Monday the 3rd of June 2025, Floating over The "Model Village" and History, taking an unusual look of Ironville and Codnor Park Reservoir.

 One place that I have always enjoyed a visit to is Codnor Park Reservoir, located of course a short distance away from Ironville. Yet upon first appearances Ironville is one of those places that people will pass through without realising the actual history of it - and yet clues in the architecture can be seen, for it is classed as,

"A Model Village, and Ironville itself was built in around 1830 by The Butterley Company, to house its workers."

And of course the clues in the architecture do point to that, the main road and the way it is laid out as you drive through Ironville, well you notice that it feels a little different from a lot of other places nearby. But after a delightful walk around the equally important Codnor Park Reservoir, that also at one point was linked to The Cromford Canal, I decided to do something slightly different, and that of course was to send the drone up into the air, to see Ironville and Codnor Park Reservoir from a completely different and unique perspective, behind the drone facing west, the light was incredibly harsh and horrible, yet below are the views over Ironville, and some of Codnor Park Reservoir that can be seen, for down below what I came across was a location that just seemed that little bit more magical in a strange way, history forgotten by many can still be seen, and I suppose that is what makes Ironville and Codnor Park Reservoir that little bit more unique. 

"The old canal, and History below."

"The end of The Reservoir, the Model Village, a Unique View."

"The Damn, The Reservoir, The Model Village." - (Black and White.)

"The Car Park, The Abstract Art." - (Black and White.)

"The Model Village, Ironville, Down Below."

"Urban to Countryside."

Wednesday the 19th of March 2025, a Rock with vistas, the village below, A "Reservoir" Glow, and the beauty of a Spring Sunset.

"Hold on a moment? What is that? Clear blue skies and a certain element of Warmth?" For that is what I had encountered on Wednesday the 19th of March 2025, but where was I going to visit? Well first of all I had a little bit of time to spare, and when I had arrived in the locality of Ashover, I just had to head up to Ashover Rock - lovingly known as "The Fabrik." And perched high above the village of Ashover, and on a clear day, well views towards Sheffield, Bolsover Castle, Hardwick Hall, Ogston Reservoir and Ratcliffe on Soar Power Station can be seen, but again a harsh blue sky made for some challenging compositions as I captured the beauty of Ashover Rock, after which it was time to head down into the village of Ashover, and again I also managed to capture some interesting perspectives of this beautiful and peaceful village, and below are the photos from Ashover Rock and Ashover that I had managed to capture. But did you know that Ashover was also used as Cardale, in Peak Practice, after filming had finished in the nearby Derbyshire village of Crich? 

"Spring Glow of Ashover Rock."

"Beautiful is the Spring Blue, The Rock below."

"Abstract, Ashover Rock Patterns Below."

"Gentle perfection of Floating, the magic of Ashover Rock."

"Abstraction, Pathways, Routes."

"A Fabrik of an Ashover Rock Panorama." - (Colour.)

"A Fabrik of an Ashover Rock Panorama." - (Black and White.)

"Springtime Calmness above Ashover Rock." - (Colour.)

"Springtime Calmness above Ashover Rock." - (Black and White.)

"Light casts perfection over the Village below."

"Springtime Floating above Ashover Church."

"Ashover, The beauty of the Amber Panorama." - (Panorama.)

After spending time and of course a delightful lunch at The Crispin Inn, it was then time for me to head to another location, that location being Ogston Reservoir, a location that I last visited in November of 2023, me though I was also observing the sky, and awaiting for the colours to change, hoping to get something of a decent sunset, it was not to be, but I did manage to capture the following photos with a gentle and beautiful light. 

"A Gentle Ogston late Afternoon Glow." - (Panorama.)

"Ogston, the late Afternoon glow, a glorious sight below."

But then I had to move on from there, only two photos but at least it had given me some inspiration, but when I had arrived back in Nottinghamshire, on the Nottinghamshire/Derbyshire Border, I noticed that the sky was creating artwork, and once again I just had to capture the beauty of the gentle colours in the sky, overlooking The Erewash Valley in the distance, and this is the view that I had managed to capture. 

"Gentle Pastel Spring, the Sunset Painted." - (Panorama.)

Tuesday the 18th of March 2025, The beauty of a perfect kind of "Wirksworth" light made for something magical.

Ever heard of "Barmy Dale?" No well neither had I, but it is a comedy podcast set in a fictional town in Derbyshire - however the fictional town in question is based upon The Derbyshire Town of Wirksworth, a small and unique town located in the Eccelsbourne Valley, a somewhat hidden and beautiful valley with rolling hills and some impressive views that can be had. Yet Wirksworth is located between Belper and Matlock, but there is just a "certain something else" about Wirksworth, for maybe it is the unique history that the town has to offer that makes it worth exploring, perhaps it is the unique and independent shops that are just waiting to be discovered, even the architecture and it really is the perfect place to explore. But it was on Tuesday the 18th of March 2025 after a delightful spring walk along The Cromford Canal, that a visit to Wirksworth was on the cards - but the big question was, 

"Just where to get the best vistas, the best views of this unique town and landscape from?"

And in the end it resulted in a decision being made, that decision was to visit the rather impressive and quirky modern stone circle, quite simply called "Star Disc." Which is located just above Wirksworth and offers the perfect vantage point to capture the delightful vistas and views of this unique town and its surrounding landscape, and below are the photos that I had managed to capture, yes the skies were beautiful, a spring light, although it was also rather a harsh light, but what I found was something truly magical. 

"A Wirksworth of a Panorama." - (Panorama.)

"Discworld." - (Colour.)

"Down to The Valley, The Town nestled Below."

"Towards where The Black Rocks are."

"Discworld." - (Black and White.)

"Floating above Star Disc." - (Colour.)

"Floating above Star Disc." - (Black and White.)

"The town at the top end of the Eccelsbourne Valley."

"A Sense of Wirksworth, a beautiful Landscape surrounds."

"Like a Model town, Wirksworth below." - (Black and White.)

"Like a Model town, Wirksworth below." - (Colour.)

Friday the 7th of March 2025, For a return to an "Iron Giant." And the Landscape surrounded by lost industry.

It was on Wednesday the 5th of March 2025 that I was up early, the reason being was to head to a location that prior to "The Covid Pandemic and Lockdown's." That I had walked across, of course that was when the top of the infamous Bennerley Viaduct had been reopened. But on the 5th of March 2025, I was at The Bennerley Viaduct to capture the sunrise happening, and wow, I encountered something truly magical, of course if you want to read about that and see the photos from that visit then it can be found here: fromadifferentperspectivephotography.blogspot.com/2025/03/wednesday-5th-of-march-2025-sunrise-and.html

But of course there was just something that made me want to head back to The Bennerley Viaduct, and it was on Friday the 7th of March 2025, that another visit to The Bennerley Viaduct happened, yes a mildness in the air could be felt, after all that is because Spring has arrived, and whilst the sky was not exactly that fantastic, it was certainly more moody and dramatic, of course though this time around instead of capturing the scenes of The Bennerley Viaduct, from the top deck, which is what I did on Wednesday the 5th of March 2025, this time around I decided to capture the scenes from a safe distance next to The Bennerley Viaduct, and what I came across was nothing short of truly spectacular, a landscape shaped by and surrounded by lost industry, that somehow looked a little bit more "Dystopian." And yet it also gave me an idea for a project, a project that can be found here: aviaductthroughtheseasons.blogspot.com

But from above looking down on The Bennerley Viaduct, not only did I come across this time around a Dystopian looking landscape surrounded by the scars of old industry, but a structure that somehow looks beautiful, with the landscape that it is located within, which makes The Bennerley Viaduct that little bit more unique, and yet sadly it seems ignored by many a landscape photographer, even though it provides a truly spectacular subject to photograph. 

"Moods, Bennerley, A Landscape and Old Industry forgotten." - (Colour.)

"Moods, Bennerley, A Landscape and Old Industry forgotten." - (Black and White.)

"Scars of Industry Gone, the Viaduct, a Winston of a view." - (Colour.)

"Scars of Industry Gone, the Viaduct, a Winston of a view." - (Black and White.)

"Dystopia of Industry Scars, The Winston Mood." 

"Marshland, and Viaduct Moods." - (Colour.)

"Marshland and Viaduct Moods." - (Black and White.)

Wednesday the 5th of March 2025, A sunrise and an "Iron Giant?" Capturing the magic and the beauty of Sunrise from The Bennerley Viaduct.

"There is just something about a landscape, especially when it has some form of Human Element within it." 

Okay, perhaps that sounds a little bit like a certain landscape photographer called James Popsys - who is known for capturing landscapes and scenes that always has something "human made" within them. For a start even in the most remote places a landscape can very often have some kind of human element within it, from an abandoned barn in the Yorkshire Dales with a glorious landscape behind it of drama, all the way through to a simple sign that can often tell a story or even get the viewer of the photograph asking questions. But what happens when you get A. A landscape and B. The meetings of Suburbia? Well you end up with a landscape that in this particular case is called quite simply,

"The Erewash Valley."

And it is a landscape that is unique, for a start The Erewash Valley, acts as a natural border between Nottinghamshire and Derbyshire and it is also a landscape that has a certain element of beauty about it, perhaps that of course could be due to The Erewash Valley and its unique landscape that has been shaped by humans and of course industry - industry that was of course mentioned in the books and stories by DH Lawrence who often wrote about the dehumanisation of industry within The Erewash Valley, near where he lived in Eastwood. 

And yet today though, the signs of industry can still be seen and it was on Wednesday the 5th of March 2025 that I was awake rather early, too early perhaps but hold on, I was going in search of a Sunrise, but where to go? For where was there going to be a location in which to capture the Sunrise and the arts of Sunrise - and in the end the location of course involved an "Iron Giant." Yes, The impressive wrought iron constructed Bennerley Viaduct (https://www.bennerleyviaduct.org.uk/history/) which spans The Erewash Valley from the Nottinghamshire side at Awsworth to the Ilkeston side, just near Stensons Lock on The Erewash Canal. And when I had set off at 5.30am in the morning, towards the east, I could see a sky that was incredibly painted, that artwork was already being created, and upon arriving at the location that I was also meeting another fellow landscape photographer, Craig Yates, (Yes Craig, also has a fantastic YouTube Channel, that can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/@craig.yates_photography4907) It was time to walk down towards this impressive structure, an Iron Giant, that at this early time in the morning was more akin to a sleeping giant, but as we were both walking along, towards the east, towards Awsworth what could be seen, a sky that was truly beginning to change, moments to spare and we had eventually made it onto the top of the viaduct, and well before long, the sky changed, a beautiful painting of nature was being created right in front of me, and below of course are the photographs that I had managed to capture, but it goes without saying, 

"Sunsets are one thing to capture, but the Sunrise and the magic and unexpected elements of what you come across as the sun begins to rise is just something else to behold, for you really are looking at nature creating artwork in front of you, but how many people in the mornings take the time to slow down and look at the beauty and colours, the arts of a sunrise? Not that many, and perhaps we should take the time to look at the beauty, the arts and colours of nature that create a spectacle called Sunrise."

"The dance of the light, a Magical Bennerley Sunrise." - (Panorama.)

"As the sun breaks, below a landscape it glows."

"The art of Colour, A Winston of a Sunrise." - (Panorama.)

"The Magic of Light, A Spectacular Sunrise Sight." - (Panorama.)

"That light, a Purple, and Pink Hue, the Valley Shines Below."

Friday the 28th of February 2025, A cat, a Fiddle and a Windmill. The quirks of and unusual parts of Derbyshire that you probably did not know existed.

Derbyshire is one of those counties of "many various contrasts." For it is a county that is famed for having the famous landscapes of the Derbyshire Dales and White Peak with its limestone geology that has shaped the landscape, to the more dramatic Dark Peak and the moorlands that can be found, yet when you step away from the more touristy hotspots and trails that Derbyshire is known for, you can come across some pretty interesting and unique places, and it was just yesterday on the 28th of February 2025, that a visit to the aptly named "The Windmill Farm" was on the cards, yes it might have been the last day of February 2025, the last day of Winter or at least metrological Winter - and yet somehow it was more akin to Spring, the light was just perfect and the landscape with its vistas and views extending from Derbyshire towards Nottinghamshire was just something else to behold, and whilst The Windmill Farm is located between West Hallam and Kirk Hallam/Ilkeston, a part of Derbyshire that is perhaps that little bit more, 

"Underexplored and off the beaten track."

What I came across yesterday was a landscape of beauty, a landscape in which suburbia gives way to gentle rolling Derbyshire hills, and the borderlands of Derbyshire/Nottinghamshire in the distance, the town of Ilkeston on the horizon and Ilkeston itself is a town that upon first appearances might seem a little bit forgotten and yet it is also a town that has a curious and interesting history that is waiting to be discovered, yet a short distance away from Ilkeston is a landscape that is ignored by many that seems somehow that little bit more beautiful with its interesting landscape and hidden vistas and vies that are just waiting to be discovered. (If you want to find out more information about The Cat and Fiddle Windmill then you can do here: http://www.mapperleyhistory.com/Villages/Dale%20Abbey/Dale-Abbey-1.html)

"As far as the eyes can see, a Panorama of Beauty, Derbyshire to Nottinghamshire in the distance" - (Panorama)

"Rolling and gentle Derbyshire Landscapes, off the Beaten Track."

"Just gently floating near the Mill."

Monday the 27th of January 2025, for sometimes you have to visit a location but try something different. Another visit to a location of calm and a location of History - the beauty of Belper River Gardens.

The last time that I visited the delightful and glorious "Belper River Gardens" it was on Saturday the 11th of January 2025, of course the landscape surrounding Belper River Gardens, well it was a little bit different - as the cold weather, lingering snowfall and frost had transformed the landscape and made it that little bit more magical, this time around though well the weather had changed yet again, and thankfully the skies, well they did have blue in them which was refreshing to see. But again there was something else, the light casting a beautiful light, golden to a degree on the River Derwent, at the side of the old brick mill, yes the snow might have gone, but a certain Winter Bareness which lacked colour could also be seen, but somehow calmness could be felt along with a certain sense of serenity, and a feeling of encroaching Spring was surely in the air.

"The Golden Derwent Glow."

"Winter elements, the beauty of The River Garden Bandstand."

"Water, Elements, Bandstand."

"Beauty of Red Brick, the Old Mill." - (Colour.)

"Beauty of Red Brick, the Old Mill." - (Black and White.)