A Macro Holiday
I’m just back from my summer holiday and while I was away I did a little more experimentation with macro photography.
Taking a Break from Landscape Photography
As passionate as I am about my landscape photography even I need a break from it every now and again. For the last couple of weeks I’ve been on holiday enjoying some welcome time with my family. Normally when I go away for my summer holiday I don’t bother taking my D850 but this year I decided that I would. However, I didn’t take it to do any landscape photography.
If you are a regular reader of the blog you’ll be aware that I tried my hand at macro photography for the first time earlier this year. You can see my first attempts at macro photography here and here. From those two experiences I knew I wanted to do more macro photography and I promised myself I would invest in a macro lens in 2020.
The reason I took my D850 on holiday was that I knew the person I was staying with had a Nikon mount Sigma 105 macro lens and a garden full of life. I could borrow his lens and without having to travel anywhere get some macro photography practice in.
My time with the camera on holiday was still going to be limited though as I had a lot of other priorities, but I thought I would share with you some of my macro holiday snaps!
Flower Bud
Looking around the garden I could see a lot of flowers in bloom and my first instinct was to photograph them. Looking more closely though I discovered that the flowers that hadn’t fully bloomed were far more interesting!
I like a few things about this photograph. I like the colours, composition and the subject itself. Technically speaking though, it’s not perfect. I could have probably done with a fraction more depth of field as the tip of the flower is just a little out of focus. I would have opened up the aperture a bit more, but this would have caused more of the messy background to come into focus.
Despite the technical issues with this picture it is my favourite from this collection.
Flower Bud - Nikon D850, Sigma 105mm f/2.8, f/5.0, 1/400th sec at ISO 64
Green Bug
OK, firstly, apologies for not knowing the name of this particular bug so you will have to excuse me referring to it as just a green bug. Names aside, what drew me to this composition was colour contrast between the bug itself and the fruit it was sat on. Unfortunately I couldn’t get close enough to isolate the fruit and bug from the rest of tree but I thought it was still worth taking.
I very narrowly missed out on nailing the focus for this one. If you look closely the eyes are just a little out of focus. I think the eyes are slightly further away than the front of the head and the part of the head behind the eyes as both of those parts are in focus. It just shows you how razor-thin the plane of focus can be in macro photography.
Obviously I have much to learn in this area of photography and plenty of practice is required!
Green Bug - Nikon D850, Sigma 105mm f/2.8, f/6.3, 1/100th sec at ISO 64
The Fly
I have to admit that I’ve never found the humble fly that interesting until I took a macro photograph of one. Now, I did cheat a little bit with this photograph. I couldn’t get very close to this subject but thanks to all those megapixels in the D850, even with a heavy crop, there is still loads of detail to be seen. Sure, a heavy crop isn’t the way to approach a photograph like this normally, but I just found the photograph too fascinating not to share. Does anyone have any idea what the red blob on its mouth is? You can even see my reflection in it!
The Fly - Nikon D850, Sigma 105mm f/2.8, f/5.6, 1/125th sec at ISO 64
I know these macro photographs aren’t going to win any awards. My composition and focusing needs a lot of work but that didn’t take away any of the enjoyment I got from capturing and viewing these images. The macro world is absolutely fascinating and these holidays snaps have only firmed up my commitment to doing more macro photography!
A Stormy Sunday at Start Point
In this blog post I head to Start Point on the south Devon coast to capture some landscape photographs during some stormy weather.
Risk vs Reward
As the crow flies, Start Point in Devon isn’t that far from home. Thanks to some narrow, twisty Devon roads though, the journey there can take up to an hour and a half each way. For that reason, I tend to only visit the location if I think I’m going to get a good photo.
Spectacular sunrises work well at Start Point so I’m always looking at which direction the sun is rising from and what the cloud cover will be before I commit to a trip to one of my favourite lighthouses on the South West Coast Path. The weather forecast for my most recent trip was a little different though. Heavy rain showers and thick cloud were forecast, but it was also forecast to start clearing around sunrise.
This could lead to some spectacular and dramatic weather conditions if everything happens at the right time. Would the risk of travelling all that way reward me with some spectacular landscape photographs?
Stormy Weather Landscape Photography
Despite the 5 am alarm calling causing my brain to become a little muddled when talking to the camera, I did manage to record my South West Coast Path adventure at Start Point. So sit back, relax, keep warm, and join me at Start Point for a spot of landscape photography!
I hope you enjoyed watching my little adventure to Start Point. Which image was your favourite? Have you been to Start Point before? Do you like capturing landscape images during stormy weather? Let me in the comments below.
My Landscape Photographs from Start Point
If you’d like to see the photographs from the video in a bit more detail, here they are.
Breaking Light at Start Point, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, f/13, 2 seconds at ISO 64, polariser, ND grad.
Calm in the Storm at Start Point, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, f/13, 81 seconds at ISO 64, polariser, ND grad, 6 stop ND.
Start Point Swirls, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 22 mm, f/13, 60 seconds at ISO 64, polariser, ND grad, 6 stop ND.
A Stormy Dawn at Start Point Lighthouse, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 22 mm, f/13, 1.3 seconds at ISO 64, polariser, ND grad.
Is It Time to Ditch the Nikon D850?
In this blog post I ponder the idea of going to a mirrorless camera system.
Goodbye D850, Hello Mirrorless?
Some people consider the Nikon D850 the best DSLR there currently is. This might well be true, but cameras with a flapping mirror (DSLRs) are a dying bred. Mirrorless cameras have been on the rise for some time now and at some point I expect the DSLR to go the same way as the film camera.
There are many reasons why mirrorless cameras are better. They generally have better tech in them such as a wider spread of AF points and EVFs. While you could say that mirrorless cameras are technically superior, does that mean if you still own a DSLR that you should be looking to get rid of it as soon as possible and replace it with a mirrorless camera?
We all know that a camera doesn’t make a poor photographer great, but the correct choice of camera can make the process of capturing an image easier or more enjoyable. This is one of the reasons why I upgraded from my D750 to the D850. There was nothing wrong with my D750, it’s just that the D850 had some features that I wanted that ultimately improved my process of capturing images.
I’m now at the stage where I am seriously considering moving to a mirrorless system. Not because there is anything wrong with my D850, it’s just that some of that new mirrorless tech could improve my process of capturing images.
So is it time to ditch the Nikon D850? Let’s find out.
It’s a Matter of When Not If
For me, the move away from the Nikon D850 to the Nikon Z camera system is a matter of when not if. I’m not in a hurry though. After all, my current gear is hardly causing me issues. But, I do believe the Z system will offer me more. A better wide angle zoom in the 14-30 mm f/4, and that all important EVF. Unless I have a change in circumstances, I expect to have, at least in part, moved over the Z system in 2019.
If for some reason that doesn’t happen. I’ll still be capturing wonderful images with my trusty Nikon D850.
Are you considering changing from a DSLR to a mirrorless system? Do you already have a mirrorless camera? Do you have a Nikon Z camera? Let me know in the comments below.
Those Landscape Photographs from Dartmoor
If you want to take a closer look at those images I captured in video from Great Staple Tor, you can check them out below.
A Wintry Dawn on Great Staple Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 25 mm, f/11, 1/4th sec at ISO 64.
Roos Tor and Great Mis Tor Panorama from Great Mis Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 70 mm, f/11, 1/40th sec at ISO 64, 11 stitch panorama.
A Dusting of Snow on Great Staple Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 21 mm, f/13, 1/6th sec at ISO 64.
Wengen, Switzerland - A 5 Minute Photo Adventure
In the blog this week I’m in Wengen in Switerzland doing a little bit of landscape photography in the snow!
Why Wengen, Switzerland?
If you are a regular reader of my blog or viewer of my YouTube channel, you will know that most of my adventures are based in the south west of England or occasionally in the wider parts of the UK. It’s rare that I’m on some epic international photography expedition!
My visit to Wengen in Switzerland over the festive period actually had nothing to do with landscape photography. I was actually there on a family holiday. A time to relax, eat too much food, drink a lot of glühwein, and maybe hit the slopes for a bit of skiing and snowboarding. This holiday was definitely not a photography trip.
I’ll Take a Camera Just in Case
No matter where I go, or who with, I normally have some sort of camera with me. It could be my current phone, the OnePlus 6, or my trusty old Sony RX100 M4, but it’s rare that I take my D850 with me on a family holiday. On a family holiday I generally don’t have enough time to spare to dedicate to landscape photography, and besides, sometimes you really do need to take a break from all that serious photography stuff!
When I booked the holiday though, I remembered watching a video from Mads Peter Iversen in which he photographed the Lauterbrunnen valley from Wengen. After watching his wonderful video again, I was inspired to photograph that location myself. Where Mads photographed it when it was all green and lush, I could photograph it in the snow.
Hopefully, I would find a spare hour during my holiday so I could get the shot.
On Location
When we arrived in Wengen there was a distinct lack of snow. This wasn’t a problem for my skiing aspirations as the slopes were quite a bit further up the mountain on a cable car or train, but down in the village, the snow cover was sparse. There was some snow cover, but it was patchy and it looked like I would not get any joy with the photography.
Then one morning it snowed and (mostly) covered the ground with a fresh blanket of snow. With no other snowfall forecast for the week, I knew this was my best opportunity to get a photo. Fortunately, I was able to get away that afternoon, capture an image and make another one of my 5 Minute Photo Adventure videos.
Here it is:
And here is the photograph that I took:
Cloud and Snow Along The Lauterbrunnen Valley, Wengen, Switzerland - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 VR at 35mm, f/13, 1/20th sec at ISO 64.
Challenges
It was actually a challenging shoot. As you saw in the video, a layer of cloud enveloped me at one point, there wasn’t quite enough snow to cover the ground completely, and I didn’t get much in the way of light in the valley or sky. However, I did anticipate the challenges of light on the valley and mountains thanks to some early analysis on The Photographer’s Ephemeris.
Despite all the challenges, I’m pretty happy with the photo. It was my first time at the location, I was really limited with what time I did have, and I was trying to video the whole experience! And besides, I had a lot of fun doing it all, and isn’t that the point?
I do hope you enjoyed this (slightly shorter than) 5 Minute Photo Adventure from Switzerland. Have you ever photographed Wengen or Switzerland? What Europeans countries have you photographed, and do you have a favourite? Let me know in the comments below.
3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations on Dartmoor
What are the best locations on Dartmoor for landscape photography? In this blog article, I'm going to show you 3 GREAT landscape photography locations on Dartmoor that I think will inspire you to photograph Dartmoor!
Landscape Photography on Dartmoor
Dartmoor National Park covers over 950 km2 so you can be forgiven for being a bit overwhelmed with the sheer number of landscape photography locations to choose from. Fear not though! I’m here to help.
After the positive feedback I received for my video 3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall, I decided to produce for Dartmoor locations. Guess what I called it? Yes, that’s right 3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations on Dartmoor! The locations I visit in the video aren’t necessarily a top 3 or best 3, just 3 great locations that I think will inspire your landscape photography.
After many hours of being frozen and blown about, I’m very happy to share with you the video, 3 GREAT Landscape Photography Location on Dartmoor.
A Bonus 4th Location
I’m also very happy to share with you a bonus 4th location. Wistman’s Wood is a popular Dartmoor location for landscape photographers and for good reason. Unfortunately the day I visited there was very little wind and so the midges were out and that made capturing images and video very difficult. Despite the challenges of the day though, I still managed to create a video that I hope you will enjoy.
More Information on Those Locations
If you want a bit more information on these amazing locations or the images from the video, then I've already published blog posts on the featured locations:
You can also see my 5 Minute Photo Adventure video of Belstone Common (where I shot the intro to the video), right here.
All Those Landscape Photographs
Here all the images you saw in both videos:
What Next?
As with the Cornwall video, the Dartmoor video required a significant amount of effort to produce. However, despite the work required I would like to create more videos like this. If there are other locations in the south-west that you would like to me to make a video on then let me know in the comments below.
A New Vision of The Cobb
In the blog this week I tell you about my most recent visit to Lyme Regis in Dorset to capture landscape images of The Cobb, and how an overcast morning changed the way I view this iconic location.
Weather Obsession
I have to admit it, I'm obsessed with the weather. More specifically, the weather forecast. But what landscape photographer isn't slightly obsessed by the weather. I'm constantly checking the forecast and looking for the best place to visit with the limited about of time that I have for my landscape photography.
After a few days of frankly terrible weather, it was going to take some pretty awful conditions to stop me heading out with the camera. After much head scratching over the weather forecast I thought the best place to go would be The Cobb at Lyme Regis in Dorset.
It was a bit of a risk to go there given the predicted cloud cover. Either side of sunrise it was forecasting 100% cloud cover, but around sunrise itself, the cloud cover could drop to around 50%. Combined with the direction of the rising sun, I was hoping to capture an image similar to this one I'd taken a while back.
The Cobb vs The Sea, Lyme Regis, Dorset - Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 22 mm, f/13, 0.6 secs at ISO 100, Lee Filters ND Grad.
Choose Life, Choose The Cobb
Before I carry on, I've just remembered that I created one of my 5 Minute Photo Adventure videos from The Cobb, so if you want to see what it looks like, then check out the video below. You can also read the blog article for that video here.
Anyway, back to the story of my most recent visit. When I arrived in Lyme Regis, the weather was as forecast and cloud coverage looked to be 100%. As I walked from the car and approached The Cobb I could see that I wasn't the only photographer that high hopes for capturing a good image that morning.
As I setup my camera and took my first few shots, I suddenly changed my mind on the type of shot that I wanted. Rather than trying to repeat the type of shot I showed you earlier, I decided the image below was the style of image I wanted to capture that morning.
A New Vision of The Cobb, Lyme Regis, Dorset - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 24 mm, f/13, 30 secs at ISO 64.
The calm waters, overcast sky, the colour of the water and long exposure all add up to a very different, but still pleasing image. Normally I like to capture the drama of the sea at The Cobb, but that morning called for something different.
As soon as I saw the image on the back on the screen on my D850 I realised that I had been missing out on some creative compositions at this location. I would definitely have to visit when the conditions were like this again.
After a short while, a break in the cloud started appearing in the distance, and the mood of the scene changed. Normally I'm happy when the cloud starts breaking up, but in this instance, I wanted the cloud cover to stay at 100%! With the gap in the cloud, the serenity and calmness of the scene was broken.
It was an interesting morning for me. My previous visits to The Cobb had gradually embedded into my mind the type of image I should capture there. This visit broke all that and I left with a renewed sense of excitement about returning to The Cobb on the next grey and overcast day!
Have you had a similar experience? Have you had your perception of a favourite location changed by weather? Let me know in the comments below.
Great Staple Tor
In the blog this week I head to Great Staple Tor on Dartmoor where I find I have to work very quickly to get even one shot.
Dartmoor, Here We Go Again
When I’m short of time, there are generally two places I’ll go to get my photography fix. If I’m in the mood for creating coastal images I’ll head to Dawlish Warren and if not, I’ll go to Dartmoor. I’m very lucky to live so close to Dartmoor, but I’m sometimes overwhelmed by the sheer number of different locations I could select to photograph.
Normally the weather will dictate which part of Dartmoor I will go to, but this time the forecast was generally clear all over Dartmoor. On clear days I like to shoot from Rippon Tor <insert URL>, but as I’d visited there recently I decided that I wanted another high elevation point to shoot from. After a little bit of thought, I decided that a visit to Great Staple Tor was in order.
Like most tors on Dartmoor, Great Staple Tor needs good light to make the most of it. That probably wasn’t going to be an issue given the forecast so all I was going to need was a few clouds in the sky so I wouldn’t end up with just a blanket of blue. A little bit of action in the sky always works well when shooting the open moorland of Dartmoor.
Great Staple Tor
As I found on my recent shoot at Rippon Tor <insert URL>, what the weather forecast states and what the weather actually is on Dartmoor can be two very different things. Arriving at the car park on Pork Hill it soon became apparent that it was going to be a very overcast morning. Not to be put off, I started my ascent up and soon reached Middle Staple Tor.
Normally you can see Great Staple Tor from Middle Staple Tor, but all I could see this morning was cloud. In fact, I had to check my map that I was going in the right direction! I soon reached my destination though and the cloud started to lift a little and combined with a cup of coffee, my spirits also started to lift.
It was definitely going to be a morning of waiting. The cloud would clear a little, but then get heavy again. One minute you could see for miles, the next you couldn’t even see the next tor. As time ticked by and sunrise came and went, I thought that was it and I wouldn’t be capturing any images that morning.
Then all of a sudden there was a clear spell and I got some morning light on Great Staple Tor. I quickly took these two images.
Late Morning Light on Great Staple Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikkon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 21 mm, f/13, 1/6th sec at ISO 64, Lee Filters ND Grad.
Dawn at Great Staple Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikkon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 21 mm, f/13, 1/6th sec at ISO 64, Lee Filters ND Grad.
Within a few minutes though all that warm light had gone and the sun disappeared behind a bank of cloud. I would have waited longer to see if the sun would make another appearance, but the sky soon clouded over so I decided that I’d probably had the best of the morning conditions.
While it obviously wasn’t the most productive of mornings, I did at least manage to get a couple of images, so it was far from a wasted trip. Besides, even if I’d captured no images that morning, watching the day start from high up the moor with a cup of coffee is rarely a bad thing.
Have you ever photographed Great Staple Tor? Do you shoot a location where the weather can change quickly? Let me know in the comments below.
Rippon Tor
The weather conditions on Dartmoor can change rapidly so sometimes it's worth hanging about to see if things improve. In the blog this week you can find out if my patience was rewarded when I recently visited Rippon Tor to capture some landscape images.
Big Blue Skies
The weather recently has been a bit of a mixed bag. Some days it's been grey, overcast and frankly a bit miserable. Not that you can't do landscape photography in bad weather, but it can limit your options. At the opposite end of the weather scale is the clear blue sky days. This type of weather is rather pleasant in the winter, but I don't find it inspires my landscape photography.
As I was checking the local forecast on my favourite weather service one evening all I could see was clear blue skies for the following day. It certainly didn't look like optimal conditions for a bit of landscape photography but I'm not one to pass up an opportunity to get out with my D850. As the weather forecast was largely the same for South West as a whole, I decided there was little point in travelling any further than my local area. But where could I go? Dartmoor of course!
Rippon Tor, Dartmoor
My preference when shooting the open moorland of Dartmoor is to have interesting skies. As this was not going to be the case for this shoot, I decided I would get myself to an elevated position. One of the closest high points for me is Rippon Tor at 473m. While definitely not the highest point on Dartmoor, it still offers impressive views of the Haytor area. Even though clear skies were forecast, the elevated viewpoint can help you take advantage of any distance haze in the sky. This can light up nicely in the right conditions and provide some nice interest in the sky when shooting with a long lens.
When I woke the following morning and left the house I could see clear skies and the stars above so it was looking like the forecast was going to be fairly accurate. As I headed up to Dartmoor things started to look very different. By the time I'd reached the car park for Rippon Tor, things looked very cloudy indeed!
It was pretty windy at the top of Rippon Tor, but that was to be expected. What wasn't expected was the amount of cloud. It was that fast moving type of cloud that always looks like it's about to clear but never seems to. Things didn't look much clearer down towards the coast where the sun was going to rise. Not one to be put off I thought it was worth hanging about to see if things would improve.
Just 5 Minutes More
Your enthusiasm can wear off quickly when it's cold and windy on Dartmoor. As the time for sunrise passed and it didn't look like things were going to improve, I was ready to give up and head home for a coffee. No sooner had I zipped up my bag though, the sky started to clear and the sun peaked up over the cloud and started bathing the scene in the soft morning light. I quickly unpacked the camera and took this shot.
Dawn on Rippon Tor, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 29 mm, f/11, 1/4 second at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
In retrospect, I didn't really take enough time to arrange my composition. I think the image would have worked a little better with a slightly more elevated view of the foreground. However, time was very much against me. Though the sun had just risen above the cloud, sunrise itself was a good 15 minutes earlier, and so the light was already getting harsher. I had to work fast to make the most of that lovely morning light on the side of the tor and on the undulations of the ground.
Now that I was back in the mood for taking some landscape photographs I decided I would capture a panorama. On a recent trip Fingle Bridge I met up with fellow landscape photographer Neil Porter and he recommended to me a relatively inexpensive levelling head. This great bit of kit would greatly simplify the process of levelling my camera in preparation for capturing a panoramic image.
The View from Rippon Tor (Panorama), Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 52 mm, f/11, 1/10th second at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, 9 image stitch cropped at 6:17.
Shortly after capturing that image the weather conditions had improved markedly and in need of a cup of coffee, I decided that I'd had the best of the morning light. As I walked down from the tor I kept thinking about how upset I would have been with myself if I'd been in the car driving home only to see the conditions improve from the road. I was lucky that I hadn't packed up 10 minutes earlier!
How long do you wait before you give up waiting for the weather to change? Has your patience paid off and you've captured an amazing image? Let me know in the comments below.
Holne Bridge
Inspired by the autumnal colours I had seen at Fingle Bridge the previous week, this week I head to Holne Bridge on Dartmoor to see how the autumn colours are along the River Dart.
Embracing Autumn on Dartmoor
I don't know if it's my imagination but the autumn colours in Devon, especially Dartmoor seem to be much more vibrant this year. The yellows, oranges, and browns are really standing out on the trees. Woodlands are looking particularly spectacular.
After seeing the wonderful colours down at Fingle Bridge the other week, I was determined to get out again and make the most of this special time of year. But where to go? Easy. My custom Google Map to the rescue again! Holne Bridge on the River Dart was another location that had been on my map for a while, and this seemed to be the perfect time to go.
Holne Bridge
Though the weather forecast for that day was for rain showers, there was going to be a break for a few hours in the morning so off I headed to Dartmoor. I parked up just on the other side of Holne Bridge and started walking along the banks of the Dart. As expected the colours were brilliant, but it also appeared that the strong wind from the previous days had removed a lot of leaves from their branches.
Not to be discouraged by this I got the camera set up and took this image of the river Dart from the east side of the bridge.
Autumn on the River Dart, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 25 mm, f/13, 10 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Just as I started getting into my photography it started raining. At first, I thought it was just a light shower, but the rain started to come down heavily. I soon regretted not taking my waterproof jacket! Never mind, I packed the camera away and decided that this would be a good time to do some exploring. My weather app told me the rain was due to stop in 20 mins so I wouldn't have long to wait.
While I was exploring the river bank looking for compositions, I spotted some woodland on the opposite side that I thought might suit an ICM shot. I had started experimenting with ICM when I was in Harris and Lewis and was interested enough with the results to try it again.
Holne ICM, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 34 mm, f/8, 1.3 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
As you can see I need to work on my ICM technique and compositions a bit more. However, it did at least pass the time until the rain shower had passed.
Once the rain had passed it was back to the job of capturing of autumnal images of the river Dart. There was still a fair amount of water flowing down the river making capturing engaging images a little more tricky. Too little water and the river looks dirty and bare, too much water and you just end up with a white blur.
To make sure the river represented an important element in the composition I headed upstream from the bridge until I got a place where the water was cascading around and over some large boulders.
Unfortunately, this was one of the very last images I had time to take that morning and I was soon heading home. Happy with the shots I had captured that morning the only problem I had was whether I should return again, go back to Fingle Bridge or try and find another autumnal location for my next trip out with the camera.
What types of shot do you like to take during autumn? Have you tried ICM? What is your favourite season to photograph? Let me know in the comments.
Fingle Bridge
In the blog this week I head to Fingle Bridge on Dartmoor to shoot some autumnal woodlands but some unexpected weather causes a change of plan.
Discovering Fingle Bridge on Dartmoor
I first learnt about the woodlands around Fingle Bridge on Dartmoor in Outdoor Photography magazine in their Locations Guide section (one of my favourite features in the magazine). I can't remember which issue it was in, but I do remember seeing the photograph and then putting the location straight onto my custom Google map.
This was a couple of years ago and since then I've only been back a couple of times, and generally without much success. I filmed one of my earliest YouTube videos there, so if you want to see how much I've improved my videos you can check that video out here.
Remembering Fingle Bridge
My original plan for the morning was to head up to the open moorland of Dartmoor and perhaps shoot Great Mis Tor or Great Staple Tor. The problem with that plan was the weather forecast. The morning sky was going to be largely clear with no cloud. Without some interest in the sky, I wasn't sure it would be worth photographing those Dartmoor locations.
I wasn't however, going to pass up the opportunity to get out with the camera just because of a clear blue sky. A quick scan of my custom Google map and I remembered all about Fingle Bridge. Perfect I thought! I could shoot the woodlands from the top of the valley for sunrise and then head down into the woodland as it gets lighter.
Misty Dartmoor
Arriving at Fingle Bridge it was still dark with only a hint of light from the sun. With sunrise still at least an hour away, I put on my head torch and started the walk up the Hunters Path. It was an interesting walk through the dark woodlands. When I pointed my head torch into the woodland I could several pairs of eyes staring back at me. I assumed they were deer and not some sort of wild beast or cat that prowls Dartmoor!
As I approached the top of the valley and got above the tree line I could see the valley and woodland stretch out before me. In the distance towards Hunters Tor I thought I could make out some low lying mist. We all know how attracted to mist landscape photographers, and I'm no different, so I decided to go an investigate.
Hunter's Tor is at the other end of the valley from Fingle Bridge so it was further than I had planned on walking. I'd given myself plenty of time that morning though so was able to extend my walk without missing sunrise.
Being Indecisive
Arriving at Hunter's Tor I could see a beautiful blanket of mist to the west. There were two small problems though. Firstly, it wasn't covering the woodland, and secondly, it was very thick and you couldn't actually see much of the land below.
It was at this point I got a little indecisive. I thought I could hang about Hunter's Tor and wait for it clear a little, or I could head back along the valley and shoot the mist from further away, or revert back to my original plan. I decided to head back along the valley.
By the time I got halfway back along the valley path the mist had started to clear, so I decided to head back to Hunter's Tor! Even though the sun hadn't risen, the mist was clearing fast so I had to run! Back at Hunter's Tor, I decided to make the most of the frosty conditions and mist, and captured these images:
Hunter's Tor on a Frosty Morning, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, f/13, 15 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters ND Grad.
Frosty Fingle, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 22 mm, f/8, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters ND Grad, focus stacked image.
Autumnal Colours along the River Teign
After capturing those images I decided that I would head back down to Fingle Bridge and maybe capture some shots of the River Teign. As I packed up and started the walk back I bumped into local photographer Neil Porter. I hadn't met Neil before but I was aware of his excellent work and we soon got chatting.
Neil offered me a lift back to Fingle Bridge which I gratefully accepted. The heated seats in his car were very welcome after standing on that frosty tor for an hour!
Arriving at Fingle Bridge we headed along the river and into the woodland to find the autumnal colours looking glorious. Neil has a lot of experience in shooting this area and he informed me that the colours would get even better over the next week or so. I made a mental note that I would need to come back to Fingle Bridge again very soon.
Autumn at the River Teign, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 42 mm, f/11, 3 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Soon after capturing that image we started to see a few more photographers arrive. Happy with what I got, and with the need to get home, I left Neil and the other photographers to carry on shooting this beautiful autumnal location.
New Dartmoor Video
I hope you enjoyed the photographs from this location. If you did you might be pleased to know that I also did some filming while I was taking those images. The video from Fingle Bridge will feature in a Dartmoor video that I'm currently producing. I'm not sure when it will be out, but stay tuned to the blog, and be sure to subscribe to my YouTube channel.
Have you photographed Fingle Bridge before? What is your favourite autumnal location? Let me know in the comments below.
GREAT Landscape Photography Locations on Harris and Lewis
Looking for a new bucket list location for your landscape photography? In the blog this week, I share with you some of the amazing locations I discovered while photographing two of the Outer Hebrides most famous locations, Harris and Lewis.
Harris and Lewis - Photography Bucket List Locations
I can’t remember when the Isle of Harris and the Isle of Lewis made it onto my bucket list of landscape photography locations. I’m not entirely sure what inspired me to want to go there. Maybe it was a Thomas Heaton video from Harris or seeing some holiday photographs from my sister.
Maybe it wasn’t just one thing, but rather it came through a gradual consumption of media and photographs from this most stunning Scottish location. No matter how it made it on to my list, I had decided that early on in 2018 that I was committed to making the long journey back into my homeland and onwards to the Outer Hebrides.
Immersing Myself in Photography
Time is precious and the amount of time I can normally commit to just doing landscape photography is limited. Things would be different on this trip though. Where my longest landscape photography adventures had normally been limited to a long weekend, this trip would see me commit 9 days. Nine whole days of landscape photography!
Actually, it was going to be nearer to 5 days. From Devon, it’s a two-day drive there and a two day drive back. It is over 650 miles one way, and you also need to get a ferry for part of the journey. That aside, 5 days is way more than I normally get to allocate to my passion. Besides, the journey wouldn’t be so long as I had a mate coming long with me. Plenty of time to catch up and chat.
I also set myself some clear priorities. This trip was going to be all about my photography. The weather gods hadn’t been kind to me in 2018 and I felt I wasn’t taking the images I knew I could. This trip was going to change that and I was going immerse myself in landscape photography.
With the decision to immerse myself in stills photography, I also made the decision not to make creating content for my YouTube channel a priority. The stills photography would be the top priority. My goal for the trip was to capture great landscape images. However, I do love creating content for my YouTube channel so I wasn’t going to go all the way to Harris and Lewis and not film anything.
The Journey Up
Our plan was to get as far as Glencoe on the first day. With a bit of luck, we’d get there before sunset and grab some shots. Fortunately for us, we did and you can see the results in the blog post Glencoe - One Location, 3 Compositions.
Our luck the next day soon ran out though. Not only was the weather not suitable for any sort of landscape photography, but the winds had picked up to gale force and it looked like the ferry crossing would be cancelled. Well, it appeared as if the captain of the boat wasn’t going to let a thing like the wind stop him from sailing, so we eventually left Uig at 9 pm. There wasn’t going to be a sunset shoot on Harris that day, but we were at least going to be making the crossing that evening.
Now the Story Really Starts
It was dark when we arrived in Tarbert, and it was dark when the alarm went off the next day for the first of our sunrise shoots. Having seen nothing of Harris so far we set off in the dark and headed to Luskentyre beach. This is the point where I move the storytelling from the blog to the vlog.
Photographs, Locations and Information
You will have noticed in the video that I didn’t talk about some of the locations we visited. I only showed the photographs. As I said earlier though, I really wanted this trip to be about immersing myself in my photography and not having to worry about talking to the camera.
So you have a more complete picture (excuse the pun) of my trip to Harris and Lewis, the next few sections of this blog post will feature all the images you saw in the video, along with the camera settings, and where they were taken. I hope you will find this information useful and the photographs inspiring.
If you are looking for a bit more inspiration, and more details on some of the locations I visited, be sure to check out Dougie Cunningham's excellent book Photographing Scotland.
Luskentyre Beach #1
No visit to Harris would be complete without going to Luskentyre. I found the photography here so inspiring that I photographed it almost every day.
North Harris from Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 19 mm, f/13, 3 seconds at ISO 200, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Pull of the Tide at Luskentyre Beach, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 19 mm, f/13, 2 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Dunes of Luskentyre Beach #2, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 20 mm, f/13, 1/5th second at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Northton Saltings
This interesting location is easy to access as it is right beside the road. Take some wellies though!
Stormy Saltings, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, f/13, 15 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, IRND and ND Grad.
The S in Saltings, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 35 mm, f/13, 15 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, IRND and ND Grad.
Northon Saltings from Above, Isle of Harris - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/100th second at ISO 126, 26 mm at f/2.2.
Traigh Mheilein
Not the easiest beach to get to, but worth the walk.
Traigh Mheilein, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 32 mm, f/13, 62 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, IRND and ND Grad.
Stac a' Phris
A spectacular coastline made even more impressive with the Stac a' Phris sea arch.
Turbulent Water at Stac a' Phris, Isle of Lewis - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, f/11, 1 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Stac a' Phris, Isle of Lewis - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 20 mm, f/11, 2 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Sunset at Stac a' Phris, Isle of Lewis - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 21 mm, f/11, 5 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Luskentyre Beach #2
The 2nd visit proved even more amazing than the first!
Sunrise at Luskentyre Dunes, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, f/13, 1 second at ISO 100, Lee Filters Circular ND Grad.
Sky Fire at Luskentyre, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, f/13, 0.6 seconds at ISO 100, Lee Filters Circular ND Grad, single image crop at 6:17.
Mangurstadh Stacks
Another dramatic coastal location on the Isle of Lewis.
Mangurstadh Stacks, Isle of Lewis - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 52 mm, f/11, 119 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, IRND and ND Grad.
Tràigh Scarasta
There are so many beaches to photograph on Harris, but if you like patterns in your sand this one is well worth a visit.
Tràigh Scarasta, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 19 mm, f/13, 69 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Tràigh Scarasta (ICM), Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 24 mm, f/22, 1/4 second at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Tràigh Sheileboist
I know it’s another beach, but even in the wildest of conditions it’s possible to get an image at one of the many golden beaches on Harris.
Tràigh Sheileboist, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 26 mm, f/13, 30 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad. Single image crop at 6:17
Luskentyre Beach #3
Last of the Luskentyre images…promise! (It was such an amazing location!)
Tranquility at Luskentyre, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 19 mm, f/13, 3 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, ND and ND Grad.
Sand, Wind and Time, Luskentyre, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 25 mm, f/13, 25 seconds at ISO 64, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, ND and ND Grad.
The Pastel Shades of Luskentyre, Luskentyre, Isle of Harris - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, f/13, 144 seconds at ISO 400, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, ND and ND Grad.
Luskentyre Beach Panorama, Isle of Harris - DJI Mavic Pro, 1/50th second at ISO 161, 26 mm at f/2.2, 9 image stitch cropped at 6:17.
A Tearful Goodbye
After 5 whole days of photography, it was sadly time to go home. We were really rather lucky with the conditions we got. The Outer Hebrides aren’t exactly known for settled weather but we managed to make it out every day with the camera. Some days were definitely more challenging than others, but even in wild conditions this magical place had something to offer.
As for the trip home ,that was similar to the trip up. The ferry was delayed due to bad weather so no chance of a sunset shoot back on the mainland, and the conditions the following morning were flat grey and overcast. As we headed down the M6 past the Lake District I didn’t even feel bad for passing it by as I had memory cards full of amazing images and video.
I do hope this blog post and video has given you a sense of not only what my adventure was like, but also what it is like to photograph Harris and Lewis. It truly is one of the most amazing landscapes I’ve ever photographed. From its dramatic coastal locations, grand mountains and open moorland, it never failed to surprise me. There was a real sense of awe. I grew up in the highlands of Scotland and now live in Devon so I know a good landscape, but Harris and Lewis were something special.
Are you planning a trip to the Outer Hebrides? Which photograph or locations was your favourite? What locations are on your bucket list? Let me know in the comments.
Glencoe - One Location, 3 Compositions
It’s almost impossible to drive through Glencoe and not want to stop to take some landscape photographs. In the blog this week I make an unscheduled stop in Glencoe and take 3 photographs from one location.
Glencoe
There are some locations for landscape photographers that are virtually impossible to drive through without stopping to take a photograph. In my mind, Glencoe is one such location. It is stunningly beautiful and impressive no matter the weather. I still have many happy memories of my last visit.
Check out this video of my last visit to Glencoe.
A few weeks ago I was heading up to Harris & Lewis for a week-long photography trip. With such an amazing destination one could be forgiven for trying to get there as soon as possible. However, when your route takes you through the heart of Glencoe there was no way I wasn’t going to take at least one photograph.
Fortunately for me, my journey from Devon would allow me to arrive in Glencoe for around sunset. With so many locations to pick from in Glencoe, what would I photograph?
Stob nan Cabar and Lochan na Fola
I first discovered the beauty of this location on a workshop I attended last year. Despite its grandeur, it’s not that well photographed and can be easily missed despite its roadside location. As I photographed it at dawn last time, I thought I would try it at dusk this time.
I wasn’t feeling any pressure to take an image so I spent a little more time experimenting with my composition. While I would normally only post one image from a location, I thought it would be interesting to show you the three variations I have.
Stob nan Cabar from Lochan na Fola (Vertical), Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, ND Grad.
Stob nan Cabar from Lochan na Fola (Landscape), Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, 1.0 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, ND Grad.
Stob nan Cabar from Lochan na Fola (Panoramic), Glencoe, Scotland - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, 0.8 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser. 8 Image panoramic stitch, cropped to 6:17.
All three images benefit from the beautiful autumnal colours of the ground, and just the right amount of cloud cover to get some light reflected from the setting sun. While I do like all three, I think it is perhaps the first image I prefer the most. Though this scene would typically be shot in landscape orientation, the portrait orientation of the first image works well.
There are a couple of things I like about the first image. First of all the reflection is larger, and clearer giving it more impact. I also like all the triangles in the image. There is, of course, the mountain and its reflection, but also from the cloud in the top right of the image which leads you back to the mountain.
It was a long drive from Devon to get to Glencoe so I only had time to shoot this one location, but what a location. It was unfortunately dark when I drove back through Glencoe, but even this brief opportunity to photograph it again means its right up near the top of my list of locations to photograph again.
So which image composition did you like best? What is your favourite Glencoe location to photograph? Let me know in the comments below.
P.S. Harris & Lewis
Oh, that Harris & Lewis trip I mentioned at the start of this blog…well…I hope to have a blog and video posted right here in a couple of weeks time.
From Dartmoor to Dawlish
In the blog this week, I head to Dartmoor to shoot sunset, and then the following day head to Dawlish Warren to shoot sunrise.
A Good Time of Year
Late September is a good time for landscape photography. Sunset isn’t too late, and sunrise isn’t too early. This means I can do both back to back without feeling like it just killed me. I still remember back in July this year when I photographed Daymark tower for sunset and then Start Point for sunrise. While I had a lot of fun with the friends that joined me, the late finish and very early start just about killed me.
When some welcome settled weather came in recently, I thought I would maximise my shooting opportunities and go out and photograph both sunset and sunrise. But where would I go?
Dusk at Dartmoor
As is normally the way, I was, of course a little short of time so I had to go somewhere local. Fortunately for me, I live near Dartmoor so I’m a little spoilt for locations on my doorstep. Though the weather was settled, it was looking like there would be little in the way of cloud.
I had a number of ideas of what to shoot including the view from Rippon Tor and Honeybag Tor, but the conditions just weren’t going to be right for those elevated viewpoints. I remembered that Haytor Rocks often gets the evening light so I decided to photograph it from Saddle Tor. By photographing from Saddle Tor I could position Haytor Rocks above the horizon and into the only real interesting part of the sky that evening.
Haytor Rocks at Dusk, Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 62 mm, 1/3 sec at ISO 64, f/11. Lee Filters ND Grad, single image crop at 6:17.
The image I took is actually a panoramic crop from a single frame. My original composition had Haytor in the lower third of the frame with the rest of the frame being taken up by the sky. My original “big sky” shot might have worked a little better if there had been a bit more interest in the sky, but the lower band of haze in the sky was the only area to get colour. As it turned out, I rather like the panoramic crop so can be reasonably happy with the final output.
Dawn at Dawlish Warren
The morning weather forecast for the following day looked to have a bit more cloud so I decided to head to one of my favourite locations, Dawlish Warren. I tend not to visit Dawlish Warren during the summer months but now sunrise isn’t so early I decided it was time to visit my old friend.
Shooting at dawn is one of my favourite times of the day. There is a sense of excitement as the sun starts to rise and deliver some of its magical morning light. On this morning though, that display of golden light probably wasn’t going to happen. You can plan all you like, check tides, and look at weather forecasts, but if a bank of cloud happens to position itself in the wrong location, all that amazing light you were looking for can be lost.
It’s important to remember though that good morning light can occur 30 minutes before and after sunrise. Even though I didn’t get the best of the light as the sun approached the horizon, I’m glad I stuck around to capture this long exposure.
Into the Sea, Dawlish Warren, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 48 mm, 339 seconds at ISO 64, f/11. Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad,
While this image was captured after sunrise, the long exposure helps capture what light there was and the calmness of the ocean that morning.
It’s always fascinating to see how other photographers interpret the same scene so I was really interested to see how Neil Burnell, who was with me that morning, shot the same scene. Check out his Instagram post to see his take on the beach that morning.
What is your favourite time of day to shoot? Do you use techniques like ICM or long exposures to create a sense of mood? Let me know in the comments below.
Sunrise at Boscastle
The blog this week I head to Boscastle. Though I've visited this location many times before for some landscape photography, this is my visit at dawn.
Dawn at Boscastle
Boscastle has been one of my favourite locations in Cornwall for landscape photography for some time now. Perhaps my favourite Boscastle spot is to be up on Penally Hill around sunset. You get the perfect view up there of the harbour inlet as it snakes its way out to sea. If you are lucky the light from the setting sun lights up the sky and surrounding hills and islands. I have, however, never really considered shooting Boscastle at dawn.
This all changed when I recently visited Boscastle to finish off my video 3 GREAT Landscape Photography Locations in Cornwall. I just needed to film the video intro and outro sections but as autumn approached and the number of daylight hours got smaller, it was becoming increasingly difficult to get to Cornwall before the sun set.
While autumn months make sunset photography more challenging for me, it does, however, mean that sunrises are a bit easier to get up for. So I decided that I would give sunrise at Boscastle a go. The priority was to shoot the video, but that didn't need great light, and if I got some photographs, that would just be a bonus.
Wind, Clouds and Running
As usual, I arrived about one hour before sunrise to give myself plenty of time to get to my favourite spot up on Penally Hill. When I got there though I soon decided that this was the perfect time to explore a few other spots. So I descended down Penally Hill towards the sea giving me a much better view of the ocean and the island of Meachard.
The view down there was obviously very different from that up on Penally Hill. Gone was any view of the harbour inlet and of Boscastle itself. I did, however, have excellent views of the ocean, the coastline and surrounding islands. I could also see all the turbulent weather out at sea including some low-level rain clouds, and some towering but beautiful cumulonimbus cloud. I was though getting battered by some very strong winds but the views were worth it.
The first composition that caught my eye was this view of Meachard island. Normally this island appears a lot smaller in compositions from Penally Hill, but down here I could make it my main focus. I really like the mood of the image as it rains just above the island. The image isn't as sharp as it should be because I had a real job keeping the camera stable in the wind, but I think it's worth sharing.
Meachard Rock Standing Strong - Boscastle, Cornwall. Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 56 mm, 5 seconds at ISO 64, f/11, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
As I mentioned earlier, from the location where I was taking this photograph I couldn't see Boscastle or the harbour. As it was getting near to sunrise at this point I was worried that I might be missing some good light so I packed up and moved on. As the harbour came into view it soon became apparent that there was nothing exciting about the view on this morning. I decided that I would maybe start doing the filming I had planned on doing.
As I set up the shot I could see behind that a big cumulonimbus cloud out at sea was turning orange from the morning light. It looked spectacular, but was it worth packing up all the gear again and running back to get the shot?
Storm Rising over Meachard Rock - Boscastle, Cornwall. Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 at 27 mm, 0.5 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
Looking at the image above, I believe that it was indeed worth running back to the coastline. I had to move a little further north along the pathway to get this shot. This is so I could position the cumulonimbus cloud more effectively in the frame. I wish I'd been there a minute or two earlier as the light was slightly better, but I at least still managed to capture some of that orange glow reflected in the water. It was still a tricky shot to get as the path is very narrow where I was and the wind was still strong enough to make getting a sharp image tricky.
Pleased, and somewhat surprised by the photographs I managed to capture I happily returned to my harbour location and shoot the video I needed. I've been doing more exploring recently and I've been finding inspiration in unusual circumstances, but my dawn shoot at Boscastle on further affirmed that this type of exploration is well worth the effort.
So have you photographed Boscastle before? Have you ever tried shooting a favourite location at a new time of day? Let me know in the comments below.
Sandymouth Beach
Does bad weather inspire your landscape photography? In the blog this week I head out to Sandymouth beach in Cornwall to discover that inspiration can be found even in the dullest of evenings.
Friendship over Photography
When it comes to weather forecasts I tend air on the side of optimism. I often find myself looking at different forecasts to find one that gives me the best outlook. Sometimes those risks can really pay off. However, there are some weather forecasts that are just so poor that you'd have to be mad to go out.
In the world of landscape photography there aren't many more things that are a depressing as going to a location that has a forecast of 100% low cloud coverage and heavy showers. But that's exactly what I did recently.
So why would I drive all the way to Cornwall when the weather forecast was so rubbish? To see a mate of course! It had been a couple of months since I'd see my friend and as he is a photographer also, we are always looking for an excuse to head out with the cameras. The trouble was the weather forecast was rubbish.
Though we were both keen to do some photography, the lure of chips, chat and the chance to finalise our plans for an upcoming photography trip won the day and we decide to meet up anyway. We would of course both turn up with cameras, just in case the weather wasn't that bad.
Beach Life, Cornwall
Even with a hefty sense of optimism there was no way we were going to commit to a big drive given the weather conditions, so we decided to settle for a local location. I had never visited Sandymouth beach before so when it was suggested we go there I jumped at the chance.
When we arrived at the beach we were surprised to see the car park completely empty. Even on the worst of evenings you normally see a dog walker or two on the beach. It soon became apparent why no one was here as a heavy rain shower came overhead. There was nothing else to do but to sit in the car, eat chips and discuss all the latest mirrorless camera news from Canon and Nikon.
Once the chips were done and the rain shower passed we thought we might as well take a walk along the beach and see if anything catches our eye. It soon became obvious why my friend comes to this location. Miles of sandy beach, sea pools, and rocks could all be used to make some very interesting compositions. Despite the poor weather I felt really inspired and decided to get my camera out!
Tidal Pools at Sandymouth Beach, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 20 mm, 1.6 secs at ISO 64, f/11, Lee Filters ND Grad.
Out to Sea, Sandymouth Beach, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 20 mm, 5 secs at ISO 64, f/11, Lee Filters ND Grad.
As you can see the weather had cleared just enough to make the sky a bit more interesting, but it was those pools of water that really caught my eye. It's not that I think those images are amazing, it's more that I think how great the future possibilities of this location might be. With some evening light and the sky being reflected in one of those pools, I think it could make for a great image. As the beach is a constantly changing thing, I could end up with a unique image on every visit.
I had been searching for a interesting beach location for a while, and one that wasn't too far away. Despite the poor weather, I was really inspired by this location and I will definitely be heading back there again soon. Just shows how you get can inspired even in the dullest of conditions.
Do you get inspired in sorts of weather? What is your favourite beach location? Let me know in the comments below
Gurnard's Head
In the blog this week I head down to Cornwall again to check out a new location, Gurnard's Head.
Back to Cornwall
For me, the spring and summer months are the time to visit and photograph Cornwall. It's not that I think these are the best seasons to photograph Cornwall, it's just that the longer days means it's more practical to get there for sunset.
Now that the autumn season is upon us I can already sense a chill in the air and the days are getting noticeably shorter. Soon the clocks will change and the opportunities to get to Cornwall will be very much reduced. So while it is still reasonably practical for me, I'm trying to get to Cornwall as much as I can.
Gurnard's Head
One of the great things about my custom Google map is that I should never be short of locations to visit. My map contains a huge number of pins, and a lot of them I haven't even visited. Many of these unvisited pins are locations that I discovered from magazines or social media channels.
For this trip out with the camera, I was looking for somewhere new to photograph down on the north-west coast. A quick look at my custom Google map revealed a location that I had pinned some time ago, Gurnard's Head.
From the text I had added to the pin I could see that I had discovered this location in an issue of Outdoor Photography magazine. Fortunately, I have been buying digital copies of this excellent magazine for a number of years now so it was an easy task to bring up the issue on my computer and get a feel for this location again.
Windy Cornwall
One of the reasons I was heading to the north-east coast of Cornwall was it was one of the few areas of Cornwall that had a forecast that could help yield a good photograph. As with a few of my recent trips to Cornwall though, it was still going to be a bit of a punt if it would work out or not.
After a 2 hour drive to get to my location I made the short walk down to Gurnard's Head. It soon struck me how windy it was. While the sky was relatively clear, and the sun was out, the wind was very strong. Even stronger than my recent visit to Wheal Coates tin mine.
Normally the wind isn't too much of a problem, but it was almost certainly going to be too strong for any long exposure. The wind was coming straight in from the sea so I wouldn't be able to shield the camera either. However, I could at least stand up so no excuses for not taking a couple of pictures!
Gurnard's Head Sunset #1, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 32 mm, 0.4 secs at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters ND Grad.
Gurnard's Head Sunset #2, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, 0.4 secs at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters ND Grad.
I really enjoyed my time at Gurnard's Head (despite the wind). One observation I did make is that the area around the headland is covered in heather and if I visit there again I'll do so at the start of August. I can imagine Gurnard's Head is a sea of purple at the right time of year.
Despite the strong winds, I was happy to have explored this new location (something I'm trying to do more of). Unfortunately, the predicted cloud cover never transpired that evening (it was painfully beautiful a few miles further east), but sometimes it's the experience of being outdoors that's important.
So have you been to Gurnard's Head before? Which of my two images did you prefer? Let me know in the comments below.
Wild Camping in Wales
Can you combine landscape photography with wild camping? That's the question I wanted to answer when I asked fellow photographer and experienced wild camper Gareth Danks to take me on my first wild camp. Read the blog to find out how I got on!
What's Wild Camping
Until recently I hadn't heard of wild camping. Obviously, I'd heard of camping but I'll be honest with you, it never really appealed to me. I like a nice warm bed and a full cooked breakfast if I have to stay away from home!
Gareth Danks - photographer, wild camper and all round great guy.
One of the great things about having my YouTube channel is the number of different people I have connected with. One such person is Gareth Danks and he is super keen on wild camping. Through watching his videos I saw that wild camping is more than just pitching your tent on a windy campsite.
As I watched through his videos I started to see the appeal of wild camping. Changes in camera and tent technology now meant you were able to take all the gear required to take photographs and get a good nights sleep. While I'm no stranger to an early morning, there are some locations that just aren't practical to reach before sunrise. However, by camping on location, you could be in the right place the night before.
Wonderful Wales
When Gareth finally talked me into wild camping all we had to do was agree on a location. Pen y Fan has always been a location I'd wanted to photograph and given that Gareth had both experience of camping and photographing there, it seemed like a great place for my first wild camp. We put a plan together, picked a date, and hoped for good weather.
If you want to see how I got on in my wild camping adventure then check out the video I made below:
And here is Gareth’s video:
More Wild Camping?
So would I go wild camping again? Absolutely I would! OK, the weather wasn't great for photography, but I had such a good time camping. I was really impressed by modern camping equipment. It was surprisingly easy to put up the tent (under guidance from Gareth of course), it was comfortable, warm, and it was even possible to make a great cup of coffee. OK, it's not as a good as a nice B&B, but it has the benefit of being much more flexible.
I don't think I'm ready for a wild camp in the winter, but I sure I'll be giving it another go next spring.
So have you been wild camping before? Do you remember the first time you did it? Would you like to give it a try? Let me know in the comments below.
The Photographs
Here are the photographs from the video:
Creeping Clouds over Cribyn - Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons, Wales: Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 34 mm, 1/80th sec at ISO 64, f/8.
Cefn Cwm Llwch Mountain Path - Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons, Wales: Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 34 mm, 1/80th sec at ISO 64, f/8.
There You Are Cribyn - Pen y Fan, Brecon Beacons, Wales: Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 34 mm, 1/80th sec at ISO 64, f/8.
Windy Wheal Coates
In the blog this week I head to a windy Wheal Coates tin mine on the coast of Cornwall. With the weather forecast being less than favourable, would I be able to capture an image? Read on to find out if my creativity beat the windy conditions.
A Return to Wheal Coates in Cornwall
It doesn't seem that long ago that I last photographed Wheal Coates tin mine on the coast of Cornwall. When I looked in my Lightroom catalogue to find my last photograph from Wheal Coates I was shocked to see that it had been nearly two years to the day since I had last visited this great Cornish coastal location. Where does all the time go?
It's not as if I had forgotten about it. There's a pin for it on my custom Google map but for some reason, I just haven't been back. It was time to go back that was for sure.
If you read my blog on a regular basis you may remember reading my recent post on Dartmoor. In that post, I tell you why I headed up onto the moor when the weather forecast said I should really be at home. My most recent visit to Wheal Coates was in a similar situation. Any sane photographer wouldn't have even considered the 4-hour round trip if they'd looked at the weather forecast. But there was a small gap in the clouds predicated and given that I had the evening free, I thought it was worth a punt.
Typically Cornish Weather
As I drove along the A30 from Devon to Cornwall, I really started to question if I had done the right thing. Unlike my trip to Dartmoor the previous week which only involved a small drive, the drive to Wheal Coates was significantly longer. The further I drove into Cornwall the worst the weather got. At one point my windscreen wipers were on full and I was driving through a low-level cloud.
However, I was still clinging onto that predicated break in the cloud. It is well known that you can get some amazing light from cloud breaks after a storm passes by, so I just kept thinking about how pleased I would be with myself if I got a really nice shot.
As I pulled into the National Trust car park for Wheal Coates I looked out to the sea where I could see broken cloud, bits of blue sky and even the sun. I though that maybe this could turn out to be an amazing evening of photography.
Windy Wheal Coates
As I wandered down from the car park and onto the slopes, I was pleased to see that there was still a lot of heather about. Unfortunately, I was probably about two weeks too late to get it at its best, but it was still a wonderful sight to see.
You would, of course, think that with so much heather on the slopes that picking a composition is easy. It can however be a little more tricky than just sticking your tripod on the ground and snapping away. The slopes are a complex mesh of paths, gorse, heather and unsightly dead vegetation. So it's worth taking a little time to wander about and finding a nice clump of heather that also doesn't have too many unwanted distractions around it.
While I was wandering about looking for my composition I noticed the wind was picking up. I looked out to sea to see a very large bank of cloud heading my way. Well, there goes my sunset I thought! So I quickly got set up and took my first composition of the evening:
A Splash of Colour on a Grey Day at Wheal Coates #2, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 26 mm, 3 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
As you see in the image above I had already lost much of the light and clear sky. The cloud appeared very quickly and anyone who photographs Cornwall a lot will tell you that even in the summer the weather can change rapidly.
While I would have loved some light from the setting sun on the slopes I decided that I would #EmbraceTheGrey and make the most of the moody skies. For the next shot, I headed a little further down the slopes and closer to one of the old mine buildings.
A Splash of Colour on a Grey Day at Wheal Coates #1, Cornwall - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 20 mm, 2 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and ND Grad.
As I looked back out to sea all I could see was cloud and the light was fading fast. I decided that I'd probably had the best of the conditions and it was time to head home, happy that I'd managed to capture a couple of images.
I mentioned in my post from Godrevy a few weeks back that I was producing a video on photographing Cornwall for my YouTube channel. I'm pleased to say that I also did some filming for that video on my visit to Wheal Coates. So be sure to say tuned to the blog and make sure you are subscribed to my YouTube channel.
I do hope you enjoyed this blog. Which of the two images was your favourite? Have you photographed Wheal Coates before? Let me know in the comments below.
Unexpected Creativity from a Dreary Dartmoor
Sometimes landscape photography can be hard and this was certainly true of my most recent visit to Dartmoor in Devon. However, even when you are feeling creatively challenged, inspiration can appear to come from nowhere. Read on to learn how I got inspired on that dull, grey evening on Dartmoor!
A Quick Happy Birthday
Just before I tell you about my Dartmoor adventure, I just want to announce that this post comes on the day that this very blog celebrates its 2nd birthday! Two years ago today I decided to start documenting my photographic adventures.
As with any creative process, the writing has sometimes been easy and sometimes it's been hard. However, most of all it has been fun and its really helped me with my photography. I wrote a lot about the benefits last year when I wrote a post about the blog's first birthday.
Over the last 24 months, I've written a new blog post every week, and I see no reason why this won't continue into the future. Thanks to all the support and comments I get from everyone on this blog, and other social media channels, I feel inspired and motivated to keep this blog going. So thanks to everyone who has and continues to show support of my work. It is very much appreciated.
And now….
Landscape Photography is Hard
I love landscape photography. I have a real passion for it and there are few things as good as heading out into the wilderness with the camera to capture some landscape photographs. Sometimes the process of capturing those photographs is hard. The weather can be challenging or you can simply lack the imagination or creative energy to produce a good photograph.
For me, there is an additional factor that makes landscape photography hard, and that is time. I think most photographers, pro or amateur, suffer at the hands of the old enemy of time. The amount of time I can commit to my art is limited and more often than not I have to go out when the conditions aren't ideal.
Devon's Dreary Dartmoor
My most recent to Dartmoor is a great example of when I decided to head out with the camera when really I should have stayed at home. The weather forecast for most of the south-west was overcast and rain showers. The trouble was that if I didn't out that evening, it was going to be several days before my next window of opportunity and I had a real need to scratch that creative itch.
I wanted to go and shoot somewhere on the Cornish coast but I saw little point in committing to 3 to 4 hours of driving with the predicted weather conditions. I thought the best thing to do was to keep in local and head up to Dartmoor. The weather forecast for Haytor was looking poor, but it did predict a small break in the clouds that might yield some nice results. To be honest, I think I was being rather optimistic but I grabbed my camera and went out anyway.
Finding Something Out of Nothing
As I drove up the hill from Bovey Tracey to Haytor, things did not look great. While the clouds were at least above the hills, it all looked rather uninspiring. I decided to drive a little further on and park up for Emsworthy Tor.
As I wasn't in a particular hurry I decided to make the walk to Emsworthy Tor at a slower pace. As I walked I made sure I took the time to look for compositions. Occasionally I would hold my eye up to the camera to see what an image would look like, but nothing seemed to capture my imagination.
When I reached Emsworthy Tor I just stood there and wondered why on earth I even bothered coming out. Don't get me wrong. I love Dartmoor. It can look spectacular in many different ways, and it's rare that I can't find something to appreciate. The view in front of me was indeed impressive but that doesn't mean it was going to translate into a good photograph.
It soon dawned on me that the viewpoint I wanted to photograph wasn't going to work in these conditions. As I sat there looking at the great expanse that is Dartmoor, I thought about going home. In the distance was a large dark cloud that was sure to bring a heavy shower. Perhaps it was time for an early exit and a glass of wine.
Just as I was about to pack up and go I had a moment of inspiration. As I looked east there was a small break in the cloud, and from the north was that stormy looking cloud. I know from previous experience that approaching storm clouds can look dramatic when shot with a wide angle lens. So I quickly got the camera out and shot this image:
Approaching Storm on Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, 0.5 seconds at ISO 64, f/11, Lee Filters ND Grad.
I had to work fast to get the image because the cloud was rolling in fast. While the image would have greatly benefited from some scattered light on the distant tors, it does show Dartmoor as it was that evening, and perhaps reflects my mood a little.
I then wanted to fine tune my composition a little. I like the rocky tors in the foreground of the first image, but I felt that they were a too close to the bottom of the frame. I also felt that the clouds were a more important element of the photograph, so I decided to point the camera up more to give me this composition.
Storm Clouds over Dartmoor, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 18 mm, 0.6 seconds at ISO 64, f/11, Lee Filters ND Grad.
I'm not sure which image I prefer. The sky in the first image is more appealing as the dark cloud hasn't covered all of the skies yet, but I prefer the overall composition of the 2nd image. To be honest, I'm just really happy to have captured anything. I was sure I was going to go home empty-handed and a little unhappy (creatively speaking).
It was a challenging evening but aside from the pleasing images, I can always take away two positives. Firstly, it's always great to be outdoors. Even if I took no photographs, spending the evening on beautiful Dartmoor is rarely a bad thing. Secondly, it was good to be out with the camera. That time out with the camera gave me more photographic experience and practice that I can put to good use when I really need it. You can be in the most amazing location with the most amazing light, but if you don't how to use your camera properly or know how to read a scene, you might come away with nothing.
Have you ever been out with the camera on a seemingly pointless adventure? Which of my two images did you prefer? Let me know in the comments below.
Discovering Prawle Point and Gammon Head
In the blog this week I head out to Gammon Head and Prawle Point on the South West Coast Path in Devon to explore a new location and to try something I don’t do very often!
Exploring New Landscape Photography Locations
I have to admit that I think one of my weaknesses with my photography is allocating enough time to go out and find new locations. It's not that I've got any shortage of inspiration. My custom Google map is awash with locations not visited. It's just that I always seem to be short of time, so I think I tend to go to locations that I know to try and increase the chances of getting a good image.
Recently I have been trying to do a little more exploring as you might have seen in my Froward Point and My Photography is Not a Priority blog posts. However, sometimes the best way to find something new is to head out with someone. So when I met up with fellow local photographer Neil Burnell recently, I asked him to suggest a location that we could photograph. You may remember Neil's work from a recent episode of On My Bookshelf where I took a look at his rather excellent book, Seascapes. You can see that video here.
Great Gammon Head
Neil knows the south Devon coast extremely well and given the weather and tide conditions he suggested we try photographing around the Prawle Point area. I've visited Prawle Point a couple of times with the family so I knew of the coastline there, but I'd never taken the time to explore it properly so I was excited to see what I could discover.
Neil suggested I take a look at Gammon Head, so while he did some IR photography I took a walk along the South West Coast Path. My instinct was to get up high, but as I ascended Gammon Head, I noticed an interesting rocky outcrop (Ball Rock I believe) down on the waters edge. There was no path down to the waters edge, and while it wasn't very steep, the descent was made difficult due to the thick vegetation.
When I finally made it down there I realised how exposed and hidden this part of the coastline was. If I was to have an accident I would have no chance of been spotted by someone walking the main path and with no mobile phone signal, I wouldn't be able to call for help. I decided that if I visit this location again I wouldn't do so on my own.
All that said, I was down there now and it was time to take some photographs. The light was fading fast by this point so I had to work fast.
My gut feeling for shots at these types of locations is to go with a long exposure, but as you can see below, an exposure of just 0.5 seconds can produce pleasing results. The wider view of the sea looks a bit messy, but I really like the texture of the water around the rocks.
The Rocks at Gammon Head #1, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 24 mm, 0.5 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
Below is the same image but with a 6 stop IR ND filter from Lee. This has given me a 30-second exposure which has resulted in the image I originally had in mind. However, I'm a bit torn between this image and the version before it. Which one do you prefer?
The Rocks at Gammon Head #2, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 24 mm, 30 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and 6 Stop IR ND.
So while the first two images are pleasing enough, I wanted to fine-tune my composition. This is can be rather tricky when your down on a bit of coastline like this. Just stepping to right can mean a swim in the sea! I think I prefer the composition below as the furthest away rock now sits just above the horizon, rather than on it.
The Rocks at Gammon Head #3, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 24 mm, 30 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and 6 Stop IR ND.
Ideally, I would have liked for that furthest away rock to not only have separation from the horizon but from the mass of rock to its left. But as I mentioned earlier, that would have meant walking on water!
For the final composition at Gammon Head, I headed down as close to the waters edge as I could and decided to take a vertical image.
The Rocks at Gammon Head #4, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 24-70 mm f/2.8 VR at 27 mm, 30 seconds at ISO 64, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and 6 Stop IR ND.
I wouldn't normally publish so many similar images in the same blog post, but I wanted to share with you what I was doing and why. Hopefully, you found it interesting. Moving around a scene just a little can yield very different photographs.
Stars at Prawle Point
One of the other benefits of shooting with someone else is that you may find yourself photographing something a little different. As the sunset, the clouds started to clear so we decided to head up to the coastguard lookout at Prawle Point. Neil suggested this would make for an ideal location for some night sky photography.
I am in no way a night sky / astro photographer. I've done a bit of reading on the subject so I understand some of the basics around camera setup. I have even taken the odd night sky photograph, but nothing really serious. So capturing an image of this location in the dark was going to be a challenge. This challenge became even more obvious as I watched Neil set up his camera and take photographs like it was the middle of the day!
Anyway, I was having fun and I wasn't not going to let a thing like experience put me off having a go! So while the image below is not going to win any awards, I rather like it. I have to admit that there was a little luck involved in getting the shot. I couldn't really see very much, making focusing on anything difficult. I did have a head torch, but the beam wasn't strong enough to light the building, so I either guessed it or get Neil to use his head torch. Composition in the dark wasn't exactly easy either!
A Stary Night at Prawle Point Coastguard Lookout, Devon - Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35 mm f/4 at 16 mm, 15 seconds at ISO 1600, f/14.
Every year I promise myself that this will be the year that I get into astrophotography. I find the night sky fascinating, and now that I've got a little extra motivation, maybe this is the time I follow through on my promise.
I really enjoyed my time at Prawle Point and Gammon Head. It was really good to explore somewhere new and to try out something a little different. I was glad I didn't just head out to somewhere I knew and played it safe!
So which of my Gammon Head shots do you prefer? Do you do any astrophotography? How much time to do you spend just exploring new locations? Let me know in the comments below.