Follow me through a full consecutive journey - from beginning to end - on my camper-van-camino


OBSERVATIONS

Paid Memberships to the Genius Loci Digest not only help keep the Digest free and public facing, but also helps keep me on the road and provide free photography for some historic locations. Here's a day where I photographed a building that was supported by Member Powered Photography.

HOTSPOTS
Courtesy of Google Maps

St. Peter and St. Paul, Broadwell, Oxfordshire

Having the Genius Loci Digest Members as my client made me feel a bit apprehensive. The full day diary was recorded live for the members to keep up to date with the photo shoot as it happened.

Broadwell 15 June 2023
Photographing a remarkable building in Broadwell. This is as much your photo shoot as mine!

St. Peter and St. Paul is a remarkable medieval building set within a picturesque Cotswold village. It has associations with the Knights Templar.

On the day of the shoot I walk to the church and notice a thing of beauty - the cottage next to the entrance is having its thatch renewed. What a privilege to see it in process.


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As I work I can hear the bill hook of the thatcher outside. His dog Spike sits below the scaffold waiting for his master to finish.

The interior of the church is full of atmosphere and holds the whispers of the past in its orientation, its archaeology and in the graffiti on its walls.

The day was magical with help from medieval historian, Steve Tomlin and Church Warden Annabel Molyneaux.


"What a wonderful couple of days and also for the memories and possibilities which are following on. I'm so grateful that you came and explored what we have here in a way which I'm just not able to achieve or the phenomena which I haven't even been able to conceive. I feel as if the church has grown a few more dimensions, or maybe there has been a massive increase in pixel density, or I can see colours which I hadn't been able perceive in the past.”

Annabel Molyneaux (Church Warden)


Inside the spire at Broadwell

Members can see a short film of my work at Broadwell below:

Member Powered Photography: Broadwell - the making of a photograph - video
The making of a photograph - video


St. Peter and Paul can be visited on most days. The church holds a series of events throughout the year and Annabel (the Church Warden) is particularly welcoming. More information about opening times and events (with contact details) here:

Broadwell Village - Broadwell Church
New page

Medieval historian, Steve Tomlin is holding an immersive talk on the material culture and graffiti of the church on November 11th 2023. Enquire via the website above.


Spend some time around Broadwell

Bicycle

An intermediate cycle ride that takes in Broadwell from Carterton and Burford.

Burford – The GREENEST village loop from Carterton | bike Tour | Komoot
Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the bike Tour: β€œBurford – The GREENEST village loop from Carterton” 03:25 h 57.0 km

Walk

A beautiful walk through a remarkable landscape that can be started and finished in Broadwell

Shilton war memorial. loop from Broughton Poggs | hike | Komoot
Detailed maps and GPS navigation for the hike: β€œShilton war memorial. loop from Broughton Poggs” 04:31 h 17.5 km

Members can access multi-media content on Broadwell via the Broadwell Project Page below:

Member Powered Photography Broadwell - Andy Marshall’s Genius Loci Digest
Broadwell is the first Member Powered Photography project. All the content relating to the MFP shoot will be hosted on this page. Planned photography is for June 2023

VAN LIFE

On the day of photography I get permission to lodge in a field close to the church.

Woody is communications central - where I update the members with new content on the day.

It's from here I keep in touch with duty ops at Brize Norton to try and get permission to use the drone for aerial shots.

Eventually we get a small window of opportunity to get the drone up.



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Each week, this Digest offers a small pause – photographs, sketches, and reflections from historic places that still carry meaning. It’s a weekly practice of noticing, continuity, and learning to see more deeply.

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Andy Marshall is documenting his travels in his time-travelling camper van πŸšπŸ“ΈπŸ›

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