The Riverside Walk that started it all

Walks for the sake of walking are not as interesting as walks with another purpose so, knowing I needed to get out in the fresh air more often this year, I decided to take a camera down to the nearby River Stour. I hoped to find some interesting wildlife, since otters and kingfishers are rumoured to be found along this stretch of the river. Accompanied as I was by a pair of noisy boys, there were no otters and the only bird to be seen was an egret which, pretty as it was, only served to highlight the deficiency of my phone's camera with its limited 4x zoom. What I was able to photograph instead was the scenery and as I sat on a bench by the river I decided that this particular view, photographed at monthly intervals, would provide an interesting record of the passage of the seasons.

River Stour, near Eye Bridge, January 2012

At this time of year (this was early January) I am always desperately searching for signs of spring, hoping that one day soon I will see the first early leaves poking their way out. As I looked at this picture, however, I surprised myself by realising that the trees are just as interesting when they are stripped bare, the crisp lines of naked branches contrasting so beautifully against the sky behind. I found that the lines, the light, the contrast and the textures were fascinating to me. Suddenly I had a completely new way of looking at the winter landscape and at winter itself. I no longer wanted winter to hurry up and end, I just wanted to capture every sight and scene while it lasted.

I now look at everything with new eyes and often stop to pull my phone out of my bag to take another picture. My favourites will appear in this blog; many will be trees, or parts of trees, as I have found them so inspiring but I will not restrict myself simply to fit my title - I will simply share with you all the things I see that make my life a joy to live once more.