Our film about the Cats & Dogs pond on Wanstead flats will be playing at the @offbeatfilm Folk Film Festival š« Thanks so much for including us x ------------------------------------------------------------About 4 years ago Nick and Mark got permission to start work on the area of The Flats known as The Cats' & Dogs' pond. After clearing all the overgrown reeds they hoped to find the water, needed to kick start a new ecosystem.
Today the pond is the only spot with breeding newts and frogs.
The film is part of my documentary project Common Ground, a series of pictures and short films exploring the rich biodiversity of Wanstead Flats, nestled at the Southern Edge of Epping Forest and the people who frequent this open green space.
Wanstead Flats holds significant ecological and historical importance as well as serving as a sanctuary for locals seeking nature.
This photograph, taken in the midst of the pandemic, was the starting point of the project.
London was enveloped in a dense and enigmatic mist that lingered until early afternoon. As the sun finally broke through, the towering structures transformed into giant disco balls, scattering rays of light in every direction.
This image, taken shortly thereafter, encapsulates the essence of the flats for meāa place where Nature and the City collide.
I shot a single roll of expired film as that was all I had to hand, not knowing if it would even come out.
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#conservation #right2roam #biodiversity #eppingforest #wansteadflats #shootfilm #documentary #socialhistory #climatechange #commonground #filmphotography #handbalimag #somewheremag #awfulmagā
#forevermagazine #paperjournalmag #apricotmagazine #noicemag #observationmag #documentaryphotography #120film #kodak #pentax67 #forestmag
Really honoured that both my picture and my film of Nick & Mark on Wanstead Flats have been shortlisted for Earth Photo 24 amongst all these inspiring photographers and filmmakers. Can't wait to meet everyone at the exhibition opening tonight š
Out of over 1,900 entries from photographers and filmmakers worldwideā¦Ā
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112 images and 12 videos by 30 photographers and 13 filmmakers are shortlisted for Earth Photo 2024.
Their work will be available to see in the Earth Photo 2024 exhibitions:
šAt the RoyalĀ Geographical Society @rgs_ibg , in London, from 18 June to 21 August 2024,
š In six @ForestryEngland Forests, from 1 July 2024 to 23 March 2025: @dalby_forest@bedgebury.pinetum@aliceholtforest@haldonforestpark@moorsvalley and @grizedale.forest .
šThe exhibition will also tour to @nationaltrust properties across the UK, plus the @sidneynolantrust and the @heligangardens .
Earth Photo is organised by @forestryengland@rgs_ibg@parkerharrisco
As part of my research, I went looking for the riverās sourceāsomething Iād never really considered before. Origins are important; they hold a kind of quiet magic. Itās fascinating to think that a small spring could grow into a river, eventually forming borders with 2 countries on either side of Luxembourg.
The drive took just over an hour. I traced the river on the map until it led me to a forest in the middle of nowhere in Belgium. The spring was fenced off sadly and after a couple of trespassing attempts, the closest photograph I could take was through a small hole in the wire. But the surrounding woods felt enchanted: the leaves had just turned deep yellows and reds.
Iād also recently read that wolves had been spotted in a nearby forest, which made the whole experience even more magical and haunting.
@clervaux_citedelimage
#theriveralwaysflows
