Big Skies...

Clear blue skies of the afternoon give way to the clouds of a weather front coming in from the west, and responding to the satellite image on the Met Office's web site I take a chance and I ride west for some dusk shooting.

Fast lenses, plus the ability to change the ISO to suit lighting levels is one of the major advantages of the digital format. Not so long ago I would have been lugging a tripod around for low light photography when photographing with film, and more than likely struggling with slow emulsions and unfeasibly long exposures - now I just increase the sensitivity of the sensor and away I shoot ... ah, the annals of history.
I decide to make a number of images using a fisheye lens - mainly for graphic effect - to exaggerate the sky and bend the straight lines of the jetty.

The photograph of the Bramble Bush Bay ferry, Sandbanks, was taken just before sunset.

10.5mm f/2.8 Nikkor Fisheye. 1/160 second at f/8. -0.33 EV. ISO 400

© 2009

Afterglow...

Now that the evenings are beginning to noticeably draw in it makes dusk photography all the more conducive; I don't have to be out half the night to get images. That, plus the fact that Autumn - and the colours the season brings - is just around the corner, and I'm just itching to get amongst it with a camera.

Shooting after sunset has its rewards, but you have to be patient. Once the sun dips below the horizon most photographers pack up and go home, but sometimes the afterglow - when it happens - can be more photogenic than the sunset itself. I photographed the image tonight at Poole Harbour, Dorset, ten minutes after the sun had sunk below the horizon.

24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens. 1/50 second at f/8. -0.33 EV. ISO 640

© 2009

Ducking and Diving...

Taking a leisurely ride down to my local millpond early this afternoon I become fascinated by the behaviour of the ducks: they seemed to be playing. It's something I've never seen before, but who's to say that they don't take time out to enjoy themselves? This informal carry on consisted largely of running across the water - wings flapping as it to take off - then at the last minute diving beneath the surface, resurfacing several yards further on. This spectacle was repeated a number of times by several ducks, so I can't put it down to the odd actions of one individual. No doubt about it: they were having fun.

After each plunge they then beat their wings against the water, as if in celebration of a successful run (image).
Curious, indeed.

300mm AF-S f/4 Nikkor. 1/800 second at f/4.5. -0.33 EV. ISO 400

© 2009

Bournemouth Air Festival-Day 4...

...and the good news is that there will be an Air Festival next year, from 19-22nd August. This is almost certainly down to the report that over 1,300,000 people (Dorset police estimate) attended the event over the four days, making it the runaway success it has become in only its second year.

I shot 908 images of the air displays and now that it's over there begins the long trawl through the files, selecting the good from the not so successful, and to delete those not up to the mark. The photographs posted here are but a small selection.

① The B-17-G "Sally B" Flying Fortress



The only flying example of the Boeing aircraft in the country, it never saw active service during WW II. Plagued with engine problems, this is the first time the bomber has displayed this year.

② Two Avro aircraft - 11 years apart in design. The Avro Vulcan and the Avro Lancaster highlight the advancement of avaition development in a little over a decade (1942-1953). Although there is one other Lancaster in the world currently with an airworthy certificate (the other being in Canada) the Vulcan is the last of its kind found flying anywhere.




③ The Eurofighter Typhoon.
A canard delta wing aircraft that is notable for its flaperon - control surfaces that double as flaps and ailerons - situated below the cockpit at the front of the fuselage, and is capable of speeds in excess of Mach 2 at altitude. The photograph shows condensation occuring above the wing surfaces as the aircraft pulls G's in a tight turn - afterburners on - increasing the already low pressure over the wings which in turn is accompanied by a localised drop in temperature. If that falls below the dewpoint then the moisture in the air will condense.



Basic lens: 300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor

① 1/200 second at f/14. ISO 200
② Vulcan - 1/2500 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 320. TC-14EII
Lancaster - 1/160 second at f/16. ISO 200
③ 1/2500 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 320. TC-14EII

© 2009

Bournemouth Air Festival - Day 3...

An estimated 340,000 people turned out for the first full day of the Air Festival, which doesn't includine those watching from the 900 or so boats anchored in Poole Bay. It would appear that the event is as at least as successful as last year's, giving hope that it will become a permanant fixture during the summer.

The first image is of the RAF Falcons: the UK's premier military parachute display team, in the process of getting organised into a stacked descent, having jumped from a helicopter at 10,000 feet.

The second photograph is of the Eurofighter Typhoon, the aircraft that closed the show, seen here going vertical on its afterburners.

Both images: 300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor (VR off) and TC-14EII teleconverter. Handheld.

Top: 1/3200 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200
Bottom: 1/1250 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

The RAF Aerobatic Team (aka the Red Arrows)...

With the luxury of three displays by the Red Arrows at the Bournemouth Air Festival this weekend I opt for one of the day's to shoot at either end of the runway for a different approach, rather than just stock shots of the performance itself (of which I have many).

The RAF team always take off in formation (image), thus living up to their motto Éclat the moment they get airborne - well, before that - even the taxi configuration is as one.
As soon as the aerobatic team are out of sight I cycle to the other end of the main runway at Bournemouth International Airport to photograph their return, some 30 minutes later: but once the display is over it doesn't stop there. As professional as ever they return in formation, overfly the airfield and execute a loop - smoke on - before dispersing in all directions when they pull out of it. After regrouping they then made a second approach in-line to land individually.

They never cease to impress on me their awareness of the image they create every time they fly the BAE Hawk.

Éclat indeed.


300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor (VR off). 1/2500 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200. Handheld.

© 2009

Team Guinot...

Also featuring in the Air Festival are Team Guinot, the UK's only formation wing-walking act, which comprise today of a pair of Boeing TC-17's, although up to five aircraft can be deployed at air displays. These aircraft have radial engines, and produce a sound more in keeping with prop-driven planes.

Tomorrow is the first of three days of the RAF display team The Red Arrows, plus the Battle of Britain flypast, a B-17G Flying Fortress "Sally B" and the Typhoon Eurofighter.

300mm f/2.8 VR Nikkor (VR off) and TC-14EII. 1/2000 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

XH558 Avro Vulcan...

Today is the first day of the Bournemouth Air Festival, Dorset, and the unscheduled arrival of the Avro Vulcan stole the show. There was disappointment last year as the appearance of the aircraft was cancelled, so this flypast has helped to make up for it.

The last airworthy Vulcan in the world, this particular example is 49 years old. I understand it has cost £7 million pounds to restore the aircraft to full working order, and maintenance costs are high. Flying hours are limited to 40 or 50 a year, mainly to conserve the Olympus engines, which are limited to 1200 cycles each by the Design Authority, Rolls-Royce. By doing this it is expected to keep the aircraft flying for a further 8 years.

The Vulcan is due to make two more appearances at the show on Saturday and Sunday.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor (VR off) with TC-14EII converter. 1/1250 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Cherries picker...

In preparation for the first home match of the 2009/10 football season tomorrow, various checks are being made before safety certificates can be issued for the Fitness First stadium - the home of AFC Bournemouth.
The photograph shows one of the four floodlight pylons being inspectied this afternoon, with the assistance of the Dorset Fire and Rescue Service and their appliance-mounted Bronto Skylift ladder.

24-70 f/2.8 EX-DG Sigma lens. 1/800 second at f/8. -0.67 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Stretching Duck...

During the eight months that I've been cycling I've covered some 1,856 miles (2,987km), and in all that time it has been trouble free: until the past 6 days, where I have had two rear tyre punctures. I suppose I've previously been lucky, considering some of the terrain I've ridden over. Of course, I was fully equipped with tyre levers and inner tube patches to effect a repair, but not prepared for the valve to shear-off during inflation! Consequently I was left with a 4 mile walk home. Worse things happen at sea...

Before this dilemma I'd been photographing the ducks on Throop Millpond, on the Dorset Stour, during the early evening. Watching the ducks preening themselves and vying for position for the best sites can be novel viewing: beware the duck that moves as the spot is soon lost to others. This is usually followed by a bout of leg and wing stretching before settling down for the night (image).

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor (VR off) and x1.4 TC-4EII teleconverter. 1/1250 second at f/5. -0.67 EV. ISO 400. Monopod.

© 2009

Strutting Coot...

I've recently had the need to have one of my super-telephoto lenses cleaned and adjusted to restore it back to like-new performance.
Today is the first opportunity I've had to check it out since its return, and I cycle into the countryside in search of subjects.
The photograph of the Coot (Fulica atra) was made at Throop Mill weir on the River Stour, Dorset, this afternoon. I had to attach a x1.4 teleconverter to increase the reach of the lens, and as usual the combination works superbly - even with the lens wide open. I'm constantly amazed at the size of feet that this bird has, accentuated by the lobed toes that facilitate swimming.

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor with x1.4 TC-14EII TC. 1/800 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 400.

© 2009

Panoramic Poole Harbour...

The "barbeque summer" that the Met Office predicted in April has not materialised, and since late June the weather has been unsettled (i.e. typical British summer).
There are days, however, that are conducive to being outdoors - and today is one of them.

Making an early start I ride to Poole Harbour with a clear photographic project in mind: making a panoramic image. This is the first time I've attempted the technique but modern software simplifies things to the point of being easy.
I set the camera to manual to keep exposure consistant and take an average meter reading; then I mount a ND graduated filter on the lens to keep the sky from blowing out. The real trick is to shoot in the portrait format (upright) and overlap the shots by at least 20%: Photoshop CS 4 will do the rest.

24-70 f/2.8 Sigma EX DG lens at 24mm constant. 17 images over 180˚. 1/160 second at f/8. 0.6 ND grey grad filter. ISO 320.

© 2009