Saturday the 8th of March 2025, A Spring Sunset of just a glorious Watercolour sky.

W.H. Davies, famously wrote the following lines, from his poem called "Leisure." Which go like this, 

"What is this life if, full of care, We have no time to stand and stare?"

And they perfectly sum up life as we know it today, for those words, lines they describe a world in which nobody takes the time to stand still and observe the beauty that is around them, the magic of nature around them, even if it is just for a moment, a minute even or perhaps two minutes or five minutes, and yet when you do take a moment in time to stop and look at nature, observe the beauty of a landscape that is around you or the arts in nature you find something else, and it was on Saturday the 8th of March 2025, that I was observing the colour changes in the early evening sky, I knew that there was going to be potentially a glorious Sunset, and so I just had to capture it, and from above, I was amazed at what I had seen, a truly glorious work of art being painted by nature and being ignored by many.

"Soft, gentle, A Watercolour glow, Suburbia to the Valley below."

"Gentle is the sky, a Watercolour glow."

"A Band of Spring Gold. Suburbia Below."

"Artwork of the Springtime Skies."

"Springtime Watercolour. The arts above."

"Watercolour Sky, The art above Suburbia."

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."

Sunday the 2nd of March 2025, Perfection perhaps? The views of Greasley Church with elements of Spring.

The season of Spring is one of the two seasons that I have always loved, the other season of course is Autumn and why do I love both Spring and Autumn? Well they are seasons in which things seem that little bit more beautiful, after the Winter a theatrical show is put on by nature and that theatrical show of course is Spring, which brings with it a lot of much needed colour. Autumn again is another theatrical show before nature goes to sleep, but it is a unique way of displaying beauty, for both Spring and Autumn are "seasons of great arts and beauty." And it was on Sunday the 2nd of March 2025 that a visit to Greasley Church was on the cards, yes a part of me wanted to show someone the incredibly opulent carpet of Purple crocuses that flank the churchyard and that I managed to do, but hold on, what is that? A glorious blue sky and a slight element of warmth, well that made for some perfect conditions in which to capture this glorious church from a unique angle and perspective. But there is just a certain something about Greasley Church that I seem to just really like, perhaps it is the location and you could be forgiven for thinking that the nearest suburbia is, happens to be miles away - but that of course is wrong as Greasley Church is located between the towns of Kimberley in Nottinghamshire and Eastwood which are just a short distance away, yet here there is something serene and beautiful, you do not have to be religious at all to appreciate the architecture of glorious historical churches like Greasley Church, and no matter what season it is, Greasley Church always looks beautiful, but on Sunday the 2nd of March 2025, what I encountered was perhaps perfection, for everything seemed to be coming alive and the elements of Spring were making that even more spectacular, for gone is the Winter and instead a gradual transformation of life returning after a Winter sleep, well that could also be seen and that was nothing short of magical. 

"Spring Time and Serenity."

"Afternoon light, the Spring Greasley Glow."

"The green of Spring, for life returns to Greasley Below."

"Greasley Fields, and Blue."

"The beauty of the Greasley Spring, the landscape a glow."

"The atmosphere, the Serene." - (Black and White.)

"Greasley, the vistas and a spring view." - (Colour.)

"Greasley, the vistas and a spring view." - (Black and White.)

Saturday the 1st of March 2025, For I had moments to spare in which to capture the artwork of nature. A truly glorious painted sky.

Sometimes you observe something and just wonder what it would look like from a slightly higher perspective, and that is exactly what happened this evening on Saturday the 1st of March 2025. From ground level I could see that there was something magical happening in the sky, the blue of the sky seemed pastel like and well pink pastel looking clouds could also be seen, yes I just knew that I had to send the drone up, and from above, what I came across was a complete work of art that nature was creating, a truly glorious painted sky, and the last time that I had seen a sky as beautiful as this was on Christmas Eve, the 24th of December 2024, yet I think that perhaps this sunset and the sky, the arts in the sky this time around were even more spectacular. Yet it just goes to show that we should all take time to slow down and observe the beauty that a sunset can provide for us, and yes the best works of art are usually free, and they are created by nature - and this is probably proof of that. 

"In time, moments they glow."

"The orange and red, the painting of art, nature creates."

"Like a Cyberpunk glow, the Sky of a Sci Fi Dream."

"Above the rooftops, the art in the sky, a bliss and beautiful light."

"An artful Panorama Glow." - (Panorama.)

"Painted elements of Delight, a sky, a painting that comes alive."

"The beauty of the light, a magical painting over suburbia." - (Panorama.)

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."

Thursday the 27th of February 2025, Where Suburbia meets Water World. The beauty and magic of Beeston Rylands and Beeston Marina.

Situated just a short distance away from Nottingham and its city centre is a Suburb called Beeston, upon appearances it might seem "quite simply like any other suburban area of Nottingham." And yet when you delve closer you come across a suburb built upon the industries of yesteryear, and of course textiles with clues such as old silk mills that have now been converted into accommodation, yet Beeston is also a popular suburb due to its close proximity to The University of Nottingham, with many students who call Beeston home. Yet Beeston is also close by to The River Trent, and a short five minute drive from the hustle and bustle of Beeston, you end up at Beeston Rylands - here of course things feel different, clues that Suburbia meeting the waters edge can be seen, and it was on Thursday the 27th of February 2025, that I had visited Beeston Rylands, and of course Beeston Marina, a community that exists with the influences of The River Trent and The Beeston Canal and provides an interesting landscape, for this is truly,

"Where Suburbia meets Water World."

And me, well after a delightful lunch at The Boathouse Café, at Beeston Marina, I had to send the drone up and capture the unique landscape down below - and yet under a delightful and beautiful spring sky, it was strange to think that this serene part of Beeston and this suburban area of Nottingham, is only a short distance away from the city centre of Nottingham, and yet somehow it seems a world away.

"The Trent, The Canal, a Unique Water World."

"The beauty of The Weir"

"Suburbia, The Canal, The quirky and interesting landscape of The Rylands."

"Boats and Buildings, life at the edge of the water."

"Where Suburbs and Water they meet" - (Panorama)