#1: B&W Images: Chipping Campden - Fish Hill

Rafters - Chipping Campden Market Hall

Gravestones & Yews - St James' Churchyard - Chipping Campden

Log Pile - The Mile Drive

#1: Chipping Campden - Fish Hill

I'm just back from my first day on the Cotswold Way walking about 7 miles from Fish Hill to Chipping Campden and back in what was almost perfect walking weather. Hazy sun in the morning and high cloud in the afternoon - but pleasantly warm throughout. I wondered whether I'd find any pictures on my first day but soon spotted one and a handful of others followed. I'll add images that I like into subsequent posts once I've processed the film. This may be within a day or two - or up to several weeks later, depending on what else is distracting me. Most images will be B&W from my large camera although I suspect an occasional digi-snap will find its way in too.

It is not my intention to document the Cotswold Way, rather I simply want to use the walk to find images that I like and am prepared to spend time taking and presenting. I imagine some days will be fruitless whilst others could provide a wealth of images. Many factors influence that including the weather (too much sun is not so good for B&W photography) and/or my mood (very unpredictable).

Along one quarter mile section of path at the edge of a field I saw dozens of Painted Lady butterflies. I almost didn't believe what I'd seen as I know that they are migrants from Southern Europe and Africa and don't usually arrive here until June/July. Once home my doubts about what I'd seen were quashed. In the letters page of my daily paper were several reports of high numbers of Painted Ladies being seen over the last few days throughout Southern England. So, a very early and huge immigration this year.

I was twice rudely reminded that the Cotswolds is a low flying training area for the RAF. Once by a treetop hugging Harrier then later by a very low and slow Hercules.

Tomorrow ...

Tomorrow I'll be 60

Tomorrow I retire

Tomorrow I start a new project

I will be walking the Cotswold Way between Chipping Campden and Bath with my large format 5x4 camera and photographing whatever inspires or interests me along the way. I will walk the whole of its 102 mile length in both directions - but not all in one go. I'll cover the distance in one day sections from where I park my car and back again - all linked so that I will complete at least 204 miles by the end. It may take a year or more - I have no target other than to do it.

Link to The Cotswold Way National Trail website

I use my large camera to take pictures only in black and white whilst my pocket digicam is for colour. I will publish images in this blog that I take along the way and write occasional thoughts as I make progress. This is my first attempt at such a thing - I've never kept a diary of any sort - so I wonder how it will pan out.