It’s no secret that I have a love for photographing abbeys – Kirkstall, Bolton and Whitby Abbey are some that I’ve shared so far on here. So I was incredibly excited about visiting Fountains Abbey.

Like Kirkstall Abbey, Fountains Abbey is a Cistercian abbey – in fact Fountains Abbey is the mother ship abbey of Kirkstall, with Kirkstall being the 5th daughter house abbey to come from the estate, something I didn’t actually realise before we visited…

Every time I go around these abbeys I can’t help but think how sad it is that Henry 8th had all the monasteries pulled down in the 1500′s during the Dissolution of the Monasteries. Although it is great that they are all so well preserved now and fascinating tourist attractions, I still can’t help but picture how beautiful they must have looked in their prime and also how striking they could still look now.

Location: Fountains Abbey, England
Camera: Zenit B
Film: Fuji Superia 400

First, I apologise now for the overload of photos, but I got a little carried away taking photos of this beautiful building.

These photos are a mixture of LC-A and Zenit-B photos, you can really see the difference a light meter makes I think and also the effect that over exposing has on the Lomography 400 iso film – again some of the photos have a distinctively orange tinge to them but even sat next to the auto exposed LC-A photos, I still really like them.  You can also really see the texture that the Zenit B gives photos when you compare the two cameras, I still haven’t figured out exactly what does this but I think its the shutter fabric…

Is it weird that this building took my breath away a little? I think this photo above really captures how grand and striking it looked in the sunshine.

Fountains Hall dates from around 1600 and is built partly with stone from the Abbey ruins. Although only a couple of rooms were open to the public, it was definitely worth a look around.

Location: Fountains Hall, England
Cameras: Zenit B & Refurb LC-A
Film: Lomo 400 & Agfa Vista 200

{Can you spot the slightly blurry Nuthatch in the photo above? It was really going for that tree…}

I can’t tell you how happy I am that its finally getting lighter and brighter in the UK and judging by my recent photos, I’m obviously trying to capture as much of that sunshine as I can.

These were taken around Fountains Abbey and I think I enjoyed looking for the little details around the grounds as much as I enjoyed walking around the abbey.

Camera: Zenit B
Film: Agfa Vista 200
Location: Fountains Abbey, England.

I always feel like I’m playing catch up with this project, but I’m delighted to say that I reached 100! Hurray!

86. Walking to work in the snow.
87. My Dad’s 50th! Harry wanted some cake too :)
88. Continuing the celebrations.
89. A pretty house spotted in Norwich.
90. Demon dog!!
91. Hensby beach in the sunshine.
92. Wells beach, in the sunshine
93. Another day, another beach. Hunstanton, in the sunshine :)
94. Thomas’s Granny made this, she’s my hero. Also she’s 90. Amazing!
95. Fountains Abbey.
96. Elephant Armour at the Royal Armouries.
97. I love putting the washing out, and this was the first lot to go out of the year, hurray!
98. Finally seeing more signs of Spring around.
99. These little daffs made a lot of days more bearable, so cute!
100!!! Haha, I made it and its a good un too – Jose James at the Wardrobe in Leeds, he was amazing.

~ You can see more of my 365 photos here and I’m sharing them on Instagram too ~

For those who need a little quiet and beautiful today like I do.

Location: Cromer, Norfolk
Camera: Zenit B
Film: Fuji Superia 400

I wouldn’t say these are any of my best photos ever, in fact I got a little carried away taking almost the same photo over and over again… But for some reason I’ve been really drawn to trees lately and these ones in particular I loved walking through. I have no other excuse apart from the sunshine! Look at the light.. and all the shadows… beautiful.

Also it’s sunny today here too and I even went for a little walk in it, its amazing what a little sunshine can do for your mood.

Location: Sandringham, Norfolk
Camera: Refurb LC-A
Film: Kodak Ektar 100

Today is my Grandad’s 80th birthday! Isn’t that great :)

I’m sad that I can’t be back in Norfolk to share the day with him today, but as he reads this blog (he’s cool like that) I decided to dedicate a post to him.

Happy birthday Grandad!

Thank you for drawing and painting with me, and for encouraging me with those, thank you for bringing fritters home for us after work (Mikela was never asleep waiting haha), thank you for the humbugs you always gave to me when we came to visit you in your shop (they’re still one of my favourites now), thank you for letting us eat your tomatoes in the green house, and for so much fun digging up your potatoes. Thank you for the sand boats on the beach and the walks to go get the paper. And thank you for always smiling when you see me, you have a great smile! Have a wonderful day and hopefully I’ll see you soon. Oh and I hope you love your presents :)

p.s. If you want to leave my Grandad a comment here, I’m sure he’d love reading them! x