Leigh984, The creative portfolio of Leigh Spencer

  Down by the riverside, there’s all sorts going on at Leicester’s riverside festival , in the heart of the city, a weekend bursting with music, food, arts, family fun, and vibrant waterside activity. Starting at Bede Park , where a Ferris wheel turns, giving riders a fun overview of the festival site, and along the mile-long straight. A right turn along the western boulevard past some balloons sees a busy street lined with traders and filled with visitors enjoying the atmosphere. We pass dancers heading to one of multiple performance stages and stalls offering GIANT SAUSAGES . Action on the water next as the ever-popular Dragon Boats line up to race under the bridges to the beat of a drum. In Castle Gardens , we meet performers from the House of Circus running a circus skills workshop for people of all ages. Nearby, a beautiful dress covered in flowers celebrates a bloom theme. Back to the riverside, and we see Paddle Plus offering the chance to 'have a go' in various wa...

Once again the Cosby Crafters have come together to create another fantastic Yarnbomb in the Leicestershire village of Cosby, This years theme "Make A Splash !". There's a giant octopus attached to the side of the barn and at the fish and chip shop someone has just been eaten by a shark !, No its not the plot of a new Hollywood summer blockbuster film but some clever crochet creations by the Cosby Crafters turning the village into a water themed wonderland with this years theme of "Make A Splash !". There's lots to see with seahorses playing trumpets and a whole shoal of fish swinging in the summer breeze. Children run from creation to creation singing "just keep swimming" and "look mum, a shark !". Moo-ving on we find Daisy the cow enjoying a cooling splash of milkshake and is that Mr Toad simply messing about on the river ? maybe ratty was right after all. Attached to some railings is a knitted underwater scene with some fish sporting s...

Highlights from the #Leicester riverside festival in 2016 featuring a lively weekend of activities for the whole family spread across Bede Park, Mile Straight, Western Boulevard and Castle Gardens. Sponsored by local housing provider Riverside, the festival encompasses an exciting choice of activities for all ages. My film features a selection of highlights from the festivals second day and features water sports tryout sessions from paddle plus, music from the sing for water choir, classic vehicles from the abbey pumping station and lots more to give you the viewer a feel for the festival atmosphere on site during this popular local event that signals the start of summer for many in the city.

A look at the flooded fields in the whistle meadows area of Leicestershire. After several days of heavy rain the fields around Narborough, Croft and Huncote known as Whistle Meadows due to the disused railway (whistle way) than runs alongside, became flooded after the river soar burst its banks. The flooded fields stretch away into the distance broken only by the Leicester to Birmingham railway line and the occasional tree, gate or fence. Ducks and wildlife usually confined to the river boundaries can be seen throughout enjoying the extra space. Images Follow

Leicester Riverside Festival took place June 6th & 7th 2015 and featured lots of things to see and do including a demonstration of water rescue procedures from Leicestershire fire brigade, traditional canal crafts and lots of local performers on the main stage in Bede Park. The event took place along Western Boulevard known locally as the mile straight and into castle gardens where people could have a go at stone balancing and traditional dancing. The festival has grown in size since its inception and with Leicester having a culturally diverse population now offers those attending a unrivaled range of food and crafts from all round the world to sample from Gourmet Burgers served from a barge through to Thai, Caribbean and Asian cuisine and crafts. My short film aims to capture some of the many things on offer and the atmosphere of Sunday at the festival. images follow

Between Huncote and Croft, alongside the quarry is a nature trail full of wildlife and fantastic views over the surrounding countryside and villages. My short film features a couple of swans as they hunt for food in the small lake in the middle of the trail bathed in the orange glow of the low winter morning sunshine. Images Follow

It may be winter with temperatures getting lower every day but that didn't deter these surfers catching the waves on a Devon beach in 2013. The sea was rough, waves large and the low winter sun (although shining brightly) provided little warmth to the surfers at they entered the water. Out in the middle of the estuary the braver surfers rode the large waves around wolf rock whilst paddle boarders and other surfers found ample sized waves to ride in the bay of North Sands beach. Images Follow

On the 27th October 2013 much of the UK was battered by Storm St Jude. I travelled to Cornwall to witness the storm as it made landfall on the Cornish coast. High waves and strong winds battered the coastline and the lighthouse at Godrevey as the storm approached. Despite the epic scene a small Kestrel hovered in front of me its head and eyes fixed on its prey below whist it expertly used its wings to steady itself against the gale force wind that made my attempts to stay stood upright look futile in comparison. I later moved on to Newquay and the famous Cribbar wave which like a monster rose from sea and smashed into the rocks below, as the wind speed increased we set off for home. images follow

The Salcombe Town Regatta is held yearly in the small town of Salcombe in Devon famed for its local crab and popular with holiday makers. The week long town regatta includes many traditional seaside events such as a sandcastle competition, spot the bloomer and a very popular firework display usually on the penultimate day of the event. My video (filmed from South Sands beach just outside the town) affords the viewer an alternative angle on the 2013 display with Salcombe castle silhouetted against the bright colours of the display.

The Leicester Riverside Festival takes place annually along the Mile Straight and in the Bede Park and Castle Gardens areas of Leicester. My short film aims to capture the atmosphere of the event in 2013. Featuring local singing groups, artists, craftspersons and Narrowboat rides amoungst its wide variety of attractions the event is a fantastic family friendly event in the heart of the city with something for everyone.

At the foot of Mt Snowdon is Ceunant Mawr Waterfall otherwise known as Llanberis Falls the waterfall plunges over a hundred feet in two stages into a gorge. My film features the stunning natural beauty of the area and some of its wildlife with little birds drinking from the flowing water and a sheep !.

Swithland Reservoir is a reservoir in Leicestershire. It is near to the village of Swithland from which it takes its name. A dam at the north end is crossed by Kinchley Lane and the reservoir was completed in about 1896. My short film features views from a number of locations and a selection of the varied wildlife that call this beauty spot home.

  The RRS Discovery was the last traditional wooden three-masted ship to be built in Britain. Launched in 1901 to carry Robert Falcon Scott and Ernest Shackleton on their Discovery Expedition to the Antarctic, The ship is now the moored in her home port of Dundee alongside a visitor attraction detailing the work undertaken during the expedition. My Short (filmed during a particularly heavy rain shower!) highlights the various parts of the ship and its rigging, Particularly of note is the front bow section its ornate gold decoration, union jack flag motif and Discovery name proudly written in white upper-case letters across the bow.

Opened in 2002 The Falkirk Wheel is a rotating boat lift in Scotland that connects the Forth and Clyde Canal with the Union Canal. My short film features a boat entering the wheel at the bottom before being lifted up to the aqueduct section above. The short was filmed from two angles giving the viewer a view of both sides of the wheel and a look at the workings of this impressive structure.

A video featuring the grooviest coot on the canal in Leicester !. Whilst walking to a Leicester City FC match I noticed this coot grooving along to its own beat, with its flash of white and its head rocking moves like Jagger !, it looks every bit the rocker !.

A Short film by me featuring action from Saturday`s Wales Rally GB Sweet Lamb stage and its water splash. Wales Rally GB is the final round of the WRC and sees the worlds top rally drivers competing over a series of stages in the hills and valleys of Wales, Various models of car are used and are based on their road going counterparts but all have been highly modified for the demanding and fast paced motor sport of rallying. see some photos from the day after the jump. > Some images from the Wales rally GB Sweet lamb stage.  

Of Ghosts and goblins and witches beware, for tonight they're out to give you a scare. Why not give your desktop a scary makeover with this hauntingly spooky wallpaper ! to set as your wallpaper 1. Click the image for the full sized version 2. Right click anywhere on the image and select set as desktop background 3. Enjoy Whilst filming on the shoreline at Rutland water I came across a strange sight, a plastic eyeball staring back at me !,Its owner long gone and its usefulness passed, it lay abandoned in the stones and sand forever to stare at the sky above.

Rutland Water is a drinking water reservoir in the county of Rutland and features a number of water sports areas and a nature reserve, Filmed on a very windy Sunday October afternoon this short features a number of windsurfers taking full advantage of the conditions and speeding back and forth across the reservoir at high speeds.find out more about Rutland water at http://www.discover-rutland.co.uk/discover-rutland/rutland-water

Whilst on a flight to Italy we where treated to these stunning views of the Alps stretching out below the aircraft The mountain sides where highlighted by the sun and created a truly spectacular sight that looked otherworldly in its beauty, Nature at its finest.

The Severn Bore is a tidal bore seen on the tidal reaches of the River Severn in the UK many people come to see the rare sight of a wave travelling upstream against the flow of the river and its is a magnet for surfers and water sports enthusiasts who challenge themselves to ride the potentially 2 metre (7 ft) high wave as it goes by. This is my video of the bore that took place on 20th February 2011