Tuesday 1 January 2013

New Year's Day 2013

It's been a beautiful day, today, with clear air and a strong, raking light.  A good day to be out, after so many dismally wet days, and a good day to start a new year.  Here are the traditional photos from the compulsory New Year's Day walk:






We were up on St. Catherine's Hill and Twyford Down, and somehow I seemed to be channelling Eric Ravilious today.  That second one, especially, is one of the most pleasing images I've made for a long time.  With any luck, a sign that the way is up from here on.

Happy New Year!.

8 comments:

Gavin McL said...

Well we could have waved from the North Downs. We climbed Leith Hill, along with plenty of others, in the sunshine. The light was indeed beautiful especially through the woods. My eldest daughter declares it the best day out ever which may been stretching it a bit, but hot chocolate and spekulos biscuits looking out over the Weald dressed in sunshine was pretty special. Happy New Year

Elisabeth said...

Yes, the second image is especially lovely. I still can't understand how one can make such consistently interesting images of temporary fencing material. ;-) The unlikeliness of that theme makes it even more enjoyable, and I think this image is my current favorite of this genre you have created. I love the curves within curves, and way the material itself creates a strangely anthropomorphic impression of gathering and conversation. Tree images do that for me frequently, but I was surprised to have that reaction here! (In fact, the trees in the background sort of echo that feeling, like elders watching a huddle of children on the playground.)

I'm glad your brief New Year's hiatus is over. Happy New Year to you and yours!

Martin said...

Yes, I like the second one, too. Very reminiscent of Ravilious' Downs in Winter.

Graham Dew said...

Mmm very nice. Swirly recurrent lines, brightness and interesting colours, the Ravilious analogy is apt. We were up at Cheesefoot Head at the same time and the light was exceptional. A good start to the year.

Mike C. said...

Thanks, everyone: let's hope the Mayans were on to something after all, and that -- quietly, mysteriously -- a new age has dawned...

Next year we must plan a worldwide New Year "Idiotic Summit" event, and wave to each other.

Do you know the early work of Thomas Joshua Cooper, Elisabeth, before he became obsessed by waves? The books "Dreaming the Gokstadt" and "Between Dark and Dark" are worth getting hold of for any admirer of trees and tangles.

Mike

Elisabeth said...

No, I don't know of Cooper's work (early or late), and will definitely look up those books! Thanks for the tip. :-)

eeyorn said...

Happy New Year Mike and family,
New Years Day saw me bleary-eyedly acting as Club Host for my online Bridge Club's 3-day New Year Marathon from 7am -10am. The sunrise and colours here were gorgeous too.

I like to think that the Mayans have it right, the evidence that their civilisation at its height had successfully accumulated a deep knowledge of outer space suggests some hope for me.

eeyorn said...

Oh and lovely pics btw. I envy you your lovely day out, sounds like my kind of heaven. I did manage to wake up later with time to enjoy the afternoon sun :)