Vesna Armstrong Photography

So it's Christmas.....and again, inspired by so many beautiful things associated with the season, I have created a festive still life using a few of my favourite objects and decorations from around my home. With this image I would like to wish everyone in my life a merry and magical Christmas, and a healthy, peaceful and successful New Year. May inspiration and determination be with you to realize all your dreams and achieve everything that makes you happy!

It sounds surprising even to myself to say that I had never been to Haworth in snowy weather before. I have had to avoid going there in winter simply because of the possibility of getting snowed in and not being able to get back home. Sitting high up at the bottom of moorland Haworth gets a fair share of snow every winter, and  although it may cause some inconvenience, the village becomes even more beautiful and magical blanketed in the whiteness of snow. There are festive events taking place in Haworth throughout December, and even though I try to attend as many as I can and always enjoy them all, my main interest in coming to Haworth is, apart from seeing a very good friend of mine, to capture with my camera the mood of the season and the spirit of the place. Last Saturday, the Torchlight Parade weekend, was one of my most memorable days in Haworth ever. It was snowing most of the day and it was bitterly cold, but I didn't mind or care; I was too excited about being in Howart...

I must admit, it took me a while to understand what Steampunk is. It is a fantasy with a historic setting where Victoriana meets time travel, Gothic and science fiction. It derives its name from the 19th century industrial steam powered machinery. Steampunk Festivals, which are centred around promenades of people wearing various flamboyant costumes and outfits, is held not just all over the country, but the world as well. Haworth in Brontë Country, the village that I love and visit frequently, traditionally organize a Steampunk event last weekend in November. This is the first year that I have been able to attend (no, not dressed up this time!). Not being a big fan of crowded places I chose to go on the Friday as it was likely to be the quietest of the three days. There was something else interesting going on in the village last weekend - the cast of the new Wuthering Heights film adaptation, due to be screened next summer for Emily Brontë's bicentenary birthday, were a...

It was the beginning of autumn, the week before the clocks went back; the weather was still good , so I thought I'd book us somewhere nice in Haworth once more before the weather changed and days became short. I've always wanted to stay at the Ashmount Country House and when I saw I could book a room for just one night at the weekend I knew I mustn't miss the opportunity. Ashmount is a beautiful Victorian hotel, just minutes from Main Street, the famous cobbled street in the heart of the village of Haworth. It has been home to mill owners, doctors, academics and war heroes for 140 years; Ashmount was the home of doctor Amos Ingham, a doctor to the famous literary Brontë family. It was doctor Ingham who looked after Charlotte at the very end of her short life when she was suffering with severe sickness possibly related to her pregnancy. G and I occupied the elegant and comfortable Dispensary room which boasts Victorian furniture and overlooks the beautiful gardens and moo...

I don't really need to have a purpose for going to Haworth. I love the place so much that that alone is enough to keep me going there. But to add to the excitement of my visits I usually assign a purpose to each one of them. And last Monday it was a very different and special purpose. I decided to leave my job and have a slow, stress-free and deliberate Christmas, while I work out my next steps towards building a better quality lifestyle for myself and G. The moors were beckoning again and calling me, so I hurried over for a much needed head clearing and liberating walk. I didn't want a bright and sunny day; it doesn't really suit the moors, and it wouldn't have quite suited my mood on that particular day either. So I was grateful for the overcast weather with a bit of dramatic and typically broody light now and again. It was bitterly cold however, and I wasn't really prepared for it as temperatures had been mild previous days. There was no wind wh...

Now and again I like to try my hand at shooting portraits. Not often, because, to be truthful, I personally find it tiring and rather stressful to take pictures of people; but, if I have a willing and interesting model I do get challenged and excited at the prospect of a photo shoot.  One of my close friend's twenty five year old son Jake, who is a talented amateur photographer himself, was happy to have a go at being in front of the camera for a change, so on a Saturday afternoon back in August we headed to the ruins of Kirkstall Abbey, not far from where we all live, for some portraiture photography fun. Jake proved to be a great model: he was at easy from the start and natural throughout the shoot; he enjoyed it as much as I did; he came up with his own suggestions and was great at following mine. My idea was to create mainly mood images, and he was all up for it. He was full of energy and wanted to carry on when I was nearly ready to call it a day. ...