A long, dry summer has had an impact on the rivers and on the environment generally, highlighting the importance of water as plants and animals adopt different strategies in order to cope with drought.
It serves as a reminder to us that water is very easily taken for granted and has a complex cycle that can’t be separated from other natural processes. When one element is put under strain, others are affected. The rivers, streams and other waterways conserve their strength, pulling back to reveal previously-hidden secrets, teaching us the value of restraint and prudence; how not to waste what we have.
Even so, the river has offered many wonderful opportunities for photography as people interact with it for recreation and as a source of quietness and coolness. The water has been a magnet, drawing us towards it in a way that has not changed for millennia. Sunlight on ripples, the shadows of trees and shimmering reflections paint a seasonal picture that we all recognise and respond to with pleasure.
