Of itself the field behind our house (Townsend Meadow) is not very interesting. It is simply a farm field, much subjected to agrochemicals in order to produce year on year wheat, or rape, or oats, or field beans or barley. On days when the light is flat it is plain dull. Most of the time it is the activity above it that catches my eye – cloud movements, and the odd effects created by a false horizon which obscures the further horizon of Wenlock Edge where the ground drops off a few hundred feet to the Shropshire Plain below. But there are moments when the quality of light bestows a certain glamour. Somewhat astonishingly the header photo was taken at first light one February morning – a piece of magic all its own since February in England is rarely a scenic month unless one is thinking about carpets of snowdrops.
Here are some more ‘best’ moments – over the garden fence, or from the office skylight.
Lens-Artists: It’s all about light Many thanks to Tina for this week’s theme. Please go and see her very inspirational gallery of light works.
Tish Farrell 
I dunno, looks pretty interesting to me. Love the tractor shot.
Well I was trying to show it in its best light 🙂
I like the tractor shot too. One of those lucky long-shots that was actually in focus. It looks like a story book pic.
Or like the Amblin symbol of Elliot on his bike with ET going across the moon they show at the beginning of their films.
Oh now that’s a v. appealing image. Love it!
At least it changes from season to season.
Oh yes. It does do that.
I’m all for the point of “the quality of light bestows a certain glamour” indeed so, Tish!
Thank you, Sue. Glad you liked that bit 🙂
🙂
Hi Tish, You’ve captured these moments “when the quality of light bestows a certain glamour”. Beautiful, indeed.
Many thanks, Amy.
Got some great shots there
Many thanks, Quentin.
I love the first photo and the last two. Isn’t light marvelous and so many different looks it has.
janet
It’s a fascinating subject, isn’t it – the play of light 🙂
The tractor shot is clever and I really like the light and the colours in the last two.
Reblogged this on Hutts Ultra Blogging World.
Excellent series. Love that first one.
Thanks, John. I love that first one too. The light was so extraordinary.
Beautiful photos.
Alison
Many thanks, Alison.
These are simply beautiful, and very evocative of a county I don’t know as well as I’d like to.
Thank you, Margaret. Shropshire has a lot of variety, especially the hill country. We’re on the edge of that on Wenlock Edge.
Oh, what a place to have on your doorstep!
We’re v. lucky 🙂
A beautiful response to the challenge Tish. I especially loved the tractor silhouette and the first field of flowers. Stunning!
Many thanks, Tina.
Love the changes in the last 2.
Thanks, Sherry.
beautiful images! how light plays could be magical. love the first photo!
Many thanks, Lola.
So beautiful light in these, Tish! I just love the tractor silhouette. Always working, the farmers! And the last two with the same view but totally different light, fileds and flowers. the differences are very clear.
Happy you liked these, A-C. Thank you.
💚
Ohh….lovely collection, Tish. Beautiful light! I especially love your header image and the one with the bales of hay.
Many thanks, Patti.
I love the tractor shot – such an interesting silhouette to choose! And the two photos with the flowers in the foreground are a great illustration of the changes the seasons bring 🙂
Thank you, Sarah. That particular shot truly was a chance snap using a lot of zoom on small camera. I was amazed it worked.
Absolutely adore that final photo! 😀
And that makes me very happy, Widders.
Amazing the change that the light and seasons can create. I’ve just read a very insightful book about the changing face of agriculture in England. From the 1950’s mixed small family farms (when I was working on a farm) to present day,mainly mono culture and the damage it has done to nature and the ecosystem.. “English Pastoral” by James Rebank. I think you would find it interesting.
Thanks, Pauline. I’ve been meaning to read James Rebank so good to have the reminder. In a similar vein, Herefordshire farmer John Lewis-Stempel’s ‘Meadowland’ is a captivating read. He describes creating a traditional meadow – with some stark contrasts to industrial agriculture practices.
That first one is a painting
Isn’t it amazing what light can do – no titivating by me either.
Simply fabulous
So beautiful!!
Thanks, Jennie.
You’re welcome, Tish.
The colours in these photos are amazing. And the bails of straw in that field of stubble just fill me with nostalgia. Some lovely shots that really capture my favourite time of year.
Thank you for this. Stubble fields have lots of nostalgia potential don’t they. A paradox of things lost and gained (?)
Not sure why they’re so captivating but yes I like your suggestion. For me it also has something to do with a dramatisation of open space (on the one hand) and the redolence of childhood walks (on the other… nostril?!)
Yes, I get that too. When the field behind the house is shorn it’s almost like a holiday. And this year it’s lasted from July until the other day when it was drilled and resown.