Introduction

It’s said that ‘you don’t know what you have until it’s gone’. This year a spinal injury forced an overnight transition from being very active to almost housebound for several months. All photography had to be curtailed and mentally that’s been tough. It’s also said that ’with absence the heart grows fonder’. I now, more than ever, recognise that being outdoors photographing our beautiful landscape is a passion of mine. So, it’s been a joy these last few weeks to again be outdoors with a camera and, fingers crossed, on a return to health.

Maybe it’s an idea that’s been growing subconsciously during those darker days when I really didn’t know if I’d be carrying camera and tripod again but I currently seem to have an elevated liking for the dark, black and white style commonly known as Film noir. It’s a visual style should be familiar to most people, even if not by name. Think moody, dramatically shadowed, 1940/50s black and white movies with a private detective and femme fatale. Looking back now, I see it’s a style I’ve explored before with Cornish Tin mines and, whilst not so much Film noir, contrasty black and white’s of the Neolithic stones at Avebury.

Route

The route should be easily identifiable from the photographs by those familiar with the area. It went along Brook Way to the Aldi roundabout, detoured to Tesco Extra before passing through the nature reserve down to the duck ponds and then under the road bridge before rejoining Brook Way at the Sherbourne's Brake roundabout. It’s about 5km and so isn’t a major undertaking.

So, with camera in-hand and set to black and white mode I set off around my local area with only a mid-range zoom deciding to leave camera bag and tripod at home. In mind was the idea of a warts and all, slightly grungy feel to any images, something that should work well in a Film noir style.

Wonky

I’ve walked the route countless times over the years but on this occasion, for some reason, I was greatly amused by the sheer number of signposts many of which lean slightly one way or another. With their text, arrows or coloured symbols they stand atop short grey rusting poles littering the landscape with no apparent regard to their aesthetic or visual impact. Along Brook Way they seem to outnumber the trees!

I’m glad to write that some signage, specifically that for the ‘Three Brooks local nature reserve’ has clearly been given greater thought with its lettering elegantly carved into large timbers. But, disappointingly, planted alongside these nice signs are ugly, plastic footpath/cycle-path signage and yet more of the ubiquitous grey poles. Yes, I’m having a moan but is all this ugly signage really necessary?

At the top of the route near the Aldi roundabout are some shops and a telephone box. The box is of a generation prior to deregulation when British Telecom managed the UK telephone system as opposed to the more well known, red coloured, traditional Post Office telephone boxes. Again I found myself having a giggle as it, together with adjacent signage and fencing, was so off-level that it was a struggle to know just what was level!

Three Brooks Nature Reserve

Walking through the nature reserve the scenery changed from urban clutter to something more natural and pleasing to the eye. Alongside the main track running through the reserve are three wooden benches hewn from the trunks of trees presumably cut when, or soon after, the reserve was created. Wood ages beautifully and these benches are no exception. Although their once fresh, elaborate carvings have softened with age they are still great features adding character to the reserve. It’s also great to see that new carvings are still being created. During 2023 in woodland behind the sports centre an Owl was carved by artist Andy O’Neil. This beautiful creation sits at eye level atop its wooden stump and looks incredibly realistic!

Sometimes when walking through the reserve small groups from the Three Brooks Nature Conservation Group are encountered. If you see them, stop and say ‘hello’ as they are all volunteers and doing a wonderful job at looking after the reserve for us all. On a different but recent walk I stopped and had a most enjoyable chat with Sara who was incredibly knowledgeable and keen to talk about the flora, fauna and the work of volunteers.

Wrap-up

Back in the office the images were uploaded, developed and Film noir styled using Capture One and Silver Effects from DxO. Looking at them now, as a collection, I quite like the Film noir styling; it’s helped add a little drama to what could otherwise be some quite mundane images. I especially like the resulting detail on the Three Brooks signage, fence and dead tree.

The full collection of images from the walk are below.

My previous posts regarding Bradley Stoke and the Three Brooks nature reserve are available to read at:

1. https://www.andygawthrope.photography/news/savages-wood-autumn-colour

2. https://www.andygawthrope.photography/news/three-brooks-nature-reserve

3. https://www.andygawthrope.photography/news/bradley-stoke-snow

Select an image to view at a larger size: