LS Lowry

Visited a number of LS Lowry locations recently. Some are very close to home as Lowry frequently visited the Lakes with his good friend Sheila Fell, a local artist. These two photos are from the Manchester area. He made several paintings and drawings of St Augustine’s Church, Pendlebury. One of the paintings can be seen here: St Augustine’s Church

In 1942 Lowry was appointed a war artist. He produced a painting of Mather and Platt Park Works, part of which was laid out as a gun factory during the Second World War. A fascinating place to explore, a security guard kept a close eye on me while I was having a look round. Fortunately I wasn’t asked to move on. The painting can be seen here: Going to Work

Information regarding Lowry locations in the Manchester area can be found in the excellent book ‘Lowry’s City’ (Judith Sandling and Mike Leber – Lowry Press). One of my favourite books, a used copy costs only a few pounds. More information can be found here: Lowry’s City

© Simon Howlett 2018. All rights reserved

BRRR! Winter Trees at Walltown Crags

Last week I visited a number of sites along Hadrian’s Wall, Walltown Crags being a particular favourite. Pretty much had the place to myself, meeting only one other person out in the landscape.

Looking very much like Ents from Lord of the Rings, the trees in the photo below have a fluidity and motion about them, in my mind they almost seem to be dancing with one another.

The last two photographs are located on the drive out from Carlisle. There’s a lay-by opposite with a short walk up to the copse. Surprisingly, no one had paid these trees a visit, my footprints being the only ones left in the snow.

© Simon Howlett 2018. All rights reserved

Caroline and Toby

In recent months I’ve begun to collect photographs from the Great War. One subject I’m concentrating on is portraits of soldiers with their horses. Above is Corporal Winder with Toby and below Gunner Griffiths with Caroline.

Many of these photographs do not come with information about the soldier or horse so I particularly like these two. Corporal Winder served with the 17th Lancers on the Western Front and Gunner Griffiths served with the Royal Artillery.

These portraits fascinate me. I find it remarkable they’re still with us, truly indicating how precious a photograph is and its lasting impact on successive generations.

More than 1 million horses and mules served with the British Army during the Great War. Mainly used as cavalry in the initial stages of the war horses became increasingly required for artillery and logistical support. To keep up with demand, horses were sourced from Australia, Argentina, America and Canada as well as being bought from British citizens. As a result of quarantine restrictions only one Australian horse named Sandy ever returned home.

© 2018

Panoramic Carlisle

Panoramic photos from Carlisle made with a Fujifilm GX617 medium format film camera and Ilford Delta 100/Ilford FP4 roll film. This new project will be shot entirely in panoramic format, hopefully followed with an exhibition in Carlisle at some point.

Superb examples of panoramic photography can be found in Josef Sudek’s book Praha Panoramatická. First published in 1959 it has page after page of incredibly beautiful images of Prague. It is one of my favourite photo books. A short video (from Christies) regarding Josef Sudek and his work can be found here: Josef Sudek

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved

Skiddaw & Blencathra Reflections

The fells Skiddaw and Blencathra reflected in Derwent Water from Manesty in the first photo and Tewet Tarn in the second. I’ve visited these locations many times over the years in all sorts of weather conditions. On these two dawn visits it was a pleasure to experience the tranquil surroundings, the only sound at Manesty being geese in flight over the lake. The cow coming to the tarn for water on the right of the photo below was a real bonus – serendipity and choreography combined for a few fleeting minutes!

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved

Farleton Knott – Pinhole Photos

Had a lovely day visiting this amazing location with Visual Artist Debbie Yare  www.debbieyare.com

Some of the best preserved limestone pavements in Britain can be seen at Farleton Knott and its neighbour Hutton Roof Crags. Both locations have been designated Sites of Special Scientific Interest.

I felt a pinhole camera might lend itself well to photographing the limestone pavement and trees at Farleton Knott. Been a while since I last used one so ended up trashing a roll of film when attempting to load it!

Zero Image 612 pinhole camera and Kodak T-Max 100 film. Because of issues with T-Max 100 frame numbers being exposed on negatives I’ve recently decided to switch to Ilford Delta and FP4. This was my last roll of Kodak.

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved

Birthplace of a Mutineer

Moorland Close Farm, the birthplace of Fletcher Christian and St. Bridgets church where he was christened.

A bootprint, initialed FC, in the lead flashing of the summer house pictured above, is reputed to be that of Fletcher Christian. Mel Gibson visited the farm in the 1980s when making ‘The Bounty’. I believe he clambered up on to the summer house to take a look at the bootprint.

The white foal in the first photo kept a curious eye on me at all times. A pleasure to see … it made my day.

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved

Fletcher Christian – Ewanrigg Hall

The family of HMS Bounty mutineer, Fletcher Christian, owned Ewanrigg Hall in Maryport. A grade II listed building, it has been derelict for many years. Two storeys from the centre of the original building no longer remain. In the last photo an entrance to a tunnel can be seen on the side of the main building at ground level, which provided access from the hall down to Maryport.

I’m also planning to photograph Moorland Close Farm where Fletcher Christian was born. These locations are close to home, but despite having had a lifelong fascination with the Bounty story, I’ve only recently started to visit them.

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved

Allonby, Aigle Ghyll & Criffel

Following in the footsteps of local artists Sheila Fell RA (1931-1979) and Percy Kelly (1918-1993). Above is Allonby, the subject of a number of paintings by both artists. Percy Kelly lived in Allonby from 1958 to 1970.

Below is a scene looking towards Aigle Ghyll farm and Criffel. Sheila Fell made paintings of the farm which is close to Aspatria where she was born.

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved

Platinum/Palladium Prints

An ongoing series of platinum/palladium prints (5.5 inch x 8.25 inch) photographed in Maryport, Cumbria. Above is Sincerity, below is the  Stjernen, Our James and Balcary.

Shot with a digital SLR and processed/converted to B&W in Lightroom. The negatives were processed in Photoshop and printed on Pictorico transparency film. The platinum/palladium prints were made on Bergger COT-320 paper.

The contact print process and the remarkable moment when the print appears can be seen to great effect in this video by Paul Cunningham: Platinum Print Process

© Simon Howlett 2017. All rights reserved