Wayne's World - January

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So, with January over, only another full 11 months to do next years Christmas shopping, and after the forecasted “coldest snap for 40 years” turned out to be two cold days with a bit of snow, it was a bit of a disappointment.

I had been hoping to get out and about taking nice “Christmassy” scenes, as January is a bit slow in the agricultural world. I managed to get a couple of days in the snow, snapping away like a mad thing, burning film like there was no tomorrow. I even bought extra film in the expectation of taking loads of photos. I used 3 films!!

So, what else have I been up to this month? I hear you ask.

Shepherd and Twins

Well, apart from the odd crispy morning it has been quite a dull month weather wise, which doesn’t help proceedings, and I bought a new lens at the end of last month, and I’ve been itching to try that out. It’s an ultra wide-angle lens, 12-24mm, which to you “non-the wiser for that types” means it is brilliant for very expansive landscapes. My biggest problem with the lens is that I have to keep an eye out that I don’t get my feet in the picture! I did get to try it out in this frosty weather and there are a couple of examples illustrated here. I just love the depth that it gives a landscape.

I spent a day trailing, what felt like the borders of Cumbria, to take shots of a jolly farmer and his sheep for a PR company. I enjoy going onto farms to take photos of farmers and their stock (just as well really, as that is what my job entails!!) I go onto lots of farms, and the quality and the general healthiness of livestock is tremendous, and it annoys me when I hear people going on about factory farming and livestock being pumped full of drugs….Yes, it may happen, but I haven’t seen any of it.

High Force

Earlier in the month, there was quite a cold spell, which I took advantage of. I have wanted some photographs of the famous High Force on the river Tees. I figured it would be a good time to get some icy waterfall photos. I arrived at the High Force car park just as the car park attendant arrived, so I HAD to pay my parking fee. Grrr…5 minutes sooner, and I would have had free parking. However, I didn’t let this spoil my day.

High Force is away down a track, about half a mile, and what a sight when I got there. I certainly got Ice all right! There were big chunks of ice floating around in the pool, quite a sight! I managed 2-3 rolls of film before it got too cold for my little fingers.

Later that same day, it started to rain and the cold spell was over. These days, when a cold snap is on, you have to dash around and get the pictures you want. You can’t afford to wait around, as winters ain’t what they used to be….. Not like when I was a lad anyway. (Yawn…..)

Judging at Hawes

The real sale of the year was at the auction mart in Hawes, North Yorkshire, when in-lamb Swaledale and Blue Faced Leicester ewes were being sold. These are the two breeds, which provide the backbone of the British sheep industry, and always attract a good crowd. This sale was no different. Farmers from all over the North of England, from the west Coast of Cumbria, to the East Coast of North Yorkshire attended the sale, packing into the ring, meeting up again for the first time after the Autumn sales.

I was there on official business for the Blue Faced Leicester Society, and as an interested party with the Swaledale sheep. Top price of the day was a bid of £2000 for the champion Blue Faced Leicester, followed closely by the Reserve Champion Swaledale at £1800. All in all, a good day out, with a bit of good “craick” as the locals say….and no….its not the drug!!

Till next month……………………….

Wayne Hutchinson - www.farm-images.co.uk