Wednesday 30 November 2016

Curbar Edge - Photography Week 39 (2016)

Sunlight under dark clouds often produces dramatic landscape photographs and this was certainly the case on Curbar Edge during photography week 39 (end of September 2016):


In the above image, the stormy clouds act like a natural vignette intensifying the light falling on the landscape. Other shots from the day show how the lighter skies attract the viewing eye and don't contain the composition in the same way. This effect is emphasized when there is no direct sunlight on the land and/or shooting into the light:







In addition, this alternative composition shows how the lack of light in the valley reduces the depth of the image by splitting the light and dark areas on a diagonal from top left to bottom right. The main image above has a better viewing line from the foreground partial millstone, to the stack, and then to the valley below:


It is these small elements which makes one image better than another and even when a particular scene is frequently photographed, it is the differences in light that makes return visits worth while.


Tuesday 29 November 2016

Best of the Rest - Photography Week 38 (2016)

These are a selection of photographs taken during photography week 38 that are not included in previous posts:

Clipstone Forest

I went looking for the first hints of autumn colour in the forest. It was hard to see any real colour in the wide angle shots but close up there were signs of the leaves beginning to yellow:






Newark Barges

I have previously photographed the maintenance barges on the river in Newark-on-Trent but this time they have received a make-over with some bright yellow and blues on show:








Shadows and rust along the river:








No admittance:


Newark Castle wall and reflections:



Hawthorn Tree

This is a regular composition in fields below Robin Hood Hill. It works best with a long lens and low evening light:


Hexgreave Estate

The beech trees are the first to show some colour on footpaths across the Hexgreave Estate:



A green buffer zone around one of the fields makes an interesting, almost abstract, image:


The ferns are starting to yellow and bronze:


Lake ripples:



Sluice gate compositions:







Monday 28 November 2016

Gritstone - Photography Week 38 (2016)

It was far too blustery to set up properly on Curbar Edge, although it was pleasant enough when the sun was out. These days I tend to draw the line for traditional wide angle landscape photography when the tripod has to be anchored with the kit bag (unless, of course, the scene is exceptional). My preference in these conditions is to hand-hold the camera and search for alternative subject matter.

On this occasion the alternative was gritstone compositions including the pancake layered sediments and the more angular remnants of quarried rock:


















As the weather changed there was a opportunity to capture light moving across Eyam Moor and the summit of Sir William Hill:




In the other direction showers passed over Stoke Flat and Big Moor: