lazy summer days
DESCRIPTION
A collection of photo's taken during a hot summer.TRANSCRIPT
THEIMAGEBANKS
THE COUNTRY-SIDE
WATCH
By
Mark Anthony Tasker
All copyrights © 2014
http//www.theimagebanks.moonfruit.com
THEIMAGEBANKS ISSUE No 2
WELCOME
This is the second publication from the Theimagebanks and this time
I have pulled together images that focus on The Countryside Watch.
In this edition it covers wildlife, parks, canals and landscapes so I
have selected just a few pictures that I took over the summer holi-
days, which I feel that are unique and you may find interesting.
Hope you enjoys the images and the short stories that explains why I
picked them and the local history in some cases.
LAZY SUMMER DAYS
As winter fell and spring came forth the days lengthen and the nights grew longer
with the heat of summer lingering throughout the day and night. For me this is
season sums up life as families spend quality time with each other.
In the animal kingdom the need to produce new offspring before summer ends re-
flects the cycle of life and in some ways even mirrors our needs to get the crops in
before winter.
So on this hot summers night we had a visitor in our front garden and to our sur-
prise the cats Oscar and Jessie we sitting nearby watching this shadowy creature in
the undergrowth. I took a few pictures of the hedge hog and named it “Look Who’s
Here” foraging in our garden and for me to see this wonderful creature was truly
amazing. Just ask yourself how often do you see such a small animals that’s nearly
becoming a rarity and most times to our shame we find what’s left them on the
road!!!.
I suppose it’s the price we pay for our modern hectic lives almost divorced from
nature, but it seems that our gardens are becoming mini sanctuaries for our wild-
life. So we all should try to give something back and help them. For me this pic-
ture will always be one of my favourites and I hope it’s still out there and after so
reading I did learn that hedge hogs are really garden friendly as well.
THE TEXAS ROSE
It was the height of summer and this small tree was clinging to one of the wooden
fence and was full of small yellow roses. Hidden behind an apple tree and living
in the shade these mini roses were absolutely glowing and were so bright that they
stood out.
I recall they were a gift from my parents and I only knew them by their name “
Texas Rose” and had completely forgotten about them as they didn’t need much
care and seemed to be very hardy.
As I took the picture shafts of day light found their way through the branches and I
focused on just one single rose. The reflection of the daylight caught the petals and
I felt that it was one of those moments when certain conditions come together,
hence the end result.
THE DOOR WAY OF ROSES
This rose tree for the first time blossomed and was really a pleasant surprise to see
so many roses, but under it’s own weight it formed an natural arch without any in-
tervention or manipulation by me. Yet it had grown up to ten feet high and was ex-
panding into the nearby pine trees so I couldn’t resist taking a photo and thought
that it may never be same next year. Also I realised that these days and moments
may not be repeat again and after all it was the height of summer. So for me this
picture says it all and a sense of warmth and light does oozes out and compliments
the greys from the wooden fence.
BUTTERFLIES
Patience is a virtual so they say or the early bird gets the worm are saying that are
so true and this summer was turning out to be brilliant. Getting that elusive close
up of the subject is never easy as conditions in nature are often beyond your con-
trol, of what, where, when, how many or just that single one.
Yet this single butterfly kept on coming back to the same plant again and again and
after the third visit I took this single shot. How lucky was that I thought to myself
and although I didn’t know what type of butterfly it was the garden seemed alive
with bees, birds and butterflies. So for that single shot I had to focused on the sub-
ject and waited for that special moment and squeezed the button. In that split sec-
ond I had recorded a brief moment of its lifecycle and afterwards I couldn’t resist
sharing my photo with like minded friends on National Geographic.
The summer was turning out to be a good one considering the previous years and
only shows that nature can bounce back. Looking back this was one many achieve-
ments I had made through photography and at times you do need a bit of luck of
being in the right place at the right time.
In this photography I caught a female blackbird foraging near the
old bird stand were the seed balls were kept. As I took the shot its
head turned around as if it was fully aware of my presence.
I thought at time that the background light and the colour of the
fir tree were ideal as they did offset the natural details of the bird
feathers.
MRS BLACKBIRD
On the fence Mr Blackbird came to
the garden within seconds looking
for his partner, both making claim to
their territory and fending off all
new comers. With a second opportu-
nity like this my efforts did pay off
in the end, but after a few shots this
one was the best.
WHERE HAS SHE GONE!!
THE OLD CANAL
The Liverpool to Leeds canal was started in 1770 and just in four years a small
section was used, but it was finally complete in 1816 and extended in 1822. The
history of this old canal is rich indeed and yet it connects the east and west coasts
of England and in its day that was a major achievement. In this picture the ducks,
geese and the swan gather at a favourite picnic spot searching for food.
This particular bridge in Litherland was recently modernised and spans the canal
and leads into the Primrose Valley Country Park which separates Litherland from
Crosby, creating a safe haven for wildlife. For me the composition was the true in-
spiration and the main reason why I took the picture.
This was the second photography I took on the bridge on my return journey
back home ,but later in the afternoon. As the day light began to fade and three
swans headed down the canal from the old sandstone Cookson bridge. I took
the shot and caught the moment as the young cygnet, which was smaller in
size started to push ahead of it parents, but the canal was tranquil and almost
a mill pond and no threats insight. It was strange to think that in complete
stark contrast to it industrial past that canal barges worked by men and
horses, which my grandmother’s father once did, were then replaced by en-
gines are in fact becoming a rare sight to see these days. Yet nature always re-
claims what we take and the old factories are now empty and decaying were
being replaced by new houses on the canal bank. So with a view of passing
swans going by, what else could you ask for!!
I SAW THREE SWANS GO
SWIMMING BY
SPRINGBANK VILLAGE
At the height of summer the tall grass grew and flowered then turned into a
sea of golden carpets covering vast areas of land. On days like these child-
hood memories of going fishing by the canal or playing football or chasing
dragon flies and butterflies reinforced my belief in the greenbelts in our cit-
ies.
The natural beauty of our landscapes are treasures we need to keep and nes-
tled on the Liverpool to Leeds canal is the Springbank Village built with its
own village green, just below Hatton Hill. The land does raise sharply giv-
ing great views in all directions, even the sea! So I took this picture as the
day light was so perfect and I was walking down hill to Waterloo and the
coast. For me this typifies the meaning of hot, lazy summers days and for
the many joggers, cyclist and dog walkers I’m sure they would all agree me.
JUST LIKE THE FIELDS
OF PROVENCE
On this day just before the height of summer the country park was full with so much colour
that I was almost fooled into thinking that I was in the South of France, which I had visited so
many times whilst on holiday. The tall grass was so dense that when the wind blew it moved
like sea water.
The twittering of birds filled the air as I walked on the old path and it was still quite peaceful
and deserted with nobody in sight. So with my camera I took a few pictures and this one was
the best one as the colour of the grasses really does come through.
MANY PATHS TO WALK ON
The Primrose Valley Country Park
does have many paths to walk on and
on the first picture on the right the
path splits into two. If you pick the
one on the right you end up by a small
brook full with tall reeds and a pond.
Although during this dry summer it
was almost dried out the allotments on
the far side gave some amusement as
the chickens were very loud.
In the picture below gives you some
perspective on the size. In the distance
you can see a pylon and if you were to
turn around and walk a bit Liverpool
city centre is clearly visible, including
the Liver Birds. For me these two pic-
tures just show the diversity the park
and it’s on our door step!