SCPG Maldon Day out  (by Malcolm Bumstead)

On Friday 5th May, the members of The Suffolk Creative Photographic Group, descended on to Essex for one of their many organised Photoshoots.

The day began with a visit to “The Museum of Power” at Langford.

We were warmly welcomed with a short guided tour, and a brief history of the Pumping Station and its importance to the area. Then we were let loose to a room and take pictures. The highlight of this being, allowed down into the basement of the pumps, were as Barry Freeman described it, as “wallowing in grot”. But I saw it as Photographers Paradise.

Then after lunch at the Queens Head Public House. On the river Chelmer in Maldon, it was off to the famous Maldon boat grave yard, again, we were not disappointed, the weather was overcast and slightly on the chilly side, but due to the organisation skills of Barry, and Mathew Clark, we were there at low tide, and found ourselves with plenty of wet mud to wallow in. add this to a break in the clouds, and a spell of sunshine and SCPG were in heaven, with an abundance of shots to be had. then it was time to move on to our last location…. the petrified forest. or if that’s too scary then, let’s just call it, Mundon Oaks, having parked at ST Marys Church, abandoned since 1974, (and some more great photo opportunities) we set off on foot, for the short walk to

Mundon woods. Where we spent the last part of the day Photographing these wonderfully, gnarled, twisted, textured, ugly dead, trees.

before setting of back home to look at our day’s images and reflect on what was a great day had by all.