Normally, the best landscapes are completed in the last hour or so of sunlight when the contrast is softer and the tones are warmer. Without this final hour of light the photography process can't be fully completed and this was reflected in the results.
The process generally starts with establishing compositions. This is done by taking a number of shots that can be replicated when the lighting conditions are at their best. As a rule, these test shots are properly set up and exposed so they can be assessed on the back of the camera. I look at how the light falls on key elements in the scene as well as the overall composition. Thumbnail previews are very useful for assessing broad shapes and lines in a composition and thumbnail appeal is a good predictor for the final shots.
These are some of the test images taken on the day:
Generally, I keep repeating and assessing the better compositions as the light changes but if there is time I like to capture any points of interest or details in the locality. On Birchen Edge, for example, there is the three ships rocks and Nelson's monument (seen in the pictures above).
The plaque below the monument says: Nelson's Monument. Erected in 1810 to the memory of Admiral Lord Nelson to commemorate the Battle of Trafalgar. A.D. Nelson died Oct. 21 1805. Restored in 1992 by the 1805 club and the Peak District National Park.
Three ships rocks:
Each of the three rocks are engraved with the names of ships from the Battle of Trafalgar: Victory, Defiance, Royal Soverin:
Having set myself up for some golden hour shots it became evident that I was going to lose the light early. This record shot shows the progress of grey clouds moving my way and whilst the loss of the light was disappointing it is all part of landscape photography. It is also another reminder that the most enjoyable part of photography is the photographic activity rather than the final results.
No comments:
Post a Comment