Saturday 12 April 2014

MOON LIGHT AND LANDSCAPE


The dark Night, most of us, as children are fearful of this nocturnal time of the Night, but I never really acquired that fear, living in a street lit town, Dark was never truly dark, as a result, and as an adult 
I have a desire to seek out, all things visually Dark. Last year I traveled out, one night into the Oxford Countryside to help my Brother get his annual Meteor shower image, for his archive, you can see the result here;
 Geminids and light pollution.



I cannot wait to get out again this year, into the dark night.
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Over the years I have collected fine Art books, and within some of those books, some of those painters have the desire to paint the Moon lit Landscape. One of my favourite painters of Moonscapes is a fine Artist by the name of;
John Atkinson Grimshaw 1836-1893 he was a very imaginative


Victorian painter, his Moon paintings are very striking.The moody hues, he created seem unreal, but....no, I've observed these rare nocturnal lit scenes, and they are very realistic, they 
have a "in a dream" quality.

Whitby Harbour by Moonlight. image;Wikipaintings
J A Grimshaw had an affinity for a water theme, and painted
many harbour, or Ocean painting. Moon light needs
 the reflective quality of water, to extend the 
diminished light of the Moon. When he was not painting
water, he very often painted winding Lanes,
wet, after rain, allowing that much needed glowing lift
of reflective light. 

Another fine modern day Artist is Kit Williams, he too 
likes to paint a Moon lit scene, with uncanny realism
I've had the pleasure of viewing his recent, paintings, his
Moon light, puts the viewer in that lunar night, you
get the feeling of being out side, at night!!.   

"Moonlight" by John Atkinson Grimshaw. image from:wikipaintings




My Photographer Brother, intends to photograph Moon lit Landscapes, I dare say he will drag me out of the door, to
hump all his gear, over hill and dale just to capture, that
beaming Moon reflecting off my (probably) muddy
wet boots. It will not be the first time, I have been ankle


A Twilight painting by John Atkinson Grimshaw. Image;wikipaintings
 Tree Shadows on the Park Wall, Roundhay Park, Leeds

 deep in mud, come to think of it, he persuaded me to 
explore a right of way track, to Pilsbury Hill castle
Problem was it passed by a dairy farm, no that was not
the problem, it was the six inches of cow slurry.
Needless to say, we ended up not getting to Pilsbury, we
decided to drive out to Parsley hay  and cycle in, from
a new direction, at least he got his Image, its titled;

 "Atmospheric Pilsbury"


Here is a "Wiki" link http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pilsbury_Castle

I will publish here any Moon scape photo Images, as and when
my Brother acquires them. Keep a look out.
Sorry to digress. If you desire to see more paintings of 
 John Atkinson Grimshaw
Follow this link to Wikipaintings 



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