Cross Hills to Colne, An Early Morning Drive Through a Rural Setting.

I've just uploaded a couple of new dashcam videos to my YouTube channel, both featuring a trip along the A6028. This journey takes us from the level crossing at Cross Hills, West Yorkshire, all the way to the outskirts of Colne, Lancashire.

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Video 1: A Real-Time Roll Through Cross Hills

The first video is a short, real-time clip that focuses on the drive through Cross Hills village. It's a quick glimpse of the immediate area around the level crossing, giving you a feel for the local surroundings as we start our adventure.

Video 2: Time-Lapse Dawn Drive to Colne

The second video is where the real magic happens. This is a 4x speed time-lapse of the entire journey from the level crossing right through to Colne. You'll see us pass through charming spots like Glusburn, Cowling, and Laneshawbridge. What makes this particular drive interesting is the lighting: we started in near darkness as dawn was just breaking behind the wagon. So, while the video begins with a distinctly nocturnal feel, the early morning light gradually floods the landscape by the time we reach our destination.

It's a fantastic way to see the transition from night to day and experience the changing scenery of this cross-county route. Let me know what you think of the videos in the comments once you've had a chance to watch them

They were filmed on my dashcam on Friday 29th November 2019.

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Experience the Magic of Venice: A New Video Journey!

Get ready to be transported to the enchanting canals and historic piazzas of Italy's most unique city! I'm thrilled to announce my latest YouTube upload: "A Trip to Venice."

This captivating video, approximately 2.5 minutes long, is a curated collection of scenes I captured during my few days exploring Venice at the end of October and beginning of November 2018. From the moment you hit play, you'll glide along the iconic Grand Canal on a mesmerizing boat trip, witnessing the city's grandeur from its watery arteries.

The video also takes you through the bustling and magnificent St. Mark's area, showcasing its architectural wonders and vibrant atmosphere. Beyond the famous landmarks, you'll discover various other short, intimate clips highlighting Venice's charming smaller canals, intricate bridges, and the timeless beauty of its ancient buildings.

Venice, with its enchanting canals and historic architecture, holds an undeniable allure. But in October-November 2018, during my visit, the city offered a stark, firsthand glimpse into its unique challenges. I arrived to find Venice battling what hotel staff informed me was its worst flooding since 1968. My 1-minute, 50-second video, "St Marks Square Flooding," captures various scenes filmed around the iconic square on random days and times during my stay, showcasing the pervasive nature of the acqua alta.

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Waist-High Waters and Resilient Spirits

The moment I stepped off the vaporetto, the reality of the situation hit me – literally. I had to wade through waist-high water across St. Mark's Square just to reach my hotel. It was an immediate and unforgettable introduction to Venice's watery embrace. Every single day of my trip, the area was flooded to some degree, a constant reminder of the city's delicate balance with the sea.

What struck me most, beyond the sheer volume of water, was the incredible resilience of the Venetian people. They didn't lament or complain; they simply accepted the flooding as part of their everyday life. I saw locals navigating the submerged streets with a calm pragmatism, adapting their routines to the ever-present water. Their spirit was truly fantastic, a testament to generations of living in harmony with – and at the mercy of – the tides.

A Lingering Concern for Venice's Future

Recent news reports have sadly indicated that Venice has experienced even worse flooding since my 2018 visit. My heart goes out to the residents, and I feel desperately sad for the continuous challenges they face. It highlights the urgent need for long-promised flood defences, such as the MOSE project, to finally be completed and become fully effective. One can only hope that these crucial measures will soon provide the protection Venice so desperately needs, allowing its beauty and unique way of life to thrive for generations to come.

My video serves as a small, personal document of a truly impactful experience, a visual diary of a city learning to live with its extraordinary watery landscape.

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A Snowy Easter Surprise: Capturing Calderdale's Wintery Wharfs

Remember that unexpected blanket of snow that transformed Easter Monday 2018? Here in Calderdale, it was a truly magical, if somewhat surprising, sight. I managed to capture a few glimpses of this fleeting winter wonderland in a series of short videos, and I wanted to share them with you.

These videos, each running between 1 minute 26 seconds and 1 minute 42 seconds, offer a serene look at the Sowerby Bridge Wharf area. It's a place where the historic Rochdale Canal and the Calder & Hebble Navigation meet, creating a picturesque scene that took on an entirely different character under a delicate layer of snow.

What makes these videos special is the atmosphere. The gentle snowfall, combined with the tranquil waterways, creates a sense of peaceful isolation. To enhance that mood, I've paired the visuals with the beautiful background music "Christmas Homecoming" by Aaron Kenny. While it might seem odd to associate Christmas with Easter, the music's warm, nostalgic tones perfectly complement the snowy landscape, evoking a sense of cosey tranquillity.

What you'll see:

• The Rochdale Canal: Witness the canal's still waters reflecting the soft snowfall, creating a mirror-like effect.
• The Calder & Hebble Navigation: Observe the gentle flow of this historic waterway, its banks dusted with white.
• Sowerby Bridge Wharf: See this charming area transformed into a winter scene, highlighting the beauty of its architecture and natural surroundings.

The contrast between the historic industrial setting and the delicate snowfall is truly captivating. It's a reminder of how quickly the landscape can change, and how even a brief snowfall can transform a familiar place into something extraordinary.

These videos are a small snapshot of a unique moment in time. They're a reminder of that unexpected Easter Monday, when winter briefly returned to Calderdale, creating a scene of quiet beauty.

I hope you enjoy these short glimpses of a snowy Sowerby Bridge.

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All the images and video remain the copyright of Colin Green.

Capturing the Tamar: A Dashcam Perspective & the Story Behind the Scenes

For me, photography and videography are two sides of the same coin, each extending and enriching the other. My YouTube videos, in a way, are small visual essays, little extensions of my photographic eye. Recently, I had the opportunity to capture something I've long desired to photograph: the iconic Tamar Bridges. While a full-fledged photoshoot is still on my to-do list, a recent drive provided a unique perspective, captured through my trusty dashcam.

The resulting video documents my journey across the Tamar Road Bridge, a vital artery connecting Cornwall and Devon. This bridge, a testament to engineering prowess, spans the majestic River Tamar. Its history is as fascinating as its structure. Opened in April 1962, it stands proudly alongside the equally impressive Royal Albert Bridge, a railway masterpiece. Interestingly, the Tamar Road Bridge operates as a partial toll bridge, with only eastbound traffic paying the fee.

However, the bridge's story isn't without its challenges. From 1999 to 2001, it underwent substantial refurbishment after it was discovered to be under-strength, a consequence of evolving European regulations for goods vehicle requirements. This project was a significant undertaking, ensuring the bridge's continued safety and functionality for years to come.

My dashcam footage continues beyond the bridge, leading me into the Saltash Tunnel in Cornwall. This 410-meter tunnel, built to endure for a century, carries the busy A38. Opened in 1988, it quickly faced unforeseen challenges. Within months, water seepage from the surrounding hills began to penetrate the tunnel lining, necessitating a major refurbishment project. This experience highlights the unpredictable nature of infrastructure projects and the importance of adapting to unforeseen circumstances.

While the dashcam video offers a raw, unfiltered view of these engineering marvels, it has only fuelled my desire to capture them through the lens of my camera. The bridges, with their distinct characters and historical significance, offer a wealth of photographic opportunities.

This experience underscores the power of capturing moments, even in unexpected ways. Whether through photography or videography, the ability to document and share these experiences provides a unique perspective on the world around us.

This was filmed on the 27th March 2018. The background music featured is Cavern by Hovatoff.

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Timanfaya Water Geyser.

In July 2013, I had the extraordinary opportunity to explore the otherworldly landscape of Timanfaya National Park on Lanzarote. This park, a testament to the raw power of volcanic forces, is a place where the earth itself seems to breathe. During my tour, I captured numerous photographs, previously shared, that attempt to convey the stark beauty of this volcanic terrain. However, it was the geyser demonstration near the restaurant area that truly brought the park's geothermal activity to life.

Witnessing this demonstration was a visceral experience. Park staff poured water into a seemingly innocuous hole in the earth, a conduit leading approximately 13 meters down into the island's fiery depths. Seconds later, the water returned with explosive force, erupting as a powerful geyser of steam and superheated water. This display, while seemingly simple, is a potent reminder of the volcanic heat that simmers just beneath the surface of Lanzarote. It's a direct connection to the volcanic eruptions that dramatically reshaped the island in the 18th century.

The demonstration highlights the residual heat from those historic eruptions, a heat that continues to manifest in remarkable ways. The Islote de Hilario, where this demonstration takes place, is a key location within the park, providing visitors with a safe way to witness these geothermal phenomena. The fact that the restaurant there uses this geothermal heat to cook food adds another layer of intrigue, showing how the islanders have learned to live with, and even utilize, this powerful natural force. I preserved this moment by capturing a video, which I've shared on my YouTube channel, allowing others to experience the dramatic geyser eruption first hand

Thanks for looking, please take a moment to share and follow me on social media.

The video remains the copyright of Colin Green.

Journey Through Cumbria and Scotland: A Dashcam Time-Lapse

Experience the beauty of one of the UK's most scenic motorway stretches in this captivating time-lapse video! Filmed from my dashcam, this journey takes you on a 75-mile trip through stunning landscapes, from the edge of the Lake District to the Scottish border.

Our adventure begins near Burton in Kendal Services, just inside Cumbria, as we cross over from Lancashire. From there, we travel north on the motorway, offering glimpses of rolling hills and majestic mountains, even under less-than-ideal weather conditions. Keep an eye out for the dramatic climb to Shap Summit and the exhilarating descent that follows! The anticipation builds as we approach and cross the Scottish border, marking a transition into new territory.

This time-lapse condenses approximately 1 hour and 20 minutes of driving into a fast-paced 8-minute journey. The original footage was captured on Monday, October 16, 2017, using a Vivitar DVR 783HD waterproof action cam.

These dash cam and scenic view videos are a new venture for me, a way to explore different aspects of visual storytelling beyond still photography. I hope you find them interesting. In this video, the camera is fixed facing north, but future uploads will feature angled shots showcasing more of the surrounding scenery.

Trains at Walsden and the Summit Tunnel.

A glorious Sunday afternoon beckoned, and with a few free hours, the Calder Valley called. A quick hop on the train whisked me to Walsden, my starting point for a leisurely stroll back along the historic Rochdale Canal to Todmorden. Camera in hand, I was eager to capture the picturesque scenery. My first stop: the eastern portal of the legendary Summit Tunnel, a feat of Victorian engineering. Intrigued by the prospect, I decided to try and film a train's passage through this iconic structure. Fortune smiled upon me; it wasn't long before an eastbound train thundered past, offering a fleeting glimpse into the tunnel's depths.

Sadly I was not aware of the distraction of the weeds in front of the camera at the time but I don't think they remove much of the feel of the video.

A testament to Victorian ingenuity, the Summit Tunnel stands as one of England's oldest railway tunnels. Completed between 1837 and 1841, this engineering marvel once claimed the title of the world's longest tunnel, stretching an impressive 1.6 miles. However, its history is not without incident. In 1984, a devastating fire ripped through the tunnel when a petrol train derailed and burst into flames, forcing an eight-month closure and highlighting the inherent dangers of such subterranean passages.

 

I also, before walking up, took a short time to film trains in operation at Walsden station, including a westbound train running straight through. An eastbound train was filmed from the iron bridge (the only remaining part of the original station closed in 1961 with the current station reopening in 1990), and another westbound train slowing on approach to platform 1 was filmed from platform 2 as it arrived.

The following video was filmed on November 14, 2014, using my handheld tablet. I was just beginning to take an interest in photography and filmed a short clip of a pacer train passing on its way into the mouth of the Summit Tunnel.

Narrowboats, Waterfalls and Leaky Lock Gates at Walsden, West Yorkshire

Narrowboats gently bob, their painted hulls reflecting the sky. Waterfalls cascade down mossy rocks, a refreshing counterpoint to the still canal. And then there are the lock gates – leaky, perhaps, but adding a certain charm to the scene. Walsden, West Yorkshire, offers a delightful blend of industrial heritage and natural beauty, perfect for a peaceful canal-side stroll.

The first video was taken from bridge number 32 Copperas Bridge which carries the A6033 Rochdale Road across the canal. It shows a narrowboat sailing along the canal westward away from Gauxholme Railway Bridge.

The second short clip was taken showing a waterfall flowing nearby at the end of Farnboro Street alongside the Rochdale Canal. I just kind of found it relaxing watching the water cascading over the edge.

And the 3rd video shows lock 31 on the Rochdale Canal also known as Lightbank Lock. I  just found something very relaxing about flow of water through the side and bottom of the gate.