Listening with Silent Walkers and Any Old Iron

Posted on 15/09/201709/09/2017 by Alastair

“Any old iron” is not a cry you hear very often now in Britain and is certainly not one associated with silent walkers. I suspect that the people making that call for old metal in our streets would love to have been offered an abandoned iron spiral staircase or grass roller. They shout it nowadays from a van but I remember when it used to be from a horse and cart (and I’m not that old!).

The silent walkers listening to the sounds around them either through a mic and headphones or with the naked ear, enjoyed what they heard on our StillWalks taster session for WWAMH at Clynfyw Care Farm. Continue reading→

Contents of a Rusty Shed

Posted on 13/09/201708/09/2017 by Alastair

Before leading my group on our silent walk for WWAMH at Clynfyw Care Farm, I found myself attracted to a large rusty shed, the contents of which ranged from more rusty currugated iron sheets to freshly picked onions.

The colours and patterns of the ageing construction materials and the contrasting fresh patterns and colours of onions “relaxing” on tables and boards propped up by garden chairs, I found particularly exciting – visually of course!Continue reading→

My Walk this Week – Silent Walking with WWAMH

Posted on 11/09/201708/09/2017 by Alastair

My walk this week is from an event in West Wales with WWAMH (West Wales Action for Mental Health). I had been asked to run a couple of StillWalks taster sessions for their “Let’s Celebrate Gardening” event at Clynfyw Care Farm and so I focused on sound walks – or perhaps I should say silent walking.

The benefits of walking in a group are primarily social – you get to chat with friends or meet new people in an active way and often in a pleasant natural environment. My own preferenceContinue reading→

Swansea Bay – Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 09/09/201701/09/2017 by Alastair

This weeks final post for my walk this week along Swansea Bay and back through the marina includes a selection of images from along the walk with all its space and textures and patterns and now of course, the sounds as well.

The soundscape below contains just as many intricate patterns and textures as the visuals – from sea and blustering breeze to urban construction, the activities of marina visitors and the plinking of rigging against masts.

Continue reading→

Floating in the Marina

Posted on 08/09/201701/09/2017 by Alastair

Returning through Swansea Marina on my walk this week didn’t mean I was floating on the water but did allowed me to enjoy the many complex and fluid patterns to be found there.

The masts and rigging, the architecture – both old and new – and of course the water patterns and reflections of the surrounding structures, whether maritime or land based. Continue reading→

A Perspective on Walls

Posted on 06/09/201701/09/2017 by Alastair

Continuing on my walk this week along Swansea beach the promenade wall and sea defence is made of concrete. To some this may not be the most exciting of materials to look at but interesting things have often been done with in in architecture.

Swansea sea wall has sections that are embossed with selected maritime words but the words I have focussed on in these images have been scratched into the surface which seems to me more in keeping with the materials (as with the embossed words) than the more normal painted graffiti. Continue reading→

My Walk this Week and the Influence of Angle

Posted on 04/09/201701/09/2017 by Alastair

My walk this week is one I have taken many times but as always, the conditions are different every time. On this occasion it was the angle from which I was viewing things that had a strong the influence on my photography of the walk.

For instance, it may be obvious to many of you what the image above shows, but as I passed by on Swansea Bay’s wonderful expansive beach, for some reason I thought to myself, “That’s a funny thing to draw in shells on the beach” – I thought it looked like a boot! (I know, don’t ask! Lol). Continue reading→

Project Recce Walk – Bishopston to Caswell, Reviewing the Walk

Posted on 02/09/201725/08/2017 by Alastair

Our project recce walk down Bishopston Valley to Pwll Du Bay and along the cliff path ended at Caswell Bay where, being a good day in August (unusual!), this popular South Gower beach was busy with families enjoying their holidays.

The soundscape to accompany the images below includes Bishopston Pill (river) as it flows underground at Guzzle Hole and the clack of stones as we walked across Pwll Du Bay and the holiday activities of those on the beach Caswell Bay. Continue reading→

Author Archives: Alastair