linking common themes and threads across each nation . This digital map will link to other similar projects in play around the world as part of our membership of the World Trails Network , starting with a project engaging with indigenous communities in Costa Rica along El Sendero Paci�ico – a trail from the rainforest to the Paci�ic .
As part of the project , we expect to reach out to writers , journalists , photographers and �ilmmakers in 2024 or earlier to document the event , with some paid-for commissions . We are entering a fundraising phase and have had a solid response from future stakeholders in Ireland , Wales , England and Scotland .
It is early days , but I am sure members of OWPG will participate or even volunteer for the project . Our immediate requirement is for route and itinerary planners , able to schedule up to 27 days of walking and identify beach locations on one of the sections . You might know someone who has an intimate knowledge of their coastline and loves maps and walking , and I would love to hear from them . Likewise , you may know artists with a passion for the coast who might like to run complementary events in their area . We have information packs for interested people and will launch a new website shortly .
More information and links to the �ilm can be found at www . beachofdreams . co . uk , or you can contact us directly at ali @ kinetika . co . uk or martyn @ kinetika . co . uk . This is a beautiful opportunity to get involved at an early stage with a project which will be an incredible artistic event for anyone who loves the coastline .
Inspirational outdoor books
David Taylor on First Light by Joe Cornish
Joe Cornish is arguably the UK ’ s most influential modern landscape photographer . First Light : A Landscape Photographer ’ s Art was his first solo book , published in 2002 by Argentum . His philosophy is made clear in the opening sentence of the introduction : ' First , light . Everything else follows , for light is the language of photography as well as its raw material .' And this he demonstrates again and again with a collection of sumptuous colour images . These were largely shot in the Britain Isles , but there are a handful from Italy , France , Tasmania , New Zealand and the USA too .
My copy of First Light was a ( gratefully !) received Christmas present in 2002 . Twentyodd years on it ’ s now looking decidedly battered , as it ’ s a book I return to over and over again . Partly for the photography obviously , but also for Joe ’ s ( often self-deprecating ) descriptions of how and – perhaps more importantly – why the photos in the book were shot . ( A picture may be worth a thousand words , but a picture and a thousand words is better still .)
First Light are also a reminder that a landscape comes alive in ‘ good ’ light , and that these moments of perfect illumination are often fleeting . ( In my experience occuring just before I ’ ve arrived at a location , or just after I ’ ve left .) ‘ As a poet uses words , so a photographer uses light .’ No technical advances in camera technology will ever change that .
If you have a favourite outdoor book and want to share its virtues with other OWPG members , then do get in touch ( contact details are on page two ).
CICERONE UPDATES
Roly Smith keeps us up-to-date
Cicerone has published a fourth edition of Steve Ashton ’ s 1980 classic Scrambles in Snowdonia (£ 16.95 ) with the author ’ s original book revised and updated by Carl McKeating and Rachel Crolla ; a �ifth edition of Paddy Dillon ’ s Walking in County Durham (£ 14.95 ), and a third edition of Richard Barrett ’ s Walking on Harris and Lewis (£ 16.95 ).
Also recently published by Cicerone are two new books in their compact ( 90-page ) but pricey Short Walks series : Windermere , Ambleside & Grasmere , by former Cicerone bosses Jonathan and Lesley Williams (£ 9.95 pb ) and Surrey Hills by Nike Werstroh and Jacint Mig ( also £ 9.95 pb ).
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