Six hours apart...

Two images that illustrate the difference between shooting at either end of the day, or around noon. The first image, shot at 6:00 am in the soft light of dawn, shows the more industrial side of the river Stour, with electricity pylons dominating the landscape, and the Muscliff sewage treatment works in the background. The second image, shot under mid-day sun, shows work continuing on the Boscombe artificial surf reef, with sand being moved around the beach in preparation for filling the geo-textile bags, once in place and submerged.


Pylons: Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 lens. 1/60 sec at f/6.3. 0.9 ND grad filter
Beach scene: Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 lens. 1/200 sec at f/8

© 2008

Boscombe surf reef underway...

Visible signs of the construction of the artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Dorset, are now apparent. The making of the geo-textile bags that will give the reef its shape is now underway at a "secret" location in Poole, while the image shows sand that will be used to fill the bags being stockpiled on the beach, just to the east of the pier, after having stones and other debris removed. I placed the word secret in inverted commas, as the location is supposed to be closly guarded, but it seems that everyone I spoke to on the seafront knows where the secret location is!

Nikkor 12-24 lens. 1/100 sec at f/11. ISO 200.
© 2008

The world-famous Throop cows...

Well, not exactly. Throop, on the Dorset Stour, is more renown for its coarse fishing than its bovine counterpart, but I needed a title...
The image was shot at 6:00am today, just as the mist was being burnt-off by the sun; the cows were the icing on the cake. Contre-jour shots like this always pose exposure problems, and I used 0.6 and 0.9 ND graduated filters together to hold back the tree and allow some detail to be retained in the foreground.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 lens. 1/350 sec at f/5.6. ISO 200. +0.67 exposure compensation.

© 2008

What to do next...

This time of year doesn't work for me, from a photographic point of view. After the onset of spring, and the photographing of all that comes with it, I find myself in anticipation of autumn and something more atmospheric. That's not to say that there is nothing to be had during the summer months, but you need to be up early, or stay out late to get light worth using. Today, I try for some inspiration by shooting with a long zoom lens; something I have become less accustomed to over the past few years. Although more flexible than the prime lenses that usually fill my bag, I was surprised at the reduced quality that this lens delivers compared to my normal optics. It's still an OK lump of glass, but can't compare to top-flight lenses in colour and contrast, and needed more work than usual in Photoshop to get acceptable results.
The image, shot at around 7:20 this morning from Southbourne cliffs, shows Boscombe Spa Village beneath its crane, and a cliff lift car in the foreground.

Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 EX lens. 1/2000sec at f/4. ISO 400.

© 2008

Learning To Fly...

Although she has the right idea, this mandarin duckling's wings are not yet developed enough to get her airborne. Photographed at Eyeworth pond today, this is one of a family of six young that have survived thus far, unlike the other mandarin family I have taken an interest in (June 28th post) that have no surviving young at all.

Those not interested in the technical aspect of photography can skip this bit, but as of this post I'm going to include brief technical details to accompany each image.

Nikkor 85mm f/1.4 lens. 1/1500 sec at f/2.2. ISO 200.

© 2008

"Summer" weather...

Because of various distractions, I didn't get around to posting the latest image, yesterday: today will have to do.

The summer weather continues over the southern half of the UK (image) with high winds from the south west, and heavy rain. It was this weather front that arrived at the Silverstone track in time for the British Grand Prix, yesterday afternoon.

The photograph was taken mid-morning looking east, toward Hengistbury Head, Dorset.

© 2008

Surf's (finally) up...

The much awaited artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Dorset, is finally to be started at the end of this month, and be completed by the end of the year "at the latest", as stipulated in the Bournemouth council contract. The cost of the reef, said to be Europe's first, is currently £1.4 million.
There are a number of instruction schools set up, waiting to take advantage of the expected influx of surfers once the reef is ready. Once such school is shown here, breaking from theory to get some practical experience amongst the waves. The revamped beach chalets and restaurant (yet to be finished) and Boscombe Spa Village (ditto) are in the background.

© 2008