A Day of Editing and Exploring: Capturing Kirk Merrington and Leasingthorne Colliery

Today started off with some less-than-ideal weather, so I spent most of the morning indoors, diving into the editing process. We’ve captured some truly stunning footage and photos over the past week, and it felt great to start bringing those images to life. The photos are turning out beautifully, and I can’t wait to share them with you all.

An Afternoon Weather Window

By the afternoon, the weather began to clear up a bit. It was still windy, but with the sun shining, I decided to take advantage of the brighter skies. We headed out with the camera to revisit a couple of locations we’ve previously captured with the drone. There’s something special about seeing a place from both the air and the ground—each perspective offers its own unique beauty.

St John’s Church, Kirk Merrington

Our first stop was St John’s Church in Kirk Merrington. This church is a real gem, standing proudly on a hilltop with stunning views of the surrounding countryside. The church itself dates back to the 12th century and is known for its beautiful Norman architecture. The stonework and the church’s commanding presence make it a fantastic subject for photography.

We’ve captured some impressive drone footage of St John’s before, but today was all about getting those close-up, ground-level shots that really highlight the church’s intricate details and the way it sits in its landscape.

Leasingthorne Colliery Tower and Reservoir

Next, we made our way to the nearby Leasingthorne Colliery Tower and Reservoir. This location has a rich industrial history, being part of the old coal mining operations in the area. The tower, which stands tall and striking, is a significant remnant of that era. The reservoir, located directly beneath the tower, is now dry but still plays an important role in telling the story of the site’s industrial past.

We’ve previously flown the drone here, capturing the tower from above, with the reservoir's empty basin adding a unique and somewhat eerie contrast. Today, I was able to capture some great shots from the ground, focusing on the impressive structure of the tower and the stark, dry reservoir beneath it. The juxtaposition of the solid tower with the empty reservoir creates a compelling narrative of the area's history.

Looking Ahead: More Edits and Exciting Locations

With so much incredible footage and so many photos to go through, the next few days are going to be all about editing and preparing to share these moments with you. Despite the unpredictable weather, it’s been a productive day, and I’m excited to see how the final images turn out.

As always, thanks for following along on our photographic adventures. Whether we’re flying high with the drone or capturing the details on the ground, there’s always something new and beautiful to discover.

Stay tuned for the photos from today’s shoot, and more updates coming soon!