One of the funniest things I saw at the Faerieworlds festival last year was when I was chatting with Joe and a beautiful big dragonfly flew into his booth. Never have I seen so many folk clamber over each other with their cameras so eager to capture this magical creature’s image – this was probably that particular insect’s fifteen minutes of fame and he’s been boasting about it ever since!  It was a perfect example though, of how a photographer’s mind works, always looking for those moments and being there with camera poised ready. Joseph Corsentino is a really lovely chap and his Time of the Faeries is now! He presents his urban faerie within contemporary settings, modern fae in elemental places, silhouettes that play with light and his appeal is great. The popularity of Joe’s work is becoming legendary bringing with it warnings about how our planet is suffering, thus delivering a vital message in a new and appealing way using his amazing photography – magical beings in environments we can relate to, but how do they fit in... This is a darker journey with creatures of the night, and angels as well as faeries - you can see more on J. Corsentino’s web site  www.timeofthefaeries.com   

(photos here) I have learnt much these past seven years from living near cows! What wonderful animals they are, such a part of the British landscape and so often taken for granted. Although I am a vegetarian, I still eat dairy products and now I appreciate more about this astonishing cycle of: grass goes in, milk comes out!! How cool is that. These gentle creatures are near to my thoughts at this time of year, as they will soon have to be taken in for the winter away from their fields and it saddens me so much. Years ago this land around here in the Cotswolds, was covered in many more trees and the cows would have managed by sheltering under these. Nowadays there are less copses and the grass seems to need to ‘rest’. I will really miss looking out of the window and seeing them slowly munching or lying down to contemplate life. They peer over the hedge with their beautiful big eyes looking at us, as if we’re mad to be rushing about. There’s a lovely rhythm to the summer days as you can set your watch by the times they’re called in for milking, gradually ambling down the lane, udders full, with all the time in the world to snatch a quick bite of Cow parsley from the hedgerow! If that’s the time you need to scoot off somewhere quickly, then they hold all the cards as you can only sit and wait while they set the pace. So I will wave to and greet them in the farmyard as they plaintively moo and wish, like them, for the first breath of Spring when they will once again be allowed back out to pasture – I didn’t think cows could leap about with joy, but I assure you that on those days they really do and it is the most wonderful site to see.  

Magical Blessings, Be

“You are made of stars.” – Serbian proverb