Day 19 - 18th February 2015 - Hurley to Cookham

In contrast with some recent days on 'The Path' today was blazing sun all day. The occasional rare cloud relieved the unaccustomed dazzle for a minute or so just a few times only through the day. But, for the first time whilst hiking The Thames Path there was a cloud worthy of including in my portfolio. It occurred at the end of the hike, just minutes from getting back to my car. It's included in the images from today's hike. I overheard a lady walking with her young daughter say of the cloud - "it's a dragon"! I'm an occasional contributor of cloud photographs to The Cloud Appreciation Society and sent this one in to them this afternoon. I just took a look at the website and it seems as though it will appear there shortly in their photo gallery. I suspected that my day's efforts would yield little to satisfy me but on working through my output in Lightroom and Photoshop I turned in a few that I am pleased with. And this time I've included a "Symmetrograph". This is a symmetrical image derived from a photograph (symmetrical photograph) through multiple manipulations to create what is usually a complex pattern. This one is actually from a hike a week or two ago. A Symmetrograph (my coining) has absolutely no significance, except that I enjoy making them. A few years ago I produced a (Blurb) book devoted to them - linked here. I may try to produce one from an image on each of my remaining hikes.

Click on any image to see full size views of the day's set of images.

Dragon Cloud

Symmetrograph

Hurley Footbridge

Zebra Bridge

Marlow Chimneys

Hurley Weir

Support

Day 18 - 11th February 2015 - Henley-on-Thames to Hurley

A quiet day's hiking which at first seemed like it wouldn't provide much for me to photograph. But, (almost) always, once settled into the business of hiking the business of looking took over and a few images came into focus. I took far too many photographs at Hambledon Weir leaving myself the task of choosing. In the end I selected a mono and a colour. It was another grey day - not a single shaft of sunlight - but that's often the best condition for photography - flat light, no harsh shadows.

Click on any image to see full size views of the day's set of images.

Hambledon Weir - I

Hambledon Weir - II

Fungi on Dead Wood

Footbridge - Hurley Lock

Boat Sheds

Day 17 - 4th February 2015 - Sonning to Henley-on-Thames

Not one on my best days for hiking - the mud was partly frozen on my outward hike but by the time I was returning it had completely thawed - so it was miles of sticky, slippery mud. Not at all conducive to calm contemplation of what might make a good photograph. Notwithstanding that, I did find several although this time the waters of the Thames played a lesser part. The area I'm hiking through is part of the Chilterns chalk downs in which flint stones are a feature. They are used in buildings, often to decorate and make patterns as well as adding strength to built structures. There are two photographs herein where they feature of the walls of St Mary's Church in Henley as an integral part of a property boundary wall. Colour has won out today - I tried several in b&w but most didn't work out too well.

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Laid up for the winter

Cloudy Ripples

Boat Shed Knots

Boat Shed

Flint Blocks

St Mary's - Henley

Flint Wall

On reflection, it's a tree.

Day 16 - 25th January 2015 - Tilehurst to Sonning

Photographically speaking, some days are easier than others. Today was hard. I just couldn't find much to inspire me! Perhaps it was the fact that I'd returned to Reading for the first time since I worked there about 14 years ago! However, I did take lots of photographs of the water, and that's been the saving grace for this stretch of The Thames Path. At the time of taking I wasn't to sure they'd amount to much but, after Lightrooming and Photoshopping, a few pass muster. And I resorted to someone else's work - a piece of glowing graffiti.

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Surface Trees

Caversham Weir

Mallard

Weir Footbridge

Glowing Graffiti

Day 15 - 19th January 2015 - Goring to Tilehurst

My first hike of 2015. I'd anticipated a very heavy frost to start followed by a blue sky day with clouds building from early afternoon. So much for the forecast - a cold day but no frost and no clouds. But another great hiking day and a few good photographs. The only negative thing about the hike was the path in parts was exceptionally muddy so care was needed not to slip over in the sticky mess. The Thames was very high after several days of rain and was roaring over the weirs at Goring and Mapledurham. I reached Tilehurst today - the half way point - 92 miles down and 92 miles to go. Or more correctly for me and my two-way hiking - 184 and 184.

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Riverbank Trees

Mapledurham Weir

Church at Whitchurch Bridge

Private Garden

Kelvin Wake

WWII Pillbox

Day 14 - 30th December 2014 - Wallingford to Goring

Today’s hike was superb in every way - I hiked from just before sunrise to just after sunset - and the -7˚C temperature prior to sunrise was a perfect start. The heavy frost was a gift for photography and the crisp clear air was invigorating, to say the least. And a beneficial byproduct of the heavy frost was that the mud on the path was frozen for most of the day. The sky was clear early and late with cloud throughout the middle of the day. Although I saw a few images in black and white, most of today’s needed colour. I have selected about 10 for this entry though the day was altogether even more productive. They are presented chronologically. At the end of today’s hike I’ve completed 84 of the 184 miles of the Thames Path - just 100 more to the end … or 200 as I’m hiking in both directions. I’m now aiming to complete the project by 31st December 2015; maybe 16 more days.

Click on any image to see full size views of each image in the day's set of images.

Before Sunrise from Wallingford Bridge

Sunrise

Frosted Grass

Brickwork - Isambard Kingdom Brunel Railway Bridge

Icicle - Isambard Kingdom Brunel Railway Bridge

Goring Weir

Bubblebergs

Manor House Chimneys - Moulsford Church

Three Poplars and Moon

Cirrus Moon

Day 13 - 15th December 2014 - Near Dorchester to Wallingford

The excellent and varied sky throughout today's hike was a welcome change from the last couple of days hiking on The Thames Path. I haven't encountered anyone for my last several outings who is 'doing' the path. Indeed I only saw about 4 or 5 people throughout my six hours. On reviewing my photo-files once back at home I realised the sky was in most of my photographs - nor surprising after the grey days of my previous few hikes.

Click on any image to see full size views of each image in the day's set of images.

Spread Con Trail

Almost Sunset

Day's Lock

The Thame meets The Thames

Sunset at Benson Lock