Ryan Garden PhotographyLooking for Nuts
Posted on March 12, 2021
A much needed splash of colour after my last few Winter themed posts. Although I took these shots last October they make me think of Spring. Maybe it’s the luscious green grass, or possibly my longing for Spring to be in full swing after what feels like such a long Winter.
I had forgotten that I had taken these shots or at least forgotten that I’d not shared them. They were taken at Peasholm Park, Scarborough during our only holiday last year. Peasholm is probably one of best parks that I know for Squirrel watching and most of them are fairly tame.
Squirrels are definitely one of my favourite woodland creatures and I could spend hours watching them. Although they are usually quite skittish it is always extra special when they trust you enough to come and eat from your hand.
Update & Thank You
Posted on March 11, 2021
I would like to say thank you to my followers & readers, your support is really appreciated. Your likes & kind comments encourage me to continue to share my work & keep blogging.
I count myself as a photographer first and a blogger second. The blogging part does not come easy to me (as you can probably tell from reading my posts). Knowing what to write often has me staring at the screen as if starring in to the abyss, my mind completely blank. I have lost count the amount of times I have written a paragraph then rewrite it several times until I’m happy with how it sounds.
So my posts have been a little sporadic of late. It’s the double edged sword of lockdown & being furloughed, all the time in the world to do whatever you want (well from the comfort of your home) and having none of the motivation to do it. This past couple of months since being furloughed I am really struggling with being motivated. To my kinda followers & readers please bear with me.
I have a few ideas up my sleeve for future posts. I’ve managed to venture outside for a couple of local photo walks, which I plan to share. I am also continuing to work on ideas for my #LivingInLockdown project that I started during the beginning of the pandemic back in March 2020.
Over the past few weeks I have made some minor cosmetic tweaks to my website, which hopefully make it easier to navigate. I am also working on a potential new section to my website, which hopefully will go to plan and I will be able to publish soon.
Thank you again to my followers & readers. #StaySafe.
Winter in the Park
Posted on February 25, 2021
Think I may have explored every inch of our local park over the last 12 months. As it has become the source of our exercise, outdoor escape, and photographic inspiration.
The park goes through many changes during the seasons, some subtle and some not so much. From the daffodils in bloom in Spring, the wildflowers in Summer, the grass showered in the golden leaves of Autumn, to the frozen landscapes & stick figure trees in Winter.
In Winter especially when it snows the park becomes a Winter Wonderland. I love how the snow frames the stream that runs along the edge of the park and how the trees look almost like silhouettes against the blankets of snow.
Winter may not be my favourite season, but snow brings me a little flurry of joy amidst the Winter blues. #MomentsOfJoy
Bleak Mid-Winter
Posted on February 23, 2021
Although I’m definitely not a fan of Winter, the recent snowfall has made for some nice photographic opportunities without having to venture out too far.
While out for a Winter’s walk there was quite a dense mist coming in over the fields and intermittent flurries of snow, which created some really atmospheric snow scenes. The weather may have been a bit bleak but the chilly Winter’s air was actually quite refreshing and wasn’t too cold.
As you have probably gathered there was one particular tree that caught my attention. After spending some time and many shots later trying to get the perfect photograph, I think I have achieved what I had hoped for. These particular shots although they may look black & white are in fact in colour.
I almost never go out with an image in mind of what I want to capture, a theme maybe but never a final image. I let the world around me just happen and see what catches my eye and my imagination. This Winter’s walk was no exception.
Working From Home
Posted on February 4, 2021
The ninth instalment of my #LivingInLockdown series: The world that we live in has changed in many ways due to the COVID-19 pandemic, it has touched everyone’s lives in one way or another. One of these many changes was to the way that most people work. The UK Government advised employers to enable their employees to work from home where possible in order to try to curb the spread of the virus. Since March 2020 a high percentage of the UK workforce has now moved to working from home.
Working from home has been a major change for many people, having to adapt to a completely new way of working. Have you joined the ranks of working from home? Some people love it, some people hate it, how have you adapted?
Since this journey began both my wife and I have been working from home, we have made some adjustments along the way to adapt to our new way of working. Mainly the move of our workspace away from the dining room table to one our spare rooms that we have converted into a office. It is important to have a defined workspace that is separate from your living space so although you may be working from home, your home remains home and not your workplace.
This pandemic and lockdowns may have brought many hardships, but for me working from home has not been one of them. I quite enjoy working from home, it allows me to get on with work with less distractions from my team. Maybe it’s because I’m a little socially awkward that I enjoy the space on my own to work, while still being part of a team. The increased frequency of coffee runs, a more relaxed work atmosphere, and more flexible working hours and definitely created a better work / life balance.
#StaySafe
Winter In Lockdown
Posted on January 27, 2021
The eighth instalment of my #LivingInLockdown series. Who could have imagined that 10 months after the first national COVID-19 lockdown that we would find ourselves in yet another national lockdown.
Now we find ourselves in Winter (which inspired this post), a new year (“hello 2021”) and our 3rd national lockdown since this pandemic began 10 months ago.
This selection of lockdown photos was impromptu compared to my earlier #LivingInLockdown posts (sorry for the lack of photos). As since Autumn, due to work commitments and if I’m honest just sheer lack of motivation. I have not spent as much time recording lockdown as I did in the first lockdown back in Spring. So I took a brief moment out from working to capture the beauty of the recent snowfall from our windows.
Although I am not a fan of being cold I was quite pleased to see the snow (helped by the fact that I did not HAVE to go out in it). As it motivated me to go outside for exercise & take photos (socially distanced of course). Some of which I have already shared on a previous post “Snowfall”, I still have a few more to share when I get around to it. Part of me would be happy if it snowed for the duration of this latest lockdown.
It’s safe to say that I have found lockdown during the Autumn & Winter months harder to stay motivated. Is it because the weather is colder? Is it because lockdown/pandemic is wearing me down? Is it a combination of both of these? The colder weather has definitely made me less motivated to go outside for our allowed exercise. So as a result I have not spent as much time on outdoor photo walks as I did during Spring & Summer. I am not complaining though, we have been very lucky compared to some. Thankfully to my knowledge we have not contracted COVID-19 and are healthy, our family and friends are healthy, and we have been able to work consistently thus far during the pandemic, which I think has helped us keep a level of routine and sanity.
#StaySafe
Ryan Garden Photography 