Sheep etc.

[Ed Sutton]

My resolution for 2023 didn't last long. When I have a free afternoon don't go on random sheep hunts hoping to find something worth photographing.

The sun was shining and the forecast for the rest of the week was wet so...

It proved to be a perfect example of why I made the resolution. However it gave me a chance to take a look at a handling pen of one of the farmers I know. As it turned out it was being used as a 'hospital' for sheep with bad feet by the looks of things. I don't think the light was the best for some shots, but at least I'd had a look.

The building across the road isn't the current farmhouse, but was part of the original estate.



The low back-lighting didn't make it easy to photograph this 'shed'. I'm guessing from the stonework it was originally built as something more salubrious.





Lame Lonks. I was tickled by the way the one on the left was peering round the pen at me.



This weighing crate looks like it's seen better days.



A lovely winter day to be out and about. I'm sure landscape photographers would have made more of it. I settled for this sheep feeder.



Oh well. I have some sheep pics to start the new year with.

 

[Ed Sutton]

I've not been out to the moss for a while. I thought I'd go out and 'test' a lens I'm not happy with. Conditions were far from ideal as the sun didn't stop out long. I did find some sheep, grazing one of the turnip fields. The photos are unremarkable. They were shot at stupidly high ISO values though - 12,800 and 22,800! They look 'good enough' for me at small sizes and I'm guessing they'd print just fine in a zine.





Still plenty of turnip left, but sheep are sheep...

 

[Ed Sutton]

Another dismal start to the day. Hardly light until 9.30 and then it rained. I decided to give the sheep dog trial a miss. Around eleven thirty the sun broke through and I changed my mind even though it would take me an hour to get there and it would likely be all over by two. If the sun stayed out I might be able to find some sheep on my way home.

This wasn't a venue I'd been to before and I was glad to see the signs confirm the turning I thought I'd need to take.





I wish I'd been before because it is probably the best trial field for photographing the penning action I've been to. The pen opens away from the spectators, is close enough to photograph without a long telephoto, and is front lit. Getting there late I only saw a handful of runs and I think only three managed to pen. Two more trials there this month mean I'm hoping the weather will be kind.





I should have zoomed in for this one but ended up cropping more than I like to. I'm not practiced at framing action so I do crop these kind of shots, but not usually this much.





While waiting for the results the 'old timers' were reminiscing. I wish I'd taken my audio recorder, some of the tales were hilarious!



I think this jacket has seen better days...



I was on my way before two thirty.

Spoiler: Did I spot any sheep?

 

[Ed Sutton]

My journey home followed the 'scenic' route which takes me past the sheep pen I photographed last Monday. As seen in the spoiler above the road was blocked there by a pick-up and trailer! Steven, his daughter and son, were shifting sheep and treating the ones with the foot problems. I had no option but to stop, so I jumped out with my camera. After the 'Happy New Years' Steven invited me in to the pen and I parked up out of the way. It was gone half-three, the clouds were back and the sun below the hill anyway. Light was limited. Thank goodness for digital!

Not having expected the opportunity, and never having photographed sheep foot-care before I didn't get any fantastic pictures. It was good to catch up and learn a bit more about sheep. The ones being treated are home-bred Lonk crosses. The treatment in the foot-bath is more environmentally friendly than the formalin that used to be used. Sian was saying that she finds treating lame sheep one of the most rewarding jobs as within a week you see the result - happy, bouncing sheep.

The sheep are left to stand in the foot-bath for a minute or so.



The magic ingredient being added.



The infamous 'blue spray' being applied.







The trailer back for another load.





With a bit of luck there might be more of this sort of stuff as the year progresses. My fingers and toes are crossed.

 

[Boots]

My fingers and toes are crossed.

You want to be careful, they might think you need to go in the bath too!

A nice couple of sets - I hope you get some good light soon.

 

[Ed Sutton]

You want to be careful, they might think you need to go in the bath too!

I'd settle for half reasonable light and a full day without rain!

 

[superpippo]

Good illustrations of how tough a life it is.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Good illustrations of how tough a life it is.

Thanks. I guess it is tough to non-farming folk. To them it's just what they do. A way of life.

 

[Ed Sutton]

The local sheep on the turnips will soon be on to a fresh bite.

 

[Ed Sutton]

If only I'd remembered how poor the trial field is for getting a decent viewpoint I would have stayed home today. It passed a few hours though and I did get a pic of a stick I've photographed before in much better light.



The sign is invaluable for anyone who hasn't been before, if you miss the turn it's a long way back round the other side of the dual carriageway.



The track was firmer than it looks, but it's windswept up there.



The pen is on a rise, opens opposite where you can stand, and is just a bit too far for a medium telephoto.



The best opportunities are to be had when the sheep are being taken off.



Ready to go back for the second half.





I probably spent as much time trying to photograph wind turbines, stone walls and other stuff as I did the trial. I'll be going to another one in a fortnight, back at last week's venue, then I think I really will knock sheep dog trials on the head. I've tried putting a zine together from my trial photos and couldn't make anything I was happy with. There are some decent pictures but they don't seem to make a coherent whole. Maybe if I leave it a while without going to a trial I might see the photos with fresher eyes and be struck by inspiration!

 

[Ed Sutton]

I needed to get out side after a rubbish week workwise. It didn't matter if I saw no sheep I just needed some fresh air and space. It's hard to beat the marsh on a clear, still, winter afternoon. The distant fells almost clear of snow but still ice on the gutters of the marsh. And the drinking trough I have photographed many times before.



I tried to make a picture of the path the sheep have worn to it but didn't succeed.



I wondered if a big tide had pushed the sheep up on the top of the far bank, but high tide was long passed.





Not startling pics, but my mood is improved.

Bonus baler twine photo!

 

[superpippo]

I needed to get out side after a rubbish week workwise. It didn't matter if I saw no sheep I just needed some fresh air and space. It's hard to beat the marsh on a clear, still, winter afternoon. The distant fells almost clear of snow but still ice on the gutters of the marsh. And the drinking trough I have photographed many times before.

View attachment 379124

I tried to make a picture of the path the sheep have worn to it but didn't succeed.

View attachment 379123

I wondered if a big tide had pushed the sheep up on the top of the far bank, but high tide was long passed.

View attachment 379122

View attachment 379121

Not startling pics, but my mood is improved.

Bonus baler twine photo!

View attachment 379126

Good shots, almost springlike.
We were in Southport last week and entered via the marine drive. I have never seen so much water the 'land' side of the drive before.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Good shots, almost springlike.
We were in Southport last week and entered via the marine drive. I have never seen so much water the 'land' side of the drive before.

Thanks. Saw my first pussy willows of the year. There'll be snowdrops soon..

The inner marsh at Marshside is usually flooded in winter, but it has looked unusually full of late. Was iced over in parts this morning when I drove past. That wasn't very spring-like!

 

[4wd]

This was here yesterday - but it has mostly gone through today
Sheep in the snow by Colin Grice, on Flickr

 

[Boots]

Really like the two shots with the meandering streams!

 

[Ed Sutton]

I'd been wondering why the electric fencing hadn't been taken up in the local field I walk through after the sheep were moved. Today I found out the reason, and had it confirmed that some of the posts had been half inched. As I appraoched teh field I saw a figure and a small dog walking along the field edge, then I noticed a quad bike. They were collecting the posts and spooling up the wire. It seems that is spooled up wet the wire rusts, so they'd been waiting for a dry spell. In the mean time maybe thirty posts had disappeared. At around a fiver each they were fuming, as you can imagine.

There's a mechanism on the spooler that is driven by the rear tyre to wind the wire on the reels as the quad goes forwards, the intermediate posts go in the contraption at the front, the straining posts below.



Among other info gleaned is that my guess as to whose sheep they are was confirmed. I learned that they'll be lambing 600 ewes from late next month and that they are putting up a new shed at the end of the lane which the road I live on runs off. They've done a bit of work there already and sometime the old tin shed will no doubt be going.



Meanwhile in the turnip field there's a lack of turnips. And sheep..



Two lick buckets are much better than two blue ones.

 

[Ed Sutton]

A visit to a hazy mere area found some sheep on a patch of turnips. Looking along the roadside I think the root veg must have been delivered and spread on the field for the sheep.









This lot came charging down the field, formed a huddle, then started getting frisky.

 

[nog]

Just looked at last few pages and some interesting photos and very interesting back story

 

[Ed Sutton]

Just looked at last few pages and some interesting photos and very interesting back story

Thanks Keith.

 

[Boots]

You just need some light!

 

[Ed Sutton]

You just need some light!

Or heavier mist.

 

[Boots]

Or heavier mist.

Ah, playing the percentages game!

 

[Ed Sutton]

Bit of an uninspired morning at a sale today. Probably because there were only a handful of Lonks there and I felt like I was just collecting a load of pictures with no purpose. I'll sort through my huge pile of rubbish later. In the meantime here's a Lonk I found on my way home through a misty Forest of Bowland.

 

[Ed Sutton]

As predicted, I have little that says anything much from my 400 frames. One or two 'record' shots of flock banners and sticks that are worth keeping for interest. Far too many that would have been OK had they been in focus where they needed to be. These are the best of the rest.







Keep eye contact with the judge.



Or amuse your sheep.



Get the rosettes on show for the photo session.



Final scrub before entering the sale ring.



I've said before I don't like using ultrawide angle lenses, but in tight situations they are useful for getting everything in the frame. With care/luck obvious distortion at the edges of the frame can be avoided.



As can be seen. Nothing much of note. A nice day out though.

 

[Boots]

I like that set! My favourite (from a strong group) is the Final Scrub.

 

[Ed Sutton]

I like that set! My favourite (from a strong group) is the Final Scrub.

Thanks Paul. I thought they were a pretty average lot.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Not sure it was better light but there was more of it - and there were geese.

1


2


3


4


5



And carrots. Which have nothing to do with the sheep as far as I know.

6

 

[Ed Sutton]

I went out just to try something out today so didn't expect to get anything much. And I didn't get anything much!

Before and after. A different take on an earlier picture. Better or just different?



Random chillin' sheep.



Gathering at the lick buckets. As always there's one looking for greener grass on the other side of the gate.

 

[Ed Sutton]

A first visit to Bentham for a sheep show and sale (in-lamb ewes) today.There are far too many frames to sort through (I inadvertently set the camera to a silly burst rate) so it'll be a while before I have a selection to post. Not knowing the venue other than for the Bentham Show I didn't get a prime position for the sale, so there won't be many shots of that.

In the mean time here's an 'off-the-wall' (in more than one sense) photo of a Dalesbred. The wall reminded me of a Rothko painting.

 

[Boots]

Rothko sheep - a new project for you?

 

[Ed Sutton]

Rothko sheep - a new project for you?

It might prove tricky finding enough subjects!

What about this version?

 

[Boots]

I prefer the first one, more quirky.

 

[Ed Sutton]

As it turns out I think I got one or two decent shots. I always feel torn between making 'straight' documentary pictures that are about showing what was going on and 'art' pictures that are less obvious. Ideally I'd find a happy balance of both in each frame but it ain't that easy!

Either way one picture doesn't always suffice. Maybe a series does?



I was hoping to get some decent pictures of Dalesbreds, and maybe some of the scanning. But by the time I'd got sorted out and found where the scanning was taking place I missed most of that and didn't get any shots that worked to my satisfaction. lots that were out of focus where they should have been in focus.





The Dalesbreds were judged in the sale ring.









Continued...

 

[Boots]

A good set, Dave. I especially like the hands triptych and the first and third judging shots - they might even make a set together.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Swaledales and Herdwicks get most attention for sheep pestering photographers. I don't know why that is. Maybe they are better known or more appealing. I fell into that trap when I started looking at sheep at shows but these days I look elsewhere. However, once the Dalesbreds had been judged it was time for the Herdwicks so...

The lady in blue is Jean Wilson, AKA 'The Queen of the Herdwicks'.



I liked the arrangement of hands.



I didn't spend much time with the Swales.



After the shows it was time for the winners to be photographed. This is something else I steer clear of unless asked. I was surplus to requirements today!



Time for the sales to commence. A last few tweaks before they go on stage.



And some sheep talk.





As I said earlier, I didn't get a good ringside spot. Only briefly for the Blue Faced Leicester sale. not much came of it.



I was poorly placed to photograph the auctioneer too. headset microphones make their job easier, but can make it hard to get decent photos of them in action.



There are always plenty of 'characters' about but photographing them seems like pointless random street photography. I don't do much of it.



That's it. Thanks for looking.

 

[Boots]

Another good set. That Blue Faced Leicester; an acquired taste perhaps.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Another good set. That Blue Faced Leicester; an acquired taste perhaps.

I quite like them as subjects, but sheep people can be disparaging about them. Some say they look like camels, and they have a reputation for dropping dead. Then there are their diehard fans who won't have a bad word said against them! They do seem to be a more friendly, inquisitive breed. Most sheep at shows move to the back of their pen when a stranger approaces, but BFLs will often approach you for a sniff and even a scratch.

 

[Ed Sutton]

I think I have posted photos of this barn before, but can't find them. Anyway, it continues to fall down.

2012


2018


2019



2020


2023



The floor is covered with decades of dried sheep dung.

 

[Ed Sutton]

Back at a sale today, in-lamb Lonks, Gritstones and other pure-bred sheep plus commercials. I didn't stick around after the pure-bred sales. Also shows for three breeds. The shows are always held in the gloomiest shed, and the way they lined up today made it even worse. Hence my results are pretty dire. That there weren't many sheep entered also cut down on chances of capturing any decent action as it were. Prime example of what I was up against here.











As I mentioned in my Meanygate thread I had a new-to-me ultrawide zoom to play with try out. It meant I could get pretty much all the sale ring in a single frame.





There's still the inevitable 'stretching of anything that's close to the lens at the edge of the frame, and the temptation (as with all zooms) to mainly use the extremes available.





But straight lines stay straighter than with my previous ultrawide. Hardly any distortion correction was required in Lightroom for this one.



There were some other photo-opportunities today. Which will be in the following post.

 

[Ed Sutton]

All sheep were scanned to check that they were in-lamb and to find out how many lambs they were carrying. The person doing the scanning sits in the darkened crate (I guess so it's easier to see the screen on the scanner) and puts their arm through the side to access the ewe's belly with the probe.







Not something that is easy to photograph, although scanning crates do vary as they are almost all one-offs made by fabricators or cobbled together by the scanner!

I've not seen many Torwen Welsh Badger Face sheep, the Torddu seems more common. They were particularly timid so I struggled to get anything, let alone a decent picture.



The Dorset Horn and her lambs were more cooperative. Cute, or what?





I tried really hard to get the stick and a Lonk reasonably sharp when I saw the potential for a picture. Ah well, half the fun is in the chase!





Earlier I got photobombed.



Another slightly frustrating day really. I was cheered up by someone coming up and thanking me for the photos I post on facebook. Little things like that do a lot to encourage me to keep at this madness!