Vesna Armstrong Photography

I consider myself lucky in a few ways in the current situation of coronavirus lockdown, one of them being that there is not one but four parks within walking distance of my home. I am also lucky that one of the parks, Bramley Falls, boasts a spectacular display of woodland bluebells at this time of year which, of course, I make sure I don't miss. They are about at their prime at the moment, so last Saturday evening I headed for the park, my camera slung over my shoulder, to take my daily exercise walk. The late April sun was slowly slipping towards the horizon casting warm spotlight on the trees and mellow dappled light on the carpets of bluebells. I love how their colour changed from pale pink to magenta, to purple and blue depending on the light in different parts of the woods. The atmosphere was truly enchanting, and I often stopped and stood still just absorbing fairy tale scenes, sweet spring scent of bluebells mingling with the smell of wild garlic here and there and the chee...

One of the joys of springtime for me is foraging for wild garlic and making pesto and scones with this wonderfully tasty and healthy plant. And, of course, you can then shoot a still life with it, too which is just what I did. I would love to do more still life images with food, but, much as I love food (both cooking and eating), at the moment I don't find it as inspiring a subject for photography as flowers and fruit. But food still life is certainly an area of photography I'd love to experiment with. There are some interesting Instagram accounts I've been currently looking at for inspiration; the present situation of coronavirus self isolating seems a perfect time to take photos of food. 

Since daily exercise guidance during coronavirus pandemic has recently been reviewed, and now it is allowed to drive to the countryside to take a walk, I decided to treat myself for my birthday to a much needed and longed for ramble on the Haworth moors. We didn't go to the village, but parked at the bottom of Cemetery road and went for a walk along the south of Haworth moor, taking a route not popular with walkers. We also avoided popular locations such as Brontë Falls and Top Withens and instead took the track towards Harbour Lodge Farm with exhilarating expanses of Haworth moor on our right and sweeping views over Leeming reservoir on the left. Having met only one person and their dog during the entire walk, we virtually had the place to ourselves. It was a glorious day, perfect for walking on the moors. There was quite a strong, but not very cold wind which kept me from getting too warm. The lighting wasn't the sort I'd choose for my photography, but I wasn't compl...

Every year I marvel at majestic blossoms that attire tree branches in spring, and this year, in the present situation of the coronavirus pandemic lockdown and turmoil, it is more so than ever. Knowing how short-lived this floral exultation of nature is, I cling to every day, every moment of it: I stop to admire and gently caress the clusters of little delicate flowers; I stand in the shadows of  blossom laden trees surrounded by a flowery curtain, gazing upwards towards the top of the tree the blue sky just visible in between the sea of tiny, soft petals; and I take photos....I take photos to celebrate and immortalize such ethereal beauty and grace.... "Spring drew on....and a greenness grew over those brown beds, which, freshening daily, suggested the thought that Hope traversed them at night, and left each morning brighter traces of her steps." ~Charlotte Brontë~  my perpetual Muse whose birthday is today

One of the ways to carry on taking photos while in self-isolation due to the coronavirus pandemic is, obviously, to take photos around your home. It is something I don't really do in normal living circumstances, so I thought I'd create a series of photos which will reflect my life in the pandemic imposed quarantine. My aim was to make photos that primarily tell a story, and I decided to present them in monochrome, mainly b&w technique. I feel that the absence of colour allows the eye to focus on the story and the message of the image in the first place, which is what I intended to achieve. All the photos in this series are taken spontaneously, on impulse with my always to hand iPhone and were edited in Snapseed using the Black & White Film tool (hence the graininess). As usual, the edits were then adjusted in the Lightroom. Being a rather introvert and private person, I wouldn't normally publicly share photos of my home, but since a good part of the world is in se...

Flowering quince is one of the first spring blossoms. A well established shrub will start flowering as early as first half of March. I love its bright crimson colour, the more so because all other spring blossoms are normally pale in colour. I certainly have never seen anything as vivid as the flowers of Japanese quince in springtime. I've wanted to do a still life with flowering quince for many years. I thought I'd lost my chance again this year as it was getting rather late for it, when I spotted a young shrub in the local park. It was short and small, with not very many flowers on it at all; obviously not quite an established shrub yet, and therefore flowering later. What surprised me was that the flowers were deep pink rather than red, but then I found out they can be orange and white as well; I cut off a couple of twigs to take home. I love bringing nature into my home and now, in the present circumstances of pandemic self isolation, more so than ever. So, at last here i...

Easter is my favourite time of year. However, despite keeping positive and calm in this situation of the coronavirus lockdown, I'd be lying if I said that my happiness this Easter holiday isn't tarnished. I am lucky that, apart from the freedom to go where my heart would want me to go, I am not deprived of anything. But there is a knowledge that a lot of people out there are suffering right now through being ill, not being able to see the loved ones, experiencing serious financial problems or going through one or more other difficulties. That knowledge makes me sad and has changed the mood I'd normally be in at Easter. For this year's Easter still life image I have chosen the Simnel cake I made, an egg and a small handmade decorative nest, some antique copperware and twigs of white cherry blossom I picked at the local park. There is a subdued festive feel about the image which reflects my personal inner feelings about this year's Easter, and a nostalgic mood echoi...

Just a few snaps from my leisurely walk in the local park yesterday. It was a gorgeous, sunny and warm day. Wispy and puffy clouds scudded across the sky in the breeze softening the sunlight. I was drawn particularly to the delicate white blossom imbuing the park with a dreamy atmosphere. It was so invigorating to lose myself in the healing beauty of the springtime nature and free my thoughts of the coronavirus lockdown, if only for a short while.

One of the things that help me cope in the strange and unnerving circumstances of the coronavirus lockdown is my passion for still life photography. It means I can still pursue my photography despite not being able to venture far from my home. And I am extremely grateful that the general atmosphere of restrictions and worries about the future hasn't taken inspiration away from me. I give credit for that to the  magic springtime is presently weaving in the nature around us; beautiful, colourful blossoms and spring flowers, bird song, scented air and breeze, sunshine and warmth...who wouldn't feel spirited and motivated?! For my latest image, which was inspired by one of my favourite artists - Judith Levin , I have used kerria that grows behind my back garden fence and shop bought spray carnations and daffodils. I paired them with some enamelware for my usual vintage look. From the start it was going to be a light, airy and soft image, as these are the qualities the arrival of ...

In this frustrating and rather sad time of the Coronavirus pandemic it was good to receive news of a new book cover from Trevillion Images. It is an American cover of the book by the American author Lori Rohda that will be released on 11 August 2020. "The Mill Of Lost Dreams" is a story set at the end of the 19th century around Massachusetts textile mills. It is a story of love, friendship and sacrifice that provides an inside view into the daily life of seven courageous souls who leave home and risk everything for their shared dream of a better life. My original image shows Gibson Mill  and was taken on a glorious winter walk around Hardcastle Crags in the beautiful West Yorkshire countryside, back in 2011. It is a second time this image of mine has been licensed for a book cover, previously appearing on the cover of a French novel  by the author Colette Vlerick.