Midsummer

A few days ago, I took a drive back home.

I love to walk the familiar paths and to greet the trees and little landmarks - they feel like old friends. And, as it’s now midsummer, the valley was filled with roses, red campion, honeysuckle and blackberry blossom.

To me, midsummer always feels like there’s magic in the air.

It was quiet; I hardly saw anyone else. But I was entranced by a family of herons flying over the fields by the river, and the clouds of butterflies and bees. There was a light breeze - which I was grateful for, as it was a very hot day.

I saw the house I used to dream about. It’s like something from an Enid Blyton story, and has a beautiful garden and stables.

White roses had run amok, spreading over an entire field and scrambling up through the trees and hedges.

I intend to get out again during midsummer to take some photographs in the evening, when the light’s softer and the colours more subdued. I’d prefer less contrast and a more ethereal aesthetic to my photography, but being out on a bright day didn’t put me off. I suppose you have to be versatile and adjust the camera settings to suit the conditions.

Fortunately I’m not a wedding photographer, so don’t have to worry about the weather compromising my work, or the technicalities of indoor night photography, relying on artificial light. That would be way too stressful - and that isn’t why I take pictures.

It would be interesting experiment with this set of images though. One or two would no doubt look beautiful in black and white - something to remember next time I open up Lightroom!