Billinge Hill Sunsets

After a very cold and crisp 1st January, I went to a good viewing place at the top of Winstanley to capture the setting Sun over Billinge Hill, the highest point hereabouts.

Another clear day on January 2nd saw me go to the Beacon itself, but the Sunset wasn't quite as spectacular, ah well.....

Fuji XT2, 55-200mm and 10-24mm Fuji lenses.

The Sun dipping below the horizon

Beautiful deep orange sky

 These images were taken from the Beacon

Final Sun rays

Jet Moon Venus

The Moon and Venus over a darkening St Helens sky

Moon Jet Venus

Golden cloud edges

St Helens lights up at dusk

Glowing Sun

Final Sunlight shines over Wigan and Winter Hill

Lights On!

North East Panorama as darkness settles

Westwood, Poolstock

Braving the stiff breeze on a cold Boxing Day, I decided to start exploring the area off Poolstock that was once the site of the Westwood Power Station and the two massive cooling towers.
The towers were demolished in January 1989, and since then the area, now part of the Greenheart Flashes, has been returned to nature.
Especially prominent are Silver Birch trees, and I'll hopefully document a season of growth and change in this area.

Access to the area via Lock 1 of the Leigh Branch near St James' Church, Poolstock

The footprint of one of the mighty cooling towers

The channels that brought water from Pearson's Flash to the towers, now overgrown

Blowing Reeds

Blending Into Nature

Glowing Trees

Bright Silver Birches

Bare Silver Birch Trunks

Chain Winding Gear on the Canal Lock

Winter Swan on Pearson's Flash

Manchester Christmas Markets

Although it was a dull and somewhat rainy day in Manchester City centre, the crowds were out and the market stalls were as busy as ever!

I used a small camera to capture as many candid images as I could, processing the Black and White images in Silver Efex Pro.

Sony RX100 Mk2

Frosty Mesnes Park

I had an hour to spare in Mesnes Park park this morning, and the Winter sunshine combined with the frosty lawns provided plenty of colour!

Billinge Hill Dawn

Up before the Larks this morning!

Seeing how frosty/misty/clear it was at 7am, I took myself off to the highest point hereabouts, Billinge Hill.

Here are the results.

Fuji XT2, 10-24mm and 35mm Fuji lenses.

First Light On The Beacon

Pre Dawn Light Towards The Beacon

First Light And Misty Fields

Dawn Aerials

Dawn Light And Misty Fields

Tall Dawn Skies

The Sun Touches The Horizon

Tall Dawn Skies St Helens

Industrial Dawn

Dawn At The Ninth Green

Tall Dawn Skies Looking North East

Pre Dawn Misty Fields Liverpool