On a recent ramble between Welwyn North and Hertford North, a group of us wrapped up for a chilly walk through the beautiful Hertfordshire landscape. I am not familiar with the counties lying north of London, but enjoyed exploring what Hertfordshire had to offer.

The near freezing temperatures gave a beautiful, crisp atmosphere. The crispness of the air, the frost on the ground and the fogginess lent itself to being photographed. The trees and the frost covered fields contrasted against the chilly fog.

There was a certain sleepy stillness on the walk, and the smell of log fires added to the atmosphere. 

There is something magical about winter scenes. Often they are associated with Christmas, but we tend to forget that winter lasts past Christmas.


I enjoy taking photos when it’s crisp and cold outside – although it can be a bit difficult on the fingers. 

Recently, I was on a rambling walk along the Kent and Sussex border. This is a beautiful, and at times rugged, part of the country. Being a city-based photographer, I enjoy getting out of the city and seeing different parts of the country, and different styles of buildings and architecture. 

One of the famous types of buildings in the area, particularly in Kent, is the oast house or hop kiln, which is a building designed for kilning (drying) hops as part of the brewing process. Many redundant oasts have been converted into houses - which was the case of the oast house we passed early on in our walk.

The earliest surviving oasts date back to the 1750s. Early oast houses were simply adapted barns. By the early 19th century, the distinctive circular buildings with conical roofs had been developed in response to the increased demand for beer. In early in the 20th century, square oast houses appeared as they were found to be easier to build. In the 1930s, the cowls were replaced by louvred openings as electric fans and diesel oil ovens were employed. 

This is the first time I was able to photograph an oast, even if it was converted in home. Although hops are today dried industrially, I am glad that the unique architecture of the oast houses is not entirely lost. Brewing beer has become part of the cultural fabric of the UK, and its influence on the local architecture in Kent and parts of Sussex is distinctive. 

Architecture says a lot about local industry, way of life and the communities in a particular area. While these change over time, adapting some of the former buildings for modern can keep history alive, and the distinctive feel of an area. 

I often come across the attitude that photos can only really be taken in sunshine. Overcast days, which tend to be frequent in the UK, aren’t seen to be as picture-worthy as its sunny cousin – and evening shots are often forgotten altogether. 

Gray weather doesn’t tend to put me off, and often see it as a perfect opportunity to get brooding, atmospheric and textured shots that don’t present themselves as readily in bright daylight. I sometimes appreciate a grey sky as the subject matter presents another side of its character, and generally reach for my black and white film. 

A visit to Castle Howard in Yorkshire a few years ago is a perfect example of this. I was visiting friends in York, and we decided to do a day trip to the estate. The weather overcast and rainy. I was in heaven. 

Most of it was built between 1699 and 1712 for the 3rd Earl of Carlisle, to a design by Sir John Vanbrugh. Castle Howard has been the home of part of the Howard family for more than 300 years, and is the setting for TV and film adaptation of Evelyn Waugh's Brideshead Revisited.

The setting lends itself to either colour or black and white. However, with the weather the way it was, I couldn’t resist taking photos in black & white. After a tour of the house itself, we walked part of the grounds before the rain started in earnest. 

One of my favourite shots is of a bridge over a stream cutting through the grounds. The sky was steadily getting darker, and more threatening. The viewer can almost smell the rain coming. 

To get a nice contrast in the image, I used Ilford Pan-F 50 film, which is a nice slow film. This is a stalwart of mine, and often find it gives me the contrast and texture I’m after. I must admit, it certainly lent itself to Castle Howard. 

I managed to capture the shot just before the rain started, and feel fortunate. My friends and I just managed to get back to the House before the rain started to really pour. 

Capturing atmospheric shots can be very rewarding, particularly when you capture the moment well.

I was first introduced to Spain when I visited Mallorca a few years ago. While on a retreat in a little village outside of Palma, I had the opportunity to discover the delights of Spanish architecture, along with Spanish culture and cuisine. 

The colours and textures really drew me to the architecture, and the earthiness reflected the character of the people, the Island, and the weather. It was a contrast to the comparatively monotone and understated architecture of London’s suburbia. 

It may not be fair to compare the two as London does have its own character buildings, but I do fine them more reserved at times. 

Because I was on retreat, I had brought my small point and shoot digital camera. While I would have preferred one of my better cameras, I appreciated the lightness of having a smaller camera. The images I took could be described as holiday photos, they do capture the essence of the places we stayed at and visited. 

The warm May weather brought out the character and texture of the buildings in the sleepy village. I seemed drawn to the details of the place, and was spoiled for choice. While wondering around the village on lazy afternoon when I had a few hours to myself, an old stone building captured my eye. 

The parking restrictions sign was contrasted against the building, both in terms of colour and its purpose. Its position beside the window made the image. The one without the other would make for a very different image, and one that may not be as interesting. 

The warm, earthy tones of the building can be felt in the changes in texture of the walls, and the window seems to indicate that the house is in the middle of a siesta. The timelessness of the building is contrasted against the modern sign. 

After spending a week in the warmth that Mallorca offered me, I found it difficult to come back to London where I was presented with a damp 7C. However, I knew I would be back to visit Spain.