Community: The Oxford Instameet
This month we hosted the 5th Oxford Instameet with Natasha from Candy Pop. Fuelled by cake & coffee from the Modern Art Oxford Cafe we embarked on our photo walk with an intrepid band of bloggers, instagrammers, indie business owners and photographers. As well as some old faces we also welcomed a few newbies to our walk. I love that at each and every walk we have a different mix of people. It’s a great way to meet people and connect with people both in our local community and the instagram community online.
From top left: @samikelsh | @jazza | @sledgecallier | @breakbeatx | @charis.magick | @vintageoxford | @cariemay | @cassiopeiaknits | @emmakesandbakes
From bottom left: @candypop.uk | @independentoxford | @sewgertie | @randomkaties
From MAO we wondered down Brewer Street heading towards Christchurch Meadow where hoards of people were queuing down the tree lined avenue in the Meadow, waiting to get into Christchurch College to see the Harry Potter filming sites! We looked on in wonder as we strolled passed carrying on to the beautiful fellows garden at Christchurch which we glimpsed through the wrought iron gates.
Through the kissing gate leading to Merton Street we managed to shake the crowds and pottered along the cobbled street with door after door, ripe for a photo op! We shared ideas for photos and posed for fun group shots. Charis from Turl Street Kitchen said;
“My key takeaway has been meeting new folk, some of whom I had come across on social media already & some I hadn’t. It’s always lovely to meet someone you’ve been following on line & it’s nice to meet people who understand your sudden need to stop dead in the middle of the street to take a photo”
We headed on over the High Street and into my favourite Oxford side street Queen’s Lane flanked by cool Cotswold stone college walls winding it’s way up to The Bridge of Sighs and the magnificent Bodleian Library.
No Instagram walk would be complete without a few shots of pastel houses so we made our way onto beautiful Holywell Street, capturing some awesome jumping shots in front of sugary hued facades.
Buzzing from our dynamic jumping shots, we headed to Exeter College, where thanks to Anna’s ties to the college we were allowed through to the beautiful fellows garden with a spectacular view of the Radcliffe Camera. Exeter College is trully magical, with it’s awe inspiring chapel and wonderful gardens, you can really see how Tolkien took inspiration from this place to create The Hobbit and The Lord of the Rings.
What a beautiful walk! Every meet up we endeavor to find new walks with lots of gorgeous photo opportunities, which Oxford has in spadefuls. I feel so genuinely lucky to be part of this community of creative, kind and supportive people, and the Instameets provide a great opportunity to connect with this group in real life. The beauty of the Instameets is that they are open to all! You don’t have to have a business, or being a blogger to attend. You just need an Instagram account and an urge to meet some lovely new people! Our next Oxford Instameet is on 1st October. I hope you can join us then for another day full of inspiration, fun, photos and of course cake!
Love,
Rosie
xxx
