Ashford-in-the-Water
A landscape photography blog by Stoke-on-Trent, Staffordshire based landscape photographer Rob Thorley Photography.
After visiting Upper Moor I thought I’d make a day of it as I headed home, and decided to call into Ashford-in-the-Water. It’s a location I’ve photographed before and the star attraction is the medieval sheepwash bridge that spans the River Wye.
The bridge dates back to the 16th century and as the name suggests was used by farmers to drive their sheep into the River Wye and give them a wash before shearing time. The circular pen on the end of the bridge were where the sheep were held.
I’d really only stopped off at Ashford-in-the-Water to grab some video footage. Photographically speaking the weather wasn’t the best and I didn’t think I’d be able to improve on the images I’d already got from this location. I think the only way I would have improved was for some epic light, or by standing in the middle of the River Wye. The light wasn’t going to happen, and as for standing in the middle of the river, to my shame I was too lazy to go back to the car and get my wellies.
Ashford-in-the-Water Sheepwash Bridge.
You’ll notice from the photograph below however that I am actually standing in the middle of the River Wye, and that the sky has turned blue. The sky turned blue only after the air had turned much bluer . . .
As mentioned I’d stopped off mainly to grab some video footage of the sheepwash bridge. Everything seemed fine and dandy until I got home and started to edit my 4K video footage. It quickly became apparent I’d cocked up. I wasn’t sure how I cocked up, but I had and all the 4K footage I’d taken was unusable, but the 8K was fine. My iMac is quite old, so it does struggle a bit with the 8K footage and faffing with proxies is well a faff. I’d really wanted the footage of the bridge, and River Wye, so I went back again the following today, hence the blue sky and me in the river for the shot below.
Ashford-in-the-Water Sheepwash Bridge.
You’d be forgiven for thinking all’s well that ends well . . . well . . . when i got home I found that all the 4K footage I’d taken was unusable . . . again.
As you can imagine I wasn’t too chuffed. Taking a positive from the situation I did improve on the images I have of the sheepwash bridge with going two days of the trot, but I wasn’t going back for a third day. In the end I dropped the 8K files on a 4K timeline and left the iMac to flog itself to death and process the 8K files.
So, yes one of those outings. I did get to the bottom of my cock-ups and I’m certain it won’t happen again but I didn’t cover myself in glory on this one. Some basic (sloppy) errors compounded by me thinking I know more about videography than I actually do, and not paying enough attention to detail.
You can view more images from my gallery of other Peak District locations.
