A Fine Line
New Substack article from a year or so ago. Spending a day with @cornish_foraging_walks_and_art
“I was drawn by the intricacy immediately. The tying of
almost invisible fishing line amongst hands wrinkled and
worn with wisdom and practice. Carefully yet without
thought avoiding the sharp hook and latching the bait fish
ready to lure. The old ways seemed to be engrained into his tanned skin, under his very fingernails.”
Cornwall has been devastated by several storms. Storm Goretti has created a trail of destruction. Trees have fallen in vast quantities. The years of their lives laid bare in rings beneath bark, their roots have been torn into the air and light. Now their broken bodies are being cut, cleared and forgotten.
The Grief of Trees is an attempt to capture the frailty of our land, the damage caused by growing storms, and the loss of timeless beings that cannot rest.
16th - 21st June 2026 The Island, Bristol
Where do the birds go when the trees fall
Where do the fish go when their river is drowned and dried
When we no longer wake up to bird song or to fish in creeks
When the last turtle dove sings for their love
But no call will answer
It’s only hope dying in it’s beautiful song
Where does the wildness of foxes go when tamed into concrete statues
When do we realise the lack of bugs on our car window is the sign of absence
An absence we fail to truly determine important to the oh so powerful human species
Where do the birds go when the trees fall
Where do our trees stand if their roots are to the sky and our sea flows when it’s insides are poisoned
They fall once again to the doer of their demise and will the doer care?
Perhaps only once the tree falls and the birds fall too
The project continues documenting the devastation from Goretti. The sound of chainsaws and the smell of fresh cut wood are now regular senses. The mass clearing continues…
Been shooting plenty of fallen trees on land recently but wanted to have a look back at some underwater work many moons ago (mostly one Maeve Stinger shoot). Part of me definitely misses this type of photography not so much the cold fingers though…
#mnhp #underwaterphotography #falmouthuni #cornwall
visuals by @jasper.abel
new post // sambmanning.substack.com
"I picture the visceral moment this forest was obliterated, the swirling tempest of water and darkness plunging roaring, deadly monoliths of fibre into gravities embrace all around me, pounding the soil like artillery shells. I feel the pang of fear, of untameable chaos. A deep part of me aches for it."
Some BTS film shots from the on going project (yet to be titled) of the fallen trees in Cornwall…
Looking forward to continuing the search and meeting the people and land impacted.
#stormgoretti #cornwall #bbccornwall
Another year comes to a close.
Here’s a little recap on the beautiful moments and people of 2025 along with some fave shots. From Lofoten to Falmouth to home. Lots of love to all those who made this year special in and out of this post, especially to my amazing girlfriend who puts up with my shenanigans.
(Images in no particular order)
(Long way round= most played song this year)
Red Screes Boxing Day…
Morning sun bathed the fells. We walked dodging ice with bellies still full from the previous day. The dogs did not show the same slumber. They raced, barked and slipped around Red Screes (only when the Herdwick were hidden), like the wolves we once lost.
Upon the summit I met Tony a radio enthusiast to which I wagged my chin. He told of his expertise on four wavelengths and I eves dropped on his summit conversations. I heard from another receiver in Burnley of all places. He had just had a successful scan and was simply surprised someone was still dancing conversationally on the top radio wave. As was I.
We continued shaded from sun as the dogs continued their chaos and as the trees watched on from their nests in the mountains.
I debated joining @stephknapman for a 5am get up and freezing fell run over Fairfield. Fair to say I did not regret it.
Numbed fingers did not allow for the best of video work but just enough to throw this together. Will forever love these conditions, not so much the face whipping wind though 🌬️ 🏃♂️
#adventurephotography #rab #lakedistrictuk #fellrunning #trailruning
