Ice and frost on the canal at Ellesmere

A frosty sunrise on the Llangollen Canal at Ellesmere - and it was every bit as cold as it looks.

Ice and frost on the canal at Ellesmere

There were lots of ducks disturbing the reflections, so I had to bide my time and wait for them to move on.

Sometimes, just as the ripples had calmed down, another group of ducks would swim into view and I had to start all over again, so it took a while to get this shot.

If you look carefully, you can see the offenders in the distance!

Shortly afterwards, I got this shot of golden light on the frozen surface of the canal.

A pair of gulls hovered above the ice, seemingly unsure of what to make of it, and as I watched they repeatedly flew off before returning for yet another look.

I waited patiently for a stove to be lit on one of the narrowboats - and eventually a plume of smoke emerged from a chimney and I got the shot I was looking for.

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2023
A look back at our best images from 2023 Striking colours on Llangollen Canal A pink and blue sunrise over the Wrekin Beautiful autumn colours in the Dingle Magical morning on top of Caer Caradoc Autumn shades along the Llangollen Canal Morning mist and sunshine over Ludlow Harvest Moon lights up the Wrekin mast Mystical sunrise in the lovely Onny Valley Walking in the steps of A E Housman New page in the story of A Shropshire Lad Fresh chapter opens for Housman classic In the footsteps of the past on Adstone Hill Ethereal morning in the misty Stretton Hills New chapter begins for A Shropshire Lad New perspective from the Newport Canal A golden evening in the Redlake Valley Stiperstones pathway into the unknown Sea of white beneath Titterstone Clee Magical sunrise in the Stretton Hills Glorious evening sunshine on Linley Hill Dramatic light as sun comes up over Wrekin Historic site set amid a sea of buttercups Blue heaven in the Shropshire sunshine Green and gold in the Shropshire Hills Steaming through time across Shropshire Field of gold at Moreton Corbet Castle Ancient witness across the ages Dawn breaks over beautiful Ludlow Drift of gold at Acton Burnell Castle Brand new chapter for A Shropshire Lad Blossom and snow at Old St Chad's Wind and wild ponies on Brown Clee Carpet of white at Acton Scott church Feeding time in the Corvedale sunshine Flight of fancy in the sky over Shropshire Winter wonderland in the Redlake Valley A walk on the wild side in the Stretton Hills
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2021
A look back at our best images from 2021 Sea of white as sun rises over Bridgnorth My home from home in the Clun Valley Autumn reflections in the Llangollen Canal Flash of colour over Titterstone Clee Harvest time in the shadow of the Wrekin Sunshine and rain at Stokesay Castle Magical view as sun rises over Shropshire Landscape that inspired novelist Mary Webb A step back in time along Offa's Dyke Village that may have inspired Conan Doyle Sunrise and silence in the Shropshire Hills A bird's-eye view of Shropshire Spectacular sunrise over Ludlow Patchwork of green beneath Moyledd Hill Evening sunlight on Titterstone Clee Hailstorms, wind and rain on Caer Caradoc Spectacular blossom across Shropshire Light and shadows on the Stiperstones A frosty morning on Whitcliffe Common Spring blossoms into life in beautiful Clun A view of Bridgnorth with a difference Brief encounter on Hopesay Common Sunshine and snow on Caer Caradoc Dark shadow of a Civil War massacre Pink glow of moonrise over the Wrekin
2020
Our favourite images in a year of challenges Frost and mist over dreamy Bridgnorth Misty dawn in the Redlake Valley Legacy of industry on Brown Clee Country idyll of the postman poet A step back in time at Wenlock Priory Golden light on Tolkien's Middle Earth A magical sunrise on Caer Caradoc Judges commend Ironbridge image Tranquil evening in the Clun Valley Peace and solitude at Brook Vessons Sunrise and shadows at Clun Castle A landscape in green and gold Misty dawn over the ruins of Ludlow Castle A celebration of beautiful Shropshire Triumph of the Clun Green Man Sea of gold at Smethcote church Sun and snow on the Clee Hills Spring is just around the corner Watery scene at Attingham Park New Shropshire book on the way A visit to 'Shropshire's Pompeii' Early morning sunshine on Linley Hill beeches Winter sun on the Hollies Nature Reserve Mist over Shropshire Reflections on the past Sunrise from Caradoc
2019
End of an era at Ironbridge Sunset picture in national magazine

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