High Force - River Tees, County Durham

High Force - River Tees, County Durham
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery (AWAY FOR A WHILE)

The Story in Your Eyes - The Moody Blues

I've been thinking about our fortune
And I've decided that we're really not to blame
For the love that's deep inside us now
Is still the same

And the sounds we make together
Is the music to the story in your eyes
It's been shining down upon me now
I realize

Listen to the tide slowly turning
Wash all our heartaches away
We're part of the fire that is burning
And from the ashes we can build another day

But I'm frightened for your children
That the live that we are living is in vain
And the sunshine we've been waiting for
Will turn to rain

Listen to the tide slowly turning
Wash all our heartaches away
We're part of the fire that is burning
And from the ashes we can build another day

But I'm frightened for the children
That the live that we are living is in vain
And the sunshine we've been waiting for
Will turn to rain

When the final line is over
It's certain that the curtain's gonna fall
I can hide inside your sweet sweet love
For ever more

www.youtube.com/watch?v=IBsdHoTdOmc

Another song from the soundtrack of my life - this song inspired me to purchase my first album as a 15 year old - Every Good Boy Deserves A Favour (1971). A great song from a great band.

The waterfall is one of County Durham's wonders - this is one of many shots I took at High Force as part of my journey down the River Tees - the river starts as a trickle high up in the Pennines and flows from West to East to enter the North Sea just beyond Middlesbrough.

Standing facing the waterfall is a humbling experience. The roar is huge as the water cascades over the 21 metre high falls.

From here the river travels on towards Barnard Castle and the shots loaded over the past couple of days

It was an amazing day and an amazing journey

My Darling.... April 22nd

My Darling.... April 22nd
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for the Day...

You have been my lighthouse
In every storm
You have given shelter
You have kept me safe and warm
And in my darkest nights
You have shone your brightest lights
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

You have been the pilot
Who guides me home
You have been the my rock
As on the seven seas I roam
And when I was becalmed
You were the strength in my arms
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

And when I found my back
Was torn and broken on the reef
You sailed your tiny boat
Across the dark seas of my disbelief.

You have been the anchor
And I the chain
Straining as we hold ourselves
Together in the rain
I have found you ever there
My constant keeper's daughter fair
You are my saving grace
Darling I love you.

- The Strawbs

This is a big thank you to my wife for giving such a wonderful day yesterday (it was my birthday). She has been my lighthouse for more years than I care to think and her support is fantastic, especially as I am about to work away from home for the next 6 months. It is a lovely song and is both a love song and a tribute to an amazing woman - Grace Darling.

The photo business will have to take a back seat for now. So the lyrics and the picture are symbolic of my taking flight and being away during the week. It will also mean that I will have less time for Flickr. So if I am not commenting on your works - it is a lack of time and not personal.

We are always changing - even though we may not see the progress of our life. This particular path is a more of a detour - it will earn the corn needed to feed my habit of photography.

I am taking a contract for 6 months to restore the smile on my bank manager's face. It will help my journey towards being full time. Anyway, to all of you, good luck over the coming months and may you be neither becalmed on your sea or hitting rocks and if you do I hope you will have your Grace.

Craig :-)

There is no stranger, April 19th

There is no stranger, April 19th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought for the day

"In the cherry blossom's shade
there's no such thing
as a stranger."
- Kobayashi Issa

Cherry blossom symbolises the simple, natural, coming "springtime of enlightenment". Therefore to stand under the cherry blossom, you stand at one with everything and everyone. You are no longer a stranger.

This is a shot of a very old cherry tree in our garden. It casts a great shadow in leaf, however, at this time it provides an amazing sight with the blossom catching the light.

Busy week ahead - preparing for major exhibition at the end of the month. Also lots happening workwide.

It is as if the sun shining has brought a new life to the area and to me and I am enjoying the peace. We are used to planes flying in and out of Gatwick.

Imagine if this was to last.... now that would be a change.

Water is Life, April 15

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Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote of the day

“In an age when man has forgotten his origins and is blind even to his most essential needs for survival, water along with other resources has become the victim of his indifference”
- Rachel Carson

Visit by a Group of home ed'ers spending time finding out about how water is treated to ensure it is drinkable. We looked in the Valve tower, went under the dam through a tunnel and find out the different stages of cleaning the water

The process is industrial - yes the water is clean but seeing how they clean our water makes you think. Do we value water as much now we used to before the mechnised approach?

Love of beauty, April 12th

Love of beauty, April 12th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote for today

“Love of beauty is Taste. The creation of beauty is Art.”
- Ralph Waldo Emerson

This lovely display was picked by 2 of my sons (Camerin 8 and Angus 4) for their Mum. It is a stunning display of spring flowers from around our garden.

It is a just a simple bowl with only the flower heads and it brightens our dining room table.

The two have created art through their desire to create something of beauty for their Mum.

How easy it is as a photographer, we create beauty and art each time we point our bit of technology at a person, landscape, flower or creature.

Every single photo is a gem of art - a little piece of beauty when it inspires or moves someone else.

Keep making art and beauty

My Wish for You, April 9th

My Wish for You, April 9th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Quote for the day
“This is my wish for you: Comfort on difficult days, smiles when sadness intrudes, rainbows to follow the clouds, laughter to kiss your lips, sunsets to warm your heart, hugs when spirits sag, beauty for your eyes to see, friendships to brighten your being, faith so that you can believe, confidence for when you doubt, courage to know yourself, patience to accept the truth, Love to complete your life.”

- Source Unknown

This photo has languished in my thoughts for sometime - It is the harbour arm at Seahouses in Northumberland (The family will be there next month). The day had been damp and just as we were finishing our tea, the clouds broke and the sun appeared. How often in life does happiness follow sadness? In life, I believe, always. We have to experience both the highs and lows to truly enjoy life.

When we are in dispair or doubt or the clouds are slate grey and the rain is coming down it is easy to fall in to seeing the negative side. A kind word, thought or deed lifts the spirit.

We are living in times of great change and I wish you a kind word and thought for today and this weekend

The greatest hazard..., April 7th

The greatest hazard..., April 7th
Originally uploaded by Craig Williams Photo Gallery

Thought of the day...

“To love is to risk not being loved in return. To hope is to risk pain. To try is to risk failure, but risk must be taken because the greatest hazard in life is to risk nothing.”
- Unknown Source

Every great adventure that human beings have been involved with has included risks - the story of humankind is of brave souls who took a risk to succeed. In my own life, it is these moments when I have taken a risk that are the most memorable - setting up as a training consultant, moving from amateur to professional photographer and personally.

It is easy to slip into the comfortable glove of not taking a risk - but this leads to becoming beige. So my Spring resolution is to return to wearing Purple (stolen from Billy Connelly). This election that will take place in 3 weeks is an opportunity for the UK to take a risk and vote for change - not to return to two party politics. We need real people in politics and in life.

Vote for risk