Locking, Weston-super-Mare, Somerset, UK

13th January 23

A friend of mine, who, like me, is named Ian and is also a photographer, lives very near to Maltlands Pond. He voluntarily, keeps an eye on the habitat. A couple of days ago he rang to tell me that the water levels, due to recent rainfall, were rising and maybe I should consider, with photography in mind, visiting the pond

I did so yesterday to find the path around the pond is currently under water, though one can still walk around the water-logged grassy edges provided suitable footwear is worn. No one was fishing – understandably!

The overfill water level has been bringing up and out to the banks; bottles[glass and plastic types]; cans, plastic bags and wrapping; indeed all sorts of undesirable detritus.

Ian, along with a volunteer, has, as I write this piece, collected six 80 litre wheelie bins of the stuff and is hoping to return today to continue the task. In any case the pond – high water level and flooding aside – already looks much cleaner and healthier.

More rain overnight and today could see the pond overflow into the run-off sluice. I've no idea what this will do or mean to the fish and other aquatics. The birds are fewer at this time of year and those that stay seem to be okay. Oh, and the brown rats are sure to return once the water levels subsides. Some things never change.

Discuss...

https://i-davis.carrd.co https://snap.as/unaoculusaperta https://unaoculusaperta.weebly.com

#Maltlands #MaltlandsPond #BlackAndWhitePhotography #Flooding

Severn Beach – 18th August 2022

A black and white photograph I took about an hour after high tide at Severn Beach, Bristol, UK. I'm stood on a ramp in an access point opening of the sea defense installation; looking back at the municipal waste and recycling plant at Avonmouth.

The waters of the Bristol Channel, with its average tidal rise and fall of some 8+ meters, is usually laden with silt. A lot of that silt settles out and some is always left behind as the tide recedes. There is then no beach here to speak of nor any sand – only mud.

Of course there's a little of the artist in all of us, it is said; I certainly wasn't the only one on the shoreline and the mud proved a blank canvas for someone.

Although I've no clue as to whom left their work in this patch of shore. And a shame then that the next tide will wash away such artistry: without trace. Well, I say with out trace except that...

I've taken the liberty of photographing the etching and share it here with you along with my photograph above.

#BristolChannel #SevernBeach #Mud #BlackandWhitePhotography