Story
Hand of Man
Tucked away behind the flanks of Ullswater, the steep-sided valleys of Martindale offer sanctuary for both man and nature. Landlocked and remote, the area retains a semblance of historic wildness. Topped by the cairns of its surrounding fells, the Martindale horseshoe reveals a harmony of landscape, shaped by centuries of weather and work.
This is a hard-won, hand-worked land. The patterns of fields and walls are no accident. They are the language of the shepherd, the story of human touch upon this ancient ground. Jig-sawed parcels of in-bye and intake are still bordered by the dry-stone walls built by generations past. The building of them may belong to yesterday, but their upkeep is an unending task. These walls not only frame the beauty of the place—they sustain it.
On this autumn day, I roamed with an admiring eye and my panoramic camera ready. I don’t always expect a grand scene to unfold—those are rare—but fortune favoured me here. A gap opened in the clouds, and fleeting shafts of sunlight streamed across the valley floor. The golden larches glowed beneath a frowning sky; their brilliance was made all the more vivid by contrast. You could visit Martindale many times and not see it quite like this again.
That’s why I hold this image dear—not just for the picture itself, but for the moment, the memory, and the mark of man’s hand upon this cultural land.
You can also acquire this photograph as a Framed Dibond Print.
I offer Museum-grade artworks up to 2.5 metres wide. Please contact me for info regarding size, framing options and bespoke installations.