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A torrent of results for TIMEframe at Thornton Reservoir! |
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Are expensive digital cameras and torrential heavy rain a good combination?
Normally the answer would be no, unless you take 10 people keen to learn, an excellent tutor and a great site to photograph!
In August 2005 the third TIMEframe Photography Workshop in The National Forest threw out unexpected challenges to the participants – how to stay dry and how to take good photographs in very wet weather! |
Based at Thornton Community Centre, tutor Chris Beech took the participants through a range of ideas to consider later in the day at Thornton Reservoir.
We learnt how to deal with two factors which, if not under control, can lead to disappointing images: camera shake and focus…although we saw later on that often ‘mistakes’ can create interesting images.
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by Lucy Ashworth |
Using examples from photographers Fay Godwin, John Blakemore and Tony Ray Jones, amongst others, we saw how pattern, texture, framing, tone, form, composition, colour, shape, lines, angles are all elements to work with when taking pictures.
Once inside our waterproofs we were ready to face elements of a different kind. Working in small groups we explored the reservoir, finding images to interpret our given words, colour, pattern, texture, lines. |
Thornton Reservoir |
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Taken by Chris Beech |
Thornton Reservoir was built in 1850 - 1853 to supply drinking water to Leicester, on a recommendation from civil engineer, Thomas Wickstead. Wells in Leicester were the main source of water but privvies and cesspits contaminated these. In 1849 there was an estimated 2900 open cesspits in Leicester, which were subject to river floods. Water was first piped from Thornton reservoir to Leicester in December 1853.The growing demand for fresh water in the area also provoked the building of further reservoirs at Cropston (1870) and Swithland (1890). Today Thornton is a reserve reservoir used for topping up Cropston and Swithland.
The site is a haven for people and wildlife. 110 species of birds can be spotted, several footpaths, a sculpture trail and cycle route can be enjoyed by young and old. The Greater Spotted Woodpecker breeds in the mature woodlands. The woodland is a man-made plantation of oak, ash, sycamore and scots pine, dating back to the 1940s. Some of the timber here would have been used to provide pit props for local collieries. |
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Taken by Chris Beech |
The reservoir lies in a valley that is over looked by the village of Thornton whose name derives from ‘Town of Thorns’.
The mainstays of Thornton village life have been cloth making and agriculture. In the mid 18th century most villagers worked in the frame knitting industry, an occupation which could fully involve the operator’s family in ancillary tasks such as winding, seaming and footing. The rain certainly helped to create 10 wet people as well as some interesting photographs, which were enjoyed by everyone before leaving the workshop in bright sunshine and blue skies! |
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