2009-10-25-(154) Blenheim Park Grand Bridge with Autumn Colours on a stormy day
Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge in Blenheim Park seen from the South. You can see from the sky that it was both cloudy and windy; the light was changing so rapidly that I gave up using manual plus autobracket and set the camera to automatic / aperture priority, something I don't usually do but the light was changing so fast that it was very difficult to use manual settings.
There is a little bit of recent history to this photo, as you can see the bridge is framed by trees. The tree on the left of the photo is one of a recent planting of new trees; I have photos of this area from the mid 1990's in which the area of this tree was grass with saplings. It's now grown enough to become a part of the Blenheim scene. Replanting of Blenheim is necessary because the original trees (mainly beech) were planted in 1770 in the Capability Brown reworking of the Park; as they typically live for around 200 years the original trees are dying. I think replanting was started a bit late; it would have been better done in the 1950's, but there are now some major areas occupied by trees that are some 15-20 years old. I think this is the first time that one of the 'new' trees has played an important part in one of my pictures. I hope that these will secure the Blenheim landscape for the future.
Blenheim Palace is the home of the Duke of Marlborough; it was given to his ancestor John Churchill following his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Blenheim is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Blenheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.
2009-10-25-(154) Blenheim Park Grand Bridge with Autumn Colours on a stormy day
Vanbrugh's Grand Bridge in Blenheim Park seen from the South. You can see from the sky that it was both cloudy and windy; the light was changing so rapidly that I gave up using manual plus autobracket and set the camera to automatic / aperture priority, something I don't usually do but the light was changing so fast that it was very difficult to use manual settings.
There is a little bit of recent history to this photo, as you can see the bridge is framed by trees. The tree on the left of the photo is one of a recent planting of new trees; I have photos of this area from the mid 1990's in which the area of this tree was grass with saplings. It's now grown enough to become a part of the Blenheim scene. Replanting of Blenheim is necessary because the original trees (mainly beech) were planted in 1770 in the Capability Brown reworking of the Park; as they typically live for around 200 years the original trees are dying. I think replanting was started a bit late; it would have been better done in the 1950's, but there are now some major areas occupied by trees that are some 15-20 years old. I think this is the first time that one of the 'new' trees has played an important part in one of my pictures. I hope that these will secure the Blenheim landscape for the future.
Blenheim Palace is the home of the Duke of Marlborough; it was given to his ancestor John Churchill following his victory at the Battle of Blenheim in 1704. Blenheim is also the birthplace of Sir Winston Churchill.
Blenheim is a UNESCO World Heritage Site.