bitton, Gloucestershire | Shot: 10.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Playing around with patterns and textures:)

Sometimes, it's the small vignettes and details that can provide the most in the way of visual interest…

Creative filters applied / composite created: 11.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Dealing with light and dark

This is some more experimentation with shadow images… This involved cropping them square, applying a carefully adjusted lomo filter and then arranging them in a creative composite. The aim is to create an image that will prompt people to consider light and darkness and the fact that however hard we strive, life is never going to be perfect. There will always be shadows and darkness that we have to deal with…

Images shot: 10.04.25 | Creative filters applied / composite created: 11.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

This wood is my sanctuary

When the world grinds me down, I come to this wood for solace I come to hear the rustle of the breeze in the trees I come to feel the calming, protective presence of the trees I come to restore my balance so I can face the world again

The bastards hate the idea of sanctuary, calm and reflection They hate it when it comes for gratis, no money required They want us working, stressing, spending, spending…spending… They hate us retreating from their sordid world into the woods

I come to this wood, to escape, think, reflect and wonder The bastards don’t want us escaping, thinking or reflecting As for wonder, the nature hating, soulless bastards despise it All because it adds nothing to the bottom line they worship

You could almost pity them for their shallowness…almost… But, I can’t pity the bastards who would destroy what I love They can’t comprehend anything with a deeper meaning They fear and loathe the secrets of life the wood could tell them

This wood is a web of life, richer than they can ever understand This wood has a spirit and a presence they can never understand When the stress of modern life crushes my spirit and soul This wood is my sanctuary, my salvation, my muse and inspiration

Location: Cleeve Wood (nr. Willsbridge), Gloucestershire | Shot: 08.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Field edges - trimmed through to unkempt

Some have been trimmed with an almost obsessive degree of neatness. Some have been allowed to spread themselves out a bit. Others have been neglected to the point where they have gaps in amongst the thickets. All seen on a relatively short walk across the fields…

Location: Keynsham Meadow / Cleeve Wood (nr. Willsbridge), Gloucestershire | Shot: 08.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Bare branch shadows

As the leaves are starting to come out on the trees, the bare branches won't be around for much longer. That means shadow patterns like this won't be around for much longer. So, with the light working in my favour yesterday (8.4), I set out to make the most of these bare branch shadows while I could. The square crop is a bit of an experiment when it comes to presenting these images. The subject matter being what it is, I've rendered these images in black and white to remove the distraction that would come with colour.

Location: Keynsham Meadow / Cleeve Wood (nr. Willsbridge), Gloucestershire | Shot: 08.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Slowly succumbing

Over the years I’ve walked past, I’ve grown to know you I’ve wondered at your history and the tales you could tell I’ve stood in awe at your defiance in the face of the odds But, I’ve also watched you slowly succumb to the inevitable

A fate that wish as we might, will eventually befall all of us One that befell my elderly relatives as they succumbed I gently held their hands to comfort them as they faded away I touched your bark as a mark of respect to them, and also to you

But, as I look around you, all is not lost…life does go on I see saplings in the grass, all with the promise of growth You will succumb, as we all will, but…your heirs live on Although we’ve played our part, the cycle of life goes on…

Location: Bitton, Gloucestershire | |Shot: 06.04.25

[daveamisdpda]

Walking up to Bitton and back on a day that felt too good to be true…

It was one of those perfect (too perfect?) spring days with a clear blue sky, warm sunshine and a gentle breeze. It definitely wasn't a day for staying in so, out across the fields we went, walking from Keynsham up to Bitton and back again, stopping off at our favourite riverside pub for an al fresco drink:) It was one of those days that felt unnervingly too good to be true, making a growing number of us wondering when the payback will come and how bad it will be. Meanwhile, we're making the most of it while we can…

Locations: Holm Mead / Bitton (various), Gloucestershire | Shot: 06.04.25