We have been blessed in Northamptonshire this week with a number of stunning autumn days.  Heavy frosts and clear skies have dominated proceedings, and it’s been a joy to get out with the camera and photograph some of it.  On Wednesday morning I headed down by the River Nene at Islip, opposite Thrapston.  

Nine Arch Bridge, River Nene, Thrapston

A bridge has stood on the site of the current ‘Nine Arches’ (as it is more commonly known locally) as far back at medieval times.  It is believed to have then been rebuilt in 1795 and would have extended across the entire Islip – Thrapston floodplain, spanning a full 24 arches.  It was reduced to its current nine arch-span in the 1840s, following the arrival of the railways when an embankment was cut.  

Today, in addition to the river, there are also three lakes on the Islip side (West) of the River Nene.  With the sun just popping up above Thrapston on the opposite bank, it was there that I headed. 

The frost was heavy and the area between the lakes was quite crunchy under foot as a consequence of the raised water level from the previous week’s rain.  A light steam began to rise from the flat-calm water as the sun came up.  It was beautiful.

River Nene, Islip Bank

I followed the path of the river south to where it is crossed by another bridge – a bridge that used to carry the Kettering & Thrapstone Railway line.  While I never saw railway tracks in situ, I vividly remember being taken for walks by my mum as a child along the area it used to lay.  Much of that area gave way altogether in the late ’80s and early ’90s as the A14 was built in its place. The railway bridge, however, is still there, and you can still cross it.  It provided a nice elevated view looking back at Islip.

Back down to ground level and a tad further south is the A14 road bridge, which is lengthy in its own right.  The area to the south of that was filled with frost covered teasel heads and burdock seedheads.  

With the path seemingly taking me away from the river, I decided to head back for another lap of the lakes and wander by the river back towards Nine Arch Bridge.  The sun was now rather higher in the sky and slightly more potent;  the pinky hues replaced by still-stunning bluer tones.

I’d lost an hour and a half and it’d been the perfect start to the day.  I adore photography at this time of year!

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Event Photography by Karl Drage

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I mainly provide event photography services in Northamptonshire, Leicestershire, Cambridgeshire, Bedfordshire, Buckinghamshire, Rutland, Oxfordshire & Warwickshire, in towns such as Northampton, Kettering, Wellingborough, Oundle, Corby, Peterborough, Leicester, Huntingdon, Rushden, Towcester, Rugby, Daventry & Oakham.  I am, however, only too happy to travel beyond those locations – including internationally – to capture the magic of your event.