Leading you..
..up the garden path.
I’ve been visiting with Poppy this last week. With the Royal Photographic Society distinction exams being held in a suite at the NEC, Birmingham, staying with my friend in Malvern, about 40 minutes drive away from the NEC, was not only hugely convenient but a great chance to catch up and to go out and take pictures together.
Yesterday, we were in the Malvern hills for the sunset but we were a little early so we decided to go looking for a good spot for some other pictures. I suggested we go down onto the plain on the western side of the hills as the late afternoon sun would be casting a nice soft light. We drove down and at each junction I just followed my nose suggesting either a left or a right turn. Some part of me seemed to know where we were going Seeing a sign for Coddington, I felt that Coddington was where we should go. What a great name for a village. Passing a lane that had a sign saying ‘dead end’ and ‘Bush Farm’ we decided to take the right and drive down the lane.
As we were approaching some farm buildings we saw an elderly man carrying a bucket. At his heel, following faithfully, was a collie sheep dog. Poppy stopped the car and I wound down the window asking if would be OK to take some pictures of the farm. ‘I don’t see why not’ the man replied so we drove a little further on and parked the car. We set up our tripods and started taking pictures. The man came back down the lane.
‘Let me show you something very special’ he said ‘follow me’.
We followed onto the farm, through an arch and around the back of the rather lovely farm house. Here we were treated to a lovely view of the Malvern Hills. Feeling very privileged indeed, we started to taking pictures..
24mm f/22 1/8th sec. ISO-100
Back into the farmyard we noticed the faithful sheep dog’s kennel cleverly cut out of the wood pile. This photo opportunity was a real gift. As is the way with collies generally, she was a lovely dog and seemed quite happy to pose in her kennel..
70mm f/22 1 sec. ISO-100
Moral of the story, when you’re out taking pictures, if you need to get onto farmland or take pictures of farm buildings, it’s good to ask permission. You never know what this might bring in the way of bonuses. We were very lucky.
As we were leaving the man said
‘It’s a shame you were just a little too late to capture the light.’ I replied with
‘the late afternoon sun especially makes for some very nice photographs’.
‘It takes all sorts’ he said.
Thanking him again we left. I will make a point of sending a print when I return home. An opportunity to show him why the afternoon light is so special.. :-)
Cornwall Photographic 
Nice story, and an absolutely beautiful photo of the dog… And very cool for you to prepare a print for the farmer. It is the little things like this that impact people the most. Cheers!
March 5, 2014 at 5:55 pm
Thanks Randall! :-)
March 5, 2014 at 6:09 pm
beautiful shots
March 5, 2014 at 6:07 pm
Thank you very much Shimon.
March 5, 2014 at 6:10 pm
What a great time you had and terrific photos! Beautiful scene and love the pup!
March 5, 2014 at 7:01 pm
Thank you Phil, the pup was indeed lovely and very accommodating of this pair of strange people taking photographs. :-)
March 5, 2014 at 7:48 pm
The first image is simply stunning Adrian and of course I just love the second image (as I’m sure you knew I would) :)
March 5, 2014 at 7:17 pm
Thank you Edith.The collie was a real treasure and as I said to Phil, so accommodating of this strange pair taking pictures. :-)
March 5, 2014 at 7:49 pm
Gorgeous photos, Adrian. The Collie looks really comfy in that log kennel. The light certainly is perfect in your first pic. You were so lucky to happen upon that helpful farmer. I’m sure he loved your photos. :)
March 5, 2014 at 7:50 pm
Thank you Sylvia! We were very lucky and the little dog was such a bonus!
March 5, 2014 at 10:29 pm
Yes, special light and a great story. Lovely!
March 5, 2014 at 7:54 pm
Thank you Karen! :-)
March 5, 2014 at 10:30 pm
Amazing Photos. Asking permission is the best.
March 5, 2014 at 8:07 pm
Absolutely Lou! Thank you very much! :-)
March 5, 2014 at 10:30 pm
I love this story. People are almost always kind and helpful if you only ask. Beautiful pictures and a lovely collie. I’m glad you’re sending a print.
March 5, 2014 at 8:26 pm
Thank you Ann Christine. That has certainly always been my experience. :-)
March 5, 2014 at 10:32 pm
Just read Poppy’s blog, sounds like you both have a wonderful time with some breath taking photos to prove it. I love the sun on the trees in the distance. Stunning :)
March 5, 2014 at 9:55 pm
Thank you Angi! It has been a lot of fun. :-)
March 5, 2014 at 10:33 pm
What a wonderful story. ;)
March 5, 2014 at 10:12 pm
It turned out perfectly Cynthia! :-)
March 5, 2014 at 10:33 pm
And what lovely light it was too 😊
March 5, 2014 at 10:30 pm
It was indeed Mark, thank you. :-)
March 5, 2014 at 10:43 pm
Fabulous shots! You are poppy make a dynamic duo:)
March 5, 2014 at 11:08 pm
Thank you Elena. There does seem to be a certain synergy going on.. :-)
March 5, 2014 at 11:22 pm
What a marvelous adventure and the trophy shots to take home with you. I bet the farmer will be impressed, too. Hope you include the pic of his faithful companion, too.
March 5, 2014 at 11:36 pm
Thank you Gunta! It was a lot of fun. I hope he likes the pictures, I will definitely include the picture of the dog. :-)
March 6, 2014 at 8:48 am
Such beautiful photos, it kinda hit me as I scrolled down. Wherever the dog is seated, it’s beautiful! I’ll like to have a little rest place amongst the logs too!
March 6, 2014 at 2:53 am
Thank you Rustic. I thought that little kennel looked pretty cosy too! :-)
March 6, 2014 at 8:50 am
The collie in her kennel is so special, farmers ingenuity for you and a bonus on top of the light on the Malvern Hills.
March 6, 2014 at 9:03 am
Thank you very much Lee. :-)
March 6, 2014 at 9:48 am
Beautiful Adrian.
March 6, 2014 at 10:06 am
Thanks David!
March 6, 2014 at 10:09 am
What a wonderful opportunity and an absolutely stunning photo :)
March 6, 2014 at 11:49 am
Thank you Norma, that’s very kind!
March 6, 2014 at 4:20 pm
Beautiful images… great depth in the first image makes it really interesting.
and great composition in the second one, loved it :)
March 6, 2014 at 12:34 pm
Thank you Sreejith, very much appreciated!
March 6, 2014 at 4:20 pm
How fortunate we followed your hunch ChillB ! A special view indeed was revealed when the farmer took us through to his garden, and although he was quite nonchalant I do believe he just knew it would impress us :-) I feel sure he will love the prints . Wasn’t she just SO appealing the little collie dog lying down there in her rustic wooden hideyhole :-)
March 6, 2014 at 3:20 pm
The collie dog was so sweet and to have her sitting there in her little kennel was an absolute gift. Do you think in her own sweet way she was showing us her very own ‘something very special’? Thank you so much for driving us there Poppy! :-)
March 6, 2014 at 4:24 pm
… course she was ;-)
and the drive to an unknown place was more straight forward than to a previously visited place I tried to navigate to the following day ….*smile
March 6, 2014 at 9:47 pm
:-D I wouldn’t let on.. :-)
March 7, 2014 at 12:28 pm
Sounds like a great outing – and I love that kennel :)
March 6, 2014 at 5:20 pm
Thank you Noeline, it really was. :-)
March 6, 2014 at 8:27 pm
What a lovely story Adrian – and I love your thought that the collie was showing you her special place!! So funny that the farmer was sad that you’d missed the light ha ha ha – the light in your first shot is glorious. The only thing missing from your post was the portrait of the farmer ;-)
March 6, 2014 at 8:23 pm
Thank you Tina. I thought about asking the farmer if I could take his picture but I’m ever so shy when it comes to photographing people. I was looking at your wonderful portraits thinking I’d like to give portraiture a try but I’d have a hell of a job asking people for their permission. :-/
March 6, 2014 at 8:30 pm
:-) Most of the time I’m using a 70-200 zoom and capturing candids. Hate it when the post but in the case of the farmer he sounded like quite a character and very proud of his land so he might have been a good and very cooperative subject ! I was teasing you based on your comment on my portraits post tho!
March 6, 2014 at 10:11 pm
:-) I think the farmer probably would have cooperated too of I’d asked. Maybe next time. If I send him some pictures, I’m sure we could visit again..
March 7, 2014 at 12:33 pm
That is an interesting and clever kennel for the pup…and such wonderful afternoon light, as well. :)
March 7, 2014 at 1:44 am
Thanks Scott! :-)
March 7, 2014 at 12:33 pm
:)
March 7, 2014 at 3:37 pm
Your sixth sense led you to something special, Adrian. A beautiful image of the Malvern Hills, but that image of the faithful Collie is a real scene stealer. Nice processing too.
March 7, 2014 at 9:06 am
Thank you Andy. I often just get in the car and drive around, following my nose and taking the road less traveled as it were. It usually leads to a picture. On this occasion it was pretty special!
March 7, 2014 at 12:35 pm
Great story, wonderful light! I love serendipitous moments like this…..
March 8, 2014 at 11:37 am
Thank you Sue. Serendipity seems to play a large part in a lot of my photography.. :-)
March 8, 2014 at 4:19 pm