Brentor Church

A Bit of Inspiration

I often look for inspiration using my personal locations map that I created using Google Maps. One evening I was looking for something local to shoot when I noticed a map pin on Brentor (St Michael de Rupe) Church on the edge of Dartmoor. I've shot the location a few times but never got an image that I was really happy with, so I thought this would be a good time revisit the old church on the hill.

The weather forecast was for broken cloud and no rain, and the direction of the sunset was favourable for good lighting along the side of the hilltop and church.   I had been stuck in the office all day and I was looking forward to getting outside into the fresh air and taking some images.

Wild Dartmoor

The weather at home that day had been very summery so when it came to outdoor clothing I decided to keep things light and I left the thermals and down jacket at home.

When I arrived at Brentor things were a little different than they were at home. Why I should be surprised by this I don't know!  It is Dartmoor after all and having four seasons all in one day isn't exactly unheard of.  Certainly not to be put off I got my bag out of the car and made the short walk to the viewpoint.

 

To say that there was a bit of breeze up there would be an understatement!  It's not necessarily the height of the location but more that it is very exposed.  It wasn't long before I had put on my lightweight jacket, shortly followed by hat and gloves (which I always keep in the bag, fortunately).  With the skies being overcast and my body temperature dropping, I was soon feeling uncreative and considering making an early exit and going home.

Game On!

If there is one thing you can count on when photographing Dartmoor is rapidly changing conditions. While I was sitting there gradually getting colder I was keeping an eye on the weather behind me.  I could see in the distance some significant breaks in the cloud which I was hoping would lead to more interesting skies and give the sun a chance to break through. So I toughened up and waited!

I got the camera all set up and ready. Breaks in the cloud and splashes of light can be fleeting, so I needed to be ready. I then waited patiently and watched with eagerness as the rays of the sun that were breaking through the cloud gradually got closer and closer.

When the weather did break over Brentor it did so for only 10 or so minutes. I captured a few frames keeping an eye on the cloud converge over the old hilltop church and how the light was breaking on the hillside.  

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Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-34mm f/4 @ 18mm, ISO 100, 1/6 second, f/13, no filters.

The quality of the light can change dramticaly over a short space of time.

The quality of light can really make or break an image and without light from the setting sun as it broke through the cloud this image would have been much flatter. It's not to say that this image is perfect, far from it, but given the conditions I was working with I was happy with the results.

I tried a few variations on my composition and I even tried increasing the ISO for a shorter shutter speed. I thought that the shorter shutter speed would freeze the grass blowing in the wind, but I decided that keeping the movement of the grass better reflected the mood I was looking for.

So my evening up on Dartmoor was a bit of a roller coaster. Nothing hampers your creativity more than being cold and I really should have known better to head up to Dartmoor without a warm jacket!  But I'm glad I stuck it out as at the end of the day as I got some nice images and a lung full of fresh air.

So have you photographed Brentor church before?  Would you like me to make a 5 Minute Photo Adventure video there?  Have you ever been out with the camera without suitable clothing?  Let me know in the comments below.

My Top 5 Tips to Improving Your Landscape Photography

Tips for Landscape Photographers

I've been shooting landscapes since I got my first DSLR back in 2006.  However, it's probably only in the last few years that I've started to really progress as a landscape photographer.  

In this vlog, I share with you the 5 things I think will help you improve your landscape photography.  This is a personal list, and not even necessarily the only 5 things you should do.  It's just 5 things that I did that had a direct impact on my landscape photography.  Hopefully, some of them will work for you also!

In Summary

I explain the tips in the video, but for those of you who are currently unable to watch the video, the tips are:

1. Practice - Make sure you practice your photography. Practice lots!

2. Be Inspired - Have plenty of sources of inspiration!

3. Get Involved - Go on a workshop or enter for a magazine feature!

4. Get Sharing - Share your work or enter a competition!

5. Adventure - Get out there and go on a photography adventure!

And there is a bonus tip, but you'll just have to watch the video for that one!

So do you have any tips you want to share?  What things did you do to improve your skills as a photographer?  Which of my tips are you going to follow?  Let me know in the comments below.

Storms, Sunset and Start Point

Favourite Location, New Viewpoint

In my video Top 5 Locations in Devon to Shoot Landscape Photography I took you to Start Point on the south Devon coast.  I've shot there numerous times and thanks to the coastal weather I've come away with a wide variety of images.  All my visits to Start Point do have one thing in common, they have been shot at dawn and all, roughly speaking, from the same viewpoint.  

Just recently though I was inspired to shoot Start Point from a slightly different location.  I've written about the power of inspiration on this blog before and how important it is to my development as a photography.  However, it was a post by one of my favourite local photographers Matt Davis on Instagram that showed me a viewpoint that I hadn't considered before.  It was still clearly Start Point, but you could see more of the rugged coastline and it was ideal for shooting at sunset.  I had a plan!

Incoming!

 

It's about 1hr 15m drive from home to Start Point and while it's not that far as the crow flies, it does involve the navigation of a few of the smaller country roads that Devon has to offer so it often feels like a longer drive.  With the weather forecast predicting cloud at different heights I felt the drive would be worth it for a great sunset and some drama in the sky.

Watching the storm approach from the west.

I arrived at the Start Point car park, got my bag, and headed down to the view point.  As I looked west and out to sea I could see a very large rain shower coming my way.  I knew from the forecast there might be the odd bit of rain but this looked a little more than just a shower.  I stuck to my location, kept my camera in the bag, and waited.  Firstly the wind picked up, then the rain started, and then the rain got very heavy!

Determined not to be put off though I decided to shelter on the other side of the ridge that runs down to Start Point lighthouse.  It was a lot less windy by still wet.  I got my phone out and checked my favourite rain app, Rain Today.  All I could see over my location was a big, dark blue blob, indicating heavy rainfall.  the good news was that it was only forecast to last 30 minutes, and once it had passed I would still have 30 minutes before sunset.

So I did the sensible thing and went back to the car, had a cup of coffee and ate some chocolate.

Run Julian, Run!

As I sat in my car drinking my coffee I could see what was going on in most directions.  To the east, the direction the storm was going, it was looking very dark.  To the west, it wasn't really looking much better.  I was beginning to think I might not even take a single frame.  Then the thunder and lightning started and it was at that point I was very happy to have made the decision to wait it out in the car.

Spectacular conditions immediately after the storm had passed. I had to be quick just to grab this shot with the phone.

As forecast, I could eventually start to see a break in the cloud to the west.  I waited to the rain had stopped and then I grabbed my stuff and went for it again.  As soon as I got outside I spotted a double rainbow out to sea.  It looked spectacular.  Photographers often say you get some of the most dramatic conditions for photography just after a storm and from what I could see this was certainly the case.

I knew these conditions wouldn't last too long so I instinctively grabbed my phone and grabbed a shot.  I then got to work getting my DSLR out and all the associated gear.  As I feared, by the time I actually got all setup the best of the action had gone.  Not to worry, I still had time to get back to my original viewpoint and shoot the lighthouse and dark sky, but I would have to run.  Which isn't that easy with the amount of gear I had and the muddy ground but if I didn't get there in time I would only regret it.

Drama Everywhere

I got to my view point and frantically got to work getting my shot ready.  There was still plenty of drama going on.  The sky was still dark and brooding, and the rugged cliffs along Start Point were getting pounded by the sea.  Over to my right (to the west) the clouds were breaking and the low sun was producing some lovely colours.  That particular bit of action was still just out of frame, so while I had a long exposure running I grabbed a quick panorama with my mobile phone.  

I managed to grab this quick panoramic using my Nexus 6p phone. It's not perfect but it shows the scene as it was.

I kept shooting, varying my compositions slightly but the break in the cloud was just too far over to make for an interesting composition.  In hindsight, I probably should have shot a panorama with the DSLR, but there was a lot going on and I didn't have much daylight left.  However, I was still very happy with the moody shots I was getting like this one.

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Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 40mm, f/11, 129 seconds, ISO 100, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, Lee Filters Little Stopper.

I Must Be Mad

I have to admit that when the rain really started to chuck it down and I went back to the car to wait it out, I did question my sanity.  It was looking like it was going to be one of those days where not only do I not get a decent image, but I don't even get the camera out of the bag.  However, having read so many times about how some of the best images were captured right after a storm I decided to hold out.  And I'm so glad I did.  

Perhaps the only thing I should have done would be to have left the car when I had started to see the sky clear, and not when the rain had stopped.  This would have given me a bit more time to get back to my location and start shooting immediately after the storm had passed.  However, given that I still wouldn't have been able to get a break in cloud or light from the setting sun into my scene I was pretty happy with the results.

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Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 27mm, f/9, 60 seconds, ISO 100, Lee Filters Circular Polariser, Lee Filters Little Stopper.

Have you ever stayed out in horrible weather only to be treated for your perseverance?  Do you sometimes think that landscape photographers are a little mad?  Let me know in the comments.

My Favourite 5 Images from 2016

It's Been a Busy Year

Aside from starting this blog, 2016 has been a very busy year for my landscape photography.  I have been out with my camera more this year than any other.  In 2015 I went out 34 times to shoot landscapes but in 2016 I went out 46 times.  Given that I have to fit my landscape photography in between work and family life I'd say that's not a bad effort.  Of course that doesn't include the 20 gigs and music festivals I also shot in 2016.  Yes, it's been a busy year.

I've been suitably motivated and inspired this year to get out and practice with my camera.  Though I haven't been successful in two of the major landscape photography completions this year, it's still be a successful year for me.  

So in a somewhat predictable manner I am going to show you my 5 favourite images I took in 2016.  Yes I want to share my images with you but the process of selecting the images makes me look back at my catalogue so I can hopefully see an improvement over the previous year.

The Cobb

I won't easily forget this image.  It was taken on a very cold morning in Lyme Regis.  I had just about given up and was heading in for coffee and bacon rolls when the sun, which had been up for a little while, started to reflect beautifully off the side of The Cobb.  For a magic few moments the light was perfect and I shot several frames, this one being my favourite.  

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The Cobb - Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 at 22 mm, f/13, 0.6 seconds, ISO 100, Lee Filters ND Grad

Trevose Head

My first visit to Trevose Head happened back in March and it was one of those shoots where everything seems to go well.  I was feeling creative and the conditions were perfect for the type of image I wanted to capture.  I knew it had been a good day when I got home because I had so many keepers to pick from.  

The image below though never originally made the cut and I only recently discovered it while looking for a competition entry.  Despite the how much I loved the other three images from that shoot I think this is now my favourite and definately a favourite from 2016.

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Trevose Head - Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 at 19 mm, f/11, 8 seconds, ISO 100, Lee Filters Little Stopper, ND Grad.

Venford Falls

As I mentioned in my video My 5 Favourite Landscape Photography Locations in Devon, Venford Falls is one of my favourite locations.  Hidden, but not difficult to get to, the twin falls are a bit of a magical location.  I had been to the falls a couple times before but it wasn't until I visited in spring of 2016 that I got a shot that I was really happy with.

Though I had tried this composition before it was the lush green spring colour that lifted the image to make it an instant favourite.

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Venford Falls - Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 VR at 24 mm, f/16, 10 seconds, ISO 100, Lee Filters Polariser.

The Daymark Tower

Though I had tried to photograph the Daymark Tower a couple of times before, I was probably doing so at the wrong time of year.  The tower is surrounded by a farmers field so for parts of the year it's just a muddy field.  I wanted to go when the field was full of fresh crops.

My vision was clear.  I wanted the setting sun to illuminate the tower and I really wanted the fresh crops to be gently swaying in the wind.  It's not often you get everything you want but everything came together rather nicely the evening I took this image.  The light was beaufitul, the sky was lovely, and there was just enough wind to put a little movement into the crops.

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Daymark Tower - Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 at 16 mm, f/13, 1/15 second, ISO 100.

Castlerigg, The Lake District

As I previously wrote in my blog, my trip to The Lake District was challenging.  The weather was very wet making creative photography difficult.  However, through all that I took an image that not only captures the beautiful Lake District landscape but the dramatic weather that is often present.  It reminds that despite how bad the conditions can be, patience can often be rewarded.

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Autumn Storm at Castlerigg - Nikon D750, Nikkor 70-200 f/2.8 VR at 78 mm, f/9, 1/60 seconds, ISO 100, Lee Filters Polariser and ND Grad.

So what do you think of my 5 images from 2016?  Do you have a favourite?  Have you selected your top 5 or top images from 2016?  Let me know in the comments.

Inspiration and Influence

A Source of Inspiration

Inspiration is a powerful thing and for landscape photographers it can come from many sources.  It could be from seeing in image in a magazine you were reading over a coffee one morning, or from a visit to an art gallery to see the work of some of the greats.  Either way, I'm not sure many of us would have become photographers if we hadn't been inspired by someone or something. 

As a landscape photographer (who is still learning his craft), I gain a lot of inspiration from the work of other landscape photographers.  In particular I have been heavily motivated by the inspiring photographs in competitions such as Landscape Photographer of the Year. (Read my thoughts on photography competitions here).  Images like those found in Landscape Photographer of the Year have driven me to shoot more and improve the quality of my work.  Without the influential and inspiring works of others I probably would have chosen to ignore some of those 4am alarm calls or have chosen to open a bottle of wine in the evening.

In this blog post I discuss my personal photographic influences. These are the photographers that have not only inspired my creative style but also given me encouragement to publish my work, write this blog and even create videos. 

Thomas Heaton

I first discovered the work of Thomas Heaton on the Improve Photography podcast  where I pleased to hear a British photographer being interviewed.  Not only does Thomas Heaton produce stunning landscape images but he produces fantastic YouTube videos on how he goes about his photography.  It was content that I could connect to and relate to. 

His stories are wonderfully told and though I'd been thinking about blogging and vlogging for a while it was definitely the viewing of Thomas Heaton's videos that gave me that final inspiration to just get on and do it.   His images also are a great source of inspiration.  So much so that I've purchased his 2017 calendar which you can see here and purchase here.  That calendar should encourage me to see a few more 4am alarm calls.

And if you ever need some motivation or inspiration for you landscape photography check out this wonderful video by Thomas Heaton called Wake Up.

Not only is this video by Thomas Heaton inspiring, but it is a great example of how to produce engageing content.

Jared Polin - Aka FroKnowsPhoto

As with Thomas Heaton I discovered the work of Jared Polin on a photography podcast, but this time it was TWiP.  It's hard to describe Jared in words but larger than life seems apt.  His work has influenced and inspired me in two ways.  Firstly his photography has greatly influenced my music work (see my blog post on My Other Photography Life).  Through his YouTube channel I have learnt not only how to go about shooting live music but how to work my way up from shooting local venues to music festivals run by national broadcasters.

He has also been very influential in how I style the content that I'm writing now and will be in the future. If there was ever a great example of how to produce compelling and entertain content it is him.   His free video guide to branding is well worth a download and I recommend you subscribe to his YouTube channel.

My first landscape photography video.  I'm trying to make engaging content, something that Jared is a master at.  I have a long way to go, but we've all got to start somewhere.

David duChemin

David's work and videos have been inspirational in developing the artistic style of my images.  His YouTube channel has a wonderful series of videos in which he delves into the art of photography.   Topics such as intent, composition, processing and printing have all influenced my approach to photography and how I output my images.  It inspires me to improve my process and approach to taking images in the field. 

Though I will probably never visit some of the locations David has photographed, images like the those found in his Portraits of Earth collection inspire me to improve my artistic skills and develop my own personal style.

When I shot this image I had a vision in mind. It also didn't need much post-processing. This kind of approach to my photography has been influenced by the approach taken by David in his videos.

Ross Hoddinott

Ross has probably has probably inspired me the most in my journey as a landscape photography.  This will be largely due to the regular contact I have with him (see my post on Tuition and Mentoring).  Through the many 1-2-1 tuition sessions I've had with Ross I have learnt a great deal about photography and how to approach and shoot the landscape.  With each new photography skill learnt from Ross my confidence grows and it is with that growing confidence that I find myself being even more inspired to not only shoot more but to drive up the quality of my images.

Furthermore I find his images inspiring as not only is a lot of his work local to me but I find he produces images of a style and quality that I wish to aspire to.  Just check out his wonderful image of Dawlish Warren in this link. 

I created this image of a groyne on Dawlish Warren after being inspired by the work of my photography mentor Ross Hoddinott.

Always Look for Inspiration

While all these photographers have inspired and influenced my artistic style, each one has also influenced my photographic journey in other ways.  Photography is so much more than just taking images and through following the work of others I have been inspired to extend my skills as a photographer by taking on challenges such as writing this blog.

I continue to find new sources of inspiration and influence, and hopefully one day the pictures I take or the content I create will inspire a photographer to produce something special.

Which photographers inspire you to get out of bed in the morning?  Do we even need inspiration or should we try to find our own direction from the start?  Let me know in the comments.