MyriadLifePhoto – MyriadLifeBooks

Picture this…on the Norfolk Broads

With the Norfolk Broads only 15 minutes down the road from me, I have a wealth of photographic inspiration to call upon.

A few years ago, I spent a lot of time on the Norfolk coast, and I still love visiting when I can, but living in Norwich, I now realize I have never investigated the Norfolk Broads nearly thoroughly enough.

Sure, over the years I have been on day boats and shot my fair share of images, but it’s only since the 2020 pandemic that I have begun to truly appreciate all the Norfolk Broads have to offer. This is also thanks to my boyfriend who really loves the Norfolk Broads, having sailed them since he was a boy. He knows them well, and has been a good guide. He is my spotter, my extra pair of eyes. I recommend a good spotter when you are out taking photographs. I know I would have missed kingfishers, owls, deer and much more had I not had him by my side. He loves nature, and has taught me so much. While I’m staring at the sky, working out composition, or trying to attain the best angle, he is shouting at me to look to the right, the left, north, or just by that bush or tree!

The images shown above, are of St Benet’s Abbey ruins, winter sunsets reflected in streams near the Abbey and a view of Thurne Mill beneath a sail. All are available to buy via the link. Choose your format/frame/mount colour – free UK delivery.

A picture is worth a thousand words so they say. It is hard to convey the real beauty of places in one picture. But also, quality over quantity, so it’s important to consider each image carefully, to show the scene uniquely from your own viewpoint.

Although of course, I want to sell my work, I don’t solely think about this when I am out photographing in the wilds of Norfolk. When I am out on the marshes, my primary goal is to create something unique. To grasp a moment in time that will never happen again and show it.

While (hopefully) there will be many more sunsets to enjoy, the sky will never quite look the same as it did on the evening I shot the images above. This makes them truly unique. There will never be a moment again when I capture Thurne Mill from this exact spot, beneath a sail. The light will never fall exactly as it did on St Benet’s Abbey ruins from this exact angle.

This is what addicts me to photography, the uniqueness of each moment, and the image created from it.

Please subscribe to be kept updated with my photographic adventures. They aren’t always in Norfolk, soon I will be off to the Isle of Wight. I haven’t been there since I was a child…

The Norfolk Broads Wall art Kingfisher – Windmill – Owl

Canvas mounted prints – please visit the individual links for alternative colours/formats and more details.

Follow me on Twitter and Instagram to see what I am up to. Come say hello!

Sunset around St Benet’s Abbey

St Benet’s Abbey and windmill – a photographic blog

Winter sunsets at and around the atmospheric and historic St Benet’s Abbey and mill ruins on the banks of the River Bure in Norfolk.

This is such a special place in Norfolk with legends of ghostly monks, once inhabitants of a remote medieval monastery.

The wooden cross with the word ‘peace’ with geese flying past.

On a winter’s afternoon, aside from stunning medieval ruins, there is much wildlife to enjoy too. We saw geese, barn owls, swans and birds of prey in a very short time.

I got as close as I could to this beautiful young barn owl. The pastel pink of the lowering sun providing a pretty frame around him/her.

My main preoccupation was the stunning sunset on this visit. It was truly spectacular.

The colours changed at every moment. The sky turning from deep blue to pastel shades of pink and lilac, then to golden. My tip is to stay for the duration of any sunset as you will see the most incredible light display evolve. Never think its over until that fire ball finally slips below the horizon, and darkness finally drops like a blanket over your head.

The best times to visit to see wildlife is early morning or late afternoon. That’s when you will see the owls hunting and they come quite close. Be prepared to brush shoulders with other photographers! It’s always good to ask where they have seen the wildlife. People who love nature are happy to share their experiences.

This is a beautiful place, go and enjoy it in peace.

Many of these images are available as prints at Photo4me. Free UK delivery.

Notebooks, greeting cards and gifts via my Redbubble store.

Scroll down to see links to Norfolk prints and merchandise.

Please subscribe and follow me on Instagram and Twitter. Come say hello and chat about photography!

Black and white images of Peace Cross and St Benet’s Abbey

Raveningham Hall Gardens Snowdrops

While many head to Walsingham to see the snowdrop spectacle, as did I, a couple of weeks ago, there are some other pretty spots to view these magical white flowers. Raveningham gardens are well worth a visit too.

It was my first trip there, and the spring-like weather made it even more of a treat. The gardens are open every day apart from Saturdays in February and every Sunday, is a fundraiser for Priscilla Bacon Lodge.

Whether you love to photograph the snowdrops or not, Raveningham Hall Gardens are a truly idyllic place to wander. Plenty of other beautiful flowers to see too, such as the crocuses.

Please subscribe to see more of my photographic adventures and scroll down to see prints for sale.

Plan your days Norfolk Style

New daily planners for 2023 have just been released in my Amazon store.

Norfolk scenes feature on the covers so you can enjoy your favourite Norfolk view every day. The current collection includes: Wells-next-the-sea, Stiffkey, Winterton-on-sea, Cromer, Salthouse and Blakeney. There are also Norfolk seals, and the beautiful and rare Swallowtail butterfly to enjoy.

Inside are 365 pages ready for you to fill in your daily schedule and priorities. Note important meetings or dates. Journal your water intake and what you eat. A handy way to note your moods and feelings too, what you are excited or grateful for. Keep an eye on the weather too.

The softback cover and internal pages are very tactile and the size (8.5x 11″) practical.

Ideal for personal or work use.

Perfect gift for anyone who loves Norfolk or go ahead and treat yourself. Click on the images below to buy. The link will take you to my Amazon store.

More books are on the way so please subscribe to see new notebooks, journals and planners as they arrive.

Romping across the marshes.

Marston Marshes just outside of Norwich is one of our favourite romping grounds. A quick car ride away from the Wensum, and before we know it, we are next to the Yare, romping along, looking out for the gliding barn owl, a hovering Kestrel, or Kingfishers. We are always hopeful we might see an otter too, but so far no luck.

People often stop to tell us about the Parakeets who are to be seen high up in the trees. Everyone you meet at Marston Marshes is, like we are, enthralled by the nature to be seen there.

James stops frequently to photograph wild flowers for his Instagram account, right now, there are many autumnal ones appearing: sloe berries, acorns, elderberries, blackberries, hops, and lords and ladies (which are toxic but pretty). You can also find Ragged Robin and Southern Marsh Orchid.

More recently Longhorn cattle were grazing the marshes – a real treat to see.

It is magical ducking the ancient tree branches hanging over the Yare, their twisted trunks bending with age and weight would have many a tale to tell if they could speak, I am sure. I like to imagine the likes of Kett’s men taking a breather here, but I’ve no idea if Marston Marshes was ever on their route. It feels like you are entering the tunnel of trees into another ancient, mystical world. Sometimes I half expect to see someone dressed in medieval attire coming the other way, perhaps with their lunch in a knapsack…

Marston Marshes is a 64 acre nature reserve on the southern side of Norwich in the flood plain of the River Yare where we have been reliably informed by fishermen there are pike, perch and bream to be found. Swans glide along serenely and this summer it was lovely to watch the Swan’s nest take shape. I am sure there is much more wildlife and nature for us to spot and that is why this place has become so addictive.

Our favourite time to visit is at dusk to watch the barn owl hunt his circuit. It’s peaceful and as you can see from my images the light can be positively dreamlike. I don’t always take my DSLR, all of these were shot on my iPhone.

If you are ever over Marston Marshes way, be sure to visit, like us, you are bound to fall in love with it.

If you’d like to see more of my photography adventures around Norwich and Norfolk, please take the plunge and subscribe.

You can also follow me on Twitter and Instagram, come say hello.

You may also like my River Wensum Photo Series.

Colour my Cover – Norwich Castle Autumn

£6.49

Add to cart
Colour my Cover – Norwich Castle

£6.49

Add to cart
Colour my cover – Elm Hill, Norwich

£6.49

Add to cart
Norwich Notebooks – Elm Hill

£8.99

Add to cart
Norwich Bridges Notebook

£8.99

Add to cart
Norwich Notebook

£8.99

Add to cart

Fye Bridge

On a blissful summer’s evening walk along the River Wensum a couple of weeks ago, we came across one of the city’s ghostly storytellers regaling a sizeable group with tales of the women suspected of being witches who were ducked and drowned from Fye Bridge.

Matthew Hopkins, the Witchfinder General, and his colleague in terror, John Stearne, carried out the witch hunts between 1644 and 1647. You can read more about their evil endeavours at CulturaObscura.

The bridge itself looks innocently picturesque in the balmy evening light, but once it held nothing but terror for some of the folk of Norwich, mostly women, but also dishonest tradesmen.

Fye Bridge is the oldest known bridge site in Norwich. Even older than Bishop Bridge, the bridge was rebuilt in the early 1930’s, so it has a more modern appearance. The bridge site dates back to 1153, a timber structure replaced with stone in the early 15th century. You can see more details and images of the construction of Fye Bridge via George Plunkett.

Personally, I love the shape of Fye bridge, the low curves and contrasting brickwork. It’s nice to sit with a drink at the Ribs of Beef and watch river life glide by.

Fye Bridge shot from a Thorpe Island Canoe

Sometimes you can see Kingfishers doing a spot of fishing. I’ve heard otters are sometimes around, but we have yet to see one.

As with many old sites in Norwich, there are stories of a ghost. I will return to ghostly goings on in more detail as this Wensum series progresses, but the likelihood of me ever catching one on camera is extremely remote. If I ever do, the images will appear here first!

From NorfolkLive.co.uk—”Fye Bridge still stands today, and although the days of dunking suspected witches into the river are over, the bridge is said to be home to the ghost of a woman who was tried at the site. She was later burned for witchcraft at the nearby Lollard’s Pit, which is now a local pub. According to those who have had sightings of the ghost, she is dressed in rags and begs strangers to help her pick up a dropped bundle of sticks that were used to kindle the fire that killed her. It’s also believed that those that are kind enough to stop and help her will die in a fire within the year. “

It is always in my nature to help where needed, but I may avoid helping this ghost, I’ve far too many blog posts to get done yet!

The name Fye, comes from Magdalen Street which was originally called Fybriggate meaning the street leading to Fye Bridge. (Heritage Norfolk).

Please visit the sites I have linked for more information. I find the George Plunkett site particularly fascinating because of the old images of the bridges along the Wensum. It is well worth a look.

If you are interested to learn more of the history of old Norwich, the sites mentioned above give great information. Nick Stone of Invisible Works also makes for a fascinating and in depth read.

If you are new to Norwich I hope you will enjoy learning more about this fine city with its incredible history. If you already have lived here for years, I am sure like me, you are always learning new things about this remarkable place. Hopefully my River Wensum series will spark more interest and you will enjoy my images.

Please follow me on Twitter and Instagram and subscribe below to be kept up to date with what’s new here.

Please see other posts in the River Wensum Series below. It begins with the bridges, and I will go on to write about the buildings and wildlife (including some of the humans) along the river.

Images of Bridges along the Wensum by MyriadLifePhoto

Please scroll down to find links to the other River Wensum bridges in this series.