Jason Smalley

Summertime

Jay — Mon, 12 Mar 2012 15:10:44 +0000

During a summertime visit to the gardens at Holehird in The Lake District I was captivated by the huge variety of hydrangeas growing there. On that particular day, under a warm Cumbrian sun, nothing could sum up a balmy summer’s day better than being amongst their blousy blooms. Here’s a quick sample of the shots I took.

If you’d like to see the entire gallery that was the result of a long day click here…

New Bluebells

Jay — Thu, 08 Mar 2012 14:44:53 +0000

Caught in the low light of the early morning sun, the woodland floor is a carpet of vibrant green as bluebells jostle with the winter mosses, eager to feel the light of spring.

New Life

Jay — Mon, 20 Feb 2012 16:58:17 +0000

Working on a shoot for the NFU a few days ago, over in chilly Northumberland I found this newborn lamb being tended by it’s mum.

Adventures in a Cumbrian bogland.

Jay — Thu, 19 Jan 2012 18:15:48 +0000

Today I enjoyed a shoot in the English Lakes, working with an award winning dry-stone waller, I’ll post some of those shots in a few days. Following the shoot I spent a few hours exploring a damp forest and took the opportunity to refine a technique I’m developing. In the gallery below you can see how my approach evolved, moving from a fairly contemporary style into something quite off the wall. What do you think of the final few?

Mosserotica

Jay — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 17:28:45 +0000

This month is moss month for me. I’m going to focus on the tiny world of tree trunks, ditches, moorland bogs and more. I’ve no idea yet what these tiny toadstools are, they’re only about 3mm in diameter. Here’s the entree…

Nature Portfolio

Jay — Sat, 07 Jan 2012 09:24:59 +0000

A short portfolio of my nature shots.

Birch Maps

Jay — Wed, 04 Jan 2012 16:27:10 +0000

I wanted to isolate the patterns of the Birch bark in a small series of monochromatic images so I visited Mere Sands Wood reserve, known for its mature birch woodland and spent a couple of hours creating images to work with. The movement of the trees in the slight wind surprised me, I had many failures due to movement coupled with longish exposures. These are my favourites:

From Blank Canvas to Brockholes

Jay — Wed, 26 Oct 2011 09:46:05 +0000

Well, here it is. Three years in the making…

Click here to view the embedded video.

Work began on this project is late summer 2008 and it finally came together in time to be premiered at the annual conference of Lancashire Environmental Fund who commissioned the film.

Land Portfolio

Jay — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 15:07:29 +0000

Garden Portfolio

Jay — Tue, 18 Oct 2011 14:19:06 +0000

Anglezarke Moors

Jay — Mon, 17 Oct 2011 17:40:39 +0000

It’s my Monochrome Moorland photography workshop on Saturday so I spent much of the day tramping the hills to check on my chosen locations. Despite the lashing rain and high winds I’m really happy with the shots I’ve captured.

I’m having to change the route of the workshop a touch due to the recent rains. I don’t want to lose any students to the jaws of the Anglezarke Boggart! It’s going to be a good, long day in the wild place and we’ll be visiting two sacred sites, a burnt out forest, the secret valley and a fast flowing moorland beck.

There are still three spaces on the workshop. Would you like to come along?

Update: I’ve now made some of these images available as prints, canvasses and cards. Is your favourite amongst the selection? Click here now to see…

People Portfolio

Jay — Thu, 13 Oct 2011 17:34:14 +0000

Evening falls

Jay — Wed, 05 Oct 2011 12:36:34 +0000

Ainsdale afternoon

Jay — Fri, 30 Sep 2011 12:35:23 +0000

Umbellifer

Jay — Wed, 28 Sep 2011 12:33:44 +0000

Sepia coast

Jay — Thu, 22 Sep 2011 12:31:47 +0000

Forest Light

Jay — Tue, 20 Sep 2011 12:29:01 +0000

The Woodland Understory

Jay — Tue, 13 Sep 2011 12:13:03 +0000

Recently I’ve become fascinated by the world which we (or at least I) haven’t often engaged with. The tiny mossland that lives beneath everything else.

I’ve been trying out a technique which allows me to peer at a wafer thin slice of life in the undergrowth and it feels as if I’m journeying through the layers of moss and simple plants in the dampness.

Gorse bathed in heather

Jay — Mon, 12 Sep 2011 11:23:04 +0000

I wanted to capture the last gasp of heather on the nearby moors, before the magenta hue began to lose it’s grip as autumn approached.

After a wet day the light began to change just before the sun dipped onto the horizon. I took a chance and raced to the moor top and spent the last five minutes of daylight creating these few shots. The few solitary gorse flowers and spider trapped willowherb seeds were the icing on the cake for me. Which is your favourite?

Peacock

Jay — Fri, 26 Aug 2011 14:52:24 +0000

A peacock butterfly feeding