Jan Marshall – Author shares photographs taken around her home town – Sidmouth, Devon, England.
“The sound of the sea calls out to my soul, I could never live landlocked again” Jan Marshall
No apologies for so many pictures of the sea – it is a passion of mine! The Winter here is usually very short here – maybe 8 – 10 weeks, and it rarely snows (so when it does it is a photographic opportunity). Last November was so mild I didn’t even need a coat to go out – unless it was late evening. Spring and Autumn are usually warm and barmy – and Summer is absolutely gorgeous! It really is a coastline for all seasons! No prizes for guessing why I moved here ready for retirement (a few years away yet though!)
Sidmouth is a beautiful unspoilt regency town – and the magic of it is, that even in Summer (unless there is a folk festival or some other event such as a regatta) it is rarely crowded. I just love it here.
WINTER
Notice the line of the sea on the horizon of the photograph below – it would be easy to miss it with such beautiful scenery!
SPRING
I played around with the original photo (above) to create a piece of photographic artwork (below)!
SUMMER
I took the photo below last weekend – it was early in the morning but the sum was warm already. It makes a stunning desktop background. If any of you would like a free copy (the correct size for a computer desktop background - as opposed to the smaller resized image below) leave me an email address in the comments, and I’ll endeavour to send you one.
AUTUMN
Below: A stormy day – late last year.
Below: Waves at Sidmouth (by Jacob’s ladder) in a storm. I enjoy the stormy weather too – it is so exhilarating. I love to wrap up warm and get blown along the sea front. There are lots of shelters where you can sit and watch the wild sea. I like to take a flask of soup and a camera – and just enjoy it. I love the simple things in life ….
More photos of Autumn to come – when I’ve taken them. I moved here last October – so I’ve not had an Autumn living here yet. I can’t wait to see the Autumn colours. I shall be out with the camera – you can bet on it!
Alfie: Born (approximately) 1st September 2008 (from Cat's Protection rescue centre)
................................
Well, that does it! I’m moving to England. I’m tired of six month-long winters and -30 C. temps… raging blizzards, ice, etc. Bleak, dead-looking landscapes… when you can see it through the storm, that is!
Read my lips, girl: You have it made!
Even our much-touted West Coast isn’t as balmy as your area, with possibly the exception of Victoria on Vancouver Island. I used to truck there, and thought they were spoiled, until I saw these photos!
Think of the steppes of Russia (without the scenery!) in winter, and you’ll pretty much have the South-Central Saskatchewan experience down!
By: Uber Highwayman on August 15, 2007
at 2:12 pm
I’m glad you like it UH – like you said before – England’s in your bones! You can hear the sound of your ancestory calling you ….
I’m going to have to google South-Central Saskatchewan to see what it’s like!
OK I’ve checked it out – including pics of Moose Jaw. It’s a mighty big landscape and seems very flat – but I am sure it has a beauty of it’s own.
By: Author on August 15, 2007
at 2:21 pm
Well apparently you are “Lady Luck” in more ways than one!
Thank you for sharing these photos. They are just beautiful. What I would GIVE to live close to the ocean…someday perhaps. Instead, we’re moving to Iowa. Whoopee! (Steve is now teaching at the U of Iowa). The good news is we have a cabin on Lake Winnipesaukee in NH. I’ll have to put some photos up and show you. It’s our little slice of heaven and it’s where Steve goes to write every summer.
By: Connie on October 24, 2007
at 1:03 pm
Connie, I’m glad you like the photographs – did you take the stroll round my town too? if you select the Sidmouth link on the same page above – it will take you on a photographic walk round my town! I took all the photos the same day so that I could capture a day in the life of Sidmouth.
Then, if you’re not exhausted select the folk festival link! LOL! Enjoy!
By: Author on October 24, 2007
at 1:17 pm
these are awesome pictures and i’d like to take some like these someday
By: john on November 5, 2007
at 3:35 am
[...] that the town nestles into Lyme Bay on the Jurassic coast line, in an area of natural outstanding beauty, is why. Landscapes are so timeless. I often think when looking at a beautiful view – of all the [...]
By: A place in literature… « A Curious State of Affairs … on November 22, 2007
at 10:34 am
hi. I hope you don’t mind, I painted one of your beautiful pictures and I thought you might be interested to see. This is the first real painting I’ve ever done.
http://i91.photobucket.com/albums/k294/rha3l/Robin24.jpg
By: rha3l on January 11, 2008
at 12:53 am
rha31,
That is a beautiful painting you’ve done – I love it. Would you mind if I feature it on my blog? Would you give me a biographical pastiche about yourself to accompany it?
Thanks for sharing you painting anyway – I can barely believe this is your first real painting. You are very talented.
By: Author on January 11, 2008
at 8:56 am
[...] Today, I was delighted to receive an e-mail from someone who’d read my blog and been inspired enough by one of my photographs to paint a picture. She gave me a link to view [...]
By: The Art of Photography! « A Curious State of Affairs … on January 11, 2008
at 7:34 pm
What an interesting website – I’ll return when I have time.
The link to “Jan Marshall – author” at the top of your photographic extravaganza page doesn’t seem to work. Maybe a gremlin.
You have taken some stunning photos – I came across your site when searching for picture of storms at Sidmouth.
By: stephen wozniak on November 15, 2009
at 11:20 pm