Friends, Failures and Being Frozen
In the blog this week I tell you about a trip to Brentor church with friends where the freezing weather resulted in a failed attempt at shooting a video on the D850!
Let's Go Back To Brentor
It's rare that I have a Saturday afternoon available for photography so when one did present itself a few weeks ago, I wasn't going to let it slip by. Even if the weather conditions weren't necessarily going to be great. Though the setting sun was in a direction that would give me good light on the church, the skies were going to be very clear. However, one of the things I've learnt over the years is to take some weather forecasts with a pinch of salt. But would I get an epic sunrise like I did on my last visit to Brentor?
Most of my trips out with the camera are a bit last minute. This makes it difficult to make arrangements to meet up with fellow photographers. So when friend and fellow photographer Andy Hobbs said he could join me on my trip to Dartmoor I was delighted to have the company.
Things I love About the D850
It's me doing some filming. A rare behind the scenes shot taken by Andy.
One of my goals of going to Brentor Chruch was to shot my video called 8 Things I Love About the Nikon D850. If you click on that link you'll see I have indeed published that video but you'll also see it certainly isn't filmed at Brentor.
My plan for Brentor was fairly straightforward. I would arrive a couple of hours before sunset, do some filming, and then capture a great sunset. What could go wrong?
When we arrived we found we had the best spot to shoot Brentor to ourselves. This is rare, especially for a Saturday. However, the skies were very clear and while this makes it all look very lovely, it is a bit of a nightmare for photography and for video because of the high contrast of bright and shadow areas. Then there was the cold. Brentor is notorious for being windy and cold.
When my hands were warm I was happy to double check the audio. Thanks again to Andy for the BTS shot.
The filming started off OK, and it was really great having Andy there to help out, but sometimes you just can't find your mojo. Maybe it was the strong light from the sun or just the cold wind, but it just seemed to take me an age to get into my stride.
While I managed to get all the scenes shot for the video, I, unfortunately, skipped a few steps that I would normally take to ensure certain things have worked correctly. When I later got home and went to edit the video I noticed that some of the clips shot towards the end had no audio. What probably had happened is that as I got colder I probably didn't rigorously check things after and it appeared that I had disconnected the mic from the audio recorder.
This failure to check my recordings, something I normally always do, resulted in the entire video shoot being scrubbed. To be honest, I also don't think it was my best time behind the camera so in some respects I was happy to shoot it again in a few days time at a different location.
The Photographs
Shooting that video was only half the purpose of the trip. Of course, I wanted to get some good landscape photographs as well. Unfortunately, the sunset wasn't the best I'd seen at Brentor, but we still got some nice light.
Filming was done, it was time to move onto capturing some still images. Thanks again to Andy for the BTS shot.
I took a couple of frames and I even tried out the focus shift feature of the D850 for the first time. I did a very rough focus stack in Photoshop, and while the image could do with a bit more finesse, it is clear the image has better sharpness from back to front than from the single frame.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 at 23mm, ISO 64, 1/13th sec at f/13 - single image
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 at 21mm, ISO 64, 1/6th sec at f/4.6 - focus stacked
Despite the failed video and the lack of interest in the sky for the pictures, it was still time well spent out with the camera. It was great chatting with Andy and we had a great laugh. There might even be some funny video outtakes that I might publish one day!
So have you ever had things go wrong on a shoot? What's your worst disaster? Let me know in the comments below.
30 Minutes at Great Mis Tor
In the blog this week I head to Great Mis Tor to capture some snow landscape images of Dartmoor. The trouble was I only had 30 minutes to do it!
Tight Timelines
When my friend, who also happens to be a photographer, called me to tell me snow was forecast for Dartmoor and would I like to join him on a morning shoot, I just had to say yes. What better way to start the day than a quick hike up to Great Mis Tor to capture some morning light, and hopefully a little snow.
As is sometimes the way, the timing of this too good miss offer wasn't great. I had commitments that morning that I could not miss. So I decided to work out all the timings to see I could fit it all in.
I would need to get up at 05:30 to meet my friend at 06:30. It would then be a short drive of about 20 minutes to get to the car park near the start of the walk. It's then about another 20 to 30-minute walk up to Great Mis Tor.
Sunrise was going to be about 08:04, and I would need to be back in the car no later than 09:00. It was going tight that was for sure!
Beautiful Dartmoor
On the morning of the shoot, things started off as expected. We started our walk up to Great Mis Tor with great enthusiasm and chat about the recent Star Wars film and the lack of Game of Thrones in 2018. As we walked up there was a distinct lack of snow, but as we approached Great Mis Tor we found the ground covered with a light dusting of snow. It looked beautiful.
I'd never been to Great Mis Tor before and I surprised by how large an area it was. With only about 15 to 20 minutes before sunrise, I was going to have to work fast to work out what compositions I was going to shoot. I could spot different weather conditions all around me so I also knew things could and probably would change rapidly.
Go Go Go!
After a little scout about, the action started fairly quickly. I was mostly relying on my instincts as I went from spot to spot capturing images. I was glad that I was well versed in the workings of the D850 so I was able to setup and shoot with the camera with ease, allowing me to concentrate on compositions.
As predicted the weather and conditions changed rapidly. We had everything from pink clouds to snow showers to beautiful light on the surrounding hills. It was fun and exciting, but hard work. Here are the photos that I captured:
In retrospect, I wasn't able to make the most of my time there and I perhaps could have captured stronger images. It was always going to be a challenge though given the amount of time I had there, and my lack of experience with the location (and it's many viewpoints). Did I regret my visit? Of course not!
There is almost always something to be gained from a trip out with the camera. Firstly I got to visit a new location. Great Mis Tor is definitely a location I will photograph again. It was also great being up on Dartmoor. A walk on Dartmoor is always a special thing, but when it snows it can be magical. (If you want to see what I mean check out my vlog from Belstone Common). And finally, it was great to have the opportunity to catch up with a friend. Overall, time well spent in my opinion!
So have you had the chance to shoot any snowy landscapes this year? Do you take every opportunity to squeeze in time with the camera? Let me know in the comments below.
Snow on Belstone Common
In this blog post and video, I head up to Belstone Common on Dartmoor to catch the first snow of the winter.
Snow!
I think most landscape photographers like a bit of snow. It's rare to see here in the south west of England, so when it does come it can transform the winter landscape from dull and boring, to crisp and white. It can really change the look of a location and provide opportunities to shoot something a little different.
When my wife casually mentioned that snow was forecast my first reaction was for disbelief. It was November and probably a little early for snow. However, I'm not one to miss an opportunity so I checked the Will It Snow forecast and was happy to see that there was a 57% chance of snow on Dartmoor.
I got my thinking hat on and thought the higher up I went on Dartmoor, the greater the chance of snow there would be. I then remember Belstone Common, a location that I've photographed before. It's close to home, easy to access and importantly over 400m above sea level.
Despite the 50/50 odds on it snowing, I couldn't miss this potential opportunity, so I got my gear ready and made plans for an early start the next day.
You can see how I got on in my latest 5 Minute Photo Adventure video below:
The Images
Here are the images that I captured that you will have seen in the video.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 at 18mm, ISO 64, 3 seconds at f/13, Lee Filters 0.6 ND graduated filter.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 at 18mm, ISO 64, 1/5th second at f/13.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 at 18mm, ISO 64, 1/5th second at f/13, Lee Filters 0.6 ND graduated filter.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 at 19mm, ISO 64, 1/8th second at f/13, Lee Filters 0..6 ND graduated filter.
I hope you enjoyed the video and the images I captured. I certainly had fun up on Dartmoor that morning, despite the freezing temperatures. It really is mornings like that I look forward to. A lot of action, changing conditions, and plenty of opportunities to capture images.
So have you photographed any snowy scenes this winter? What is your favourite season to photograph? Let me know in the comments below.
Amazing Light at Brentor Church
In the blog this week I tell about how I was treated to a spectacular sunset at Brentor Church!
Finally, decent light!
For those of you who read my blog on a regular basis, you will know that I've not been the happiest of photographers recently. Despite being the very proud owner of a new Nikon D850, I've not been having much luck with the weather recently. This has played havoc with my creative adventures! However, this all changed a couple of weeks ago when I visited Brentor Church and I was treated to an epic sunset.
The night before I visited Brentor Church on Dartmoor, I also visited another Dartmoor location, Honeybag Tor. It was one of those evenings where you think your photographic mojo has completely deserted you. I found myself mumbling "why do I even bother" as I wandered back to the car.
I'm not one to stay down for too long though. The very next morning, armed with a cup of coffee I got back on the computer and started checking the weather forecast for that evening. Best thing to do when you've had a bad trip out with the camera is get back out there and try again. After all, I have talked about the value of practice and perseverance before on this blog. So I took on my own advice and got to planning a trip out with the camera.
I looked at the weather forecast, and even though it was forecast for nearly 80% cloud coverage, thanks to yr.no (a Norwegian weather service), I could see that most of that cloud would be high up. With virtually no lower cloud cover there would be a chance that just around sunset the golden light of the sun would illuminate the underside of that higher cloud.
After a recent visit to Brentor Church, I was keen to revisit this Dartmoor location. So with a good weather forecast, and a wonderful location picked, I set off with a positive, but cautious frame of mind.
What's It Called?
I normally like to share the details of where I've taken a photograph, so I normally try and include a map. While adding the map for Brentor Church below I noticed a couple of things.
The map above refers to Brent Tor, Brentnor, and St Michael's Church. So what is this location called? Well I did a little checking and to give the church its full name it's called The Church of St. Michael de Rupe (St. Michael of the Rock), which is located on Brent Tor, near the villages of Brentor, South Brentor, and North Brentor.
I believe the church is commonly known as Brentor Church. So looking at the Google Map above I can only assume that some of those location spots are user submitted and contain minor errors. Anyway, now we all know what it should be called and how to spell it!
Lost for Words
My plan for Brentor Church was not only to take photographs but to also shoot one of my 5 Minute Photography Adventure videos. However, as I was visiting the location on a Friday evening and the weather forecast was good, I knew there would be a good chance there would be other photographers there. The problem with that is that I just can't seem to present to the camera when someone else is watching! I'm just too self-conscious!
As suspected though, when I arrived, there were already a few photographers there. I told myself to just get on with it and get filming. But I didn't. To be honest, it was nice to keep the video gear in the bag and just chat to some fellow photographers. One of the photographers was from Wales and the other was a local photographer called Lee Smith (check out his work here). Both chaps were excellent company and we got to enjoy a very special sunset together.
Changing Light
Brentor Church, like many locations, benefits greatly from good light. The ideal conditions would be to have a dramatic sky, and the side of the hill and church illuminated by some nice side lighting from a setting sun. The image below gives you a hint of what that might look like.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 18mm, ISO 100, 0.6 sec @ f/13, Lee Filters circular polariser and ND grad.
On the night that I was there, that side lighting didn't last too long. Unfortunately, the sunset behind some distant low cloud. However, in the next photo, you can just about see the sky and clouds starting to change colour.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 22mm, ISO 64, 210 sec @ f/13, Lee Filters circular polariser, Little Stopper and ND grad.
And then, just as the sunset, the sky lit up in spectacular fashion! All of a sudden the sky was full of pinks and blues. This allowed me to capture my favourite image of the night.
Nikon D850, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 18mm, ISO 100, 5 sec @ f/13, Lee Filters circular polariser and ND grad.
The amazing sky can't have lasted much more than 5 minutes and you can see from the following two photographs how quickly the sky can change in a few minutes. I was glad I was up there early and had everything set up and ready to shoot before the action started.
It was a wonderful evening of photography. Not only did I get some images that I was very happy with but I had a great time chatting with some fellow photographers. I will get that video of Brentor Church done one day. Not that I need an excuse to visit this great location again.
So have you shot Brentor Church before? What was the best sunset you've photographed? Let me know in the comments below.
Belstone Common
In the blog this week I tell you about my recent trip to scope out new locations on Belstone Common on Dartmoor.
A Backup Location
A couple of weeks ago I told you about my unsuccessful adventure to find and shoot some stooks. However, I always knew there would be a risk that I wouldn't find any stooks, so I made sure I had a plan B. Nothing worse than going out with the camera and not taking any photos at all!
As usual, I had a look at my custom Google map to see what locations were nearby to my primary location. I quickly spotted Belstone Common on the northern edge of Dartmoor. I had marked this location as one that I needed to return to. As I hadn't been there since 2015 I thought this would be the perfect time to go.
When I couldn't find any stooks I was glad that I had the foresight to think of another location. It was only another 30 minutes in the car so it wasn't long before I had parked up and started the walk up into the hills.
Location Scouting
Though I had a backup location, one thing I wasn't able to plan for was the weather. While the forecast was suited well to taking pictures of stooks, it wasn't optimal for taking big vista shots on Dartmoor. However, if there is one thing that I have learned about Dartmoor is that the weather can be very different up there on the moor (as I found out on a recent trip to Brentor Church).
It's a nice walk from the car park up on to Belstone Common. If you are thinking of going yourself you should be aware that it is on a MOD firing range, so be sure to check if it is open to the public when you visit.
There is a lot to shoot up on Belstone and there are a number of viewpoints and tors to shoot. Though I had visited this location before, this trip was more about finding compositions for later dates. Given that the skies weren't that interesting I was happy enough just wondering about and doing some exploring.
Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @ 31mm, f/13, 1/25 sec, ISO 100, Lee Filters ND grad.
The first shot I took (above) was of Winter Tor and beyond. I really like this view as it gives you a nice wide view of Dartmoor as it stretches off into the distance. I took this shot around 90 mins before sunset so the light is still a bit too harsh for my liking, but in terms of a location to return to it's definitely on the list. Next time I might try it at dawn and perhaps with a longer lens.
Not Enough Time
The great thing about Belstone Common is that there is so much to shoot. Unfortunately, as I arrived only a short time before sunset I did have to rush around a little. I felt there was so much more to explore. However, that gives me a great reason to return!
Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35mm f/4 @22mm, f/13, 0.6 sec, ISO 100, Lee Filters ND grad.
With time running out and sunset due in 30 minutes I started my descent back to the car and to a location, I had spotted on the way up. I took the image above just before the sun went behind a cloud, killing off any hopes of a dramatic sunset. However, as with the previous image, it is a location that I will visit again.
As I continued my descent back to the car I was happy with what I had captured and pleased that I had made the decision to visit Belstone Common. I would definitely be back!
Goodbye Nikon D750
As I write this blog it looks like that this might well have been the last trip out with my Nikon D750. It's time to trade in for a different camera. But which one I hear you cry! Well, with any luck I'll be revealing which camera it is on next weeks blog post.
So do you always head out with a plan B location? Do you do a lot of location scouting? Which camera do you think I'm getting next? Let me know in the comments below.
Brentor Church
In the blog this week I head off to Brentor Church on the edge of Dartmoor. Read about how the cold weather almost sends me home early but by sticking around for a break in the weather I was treated to some lovely evening light.
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.
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.
Summer Solstice in Devon
In this blog post, I share my Summer Solstice Landscape Photography in Devon video. Join me as I head to two classic Devon locations, Dawlish Warren beach and Dartmoor, and take images either end of the longest day.
Summer Solstice Plan
I'm always thinking about what my next YouTube video will be about. I keep all these ideas in a notebook so that when I'm looking for a fresh idea I have some inspiration. I was looking through the list the other day and I spotted something that I had added some time ago. The idea was relatively straightforward. On the day of the summer solstice, I would shoot one dawn photo and one sunset photo.
With sunrise on the day being around 5 am I needed to go somewhere local. I like to get to a location 1 hour before actual sunrise so wherever I was going to be I would need to be there for 4 am. Now, I like getting up in the morning as much as the next landscape photographer, but even I was going to struggle to get up that early in the morning!
So I looked at my custom Google locations map and spotted a favourite local location, Dawlish Warren beach. Sure I would still need to get up at 3:15 am, but the weather forecast was good and the sun would rise from a direction that would give me some good light (hopefully).
For the sunset location, I would also need to go somewhere local. I knew that when I returned from Dawlish Warren beach that I would still have the school run to do, then a full day of work, and then I had some family commitments. In all likelihood, it would be nearly 8 pm before I headed out. Even with sunset being around 9:30 pm, that didn't leave me a lot of time to get somewhere. To be honest, even if I was able to get out earlier I didn't want to have a big drive to do when I'd already been up since 3:15 am!
I'm really fortunate that I live near Dartmoor so this seemed like a great place to go. I was thinking about going to Bowerman's Nose, but as I had just recently shot a video there, I decided that a good option would be Emsworthy Tor. Though Dartmoor would be busy in the evening with people watching the summer solstice sunset, Emsworthy Tor is a little bit further off the beaten track so should be a little quieter. It's a classic Dartmoor location and if I were to get some good evening light I could be onto a winner.
So how did I get on? Let's take a look at the video:
As I said in the video you can take a look at the images (plus a couple of bonus ones) in a bit more detail below.
Dawlish Warren
5:12 am, Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 @ 30mm, ISO 100, 4 seconds, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
5:41 am, Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 @ 19mm, ISO 100, 30 seconds, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser and Little Stopper.
Emsworth Tor
9:14 pm, Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 @ 24mm, ISO 100, 0.8 seconds, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
9:22 pm, Nikon D750, Nikkor 16-35 f/4 @ 18mm, ISO 100, 1 second, f/13, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
I hope you enjoyed watching the video and looking at the images. Did you go out for Summer Solstice to do some photography? What's the earliest you've ever got up in the morning to take a photo? What's the latest time you've seen the sunset? Let me know in the comments below.
Bowerman's Nose - 5 Minute Photo Adventure
In this blog post, I show you my 5 Minute Photo Adventure video of Bowerman's Nose on Dartmoor. I also discuss the image I took there and how it compares to the previous images I took of this unique location.
I have a bit of a long history with Bowerman's Nose on Dartmoor. I last wrote about this location back in October 2016 in a post entitled Perseverance - Photographing Bowerman's Nose. In that post, I talked about my desire to capture an image that I felt did this unique location justice. On paper, it shouldn't be too difficult to shoot but it's a location that needs good light. I've come close a couple of times and last time I got pretty close to what I was looking for.
Probably my best image of Bowerman's Nose.
But there's more to this location than just my desire to create an image that meets my vision. Simply put I like shooting there and I think you would to. To help inspire you I thought I would create one of my 5 Minute Photo Adventure videos.
You can see the Bowerman's Nose video right here:
Near Epic Conditions
As you'll have seen in the video, I had near epic conditions. It was looking like I wasn't going to get any good light when all of a sudden the sun dropped below a cloud and bathed the moor in a bright orange light. It was spectacular.
If only the light had reached Bowerman's Nose... Nikon D750, Nikon 24-70mm f/2.8 @ 35mm, ISO 800, 1/50 second, f/16, Lee Filters ND 0.9 soft edge grad.
What that image is really missing is light on the side of Bowerman's Nose. The light being scattered on the trees in the background is lovely and if it had just reached where I was it could have lifted the image from OK to spectacular. Just take a look at the image at the top of this blog post to see what a difference good light can make to Bowerman's Nose.
I've seen Bowerman's Nose in all sorts of light, and this last visit to shoot my video has actually inspired me even more to visit it again. I know this location has all sorts of potential and I hope you have seen that to. As I said in the video, Dartmoor is one of the best places to come as a landscape photographer and if haven't already been hopefully this video will give you that extra nudge.
Have you photographed Bowerman's Nose? Have you experience near epic conditions? Let me know in the comments below.
Venford Brook
After a heavy rainfall, I decided to head off to Venford Falls again to see if I can't improve on the images from my last visit. I also discover that there is plenty more to photograph around Venford Falls as I go exploring downstream and take some intimate landscapes.
It was only a few weeks ago that I wrote about a visit to Venford Falls. In the blog post I told you how I attempted to improve on an image of the falls that was in my portfolio. Though the area around the falls was lush and green, the lack of rain had made it look a bit dry. So while the image was good, and a little different from the image of last year, I wasn't sure it was any better.
Back to the Falls...Again
If you read that blog post and saw the images you may have thought there would be little point in returning so soon and at the same time of year. However, not only did I want to take an image of the falls after a rainfall, but I also wanted to explore the area around the falls a bit more.
Fortunately, as is the way in the UK, I didn't really have to wait to long for the next downpour of rain and soon I was heading back to Venford Falls. With the ground being a bit wetter the walk down the steep hillside tot the falls was a little treacherous, but I was happy to see the green on the rocks was looking, well, rather moist!
So looking at the 3 images it's still hard to say which is better. My most recent image improves the image from the 9th of May thanks to the rainfall, but I'm not sure it's better than the image from 2016. I prefer the size and placement of the foreground rock in the most recent image, but I still prefer the look and clarity of the pool from the 2016 image. Honestly, I still think there is room for improvement so I may just have to go back and try again!
Just before I move on to Venford Brook, there was another shot that I wanted to take on this visit.
Nikon D750, Nikon 16-35mm f/4 @ 20mm, ISO 100, 2 seconds, f/16, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
As you can see this is a much wider angle of the falls adding some trees and sky to the top of the composition. I'm not sure these elements add too much to the image, but they do provide a better sense of scale and place. What do you think?
Venford Brook
With my waterfall shots in the bag, I decided that I was going to follow the brook downstream to see if there was more to shoot than just the falls. I was happy to find that I didn't have to wonder to far to find something interesting.
Nikon D750, Nikon 16-35mm f/4 @ 30mm, ISO 400, 0.6 seconds, f/16, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
The brook had carved an interesting flow down the moss covered rocks and I thought it might make for an interesting intimate landscape image. This kind of landscape photography isn't normally something I go for. I'm normally a big vista type of photographer, but sometimes you see something and you know you need to make an image from it.
Nikon D750, Nikon 16-35mm f/4 @ 31mm, ISO 400, 0.5 seconds, f/16, Lee Filters Circular Polariser.
If you've read the shooting details of those images you will have noticed that I shot the images of the brook using ISO 400. With this type of shot it's easy just to extend the exposure as long as you can but with water in rivers and streams, 0.5 seconds is just about right. So raising my ISO shortened my exposure time without any noticeable loss of image quality.
I was glad that I'd spent the time doing a bit of exploring around Venford. While the falls are very attractive and make for great photographs, it's important not to get too attached to a specific location, particularly if there are good images to be had just downstream!
So what did you think of the images of the waterfalls? Do you have a favourite? Do you take intimate landscapes? Let me know in the comments.
Venford Falls
In my blog this week I tell about a recent trip to Venford Falls where I hoped to create an even better version of the image that's in my portfolio. Would an additional 12 months of Photography experience help me achieve this goal?
A Favourite Location
There's no doubt in my mind that Venford Falls is one of my favourite locations. Ever since I saw an image of it over on Flickr, I knew I had to shoot it. Well, as soon as I managed to find it that was! I liked it so much I featured it my video My 5 Favourite Landscape Photography Locations in Devon.
History has taught me that Venford Falls is best shot around May time when the foliage is green and lush. So when I started planning my shoots for May, Venford Falls was on my list of must do locations for the month.
Not Enough Water
The great thing about Venford Falls is that it is feed by a stream that is fed by Venford Reservoir. This means that it almost always has a constant flow of water and together with its sheltered location it makes it an ideal location to shoot anytime of the day. However, upon my arrival at Venford Falls one sunny May evening, one thing became immediately apparent. There was a lack of water!
It wasn't a lack in water in the falls themselves but a lack in moisture on the face of the falls. Between to the waterfall flows themselves there is a rock wall which is typically covered in moss and other green plants. Due to the recent dry spell all that green was dry as a bone. If you hadn't visited Venford Falls before you might not have noticed, but it stood out for me. So while everything was green, it didn't have that lush look I was after.
Making a Better Shot
Aside from being one of favourite locations, I've also produced one of my favourite images there (which you can see on my portfolio page). One of my goals with this trip though was to try and make an even better image. This looked unlikely given the lack of moisture in the surrounding ground, but maybe I could work the composition to see I could minimise that area in the frame.
So did I make a better image? If I'm honest, no. It's a very similar image in terms of composition but when I compare the detail that dry area in the image still stands out. The image that is currently in my portfolio is better. It's not perfect though, so I will be heading back to Venford Falls as soon as it has rained!
I also took some test shots of some wider compositions. I didn't connect with them when looking at them on the back of the camera, but now that I've seen them on the computer I'm changing my mind. I've always like the tight shots of the waterfalls as the sky rarely adds anything to the image, but I think they are worth revisiting if I'm honest. I can't wait to get back to Venford Falls!
So have you been to Venford Falls? Did you shoot wide or get in closer? Have you ever improved on one of your favourite shots? Let me know in the comments below.
Snow, Glorious Snow!
In this blog post, I tell you about a recent visit to photograph Dartmoor in the snow, how I learnt a little more about a favourite location, and how I can plan my shoots more effectively.
Weather Forecast Addict
Though I do whinge about winter with its short days and fewer opportunities for landscape photography, it is also the season for snow. Snow down here in the south-west of England is rare, especially at lower elevations, but every now and again some of the higher ground will get a coating of the white stuff.
All it took was the rumour of a possible snowfall to get me excited and straight onto regularly checking the snow forecast for Dartmoor. As the weekend approached the number of times I was hitting refresh on my browser steadily increased. The "snow risk" percentage went up, then down, then up again. Towards the end of the week I was also checking the Dartmoor Webcam desperately hoping to see a dusting of snow on the ground.
Do You Wanna Build a Snowman?
When I finally saw a little snow on the Dartmoor Webcam I decided that I was going to get up early the next morning and head to Dartmoor. Even without snow, the conditions up on Dartmoor can be arctic so the first step in getting organised was to get out all my winter layers. I know from bitter experience that if I found myself freezing cold that my enthusiasm for photography would be short lived and I would be home with a cup of coffee and bacon roll before sunrise.
When I left in the morning there was no sign of snow but I already knew that I would have to go to higher ground. My planned location of Emsworthy (one of My 5 Favourite Locations for Landscape Photography in Devon) would probably be high enough so I wasn't overly worried. Sure enough just as I passed Haytor everything started to turn white. There wasn't a huge amount of snow, but I was sure there was enough to work with (or at least build a snowman).
Waiting for the Light
The signs looked good early on.
Naturally, snow on Dartmoor attracted a fair few photographers to come out so I wasn't overly surprised to be sharing my Emsworthy location with a couple of other local photographers. There's plenty of room at Emsworthy for three photographers so there were no issues over who was where and it was nice as always to have a chat and a coffee while waiting for the sun to come up.
My vision for the image I was hoping to get was relatively straight forward. In the foreground are small clumps of ground, which when illuminated by the rising sun would hopefully turn the snow a nice golden colour. This coupled with the tree and the tor in the foreground, and some dramatic clouds would make a good image. All I had to do was wait for the sun to rise and bathe the ground, tree and tor in golden light.
Always Learning
Landscape photography is rarely easy and conditions can change rapidly, for the better or for the worse. As I patiently waited for the sun to rise the cloud started to clear. Those nice big pink clouds that I thought would be a key feature of the image cleared from the sky leaving it almost clear. Not to be put off though I continued to wait.
Another problem was that when the sun had risen over the horizon, it wasn't high enough to shine over the hill behind me. What I hadn't taken into account was that during the winter months the direction of the sunrise meant it would be around 30 minutes before the sunlight would hit the foreground at my location. The problem with the sunlight 30 minutes later is it can be a bit harsh and will have lost some of its morning warmth as you can see with the image that I took below.
Nikon D750, Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8 VR at 38mm, F/11, 1/40 sec, Lee Filters ND Grad, post processed in Lightroom CC.
So while my first image lacks the punch I was hoping for I did learn something from the experience. I've shot Emsworthy a few times in the morning, but that doesn't necessarily mean that it's a good sunrise location all year round. Though I use The Photographer's Ephemeris to plan my shoots I've learnt that not only do I need to pay attention to the direction of sunrise, but the height of the surrounding ground.
Alyn Wallace has actually produced an excellent video on how he uses The Photographer's Ephemeris to plan around changes in ground elevation. I shall be watching his video a few more times! Also, be sure to check out Alyn's work, it's inspiring stuff.
Goodbye Snow
Unfortunately the arctic conditions didn't last the weekend.
The snow on Dartmoor didn't really last past that weekend so I was unable to go back out and try again. So while I was unable to get the image I was hoping for it was great, as always, to get out with the camera and practice the craft of photography. I also learnt something new about one of my favourite locations and how to plan a little bit better. So overall I call that shoot a success!
So have you been out with your camera in the snow recently? Do you use The Photographer's Ephemeris to plan your shoots? Let me know in the comments below.
My New Winter Friends
In this blog post I discuss the importance of having a close by location that you can shoot so that you can scratch that photography itch during the winter months and why it's still important to do a bit of discovery.
Winter Restrictions
Landscape photography in winter has a few advantages. Sunrise is later, sunset is earlier, and it might just snow. (Oh please let it snow on Dartmoor this year, please, please, please!). However, while sunrise and sunset are at much more sociable hours the days are very short and so are my windows of opportunity for photography. During the summer months I can spend all day at work, casually jump into my car, drive to Lands' End and still be there in plenty of time for sunset. I can go out photographing virtually any day of the week.
With winter things are very different. I still have to work and I still have a family life, but now I can't just pop out in the evening to go out and take photographs. The shorter days that come with winter are no different from any other year but this year I'm feeling the restriction more than any other year. I think this is largely due to the level of commitment I have given my landscape photography this year. This year I have committed more time than any other year to improving my art. Now all of a sudden I can't get out as much and if the weather is very bad I sometimes don't get out all in a week. I'm starting to find it frustrating!
My Old Friend
It's not all doom and gloom tough. It's not as if I can't get out with a camera, it’s just I can't get out as much. As with most working parents I have the school run to do. My responsibility is to get the kids to school every morning, except Friday. So if I'm organised and the weather is looking favourable I can just about get out for a dawn shoot on a Friday and still be back in time for work. This means that I have to go somewhere local and this is where my trusty old friend Dawlish Warren beach comes in.
Dawlish Warren is only about 25 minutes' drive from my house and as I said in my video My Top 5 Locations to Shoot in Devon, it's also one of my favourites. I've photographed the beach and the groynes many times but each visit offers something different. With variable weather conditions, changing direction of sunrise and tidal waters, each time I go I need to think how I'm going photograph it that morning.
When I visited Dawlish Warren last week it was probably at the lowest tide I had seen so I had access to shoot some of the groynes I've never been able to access before.
Given the proximity of Dawlish Warren and my desire to still practice my photography as much as possible during the winter, I expect to be visiting my old friend a lot this winter.
My New Friend
While visiting on old friend is all very good, particularly when I'm really short of time, I also need to stretch my photographic wings a little. Though time at the weekends is really family time there are windows of opportunity and they need to be put to good use. There is the temptation to visit locations I've been before but winter is also a good time to go out and do a bit of discovery.
Last weekend I got up early and went to North Tor and Bench Tor on Dartmoor. These two tors are very close together and offer all round views of Dartmoor. I actually discovered this location by accident. I was looking through some old issues of Outdoor Photography and came across Bench Tor in the Locations Guide section (which is a great source of inspiration and ideas). I knew roughly knew the area as it's very close to one of my other favourite Devon locations to photography, Venford Falls.
Arriving at the car park in the dark I put on my head torch and began the relatively short walk up to Bench Tor. As with most dawn shoots in the cold I questioned my sanity but a blast of hot black coffee soon put me in the correct frame of mind. As most landscape photographers know it actually starts to get light around an hour before official sunrise so as I wondered about Bench Tor and nearby North Tor I could start to see lots of possibilities for compositions.
Very much an exploratory shot but as this was a new location for me I wanted to try and get a few shots for reference.
With so many possibilities, including options for sunrise and sunset shoots I think I have found a new friend for winter. Though I expect the best photographs will be had during spring and autumn months I think I will spend a bit of time up there working out how to make the most of it when winter finishes. That is unless it snows in which case the big views up there will be amazing.
So do you struggle to find time during the winter to get out with the camera? Do you have a go-to location that is nearby? Do you use the winter months to get out and discover new locations? Let me know in the comments below.
My Favourite / Top 5 / Best Landscape Photography Locations in Devon
In this special blog post and video I take you on a mini tour of my 5 favourite landscape photography locations in Devon.
A Personal Selection
As a landscape photographer living in Devon I am spoilt for choice when it comes to shooting locations. I have access to Dartmoor National Park, large areas of the South West Coast Path, and everything in between. I shouldn't really ever run out of places to shoot.
Even though I have all this variety I can't help but have a few favourite locations. So in this video I'm going to take you on a mini tour of my five favourite locations to shoot landscapes in Devon. I've chosen a mixture of coastal and inland locations as well as choosing to shoot at dawn and dusk. Some shoots were more successful than others but I'm hoping the video will give you some ideas and inspire you to visit and photograph those locations yourself.
So why not check out the video below and let me take you on a tour of Devon...
If you need a little more information on the locations I have visited or just want to see the images in a bit more detail then please do read on!
Dawlish Warren
The groynes along the beach at Dawlish Warren offer some great lines for your composition. Long exposures often work well at this location as well, especially in poor light.
Don't forget to shoot the beach huts.
Venford Falls
Venford Falls as shot on the video. A polariser is very handy to control the reflections.
Spring is my favourite time to visit as all the moss is at its best.
Emsworthy
Both the rocks and the tree are great elements to include in your composition. This location is good to shoot at both dawn and dusk.
Turn 90 degrees and you'll find a few other compositions to shoot.
Froward Point
Shooting at sunset will typically provide the best light but what ever time you visit please be careful on the rocks!
If you've got good light shoot Daymark Tower as well.
Start Point
The classic Start Point composition. Shame about the weather!
Sometimes it pays to hang around a little longer. There is just a splash of colour in the sky in this image.
In Summary
Hopefully this video and blog post has given you a little inspiration to not only shoot these locations, but also the wider Devon. It really is a fantastic part of the country with huge variety in locations and conditions.
So what are you favourite locations either in Devon or further afield? Did you find this video useful or inspiring? Is there a location in Devon or the south west that you recommend I visit? As always let me know if the comments, and remember to like and share this post! See you next time.
Perseverance - Photographing Bowerman's Nose
In this blog post I discuss the power of perseverance and why I keep going back to Bowerman's Nose on Dartmoor.
A Slight Obsession
I can't exactly remember how I found out about Bowerman's Nose. It might have been in a magazine, or a book, or even on Flickr. How I found out about this location is largely irrelevant though. My desire, or maybe obsession, in capturing an image of Bowerman's Nose that meets my artistic vision is more to the point though.
For those of you who haven't heard of Bowerman's Nose, it's a tall pillar of granite on Dartmoor. It's very distinctive and is surrounded by rolling hills. Given the right light and conditions it can make for a beautiful photograph. The problem for me is that I've never really managed to capture an image that does the location justice. Some of my early failings were due to poor technique, but latterly it's more to with poor conditions.
Part of the reason I'm probably so obsessed by this particular location is its close proximity to home. It's less than a 45 min drive and it's reasonably easy to get to (as long as you don't mind opening a gate and getting creative with your parking). This means that it is often my go to location on Dartmoor when the conditions are looking favourable.
Meeting Mr Bowerman
I probably made my first serious attempt at photographing Bowerman's Nose in early 2015. It was January so Dartmoor wasn't at its best, and it was a very grey and flat day. However, I do like to practice my photography so just been able to walk around and look at different compositions was valuable.
I returned in May of 2015 in the hope of better conditions. On this trip the ground was looking spring fresh, and I was getting some nice light reflecting of the edge of Bowerman's Nose from the setting sun. Unfortunately the sky was a bit bland and I wasn't getting the golden light I was looking for. Close, but not quite there. However, this trip did show me the real potential of the location.
A week later I was back again and trying a similar composition. Again, while the image was pleasing, I just felt it lacked something. While I was there I also tried my first panorama - I think Lightroom has just been given the native capability to stitch panorama's so I thought I'd give it a go.
Bowerman's Nose - May 2015
Perseverance
By the time 2016 had rolled around I had committed to myself that I was going to get an image worthy of the splendid Bowerman's Nose. I think it's part of my nature. Once I decide that I need to do something, I'll work at it until I get it done. I was determined that in 2016 all my perseverance would pay off. Obviously with some elements of of my control this would not be easy.
In May 2016 I captured this image of Bowerman's Nose. It had interesting sky (helped by the long exposure), but it lacked the light I was looking for.
Then in June 2016 I tried again, and I have to say I thought I was going get the image that night, but again, there was just something missing that evening. The image I was looking for escaped me again, but I would try, try, try again!
Gotcha!
Then, just the other evening, with only a little time between the end of work and sunset, I did a quick check of forecast and decided that I would attempt Bowerman's Nose again. When I got there the conditions looked good so I literally bounded up the hill and got my tripod setup. Would I finally be lucky?
Bowerman's Nose - October 2016
As you can see, yes I did. Well, it is at least my best image from that location. No it's not perfect and there is always room for improvement, but it is my best and favourite image from there. I finally feel that my perseverance had paid off.
Goodbye Mr Bowerman?
So am I done with Bowerman's Nose? Now that I have the image I wanted will I ever go back? Of course I will! There is always room for improvement. There are many different compositions to be had, different lighting conditions, even snow! It's an amazing location, and being so close to home it's always going to be on my radar to go back to.
So do you have a favourite location that you like going to? Is there a location you keep visiting in the hope that you'll get something special there one day? Do you preserve or just move on? Let me know in the comments.
Location Scouting in the Teign Valley
In this video blog post I head out to Fingle Bridge and the Teign valley to scout out some locations for an autumn themed shoot.
The Importance of Scouting
The time I spend with the camera is precious. I have a full time job and a family that keeps me really busy so when I do get out I like to make the most of it. Sometimes I just go out to practice with my camera (see my blog post on practicing) or I'll go out to scout out a location. For me scouting out a location can be a really good use of time. For locations such as the upper Teign valley near Fingle Bridge in Devon, having a number of spots already picked out means that when the golden hour comes I'm only worrying about composition and not finding a good location.
In this short video I take you on a recent trip to the upper Teign Valley where I spend some time walking the path looking for locations that I can use for some autumnal shots that I want to take there. I'm travelling light with my Sony RX100M4 and a Manfrotto BeFree Carbon tripod but it allows me to quickly take shots from locations as I move along the valley.
Here's the video:
Mission Successful?
Here are the images that I took from the locations I scouted:
Now I'll be the first to admit that these aren't award winning images. The composition was setup up quickly and the light not exactly at its best but it does give me some really good ideas on where I want to shoot when I do go up there when the autumnal colours are in there full glory.
I also originally had this location down as a sunrise only location but because of this scouting exercise I'm fairly sure I could get images at either end of the day. So was it worth while? Well yes. Anytime with the camera is good but I feel more prepared to shoot this particular location now.
Do You Scout?
Do you spend time scouting out the locations you want to shoot? Or do you just turn up and see what takes your eye? Let me know in the comments.