This is my house, just before we moved into it. The photo was probably taken in 1995.
I’ve almost forgotten what grass looks like. What the sun looks like. What frickin’ daylight looks like. Europe is currently the land of eternal twilight. Admittedly, I wake up around 2pm so I’m not doing myself any favours, but the cloud coverage is so thick, so ever-present, so OPPRESSIVE that it just stays DARK. The only patch of sunlight was a few days ago — you saw the photo of me and my sister right? — and the photos I’m sharing with you today are a few hours after that, just before sunset (though when isn’t it sunset in the Arctic Circle of England…?)
These photos are from all around my estate. I don’t think I’ve really showed you where I live before, other than my immediate garden. I live in the coach house of a Victorian estate. The estate itself totals about 300 acres (150 hectares?) — small fry by American standards I guess, but quite big here in the UK. There’s a manor (photo below), and a farmhouse (no photos, but it’s not as pretty as the manor anyway), and a bunch of smaller lodges and ancillary buildings.
[So, this is where I had a power cut yesterday... now I'm going to continue!]
If you look at the photo above, that middle section is ‘new’. Originally there would’ve just been an arch there. The brown/red bit is cobbles — they extend behind the house too. Lords and ladies would’ve left their coach and horses behind the house (there are iron hoops on the wall to tie horses to), and then walked up to the manor, probably through the orchard (which is on the corner of our land). I live on the left side, in the oldest part of the house (the right side is extended and modified).
Behind the camera is the swimming pool (which I think I’ve shown you?), and way off to the left is the formal garden (which I recently used for 52 weeks).
Anyway, have a look through these photos. I’ve made a few notes where necessary! Incidentally, it’s finally starting to thaw. And it’s only one and a half months until Spring!! .. ..
I’m not sure if this is my new favourite landscape… or if the next one is…
This is the one I ‘leaked’ exclusively to Facebook. It’s a lot prettier here on the blog without Facebook’s shitty JPEG compression though. Look at the PINKS.
If you’re trying to get your bearings, my house is to the left of this frame, and the farm is to the right (a long way away)
Ed Adams
Jan 12, 2010
Dude, I wanted to let ya know, I nominated you for the 2010 Bloggies for Best European Blog and Best Photography Blog.
Good Luck.
pinkjellybaby
Jan 12, 2010
I love it….can I come and live with you?
sebastian
Jan 12, 2010
Hahaha, this got published.
Shit…
Damn power cut.
Tambourine Queen
Jan 12, 2010
oh I am in awe, stunning stunning photos. just sunning. Could I ask what camera you use?
sebastian
Jan 12, 2010
Well this is confusing… I have two identical blog entries… I guess I’ll have to try and manage comments on both
Just a Canon 450D, Queenie. I need something light and small for travel, and the next step up is quite a lot heavier.
I’ve thought about getting a bigger camera for around England though… tempting.
It’s all about the lenses though, really!
ural aka [Karga]
Jan 12, 2010
:] i prefer to comment on the bottom one !
the 2nd from the bottom has a perfect light source at the background.
All of them are great, but the setting sun attracts me especially !
sebastian
Jan 12, 2010
Ah yes, the sun in the second to last — it’s nice! It’s always a toss-up between burn-out sun, and not enough ‘sunsetness’. Just a little too much light and the foreground becomes a silhouette… but I think it’s quite nice there
Emily Jane
Jan 12, 2010
Gorgeous pics! I’ve never seen England under snow
sebastian
Jan 12, 2010
It doesn’t always look that pretty, I assure you! Only after the clouds actually lift and the sun lances down upon the soft-packed crystals…
Abi
Jan 12, 2010
I was like “ooh” then realised I have seen these….. But yes, lovely!
Eleni
Jan 12, 2010
Beautiful! I can’t decide which of the first two I like better. The second one has the extra sky depth so you can see those darker blues in the clouds, but I feel like it might be nice if the tree were a bit higher–eh, I don’t really know what I’m talking about. Both are gorgeous.
You’re right, the light in the third photo is lovely. The snow in the branches of the rightmost tree catches the pink just right so it almost looks like the tree is flowering. Very cool.
sebastian
Jan 13, 2010
Well, thanks for the additional oooh, Abi!
Yeah, the darker blues in the second photo catch my eye. I don’t recall it being that dark to the naked eye, but it might’ve been just a momentary thing. Always a bit odd when shooting into the sun
The pink snow ‘flowers’ are pretty neat eh? And the slash of light on the ground. I think I just got lucky, but hey…
Adrienne
Jan 13, 2010
Wow. That’s really beautiful. Being from sunny, southern Cali, I can imagine that all the greyness would suck but…we don’t have that. Amazing.
Adrienne
Jan 13, 2010
Is it just coincidence that I always seem to be the one-legged pink thing with blue arms and long eyelashes?
MinD
Jan 15, 2010
Those are all so insanely beautiful. They make me want to hop a plane and come visit. Please invite me so I’m not the rude girl who just shows up. Ha.