[fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" overlay_color="" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" padding_top="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" padding_right=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="no" min_height="" hover_type="none" link=""][fusion_text] After watching a recent episode of Tony Robinson's Coast to Coast that featured the Herdwick sheep of the Lake District, I thought I'd take a look through my library to dig up a few shots. Turns out I only have one image (the one wth the farm in) of a Herdwick, the rest are all Scottish Blackface I think. Herdwick sheep Herdwicks are a hardy breed, it's thought they were brought to the UK in the 11th century by Vikings. Able to withstand harsh winters left out on the fells at heights upwards of 3000 feet, their wool, although coarse and hard to dye, can be bought and used as loft insulation. It was reported one sheep survived buried in snow for three days by eating it's own wool … double hard! Herdwicks are hefted, this is where they're encouraged to stay in one area without the need for fences. The area they roam is passed down through the generations, this is one reason the numbers lost through foot and mouth couldn't be easily replaced as the new sheep would just wonder off if they weren't first hefted to the hills. But what I find most fascinating about Herdwicks is how they've helped create the picturesque Lakes District that's such a tourist attraction today. Their grazing keeps the fells grass short and without the sheep, there wouldn't be as many drystone walls and indeed farms I imagine. All the things I like to include in my Lake District photography. So I feel bad that I've only ever photographed one if it's more or less walked into one of my shots. Something that, for nearly 1000 years, has been enduring all the Cumbrian weather can throw at it deserves more respect. Scottish Blackface sheep Apparently 30% of all sheep in the UK are Scottish Blackface, so that's considerably more than the 60,000 odd Herdwicks. And although as a breed they haven't helped sculpt the Cumbrian fells like the Herdwick, they're still no less impressive to photograph in the landscape. Their popularity is probably the reason most of my shots turned out to be them and not Herdwicks. Sheep not only add to the narrative of a Lake District landscape image but also add scale to the scene. Although I don't go equipped with a sheep dog to herd them into position, I'll definitely be more mindful in the future to include them in my images. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_1" layout="1_1" background_position="left top" background_color="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" spacing="yes" background_image="" background_repeat="no-repeat" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="0px" margin_bottom="0px" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_speed="0.3" animation_direction="left" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" center_content="no" last="no" min_height="" hover_type="none" link=""][fusion_text] After watching a recent episode of Tony Robinson's Coast to Coast that featured the Herdwick sheep of the Lake District, I thought I'd take a look through my library to dig up a few shots. Turns out I only have one image (the one wth the farm in) of a Herdwick, the rest are all Scottish Blackface I think. Herdwick sheep Herdwicks are a hardy breed, it's thought they were brought to the UK in the 11th century by Vikings. Able to withstand harsh winters left out on the fells at heights upwards of 3000 feet, their wool, although coarse and hard to dye, can be bought and used as loft insulation. It was reported one sheep survived buried in snow for three days by eating it's own wool … double hard! Herdwicks are hefted, this is where they're encouraged to stay in one area without the need for fences. The area they roam is passed down through the generations, this is one reason the numbers lost through foot and mouth couldn't be easily replaced as the new sheep would just wonder off if they weren't first hefted to the hills. But what I find most fascinating about Herdwicks is how they've helped create the picturesque Lakes District that's such a tourist attraction today. Their grazing keeps the fells grass short and without the sheep, there wouldn't be as many drystone walls and indeed farms I imagine. All the things I like to include in my Lake District photography. So I feel bad that I've only ever photographed one if it's more or less walked into one of my shots. Something that, for nearly 1000 years, has been enduring all the Cumbrian weather can throw at it deserves more respect. Scottish Blackface sheep Apparently 30% of all sheep in the UK are Scottish Blackface, so that's considerably more than the 60,000 odd Herdwicks. And although as a breed they haven't helped sculpt the Cumbrian fells like the Herdwick, they're still no less impressive to photograph in the landscape. Their popularity is probably the reason most of my shots turned out to be them and not Herdwicks. Sheep not only add to the narrative of a Lake District landscape image but also add scale to the scene. Although I don't go equipped with a sheep dog to herd them into position, I'll definitely be more mindful in the future to include them in my images. [/fusion_text][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container][fusion_builder_container hundred_percent="no" equal_height_columns="no" menu_anchor="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="center center" background_repeat="no-repeat" fade="no" background_parallax="none" enable_mobile="no" parallax_speed="0.3" video_mp4="" video_webm="" video_ogv="" video_url="" video_aspect_ratio="16:9" video_loop="yes" video_mute="yes" video_preview_image="" border_size="" border_color="" border_style="solid" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left=""][fusion_builder_row][fusion_builder_column type="1_2" layout="1_2" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_imageframe image_id="1560" style_type="none" stylecolor="" hover_type="none" bordersize="" bordercolor="" borderradius="" align="none" lightbox="no" gallery_id="" lightbox_image="" alt="" link="" linktarget="_self" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]http://fairbrother.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/lake-district-sheep-02.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_2" layout="1_2" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_imageframe image_id="1561" style_type="none" stylecolor="" hover_type="none" bordersize="" bordercolor="" borderradius="" align="none" lightbox="no" gallery_id="" lightbox_image="" alt="" link="" linktarget="_self" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]http://fairbrother.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/lake-district-sheep-03.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_2" layout="1_2" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_imageframe image_id="1562" style_type="none" stylecolor="" hover_type="none" bordersize="" bordercolor="" borderradius="" align="none" lightbox="no" gallery_id="" lightbox_image="" alt="" link="" linktarget="_self" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]http://fairbrother.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/lake-district-sheep-04.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][fusion_builder_column type="1_2" layout="1_2" spacing="" center_content="no" hover_type="none" link="" min_height="" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" background_color="" background_image="" background_position="left top" background_repeat="no-repeat" border_size="0" border_color="" border_style="solid" border_position="all" padding_top="" padding_right="" padding_bottom="" padding_left="" margin_top="" margin_bottom="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset="" last="no"][fusion_imageframe image_id="1565" style_type="none" stylecolor="" hover_type="none" bordersize="" bordercolor="" borderradius="" align="none" lightbox="no" gallery_id="" lightbox_image="" alt="" link="" linktarget="_self" hide_on_mobile="small-visibility,medium-visibility,large-visibility" class="" id="" animation_type="" animation_direction="left" animation_speed="0.3" animation_offset=""]http://fairbrother.me.uk/wp-content/uploads/2017/03/lake-district-sheep-07.jpg[/fusion_imageframe][/fusion_builder_column][/fusion_builder_row][/fusion_builder_container]

Steven, Author at Steven Fairbrother

DJI Mavic Pro – Bradgate Park drone video

By Steven|2020-04-11T16:25:43+01:00May 28th, 2017|Blog, drone, Landscapes|

UPDATE: April 2020. Since making this video, the use [...]

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The Farne Islands, Northumberland 2017

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:44:09+01:00May 20th, 2017|Blog, Wildlife|

I was lucky, on my recent visit, to be [...]

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Avengers: Infinity War. Location filming in Scotland

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:44:34+01:00May 16th, 2017|Blog, News, Photography|

I narrowly missed the filming of scenes for [...]

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DJI Mavic Pro – 4K Lake District drone movie

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:45:00+01:00May 14th, 2017|Blog, drone, Landscapes, Video|

I've waited a long time to get my hands [...]

6

1000 miles and about as many pictures…

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:45:14+01:00May 11th, 2017|drone, Landscapes, Photography, Video|

The fuel tank is empty and the memory cards [...]

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The hunt for bluebells – Nottinghamshire, Derbyshire … the garden.

By Steven|2017-11-16T20:18:15+00:00May 2nd, 2017|Blog, Macro Photography, Photography, Wildlife|

Bluebells are one of spring's treats, flowering early before [...]

2

Lichfield Cathedral photography

By Steven|2017-11-17T20:06:16+00:00April 29th, 2017|Architecture, Blog, Photography|

I've written before about how cathedral interiors are great [...]

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How many cameras do you carry?

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:45:49+01:00April 3rd, 2017|Blog, Camera Gear, Landscapes, Photography|

When I'm photographing landscapes I nearly always carry a [...]

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Learn by your mistakes – going over old photos

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:46:00+01:00March 28th, 2017|Blog, Photography|

When it comes to photography I'm a great believer [...]

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Lake District sheep

By Steven|2020-04-03T15:47:38+01:00March 27th, 2017|Blog, Landscapes, Photography|

After watching a recent episode of Tony Robinson's Coast [...]

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Steven

About Steven