Escape Invading A set of images focusing on man’s effect on Mother Nature
Exploring Lincolnshire Seasons: Editors Pick
Content; Words and Photographs, along with Escape (from the city) Magazine Design by Daniel Magill
Escape From the City ISSUE #1
WINTER 2012
1
CONTENTS Invading
3
- Appendix
13
Photograph the seasons
15
- Appendix
20
Scroggs
21
- Appendix
26
The Way of the Roses - Appendix
2
EDITORS LETTER
27 37
Welcome to Escape. This is a magazine with the sole purpose of getting out into the country and enjoying the natural world that we have built our homes in. However, the first article, called Invading, shows the clash between our man-made world and the natural world, through a series of photographs. The main frame of things will involve more photographs than pages of writing, because I believe it is easier to understand a place from the imagery of it, rather than a huge paragraph of words. I hope you enjoy this first issue, because if you do, I am more likely to bring out issue two! I plan for the magazine to be released with the seasons. For example this is the 2012 winter edition. This also features a sum-up of last year’s best photos that I myself have taken. Daniel Magill
i.
3
Invading 4
ii.
5
iii.
6
INVADING IS A PROJECT THAT SHOWS HOW MAN’S DEVELOPMENT HAS MADE AN IMPACT ON THE NATURAL SIDE OF OUR WORLD The photographs are taken in and around Sunderland in the North East of England, using the monochrome setting on a Canon DSLR Camera. There are three sections to the project; man’s overpowering of nature; nature overpowering man and photographs showing a clash between the two.
The first section, where man has the upper hand, shows developments or areas where there are little amounts of nature. For example the image on the right. Most of the images that fall into this category were photographed in an industrial estate alongside the river Wear. They show how a large amount of land has been taken up by factories and businesses and all that remains are trees in the car park.
7
iv.
The second section, where nature has the upper hand, takes us closer to the edge of the city. To areas populated by families rather than businesses. Houses with gardens keep nature inside the city, aside from park areas specifically for the nature. This section is much smaller than the other, which lets us understand how it is far more easier to come across a man-made obstacle rather than a large part of mother nature. The last section is a cross between nature where it is hard to tell who is winning in between the two. These images are taken locations in the city and usually incorporate half situation. 50% building, 50% tree.
and man, the battle at various a half and
The project was the development of a previous university task, which then developed by using digital photography and explored more of the city. The number of images continues to grow as the photographer explores more of Sunderland city.
8
v.
9
From the project’s book: “I wanted to show the changes in our country’s environments. To explain how nature was fighting against the humans to create resources, but it was struggling to keep going due to man’s pressure. “It’s important to remember that nature’s trees, flowers, grasses and also its weeds are seasonal, they rely on the sun, the rain and nutrients from the soil. Humans need the sun and the rain too but can cope without, they can keep on building when the trees let go of their leaves. “A tree takes many years to grow and in the time, the humans could have built thousands of homes, tarmacked plenty of roads and cut down and concreted over hundreds of other trees. “Nature is basically struggling to keep up and not everyone is willing to help. “I’d like people to see my project and think to themselves, or think openly: ‘we need to do something, we need to prevent mass development that is destroying Mother Nature’s work’”.
Invading is inspired by the photography of Robert Adams, who photographed the changing American Landscape, and produced some of his best prints in the book: ‘The New West’.
vi .
11
vii.
12
INVADING APPENDIX i. Sunderland, the fight between human and nature ii. Man allowing room for nature
iii. Sunderland Industrial Estate along the Wear. Man dominating. iv. Same as previous v. Same as previous. (One of the few photographed in colour).
vi. Man dominating nature, with nature holding on. vii. Man allowing room for nature.
13
14
Photograph the Seasons 15
2011
SPRING
i.
16
SUMMER
ii.
17
AUTUMN
iii.
18
WINTER
iv.
19
SEASONAL APPENDIX i. 16 APRIL 2011 Castle Hills Wood Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. ii. 23 JULY 2011 New Hedges, South Wales. iii. 21 OCTOBER 2011 Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
iv. 13 NOVEMBER 2011 The Wear, Sunderland, Tyne and Wear.
20
Scroggs Pond
21
i.
22
ii.
23
SCROGGS OR SCROGGS POND IS SITUATED IN WHARTON WOOD IN LINCONSHIRE. The large pond or small lake is a beautiful haven surrounded by trees, grasses and shrubbery. The water was once filled with fish and was visited by both herons, and fisherman. But this is all in the past. Now the lake is murky, the fish are dead and the herons could not be found. Yet the place seemed magnificent. The trees were beautiful, so full of life. Someone had been here as there were new plantations. But there was no one here today. The lake is in a bad state because of pollution. Tractors in the nearby fields sprayed their pesticides and insecticides upon the ground. The chemicals seeped through the earth and the rain pushed it along, until they polluted the lake, killing the fish.
So the birds flew away to find new food and the fishermen packed up their things and left for better waters. Then the lake was left alone. On the day I visited only the insects remained, but with summer in full bloom they made it a delight to have discovered this beautiful natural setting. 24
iii.
iv. / v.
SCROGGS POND APPENDIX i.Looking North over Scroggs Pond.
ii. Trees in a small reserve West of Scroggs Pond. iii. Cluster of Lady Birds in a fence around the edge of a Lincolnshire Wood. iv. Two trees acting like pillars between a path in Castle Hills Wood Gainsborough, Lincolnshire. v. Castle Hills Wood, Gainsborough, Lincolnshire.
26
The Way of the Roses 27
i.
The Editors Bicycle journey from West to East
28
ii.
29
THE WAY OF THE ROSES IS A COAST TO COAST (C2C) CYCLE ROUTE SET UP BY THE COMPANY SUSTRANS.
children with special needs. Each cyclist was asked to be sponsored by friends, family and co-workers. The money raised will help the school by creating new resources such as a hydrotherapy pool.
They have a large series of cycle routes and networks stretching across the UK.
WE MANAGED TO RAISE A FANTASTIC AMOUNT REACHING OVER £1000.
The route begins in Morecambe Bay on the West Coast of England and finishes on the East Coast in Bridlington. The journey took somewhere between 170 to 180 miles and was spread out over three days of cycling.
I cycled it with my father and some of his colleagues from his job at a Lincolnshire Powerstation. I made notes on my journey, here’s the account of our travels: In a bed and breakfast facing the coastline of the seaside town Morecambe Bay, on the North West of England, myself and four other cyclists arose with a mixture of opinions on our night’s sleep. When one of us slept brilliantly snoring to their hearts content, another tossed and turned under the heavy quilt.
We filled ourselves with a full English breakfast and rendezvoused outside with two other friends, to begin a pre-bike check-up followed by a three mile ride to our official start, at Heysham Power Station. Beforehand we had chosen to be sponsored to raise money for Aegir Community School, in our home town. It is an educational building for
Sustrans takes you on a journey through small towns and major cities. The first large settlement is Lancaster situated along the river Lune. The sides are littered with old factories some still in use. Where the route runs there is wildlife, birds, insects, trees and bushes running up towards the river. We cycled along the Millennium Bridge; now 12 years old it is outdated but it is a key mark for the route, as it has made it easier for cyclists to cross the Lune. We then dropped into the path of an old railway line, keeping alongside the river and giving opportunities for photography. When the path signalled into a field and we jiggled up and down as we went over our first cattle grid, we knew we were heading away from city life and into the countryside. The hardest challenge we faced was the aches and pains of our throbbing muscles as we put our bodies to the limit. The steep climbs on the first day did just that. Every downward thrust from our legs released power and made us lose energy.
TWO YEARS AFTER MY FIRST COAST TO COAST CYCLE RIDE IT WAS TIME TO ATTEMPT SOMETHING A BIT LONGER 31
iii.
iv.
Our group consisted of strong workers and two young men, but the ride really put us to the test. The first overnight stop after a day of cycling was Pateley Bridge, a small market town residing on the River Nidd. The bed and breakfast was located at a farm on the edge of the town. The owners were a lovely couple, friendly and inviting. The rooms were small with old fashioned wooden, single glazed windows. Very little sound came in from outside apart from the sound of gently mooing cows in the morning. The second day steered us through beautiful landscapes including the park in Studley Roger, on the outside of Ripon, one of the highlights of the day. The cycle route rolls into a beautiful country park with a long straight stretch of road. There are large trees running alongside as the route flows downhill, offering the chance to ride free of pedalling and take in the surroundings. Fountains Abbey Park is a huge stretch of land next to Studley Park. It offers plenty to see with a 'wealth of history, sweeping landscapes and magnificent buildings', enough for a day out. The route takes a quick slice through and we only got a glimpse of the beauty. The weather that morning was pleasant, but clouds soon rolled over at Linton-on-Ouse. Thunder rumbled the sky and the hopes that we would miss the rain, were washed away. The heavens truly opened and we rushed into the nearby pub, the College Arms.
34
As the rain ceased to give up, we were forced to put on coats, a cape for father and I and even plastic bags on the feet of one rider from our group and then we set off into the downpour. There was no stopping the rain and we sat under the clouds all the way to and through York to the resting point at the end of day two. After some confusion over which cycle path to take along the river in York, we took a wrong turn ending up on the wrong side of the river heading further out of the city. Doubling back on ourselves we found our way to the Minster and we were led by the back-up van to the Margaret Andrews Bed and Breakfast. The weather the next morning was very sunny and it gave me an opportunity to wear my sunglasses. Although the air was cool, the sun soon warmed everybody up. On re-joining the cycle route we were taken through winding paths continuously following the Way of The Roses signs. Taking a very bumpy, muddy and precarious journey across several fields and through a gate or two, one person from our group received the first puncture. A quick change of innertube and we were on our way again heading into more fields. Day three on the Sustrans route had the most cyclist orientated paths and roads, so there was more concentration on the scenery rather than the avoiding of cars on the road.
But the land then climbs and falls as we cycled onto the Yorkshire dales. Then slowly but surely the road flattens, speed builds and the road falls carefully down. I managed to hit 41 miles an hour at one point, quite an astonishing speed for a cyclist, particularly one who is not on a racing bike. This was possible though with the westerly wind blowing behind me. Unfortunately there was one more hill before the road into Bridlington. The hill was not extremely steep, but the land around it was empty and flat, there were few bushes, few trees, mainly open fields. This created a path for the violent wind to rush through, and we had to cycle across the wind. It was challenging, pushing each of us from side to side, but it was eventually conquered.
Usually on C2C trips it is customary to dip your back wheel in the sea on the West coast and then your front wheel in on the East coast. But seeing as the tide at Morecambe was too far away, we left it out at Bridlington too. Instead we celebrated with a glass of bubbly wine. Overall it was a hard but exhilarating journey and we all enjoyed it, even if we were in pain by the end. I would recommend anyone who is a keen cyclist to attempt one of the Coast to Coast cycle routes. They are thoroughly enjoyable even if they do put you through your paces. In the end it’s a good story to tell, or at least it’s great to say you’ve completed it. Next year we plan to do it again, at least this time we will know what we are up against.
The road then on, had ups and downs but mostly it fell to the coast and onward to Bridlington.
AND WHO KNOWS, MAYBE IN A FEW YEARS TIME WE’LL BE CYCLING LANDS END TO JOHN O’GROATS!
35
v.
THE WAY OF THE ROSES APPENDIX i. Map showing Way of the Roses Coast to Coast route. ii. From Millington to Huggate the path drops steeply with a few twists and turns into a beautiful green valley where steep hills line either sides. iii. We shot through this town so fast I never got to write the name down! iv. Junction after one of the steepest hills on the journey. So steep we had to walk.
v. Studley Roger Park, Near Fountains Abbey.
37
38
Escape From the City ISSUE #1
WINTER 2012
40