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Wandering around looking for clouds and puddles
Looking for bluebells, found Dippers
After the rain we were presented with a calm and sunny weekend here in North Devon. Time to get out on the moor for the first time in ages in search of bluebells. The woods along Hoar Oak Water were filled with the smell of wild garlic. The trees were showing off their fresh leaves, […]
The high lands
April 8, 2024
Road trip. Go with the flow, follow the road and see where it takes you. Click on your favourite image, as ever, this blog is best viewed on a big screen. Crabber in a loch Red Deer everywhere Castle of the McKays The shepherd off Sandwood Bay, near Cape Wrath. Chocolate box Scotland This enigmatic, […]
Thurso 2024
April 7, 2024
I’ve been coming up to this part of Scotland since the eighties, firstly a trip with Rudi & Teen in a Type 2 VW, where we surfed Brimms and East, on our own and were immediately captivated by firstly the quality of the surf and secondly by the remote and unpublished secret of this corner […]
Spring on the Rock
March 17, 2024
Back to Lundy island for a spring visit on the helicopter, it’s been a wet winter and conditions on the Rock reflected those on Exmoor; wet, wet, bog and more wet. There are however, signs that spring is in the air with mild temperatures, daffodils, blackthorn blossom and puffins! This years accommodation was in the […]
Posted in: Lundy, The Essential Contentment of Futile Wanderings
Black Rock Project
February 28, 2024
I’ve been photographing this rock at my local beach for the past month or so and am still not completely happy with the results. So I thought I’d share my best photos so far, and explain my vision for this spot. The conditions needed are part of the jigsaw to get the image, firstly there […]
Birds in the mud
February 21, 2024
Vellator quay mud to be precise, and the river Caen as it meanders across the great field and into the Taw estuary. There’s a multitude of birds that use this habitat, some are included here showing well, from a few mid winter wanderings.. Vellator boats Little Grebe A mallard and a […]
Posted in: Birds
Damp and green and mizzley
February 4, 2024
Another Sunday and another tramp across the moor and down into the, not so hidden, valleys. Damp under foot, mizzle in the air, rivers in full flood and the mossy tree trunks in magnificent saturated green. Hoar Oak Water Fall The fishing lodge Oak spagetti Big boys wondering why we’re not watching the Sunday afternoon […]
Posted in: Exmoor, The Essential Contentment of Futile Wanderings
After the rain
January 6, 2024
As the planet warms up, there will be more moisture in the air and therefore more rain. This winter has been exceptionally wet so far here in North Devon. It can be fair to say that it has rained every day for the past 10 weeks… However, when the rain stops then a muddy plod […]
BTS; the story of Calendar 24
December 15, 2023
If you are new round here, welcome to the photo blog. Maybe you had the Beautiful North Devon Calendar as a Christmas present and are scrolling? Well, you are in the right place if you are calendar curious, photography curious and/or North Devon curious. The is the Behind The Scenes blog about the story of […]
Bimble from Brendon to the Sea
December 11, 2023
Friends are the oxygen of contentment in the christmas pickled onions of your brief existence on this lovely blue planet, we call home. Here’s some photos of a futile wander down the East Lyn to Hoar Oak Water and onwards down to Lynmouth. Where there is a house they called the Rising Sun, it’s been […]
Foam Party
November 2, 2023
Autumn storm Ciaran brought havoc and floods to many parts of the UK, here in North Devon we had a quiet night with light winds as we sat in the eye of the storm. The wind and rain came at day break along with massive onshore waves. I popped down to Barricane, the curry beach, […]
Combe Thursdays
October 26, 2023
A few drinks in the Welly then on to a fab curry, recommended, at Tandori Nights (bottom of Oxford Grove), with some old folks. iphone 7, cracked screen, shit battery, outdated o/s And you can buy me a coffee at -> https://ko-fi.com/esterspears Thank you
Oh what fun we had ….
October 16, 2023
On Lundy Island for my third trip of the year to Tibbetts, this time with a rag tag bunch of family and dear friends to celebrate my birthday, my retirement and my bus pass! I didn’t take too many photos because I was laughing so much, however these few will trigger memories of the most […]
Posted in: Lundy, The Essential Contentment of Futile Wanderings
Beautiful North Devon Calendar 2024
September 27, 2023
It’s here the latest edition (and best so far) of the Beautiful North Devon calendar. Twelve stunning and crispy fresh new images taken over the last year in North Devon, Exmoor and Lundy. Putsborough Exe head Lundy Woolacombe Exmoor South Light Saunton East Lyn River A4 fold out to A3 The early-bird price to my […]
Posted in: Calendar
Fish supper on Woolacombe beach
July 17, 2023
What a sight as over 800 herring guls feed on sand eel in the shallows of Woolacombe beach. If you click and enlarge this foto you can see the sand eel, small silver fish, jumping in the surf Like this A single black backed gul joined the party As well as some back headed guls […]
Posted in: Birds, Woolacombe
Night Moves, Purring Crickets and Goatsuckers
July 12, 2023
Very privileged to be shown a nightjar spot on Exmoor. Night jars arrive from Africa in the spring and are gone by late August, ancient folk tales refer to them as goat suckers as they were meant to steal milk from your goats at night. In actual fact they eat mostly moths and bugs. In […]
Diving with seals
July 10, 2023
One of the great results of the No Take Zone, (as well as the Conservation of Seals act 1970) is the expanding population of the Atlantic grey seals on Lundy, Britain has 40% of the worlds grey seal population which amounts to about 100,000 and Lundy has a breeding population of over 60 of those, […]
All quiet on the rock
July 4, 2023
It’s not very often that you visit Lundy when it’s not windy, it is a lump of rock stuck out in the middle of the Bristol channel after all but when it’s calm, it’s beguiling. All the noise is stripped away and you can hear the subtle sounds of the island, not just the shouters, […]
Lundy Summer Seabirds
July 3, 2023
LSS (Splitters!). I’ve been lucky enough to have my second stay in Tibbetts this year, and on a hot week in June, it was a joy; not only as a mid season break from work but to test the XT-5 and it’s new auto-focus algorithms – especially on the seabirds population. It’s not all about […]
The Party
June 12, 2023
Good turn out from the village for Steve and Teresa’s wedding reception, held at the meadow, Woolacombe. […]
Posted in: Estpix Photography, Weddings
Steve & Teresa’s Wedding
June 12, 2023
In photos. A couple of posts from a fabulous weekend in the village, first the Wedding: Congratulations Steve and Teresa. View on a big screen and Click on the image. Fujifilm
All aboard the Skylark
May 22, 2023
Tucked away in an hidden corner on the edge of Exmoor, near the highest sea cliffs in England, is Skylark Cabin. Perfectly isolated in the wooded pastures and big skies of never ever heard anyone land. A rustic cabin with an outside bath, built mainly of recycled materials and a perfect antidote to all the […]
Winter into Spring on the Moor
May 8, 2023
Moss, mud and much to appreciate In search of spring in three walks in three weeks along the river Barle, Baggery waters and a camping trip near the source of the Exe. Green, green my world is green. Except when it’s blue. Bells near Whithypool> Barle Beach hedge, 200 years later. Spring beach. Exmoor orchids. […]
Thurso streets
April 10, 2023
Thurso, Caithness. A street photography essay. Photos of a bimble around the town on a rainy day off. Sir John square park Sinclair street doorways Main road Johnston Cake Shop Comm Bar Thurso Bridal Scrabster through the alley Post […]
Here we go again
March 20, 2023
Back to the island for my 25th stay since my first one (at Old Light Upper) back in 2012, nineteen of those stays have been at Tibbetts, the solid granite lookout built in 1909 and a retreat loved by a small group of fugitives and absconders from the modern digital world, known amongst themselves as […]
Deep and Crisp on top
March 5, 2023
and even too. An early season dump on the roof and some pristine conditions with variable December light.. A short hike to the source of the Exe. Plenty of wildlife looking for opportunities to feed And some classic architectural trees coated in power Some timeless vistas with some nice light FUJI Film
Posted in: Exmoor, The Essential Contentment of Futile Wanderings
In the shadow of Dunkery: Snowdrops.
February 19, 2023
The highest point on Exmoor (and Somerset) is an ideal winter wander. Dunkery. It’s either in cloud and mist and you cannot see the expected views of Bodmin or, it’s in cloud and mist and you ….. etc etc To the north is the ancient Horner Wood and dramatic vistas whatever the weather . And […]
South West Coastpath
January 12, 2023
Photographer of the year competition is due to close on 31st January 2023 at midnight. (Personally, I think that it should be called the SWCP Photograph of the year as they are not looking for a portfolio of images, just that one banging shot but hay ho). There is also a prize for the Young […]
It’s here: The Beautiful North Devon 2023 Calendar
October 26, 2022
At last it’s arrived. The brand new Calendar, featuring stunning new shots of beautiful North Devon, including Lundy Island and Exmoor. Retro Cover January. Golden moss at Robbers Bridge. February. Misty views at Valley of Rocks. Everyones favourite month to gripe about, August, retains its atmospheric mood.. June. The best […]
Moor: Warts n’All
August 8, 2022
When it’s hot n’bothered and crowded with kooks, and, even your little ‘secret’ beach has been named in a Sunday supplement as a top one hundred secret beaches to escape the crowds too but, is full of Sunday supplement reading visitors in peach shorts and Waitrose attitudes. Then it’s time to escape to the roof […]
Posted in: Estpix Photography, Exmoor
Play misty for me
August 2, 2022
Timeline: Sunday 6.00am alarm for a 7.30am check in at Bideford to catch the Oldenberg for a sailing to Lundy Island for the ‘Air Day Hooray’. The airstrip on Lundy dates back to at least 1934 when Atlantic Coasts Air Lines flew tourist flights to the island from the airfield at Chivenor, near Barnstaple. These […]
Posted in: Lundy
Cooling down on the East river
July 17, 2022
Here’s a few abstracts and mood shots from this mornings bimble along the East Lyn. Even by summer standards, there’s not a lot of water in the old girl but the deep pools are still there and plenty of locals were cooling off in them. It’s prime fishing season too on this ‘catch & release’ […]
Bimble around Toms Hill
July 4, 2022
No one knows who Tom was, not even Sarah & Jack. The word could even have morphed from thumb to tom, as that is what this, big, flat top hill looks like. However, during my research I came across this astounding photo of the farmhouse that once stood atop the hill, and the amazing story […]
Joon Projeckt 22 #Joonprojeckt22
June 12, 2022
A selection of random photos taken during June 2022, hopefully one a day, please join in the Joon Projeckt and add the hastag #takemorephotos. Check back when you can for the latest photo, which is at the top of the pile, here … (click on the images to make them blossom). June 30. Well, the […]
Trudi n’ Dan n’ black n’ white
June 4, 2022
Hoooray!!!! xxxxxx Congrats to the hot couple and everyone who made it a fabulous day. Fujifilm XT-3 w/ Mitakon 35mm f0.95 manual focus with in camera B&W Jpegs using Acros with red filter.
Blue or Purple
June 3, 2022
It depends upon your age, but whatever you think bluebell time is always a most spectacular time of year. Always difficult to capture the atmosphere in photographs but here we go with this years attempt… Love these silver birch at Bugford wood, looking good in the […]
Return to Duncansby Head
June 1, 2022
I’ve been coming up to Caithness since the eighties, almost annually for a surf and more recently for photography and wildlife as part of my job to contribute to the Judging team at the Scottish Surf Championships. It was only recently I stumbled upon the the of the area around Duncansby head, the cliffs, the […]
Ex Fence Moore
May 30, 2022
It’s been a busy spring and I haven’t posted anything since before Easter, although I have been shooting regularly. Well I’ve finally got on top of things and you can expect a photo dump over the next few days or so, to start off here’s some early spring fence posts from on top of the […]
Lundy with Liz
April 10, 2022
Back to the rock for what I think is my 25th stay on the island, and to celebrate I’ve come with one veteran and two Lundy virgins. This time to Stoneycroft and it’s magical electricity thing… Crucifixion? One cross each… First sight of the Stoney Croft from the helicopter.. Here’s Liz, not looking too comfortable, […]
Posted in: Lundy, The Essential Contentment of Futile Wanderings
When the wind came
February 20, 2022
Storm Eunice wreaked havoc causing damage and disruption throughout the west country. Here at the beach, there were massive (20 foot plus) waves breaking way off the end of Morte Point and froth, lots of it. The morning started wild and the wind peaked around midday First light Combesgate Bins down Froth […]
Posted in: North Devon, Woolacombe
At last, a proper frosty day.
January 15, 2022
It’s been mild here in north Devon over christmas and it seems like it’s been raining for eva but, at last mid January – winter briefly arrived, with a few gloriously sunny and bitterly cold days. I love the frosty days and not just because they are becoming increasingly rare but mainly because, as a […]
Posted in: Exmoor
More Moor Moor
December 22, 2021
How do you like it? How do you like it? Up on Exmoor just before the longest night or shortest day, depending on your perspective, but with an amazing weather phenomenom a spectacular cloud inversion. This occurs when a layer of low-level cloud or thick fog is trapped with clear sky above it, caused by […]
Stories behind the Photos
December 3, 2021
Calendar 2022, the Misty beach shot. I had a twitter comment from a customer about this years Calendar saying it is ….. “super. A slightly different take, (and) not too chocolate boxey.” I really appreciate it when someone likes my work (naturally) but also it is so satisfying when someone actually ‘gets it’, that is, […]
Big trees down
November 30, 2021
Nothing lasts forever but these Sessile oaks in the East Lyn valley below Watersmeet have been there for ‘nearly forever’, or at least a very long time. That was until storm Arwen wreaked havoc on one end of November Friday night party that got out of hand – and blew the friggin doors off!. There […]
Beautiful North Devon Calendar 2022
November 18, 2021
It’s that time of year again. Over the last month I have trawled through all the photos that I’ve taken in the last year and chosen thirteen for the new Calendar. It’s always difficult to envisage what the final product will look like until you actually hold one in your hand. So it was a […]
beech tree time
November 16, 2021
The mild autumn (so far) and lack of strong winds here in north Devon has meant that the beech trees have held onto their leaves a little longer than they normally do. This has produced a magnificent display of autumn colour, especially along the east and west Lyn valleys with rusty oaks and wilting bracken […]
Posted in: Exmoor, Uncategorized
All six seasons in one day on top
October 29, 2021
We’ve all got a bit too comfortable with our weather prediction apps. “it’s not what they said” has replaced “it’s that fine rain that soaks you through” in our everyday greetings. Well at least where I live anyway. So it was at a promise of big skies that prompted a early autumnal visit to the […]
Woolacombe Village Hall
October 26, 2021
has got a new roof and to celebrate there has been a series of events recently to get the local community back in the hall. (My memories date back to when the hall was called ‘Hall 70’ (guess when it was built?) and as a visitor from Bristol on a family holiday; we saw Blithe […]
Last of the Summer Sunsets
October 19, 2021
Summer is hanging on, deep into October and we have enjoyed the mild weather along with sunset after sunset, day after day.. Here’s a few from my recent evening bimblings. Minimalist sunset experiments part 3. After hours Mill Rock Ripples In other news. It’s been a busy autumn but I’ve finally sent the Beautiful North […]
I remember, Septembers in love
September 15, 2021
It’s been a long old shit wave/ flat spell wait but finally, hurricane Larry delivered the goods; a classic and much fabled September swell. What’s not to love; light winds, sunshine, easy surf and every man and his dog straining at the bit, wound up by Medina and Carissa’s ‘World ChampionsHip” display the day before.. […]
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Copyright © Ester Spears
esterspears 
April 27, 2024
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