About

Update: January 2014

I’ve been taking photographs for artistic reasons since March 2011 and started this blog in April 2011. I have the same camera – a Pentax Optio H90 – a lovely little compact camera which enables quite a variety of photos to be taken. I haven’t gone down the DSLR route as I fear I would get lost in the quagmire of technology. The important thing for me is to see something interesting in the first place, and then to quickly capture what I have seen. I don’t spend a lot of time searching out a subject or lining it up or getting the settings right; it is quite intuitive. I also still don’t do very much post-processing; probably less than I did at the start. I like the image to be as close to when I saw it as possible to maintain a sense of integrity. I sometimes tweak contrast and saturation very slightly. I also crop when necessary.

Nature photography continues to be my main subject – it is where I feel happy and most at home.

My photographic aims for 2014 are to continue being in tune with my Natural surroundings – and perhaps creating a series of images about people. It will continue to be a record of weather events and of places I go.

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I began taking photographs during March 2011 after I received a digital camera for my birthday.

At first I concentrated on photographing garden flowers as Spring unfolded and then moved beyond the garden into the expanse of local crop fields and other natural areas of interest. As of early 2012 I’m continuing to explore subjects and compositions.

I really enjoy taking photographs for many reasons: it has enabled a closer connection to nature and has increased my awareness of the natural world – particularly in my local area; I love the creative aspect; and I also enjoy the meditative quality of taking photographs – it stills the mind and facilitates being ‘in the moment’. I try to apply this to my life generally now.

I generally don’t use very much post-processing – instead I like to experiment with natural conditions. The emotional impact of an image is more important for me than technical perfection. I really like the moody feel of B&W photography and am experimenting with this, and in the future I’d like to experiment with textures.

I try to post an image every day and with a couple of exceptions have managed this since March last year. I prefer to post current images as this blog also doubles as a personal record of what I do and where I go and so on.  It also serves as a record of weather conditions.

158 thoughts on “About”

  1. Beautiful site. I am also a novice in photography. I just purchased a DSLR in January and loving every minute of using it. I’d love to take a class to learn more but for now I read books and glean what I can.

    I love the fact that photography allows you to see life differently. I now see beauty in my surroundings even on the most dreary days.

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  2. Thank you so much for your lovely comments. It’s great to be acquainted with another photography novice! It has certainly gripped me – I’ve probably taken too many photographs, and I’m frightened that I’ll wear the poor camera out!

    I might take a class at some point too, but like you, for now, I’m learning as I go along and also, like you, I see so much beauty around me with clearer eyes.

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  3. Hello Meanderer, many thanks for posting a like on my post “Orange tip” on “The Naturephile”.

    I think in one way we’re trying achieve the same thing in capturing images of the natural beauty that is all around us wherever we find ourselves.

    Some of your images are just exquisite and if you’re still a novice I’m really looking forward to seeing where you go with it!

    Best wishes

    Finn

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    1. Many thanks for your kind comments Finn! Yes – there is so much beauty around us and once you begin to look properly, you see so much more! It would be great to have more hours in the day.

      Your bird and butterfly photographs are excellent and interesting – and I agree with your comments about Orange Tips not settling for very long! I was fortunate to have photographed one early Spring. I’ve not been successful since!

      All the best and thanks once again.

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        1. Ah – ’tis the pressures of work which has resulted in fewer photographic outings. Also – I think I am becoming my own sternest critic 🙂 I have a few interesting images from my afternoon out yesterday though – the late Summer flowers are putting on a good show 🙂

          Thanks so much for your support and kind words Sallyann – I appreciate it a lot 🙂

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    1. Thank you very much for all your lovely comments – I really appreciate your visit and your comments. I will be coming over to have a good look at your blog today 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much for your very kind comments. I’m really pleased you like the site and the images. Please feel free to drop in anytime! Many thanks for visiting.

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  9. I like the change you made on this page about being in the moment. I’m amazed that your photos are so beautiful without much postprocessing! That is real talent! Thank you for the subscribe to both of my blogs.

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    1. Thank you very much FM! The thing is, I take a lot of photographs and reject a lot of photographs so there are many that aren’t very good! I’m enjoying the learning process though – especially using different light conditions to effect a result. You’re welcome re: the subscribe; I like your work very much!

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    1. Thank you so much for you very kind words alessia! I really appreciate them. I’m pleased you find some of the images peaceful. I will come and have a look around your blog. Many thanks once again 🙂

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  13. Dear Meanderer, this is a lovely and thoughtfully made site. I’m looking forward to seeing more of your work. You will not be forgotten–and not just because of the sweet flowers you featured here!
    All best as you go forward; we’re ALL “novices” in our art in various ways, if we keep learning. I know I’ll learn from you. 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much for your very kind words Kathryn. You are right with regard to novices and that art is an ongoing learning process. Many thanks once again; I will come over and visit your blog 🙂

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    1. Thanks Adrian. There is a subscription tick box under the comments box – I didn’t have room to include an email subscription tab! Also, if you go to ‘Blogs I follow’ in the ‘Dashboard’ you can adjust when (or if) you receive emails.

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  18. I believe that creativity and having an eye for composition are more important than technical perfection. I have seen the work of many photographers who got the technical aspects perfect, but the images they produce aren’t all that interesting. You have a good eye for composition and I can see that your technical skills are pretty good as well.

    I used to discard images that didn’t turn out right “out of the camera” but have moved toward using the digital darkroom to salvage images with the tools available to me. As I grow older, my eyesight is not what it used to be. And even after several years of shooting I still have a lot to learn. I like being able to get inspiration from artists like you who share their enthusiasm and love of photography with the rest of us amateurs. And together, we help each other get better results from our efforts.

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    1. Thanks so much for your kind comments. I like the way that one learns something new all the time with photography. Also, as you say, connecting with other photographers is so inspirational and encouraging. It’s a wonderful, enriching hobby – and so enjoyable. Many thanks for stopping by today and for liking my images and for your lovely positive comments. I appreciate it.

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  19. Meanderer – I love your blog name…and your beautiful shots. I’m rather new to photography and find a certain inspiration in your approach. Nature soothes me, too, settles the unsettled heart sometimes. Thank you for your beautiful work. Scott

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    1. Thanks Scott so much for your really lovely comments. There really is something wonderfully soothing about being out and about photographing Nature. I used to walk past so much before I had my camera – deep in thought and not noticing! Having the camera has made me open my eyes.

      All the very best with your photography. I will come over to have a look at your images.

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      1. You are very welcome, Meanderer…and yes, being out in nature with camera in hand causes us to see so much that we would have missed while captured by our thoughts. Thank you for the well-wishes with my photography…will look forward to your visits on my blog. 🙂

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    1. Thank you so much Scott. I’m really touched that you have nominated my blog for the Award and I most certainly do accept. Many thanks for your very kind words – I really appreciate them, and the Award.

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  21. Pingback: Winter’s Cold Comfort « Dark Pines Photo

  25. Hello Meanderer, I think The Lantern Room is one of the best blogs out there. You have lovely images and it’s a real pleasure to read and I’d like to nominate you for the Very Inspiring Blogger Award. If you don’t want to accept that’s fine, but if you do, the award requests that you nominate your favourite seven blogs and notify them of the nomination, share seven facts about yourself, and lastly display the award logo on your website (a copy of the logo can be lifted from here: http://thenaturephile.com/2012/03/16/id-just-like-to-thank/).

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    1. Many thanks Sharon for the Award and for your wonderful words. I really appreciate you thinking of my blog. I love your blog too – such a wonderful place to visit.

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    1. Many thanks Lesley. Yes – I’m starting to feel scratchy this week as I haven’t been able to get out and about in Nature due to overtime at work! Come rain or shine, I hope to get out with the camera at the weekend!

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  29. Pingback: Thank you kindly « dianajhale

    1. Thanks so much Sallyann – that’s so kind 🙂 Just got back today from wonderful holiday. Feeling tired and a bit fuzzy but will be catching up with everyone’s blogs really soon!

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    1. Hello Gerry. You’ll find it in ‘Appearance’ -> ‘Widgets’ in your ‘Dashboard’. It’s the ‘Top Posts and Pages’ widget which you can personalise to get the layout you want. I use ‘Views’ rather than ‘Likes’ as it produces more variety.

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  40. Greetings from a far away land,
    I love the sincerity and openness about your biography and admire the fact that you try and post an image on a regular basis as this can be quite challenging. All the best on your photographic journey.
    Take great care and God bless . 🙂

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    1. Greetings from across the world, Konstantine! Many thanks for your visit and kind comments. I have to admit, I’ve found it a challenge to post every day recently. The grey weather conditions aren’t altogether conducive for Nature photography but there is still much to be inspired by! All the very best to you 🙂

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  42. What a bautiful blog! Your photography is outstanding and very inspiring to me. I look forward to following you into the future,
    All the best.
    Greetings from the Far North
    Dina

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  43. Don’t know why I haven’t seen this before or read this before but both are good, M! I very much like “it stills the mind and facilitates being ‘in the moment’ – absolutely! Good stuff! A

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        1. No, I didn’t know when I started how long I would be taking photographs and posting them. Sometimes one takes up a hobby and then the enthusiasm fades. I love taking photos though and although sometimes inspiration is lacking due to grey weather, I still very much enjoy it. I don’t take as many photos as I did at the start where I was firing off photos of everything – thousands of them! I’m a harsher critic of my work now.

          It’s great blogging here. Wonderful and supportive comments such as yours help keep me keeping on 🙂 Many thanks, Adrian.

          Hope the cider was good 🙂

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  45. ~Photocrossing project~

    Dear Meanderer,

    My name is Christa, I’m the Dutch author of the blog http://www.lilycatherine.wordpress.com. On my tiny part of the world wide web I share everything I love concerning photography, music and lifestyle.

    “Altering life by holding it still”

    Right now I’m working on this project called Photocrossing. The project found its origin in pure curiosity for the rest of this world. I honestly believe that every place on this planet has its own beauty. Sometimes we tend to forget about it however, since unique environments become normal for its inhabitants over time.

    “Exploring this world photo by photo”

    The idea behind this project is that we start to appreciate our own environment, by sharing the most beautiful or interesting photographs we have of it. We are hundreds of kilometers away from each other, it’s a whole different world! Two bloggers take a photograph in their own environment, after which they exchange these photographs in order to explore the world bit by bit. (You could also join with a photograph taken at a place you really love, it doesn’t have to be close to your home!) These photographs could be taken at any place. Whether you’d like to show me your garden, the road you travel every day, a city, or that beautiful sunset photograph taken a few miles away; anything is possible as long as the photograph defines your environment! After this we post each other’s photograph together with a brief description of the photo as well as the project.

    I’ve been following your blog for some time now and I’d love to work with you on this project! Let me know whether you’re interested, I can’t wait to exchange photographs!

    Kind Regards,
    Christa

    meelkertjechrista@hotmail.com

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    1. That’s kind, Gerry; thank you. I use a compact camera: Pentax Optio H90. It’s a great little camera. I’m not sure if Pentax make this model anymore (I’ve had it two years) but I think they make a newer version.

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    1. Hi Adrian! I did a test post earlier to see how the protected password posts worked and it seems as if it sits on one’s blog as a post as normal but with the difference that it needs a password – which I was going to share with you. However, in hindsight, I thought that a ‘protected’ post which shows up on the blog would look odd so I changed my mind and deleted it.

      I have just had another idea and have created a new blog: savourflavour.wordpress.com. It’s only been up for a couple of minutes but I thought we could use that instead – a dedicated blog for this tasting and future ones and we could perhaps bring in other bloggers too (I noticed Gary’s comment on your blog). We could go international – a bit like Delboy and Raquel (Peckham, Paris, New York – that sort of thing 🙂 ).

      Will post something to the new blog in a bit.

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            1. I guess one thing I should mention – which might put you off any collaboration food and drink-wise – is that I’m an ovo-lacto vegetarian so any reviews about meat would be off the blog menu as it were. In hindsight I guess I should have mentioned that before but I tend to be a bit guarded about my dietary preferences due to previous negative experiences 😉

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  48. M, my good friend, I think you need to understand who you are dealing with here. I’m a humorous, broad minded and very easy going – and now retired! – chap, with large amounts of life experience! Such things don’t faze me in the least. I eat anything I can get my hands on, often rapidly and in large amounts – living in Kenya has given me a great liking for fruit and veg and I down lots of it, but I eat meat too.

    But if you’re a vegetarian that’s fine – or cool, as they say these days. I imagine ovo-lacto means that you eat eggs and milk – what about cheese?

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    1. Well I’m certainly up there with you on cheese – I love it, tho I can’t eat much of it as I’m trying to keep my cholesterol and triglycerides down – had a blood test recently and found both of these are down a bit, which I’m pleased about! With all the fatty things I shouldn’t have, its a question of having them now and again, rather than daily.

      I’m nothing like a gourmet but I do like tasty, simple things, like cheeses eg Edam and blues, cashews, Eater Biscuits, fruit, fish – even beans on toast has a subtle taste very much its own! But I suspect that fish is not for you? If I can ask a personal question, are you a vegetarian because of your beliefs / convictions, or for medical reasons?

      And finally – how are we going to do this tasting? Not sure we need to picture thye bottles / contents – what do you think? I can do a post talking about Young’s, and you can do one about Duvel?????

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      1. I don’t eat lots of cheese either as I have to keep an eye on my fat and sugar intake – there’s a history of heart disease and diabetes in my family. What I’ve discovered in recent years is how complex our dietary requirements are – particularly with regard to protein, carbs and fats. It would take a whole new blog to discuss it. I guess – for me these days as I get older – the key is moderation in many things with an eye on quality but I don’t always manage it 😉 I am by no means perfect or an example of someone who gets things right. Recent dental problems have resulted in a sharp reduction in sugar intake for example.

        The short answer to the veggie question is: it’s a moral-ethical decision rather than a medical one but I feel there are also physical benefits. The easier answer would be that it was a medical reason 😉

        With regard to the beer tasting: I’ve taken a couple of photos for fun so will post them and a review on the Duvel. You can then do one on the Youngs!

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        1. I think my question was insensitive – I should have asked whether you’re a veggoie by choice or necessity – apologies! Moderation is a good line but I (certainly!) don’t always mange it either! I’m sure there are physical benefits – and lowering sugar intake can’t be a bad thing – but that’s easy for me to say as I’m more into savouries!

          Right – a post of Young’s coming up! I’m going to try it warm first I think >>> try not to have the Duvel explode all over your camera!!!!!

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  51. I can really identify with your About statement. Like you I don’t do any image altering apart from cropping the photo to size and enjoy recording what I see on a daily basis so that when I look back over the year I am able to see the alteration in light and in the colours which associate themselves with the changing months and seasons. You have wonderful images here and I am so glad that you started this blog.

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    1. Thanks so much for your wonderful comment – I really appeciate it.

      Yes – looking back at the colours and light through the Seasons is fascinating. Noticing the subtle changes is so rewarding.

      I shall be back to have a longer look at your blog. The lighthouse image is so beautiful; it looks like a very special place.

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    1. No, not a gardener supreme. I have learned a lot about plants over the years. I enjoy finding out about them – their Latin names, what conditions they like, and so on. The garden here is quite interesting. We garden on chalk – which is very difficult. Plants I have brought in haven’t always thrived, so these days I tend to go with what grows well here, naturally rather than bringing in something which is likely to struggle. Aquilegias, poppies, forget-me-nots, primroses, nigellas and cornflowers do well – as do roses. Plants such as echinaceas, verbena, and crocosmia don’t seem to like chalk. Must be something to do with the alkilinity.

      Many thanks for your kind comment. I’m pleased you enjoy the posts!

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        1. Sorry for the delay, Cynthia. I was going to research and post a long response re: the chalk. What happened was, none of it got done!

          Basically, there are geological layers of chalk dotted here and there in England. They are called chalk downlands. We are situated on the edge of one. Even so, the chalk layer varies from garden to garden. We have about a spade depth of soil in ours, underneath which sits the chalk. This makes drainage very good but it also means the soil dries out very quickly, roots tend to spread out rather than go deep, and some plants dislike the lime. I have found over time, that rather than try and grow plants I like but which don’t occur naturally around here – and so subsequently fail, I go with Nature and allow surprises to grow, and will also look for plants which belong to the same family as those which grow well in this area.

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  64. Hi I should have posted here rather than on individual post… Thank you for sharing your beautiful photographs, they have inspired me today. Your subjects are uncannily similar to mine! and has been good to see a blog with the same ‘eye’ but done so beautifully. Thanks for the inspiration, and taking the time to share.

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  65. You wrote: ‘The important thing for me is to see something interesting in the first place, and then to quickly capture what I have seen.’ Your gerbera shot is great. Now, what intrigues me in my writing is that very moment that makes you grab the camera–and then what happens inside as you embed yourself in the flower while taking the picture begins. 🙂 Good stuff, thanks for sharing! Like you, the last thing I want is the technology to stop the flow!

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    1. Hello there. It’s an interesting question, and hard to put into words because, I think, language isn’t there in that moment. It’s all about the senses rather than thoughts ….. in that moment. There’s a thought or thoughts and words leading up to it but not at the moment when the image is ‘captured’. It’s also about perfection ……. perfection in that brief moment as the eye, the finger on the shutter, and the subject come together. The results, however, don’t always capture the perfection which was tried for 🙂 It’s a wonderful uplifting experience though!

      Thanks for your visit to The Lantern Room and your comment.

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  68. From the few I’ve seen so far, I’d have thought you were using a much more upmarket camera. This gives me hope of finding something good to replace my aging Lumix. (I can’t handle DSLRs as I don’t use a tripod and I have very small hands and the do all seem to be very large.)

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    1. I’ve had this camera for over six years now and enjoy using it. It’s strengths are macro images and often longer-range landscape images. I hope you find one you like; there’s a lot of choice!

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