September saw my first attempt at participating in Wantage Camera Club's annual Photo Trek challenge. The destination this year was Dorchester-on-Thames which, though not that far away from us, I think I had only once visited in the distant past (I have a vague recollection of attending a Pet blessing type service in the Abbey when I was at school, though quite why, I have no idea!)

We were given a list of 20 themes to 'interpret' as we liked and the images had to be taken in August or September. Having been away for most of August I finally found a free morning to visit the town with my parents in mid-September. I tried to walk about mindful of the subjects I needed to shoot but (naturally!) found myself digressing quite a lot at times! I had to remind myself that I only had a couple of hours and had to attempt to be quite disciplined... which is hard for me when armed with a camera and a new and interesting place!

Some of the themes proved pretty straight forward but others I found distinctly challenging for a variety of reasons. I found, for example, some of the headings quite restrictive by nature. It's pretty hard to interpret '18th century building with date' in any other way than literally... though I did try to find a box of dates in the local Coop to photograph in the foreground of an 18th Century house but sadly they didn't have any, so bang went that (ridiculous) idea! Others I just found a little uninspiring, difficult to find or simply not my usual 'cup of tea'. Strangely though, that was actually one of the reasons I chose to sign up for a Camera Club in the first place, I think it is good to get out of your comfort zone once in a while and if I hadn't been set the task I would have been unlikely to look out or try some of the shots that I did and I like a challenge!

Judging night was last night and I really wasn't expecting any great results but was looking forward to seeing everyone's very different (or as it transpired, some very similar!) interpretations of the themes. I have said many times after competitions that I find myself wanting to be able to revisit some of the photos we share to find out a little bit more about them so I decided that perhaps I should start the ball rolling on this with a blog of my Dorchester images, so here goes....!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word...'

My first port of call was The Abbey itself. I took quite a few shots in here, unsurprisingly! Though there was quite a lot of light coming through that beautiful stained glass window, the light inside the abbey was pretty low and not easy to handle without a tripod (and I didn't have my tripod with me!)

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

2) Landscape

This was tricky as after being totally spoilt for stunning landscapes on The Isle of Mull, I must confess that I found the landscape surrounding Dorchester really rather dull! On a different day, with better light it may have been more inspiring. Still, needs must so I took this shot looking towards Wittenham Clumps from a footpath near the allotments!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..' 3) Window

This was one theme that it was easy to shoot in Dorchester! When I got home I found that I had taken so many different window shots it was hard to know which one to choose! I couldn't resist this one of Grumpy looking out... I wonder what he was thinking... perhaps looking in dismay at the state of the paintwork?!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

4) Roofscape

Acutely aware that a certain bunch of individuals who shall remain nameless (!) had wangled a climb up to the roof of Dorchester Abbey during their Dorchester Photo-Trek, this was going to be a tough one! Whilst walking down a narrow path leading off the High Street however, I spotted this rather understated but pleasant view of the rooftops in front of the Abbey (I did have to work the odd bit of Photoshop magic on the shockingly white sky though I must confess!)

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

5) Thatch

As soon as I saw this house behind the High Street I knew it had to be my submission for 'Thatch'. What a lovely property... and this time the sky looked a little more presentable without any help!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..' 6)  Decorative Brick and/or Stonework 

Does what is says on the tin I guess! Another lovely property, this time on the High Street.

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

7) Tree(s), Plant(s) or Flower(s)

I liked the light coming through the trees behind Dorchester Abbey. Could have done with the sun putting in a fraction more of an appearance here but I was lucky to see it that afternoon so shouldn't complain!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

8) 18th Century Building with a Date

This nearly defeated me but then I was delighted to discover the rather lovely Overy Manor. If you look closely you'll see it was getting a little bit of interior redecoration (there's a painter behind that open window in the roof!) It's hard to see here but the date reads 1712. It was a big relief to tick this one off as I was wending my way back to the car!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

9) Behind the High Street

I didn't find an awful lot behind the High Street that inspired me, other than the lovely thatched cottage and a couple of others which I decided to use elsewhere. I did quite like the angular shapes created by these roofs though. The image definitely benefitted from a black and white conversion... and I did have to enhance the sky a little as it was once again pale grey washout in the original!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

10) The allotments or garden

It was quite tricky finding the allotments but we got there eventually after asking a kindly passer-by! There was not a lot of produce remaining by this time of year and the patches were all looking a little past their best but I thought the Maize looked quite striking against the blue sky regardless. 

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'  

11) Open - Dorchester Abbey

I didn't feel it would be a proper Dorchester Photo-Trek without a shot of the Abbey and its surroundings!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

12) Black and White

I was rather pleased to see this row of cottages with just one classic car in front of them. All too often these picturesque village scenes are ruined by long rows of brightly coloured parked cars. I seized the opportunity to shoot this image whist they were all conveniently out of the way! 

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

13) Row of Cottages

It was a bit of a bonus to find this quaint little row of cottages along a path off the High Street!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

14) Ugly

A slightly contentious subject this one, as the old saying goes' one man's trash is another man's treasure!', however, having walked along a very picturesque High Street and through the grounds of the abbey, I was really quite surprised at just how horrible this house looked with its solar panels (I know they are a good thing but I do hate the look of them!), bins all over the place and shabby garage door. I am also acutely aware however that this is someone's house and I hate to call it 'ugly', it's probably beautiful inside! It's an interpretation of a theme though and that was my gut feeling when I saw it...

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

15) A Splash of Colour

There really is some beautiful stained glass in Dorchester Abbey. I loved the effect of the sun streaming through the bright panes of glass here and filling the surrounding area with colour. 

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

16) Water

I had high hopes for a lovely water shot at Dorchester, bearing on mind it is 'on Thames', only to find that pretty much the only water we actually saw was murky brown at best! I took this shot and hoped to get other opportunities to find more water themed images but even a trip to the Sailing Club didn't come up with anything more interesting. Probably my least favourite shot of the collection!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

17) Coaching Inn

Well, this was the obvious Coaching Inn shot but I tried to take a slightly different angle on it by shooting from behind it.

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

18) Close Up

I loved the vibrancy of these Autumn Berries in the Abbey Grounds. I think I took this shot with the 'Splash of Colour' theme in mind originally!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

19) The Abbey

I think this one needs little explanation!  I would love to see that window properly illuminated by the sun, it must look stunning!

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

20) Open: 'Overy Farm Cottage'

And finally... actually it was really hard to choose a final image after going through so many others. I just liked this place though, it was a lovely peaceful spot, the sun was shining and the sky was cooperating! So Overy Farm Cottage (it looks rather too large to be called a cottage though!) made it into my shortlist.

1) Open: 'In the beginning was the word..'

For anyone interested, all of these shots were taken with my Fujifilm X-T1. The more I use that camera the more impressed I am with it! 

As for the results of the PhotoTrek... well, rather unbelievably I managed to scoop a win! That's my first WCC 'trophy' so I'm feeling very chuffed indeed!

Thanks Judges! :)