Walking

I’m trying to make sure that, as well as going to the gym, yoga classes and swimming, I fit a decent amount of walking into my week – with or without walking companions.

I have my new iPhone 5S and the pedometer feature (plus this pedometer app) to blame/thank for enlightening me as to just how little I walk on weekdays – due to spending most of the day sat at a desk! Anyway, it’s also been quite nice and sunny these last few days so I ought to make the most of it. The sun is setting later so who’s to say that I can’t go for a post-work, post-gym, post-dinner stroll along the Embankment?! Which is what I did last night…

Today I popped out for a brief explorative walk in Oakley – the Bedfordshire village where I work – on my lunch break. Since we moved offices from Stevington, a year ago, I confess I haven’t been on many lunchtime wanders. I miss the windmill! I will try to get out more. Today I discovered a public footpath/bridleway which lead me here…

Went for lunchtime countryside ramble. Took first panorama photo on my new phone. #Oakley #Bedfordshire pic.twitter.com/AhxoO5Ow3D

— Emma Prew (@emmaprew) May 12, 2015

I really do live and work in lovely places. Bedfordshire is lovely.

The Anglian Wolf Society’s art and photography workshop

I have had the most incredible day in the company of two beautiful wolves at the Anglian Wolf Society in Bedfordshire (literally less than 15 minutes away from home!). Observing, drawing and photographing them, as well as learning all about what the society does to educate the public and raise funds for conservation. I even touched one of the wolves, Kaya – although through the wire fence of course!

The Anglian Wolf Society is a non-profit study group case in North Bedfordshire and run almost entirely by volunteers. Although our site is not open to the public, you can visit us and our wolves by booking a visit in advance and becoming a one-day visit member. You can adopt one of our wolves or become a full or associate member of the society and enjoy a number of extra benefits.

In the wild, environmental erosion and persecution by humans have brought wolves to the brink of extinction in most parts of the world. It is only by improving people’s understanding of the wolf that public opinion can be shifted in favour of relieving the inhumane and environmentally dangerous pressure on their species.

I visited the Society today to attend an art and photography workshop, rather than a regular one-day visit. The art side of the workshop was run by Victoria Parsons who is a wonderful wildlife artist, specialising in highly detailed watercolour pencil pieces – I won’t share any specific artworks of hers, but here’s her website.

I learnt a lot, drawing techniques wise, and really benefitted from the fact that there were only four of us (well, there were five in total but one was only interested in photography). I’m ashamed to say that, although I’m obviously still a creative person on a day-to-day basis, I haven’t really done much hands-on drawing or painting recently. BUT apparently that wasn’t a problem as I’ve still got the skills!

This drawing is in the A4 sketchbook that we were kindly provided. Drawing from a photo.

And this drawing (obviously still a work-in-progress) is on larger, higher quality paper.
Still drawing from the photo but starting to colour, afterwards, observing the real wolf, Kaya.

Of course, I’m sure you are eager to see the photographs that I took throughout the day. And so you should be, as there are some pretty good ones! We were lucky enough to catch them during feeding time when they each had a rabbit. For some reason they were both pretty slow eating their dinner so I was able to snap a lot of photos. I also captured some howling action later on.

 

Film photography – Cornwall, Bedford & beyond

I’ve been using my dad’s old electric Pentax film camera for a number of years now. Although my photography using it is quite infrequent – partly because I forget that I have it, partly because it’s just easier to use my iPhone to snap pictures here and there. But mostly because it’s not so cheap to develop photos and buy replacement film. At least, not as cheap (free) as using iPhone/Instagram! However, when I do remember to take the camera out and about with me, take some pictures and splurge out on film processing, I am usually not at all disappointed by the photos.

I sent off two rolls of film to be developed a few weeks ago – a 24 exp. and a 36 exp. film – and received the photos back in the post on Friday. Most of them are from mine and Steve’s holiday in Cornwall last September (iPhone version of photos here) – in fact all of the first 24 photos are, along with some of the 36. The remainder of the 36 photos were taken in Southampton, Bedford and London.

Some of the photos are just light effects like this, but I kinda like it!

The Eden Project, Cornwall

Gylly beach, Falmouth, Cornwall

The Lizard peninsula, Cornwall

St Michael’s Mount, Cornwall

 

The harbour, Falmouth, Cornwall

More light effects!

Boat trip over to St Mawes from Falmouth, Cornwall

St Mawes, Cornwall

Priory Lake, Bedford

The river, Bedford

Bedford park, Bedford

Stevington Windmill, Bedfordshire

The docks, Southampton

Walking the walls, Southampton

Battersea Park peace pagoda, London