Views of Croome

Croome is an eighteenth century country house in Worcestershire. It is now in the care of the National Trust and one of the most visited of that organisation's properties. The builders of mansions like Croome invariably spent more money on the main elevation of the house (usually the south-facing front) and less on the elevation that had more utilitarian uses (usually the north front). At Croome the north elevation (shown above) could be mistaken for the most imposing south front (shown below). Perhaps this is because this is the visitor's first view as the road winds its way to the building.

 However, once the south elevation, with its portico, comes into view it is clear which is which. Lancelot "Capability" Brown was responsible for the landscaping around Croome. He widened the Croome River at a couple of points to make it more like a lake against which the house could be seen.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon Z 5

Views from Hergest Ridge

click images to enlarge
A road closure involving us in a detour down muddy, single-track roads, followed by a bank of cloud that appeared over Kington and Hergest Ridge, nearly caused us to look for a different destination than our planned walk on the famous hill. But we overcame and accepted the impediments and were rewarded with an interesting (if very windy) walk and some reasonable views. Here are two taken when the clouds admitted pools of light. They show the cultivation of the lower valleys and the uncultivated steep slopes and tops of the outcrops.

 photos © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2

Church photography and trees

Seeing, appreciating and photographing the exterior of English churches is made much more difficult by people's enthusiasm for tree planting around the building. A few well-chosen and thoughtfully sited specimens invariably adds to the churchyard and surroundings. But the species, and more especially the position chosen for them, all too often blocks the best or often the only remaining good view of the church. St Margaret at Welsh Bicknor is a case in point. The building of the church was funded locally by an individual who chose a particular architect who produced a beautiful building. Since then trees have been planted that impinge on our appreciation of the structure. The latest is in the centre foreground of the photograph with a guard round it. Imagine its effect on this view when it is fully grown.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Lumix FZ1000 2