Shropshire Petals
A Shepherd’s Life
ALUN CALLENDER June 2017
Alun had to stand in a stream and poke his camera through a wire fence to get this perfectly timed shot: “I knew as soon as one sheep went, they’d all follow, so I had to be quick.” It formed part of a series, in which Alun followed shepherd James Rebanks through the seasons.
Weaving Magic
ANDREW MONTGOMERY August 2019
Weaver Felicity Irons punts along rivers to hand-harvest ‘bolts’ of bulrushes, which, after drying in the open air, are stored in an old tythe barn. “This was a difficult shot to get, as the contrast was so great,” Andrew says, “but a long shutter speed allowed the detail of the beams and rushes to be seen.”
British in Particular: Cromer Crab
CRISTIAN BARNETT July 2018
Going out on a small boat to capture the Cromer crab fishermen at work meant an early start for Cristian. “We left around 4am, when it was still pitch black,” he says. “It was magical to watch the sun rise.” This image was taken on the journey back to harbour. “They start to process the haul, throwing the bits they don’t use overboard,” Cristian explains, “and the gulls dive to scavenge the bits of crab.”
Clovelly Herring Festival
ANDREW MONTGOMERY November 2020*
In the 18th century, there were a hundred herring boats in Clovelly, Devon – now there are just a handful. The festival celebrates the village’s heritage and supports the fishermen, attracting visitors and locals alike. “I saw this man walking along the harbour, so asked if he’d mind having his photo taken,” Andrew says. “He didn’t say much, but I think his face tells the story. Those piercing eyes look straight at you.”
My Family & Other Animals
CHRIS TERRY March 2020
Neither small boys nor young lambs are known for sitting still, but the two pictured in this image were surprisingly calm, says photographer Chris Terry. The boy is one of Yorkshire Shepherdess Amanda Owen’s nine children, who live on a remote hill farm. “The kids were so hands-on with the animals,” Chris says. “This was an orphan lamb that the children had raised, so they were at ease with each other.” Chris spent a day with the family, photographing them at work and play: “I wanted to capture their generosity of spirit.”
Born to be Wild
ANDREW MONTGOMERY December 2007
Photographing wild animals is always tricky, but when they’re in the mountains, and it’s snowing, the challenge is even greater. “I had to commando-crawl through the snow, so they didn’t see me,” says Andrew, who spent a day out in western Snowdonia trying to get pictures of the wild Carneddau ponies. Fortunately, annual health checks meant a few were brought down from the mountainside, and he was able to capture detailed shots of these hardy creatures, including their thick coats.
ANDREW MONTGOMERY November 2016
Farrier-turned-craftsman Richard Fishenden creates hand-forged ironwork for his business Made by the Forge – but still finds time to shoe horses. “There’s such strength involved in the process and I wanted to capture that,” Andrew says. “As the shoe went on and the smoke rose, the horse turned to look directly at me.”
ALICIA TAYLOR July 2020*
Shropshire Petals grows an abundance of British flowers to create delicate, natural confetti. But when you’re photographing a flower farm in the middle of summer, the trickiest part can be deciding which of the many beautiful blooms to focus on. “It was blanketed in flowers, so the choice was almost overwhelming,” Alicia says. “However, as a photographer, I look for the most beautiful light and shapes. So I borrowed an old wooden farm ladder and positioned it in a spot overlooking this patch of stunning poppies.”