*received for free from netgalley for honest review* What great photos! Would be a beautiful book in print (or on a bigger screen) lol

Lockdown Walks was a beautiful and calming book, given the context in which it was made.

The author and brilliant photographer takes us on a brief journey of her short walks during the first months of the 2020 lockdown in the UK.

While the circumstances that led to this lockdown are anything but pleasant or calming (a pandemic that we still cannot seem to get through…), the photos bring peace and show just how beautiful and tranquil the world is (and can always be) without humans around. Or at least that is how I saw it.

It feels like the world gained a new coat of paint, a new light, a new form of tranquility, which transpires in these photos, accompanied by some location details and technical photography information as well.

It made me think “What would the world look like without our (human) presence?” … and the answer is “Beautiful”.

I really enjoyed this book, even if quite short, and I hope the author brings us more of her work and photography from the many beautiful places that exist in our planet.

I just wish the book had been a bit longer and more diverse, because even in lockdown I’m certain the author could have featured more different scenarios and settings, and instead was a bit repetitive in her photos mainly of sunrises; they are beautiful, but I just feel that there was room to feature other things and places, especially to take our minds of the lockdowns that are still happening and not only in the UK.


Thank you to NetGalley and the publishers for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my honest review and opinion.

#LockdownWalks #NetGalley

Lockdown Walks: A Picture Story by Netty Cracknell is a story of lockdown walks in pictures, showing loneliness, serenity and hidden beauty during this bleak and unpredictable time. Many people recounted afterwards that they had explored local areas during lockdown on their allocated once a day 'exercise' and found lovely places they never knew existed. The author was no exception. All photographs within this book were taken during the initial coronavirus lockdown period and were within walking or cycling distance of the author's house in Springfield, Chelmsford, Essex.

Lockdown Walks is a nice collection of images. I wish the walks I took with my family during lockdown were so picturesque. I liked the collection and found it interesting to read the snippets of thought about each of the pictures and how they came about. It made me think back on some of the walks and extra time I have gotten to spend with my family. It also encouraged me to continue to take advantage of the extra time I have now, and to look for new places to explore around me. I might not have lovely water and fields to walk by, but there is still beauty to be found in every town and neighborhood- if only we take the time to enjoy it.

I received an advance reader copy of this book to read in exchange for an honest review via netgalley and the publishers.

Lockdown walks is a lovely documented collection of photographs taken by Netty Cracknell (a budding amateur photographer) during the UK's 2020 coronavirus lockdown.
Each of the photographs is accompanied with information about where it was taken along with information about taking the picture itself. All of these photos were taken on the authors doorstep.
During this lockdown period, nature blossomed and thrived in an almost still and quiet, less polluted world around it and the photographer captured lots of this still beauty within this book.

**I received and voluntarily read an e-ARC from NetGalley in exchange for an honest review. All thoughts and opinions are my own.**

I like the idea more than the execution.

The photos seemed quite repetitive (understandable given the nature of 2020 and lockdowns), and some seemed to be included to fill blank space. The empty streets had a lot more impact than multiple pictures of waterways and fields.

I like the inclusion of the photo info (such as aperture and speed), as most photo/photobooks seem to lack the info, but I think a little more editing and/or a polarizing filter would have done the photos a favor.

Overall, I think this book has a lot of potential, but it needs a lot more work.

A gorgeous compendium of pictures taken in Lockdown, when the world was first adjusting to the lights of an unknown newly encountered change, the likes of which we’d never seen before.

This charming little book really showcased nature at its finest. The book really encompasses the calming, peaceful effect of nature and I can only imagine the immense pleasure the author got taking these photos and capturing some absolutely stunning and breathtaking scenery. There really is something so cathartic about getting out into nature, armed with your camera and committing that snap in time to film.

I really liked flicking through the photos and reading the little accompanying notes that placed the particular picture at the time. It almost felt like a journey with the author through her photos. Also, it’s so eerie to see previously highly populated places looking like ghost towns which the author captured, which really goes to show the extent of the change we faced. I adored the sunrise pictures coupled with the mist and fog and if there were any pictures I’d wish I could step into, it would be those!

The only reason I gave this 3 stars is I really do think people get more of an enjoyment with taking their own pictures and showing them then people do of looking at other peoples taken photography! Or at least, that is with me anyway. Just a personal preference. It has definitely inspired me though to endeavour to venture into nature more and even though I’m not armed with a fancy camera, a iPhone and a willing attitude is all you need, as demonstrated.

‘Lockdown Walks’ was a great, simple little read which doesn’t take long to flick through and leaves you feeling a little lighter with a spark of happiness and hope that even though the world is going through such great difficulty, nature is still there for us and showing us it’s immense beauty whenever we take the time to notice it.

Lockdown Walks: A picture story
by Netty Cracknell

A very short UK pictorial taken during the early Covid-19 pandemic lockdown. The author provides brief photo descriptions and occasional notes to talk about her home area.

I found Lockdown Walks to be a very interesting concept of a book. The author and photographer, Netty Cracknell, took photographs of different places and things during lockdown. Why didn't I think of this! I liked looking at the photographs and reading the descriptions. Some weren't that interesting to me but nevertheless, I still enjoyed it. Thank you Netgalley for allowing me to read this book in exchange for my review.

I thought the idea of this book would be interested. It is definitely neat to see once busy, hustling areas completely still.

Really enjoyed seeing the photographers town works as she takes is on a tour through her beautiful pictures.The nature pictures are refreshing to see from my lockdown and the stark reality of the empty city streets reveal what life is really like today.The author is very talented and this was a book that kept me company in a very enjoyable way.#netgalley#troubadorbooks

Via her camera, Netty brings us on her walks during the Covid-19 lockdowns, creating a beautiful record of a difficult time. I am grateful to Netty for sharing her talent, and to NetGalley and Troubador Publishing Ltd. for providing me with a digital copy in return for my honest review.

A really lovely idea that would suit people who enjoy photography. The photos really are gorgeous but not being familiar with the area, quite a few of them (the ones surrounding water) seem like normal every day pretty pictures.. I didn't get the lock down feel from them in the same way I did the photos of the empty streets.

Lockdown and 2020 in general has been incredibly hard on people at the best of times, with many of us feeling helpless and at a loss for what to do for most of the year.
Lockdown walks is a book of simple beauty, how one person managed to turn what was a time of uncertainty into one of joy and purpose.

A fantastic collection of photographs, intertwined with a little personal touch is exactly the sort of win to be salvaged from what was altogether a miserable period of existence.

I am so pleased this author returned to her old hobby of photography. I loved this book for a number of reasons. Firstly, there are many truly beautiful and relaxing photos ( I particularly liked her river and canal side photos) which I thoroughly enjoyed looking at. Second it is a fascinating record of a very weird time in our history. Those deserted roads and shopping centres are something we would never have imagined happening in our lifetimes and very much hope will soon be over. Thirdly it is interesting to see the development of this lady’s skills. You can see how she improves through the book. The inclusion in her epilogue of some of the very first photos she took many years ago is a revealing comparison and the shots have a great deal of atmosphere to them.
Many people, myself included, have found a great deal of solace and satisfaction in reviving a long lost hobby or taking up a new one during these periods of lockdown. This book shows what great results some people have achieved. As a keepsake of a very strange period of history in the UK and also just as a lovely book of photographs this is worth buying.

It is a collection of absolutely wonderful pictures clicked by Author during covid lockdowns.
It showed nature without humans is more beautiful than ever.
Collection of wonderful sunrises to keep her morale high. It certainly contains eye soothing pictures.
A good collection with interesting captions.

This is a great idea, but the execution needs tweaking, at least in the e-format. The images that downloaded to my iPad were badly distorted

Wow! This book is truly beautiful. I was instantly drawn to the cover of this book. The book is nothing like I have read before, all about lockdown but in such a positive way with the beautiful images of nature and life throughout the first lockdown.

Before the pandemic I loved to walk and I have really missed the outdoors, but this book has filled me with such joy and hope that soon I will be able to have a lovely walk again without being anxious.

If you love photography, nature or the outdoors this is definitely a book that you will wholeheartedly enjoy. Thank you Netty Cracknell for bring such a lovely book for 2020.

A personal record of photographs taken on walks and cycle rides in the Essex countryside during Lockdown. There is a mix of rural peace and tranquility alongside some eerily empty streets and roads. I think my favourites are the pictures of the ducks and swans. This book would be of particular interest to people who are familiar with the area but there is much to enjoy for all. Thank you to Netty Cracknell, Net Galley and Troubador Publishing Ltd for an ARC in exchange for an honest review.

Review to come to blog/Goodreads on Dec 29th.

I received this book from Netgalley/publisher in exchange of an honest review.

So I know that I wasn't in the mood for more Corona books, but this one promised pretty pictures/scenery so in the end I just clicked on the Read Now button! I was curious what someone discovered on their walks. I wish I could be that carefree, and just go outside during the lockdowns, but I just stay inside. Doesn't feel good to go outside. I am too anxious. During each lockdown (we are now at 3) there were still enough people who went on walks or bicycle rides. I know my hubby and I often were surprised at how many people passed by on the streets. I guess maybe if one goes outside during sunrise it is calm, but sorry, I am not a morning person. My body says no to waking up THAT early. :P My hubby does do bicycle rides during the morning (when it is good weather) and he enjoys it. We did try to also do evening bicycle rides during the first lockdown as I despite everything I wanted to try something outside, but evenings were just way TOO busy. We tried it once or twice but had to dodge so many people that it wasn't fun for me at all. Even my hubby wasn't happy about things. I know this isn't part of the book, but I feel it fits with the review regardless!

This book is full of photographs that the author took during her walks (and bicycle rides apparently) outside. We see gorgeous sunrises, lovely and silent sceneries, though at times it really reminded me of Walking Dead or any other apocalypse story. Given how there was really NOTHING there on the roads and streets at her place, it was like humanity had left. It was really startling. I really liked seeing all the various sceneries come by, and I especially loved the swans and their little ones. Those were just so adorable!

Though I have to be honest I barely read the text underneath. I read the first couple of ones and also some later, but most I just skipped. I just wanted the photographs, that is what I came here for.

All in all, a very interesting and pretty photography book and I am very happy I clicked the Read Now and could check out this book.

I think the appeal of this book will be different for each person that views it. Photographs have a way of expressing so much in the realm of mood and emotion. Many of the photographs are average snapshots, while others are breathtaking art worthy of framing. I noticed, for me in particular, the movement from peaceful settings to what feels like a desolate, abandoned land as you progress through these images. Then Cracknell brings us back to 'life' with her images of the swans moving through their own unique life stages. I found several of the town/street shots haunting, void of people. This book, is indeed a story, more than a coffee table or art book.

I received a copy from the publisher through NetGalley in exchange for an honest review.