Memorable gates at AFC Bournemouth...

The chance passing of the Fitness First Stadium (formerly known as Dean Court), the home to my local football team, revealed an unexpected surprise. The gates (image) were once at the entrance to the South End and Main Stand, at the south west corner of the ground, before the venue was completely renovated in 2001. They are now set into a wall and lead nowhere, and commemorate the forming of the supporters club in 1957 (left portal) and the club's Diamond Jubilee in 1960.
As far as I was aware there was nothing remaining of the old ground - save the odd steel post that once supported the Brighton Beach terrace at the eastern end - so it was welcome to see that someone had the foresight to keep something that linked the past to the present.

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG lens. 1/125 second at f/5.6. ISO 400.

© 2009

Poole parasurfer...

Riding a bike is one thing, but transporting photographic gear as well is something else. Although I have a number of bags and cases to move equipment around (currently 9) none are really suitable for transporting large lenses on a bicycle...until now. I recently invested in the Think Tank Glass Taxi back pack, which will hold a 300mm f/2.8 lens (hood reversed) with a pro DSLR attached. There is also room for a small lens or two, but that's about it.
Having secured a monopod to the side I set off, primarily to test its practicality whilst riding. Although my initial intention was cross on the Sandbanks ferry to Studland, Dorset, I'm instantly captivated by the parasurfers in Poole harbour once I arrive, and stop to photograph them instead. Although I don't possess the focal lengths needed to pull in all the action, fitting a x1.4 tele-converter allows me to get some useable images when the subject passes close enough (photo).

Oh, yes, the bag is fine.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with x1.4 TC-14E tele-converter (VR off). 1/1600 second at f/4.5. ISO 400. +0.3 exposure compensation.

© 2009

The best time of day...

With a better than good chance of useable light, it's on the bike and along the coast to the southern tip of the entrance to Christchurch harbour, Dorset. The sky looks promising before I leave the house, but cloud from the east threatens to scupper my plans as I cycle along in the pre-dawn.
I arrive at the eastern tip of Mudeford sandspit at around 7:00 am, which gives me time to get into position and wait for the sun to break the horizon. I decide on a wide angle shot and select a neutral density grey graduated filter to hold back the sky. Although not as spectacular as I would have wished, the sun breaks through the cloud bank at 7:23 am (top image) and I only manage four shots during the minute or so the sun is visible before it is again obscured by the cloud. When it re-appears it is too high in the sky - and too strong - for the effect I am after.

The second photograph, shot shortly after 8:00 am, shows heavy plant moving sections of pipe into position at Hengistbury Head in preparation for beach replinishment, last done at this location during the winter of 2005/6. Whilst the beaches to the west are replinished with sand, shingle is used here as it is less prone to longshore drift.

Top image: 12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/100 second at f/8. ISO 400. 0.6 Neutral density grey grad filter.
Bottom image: 12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8. ISO 200. +0.67 exposure compensation.

© 2009

End to end...

Poole bay, Dorset, and its seven miles of sand beaches is book-ended by two natural harbours: Christchurch to the east, and Poole harbour to the west. Last week I featured the entrance to the former, and today made a visit to the latter. Poole harbour, created at the end of the last ice age, is a flooded valley and lays claim to being the largest (or second largest, depending on your location - there are others) natural harbour in the world.
Despite its size it is very shallow, with an average depth of 48 cm (19 inches), and it was necessary to dredge a deeper main channel for larger vessels to use the harbour.
One such ship is seen in the image as it approaches the 365 metre wide harbour entrance at Bramblebush bay, presumably on its way to France.

12-24mm Nikkor. 1/80 second at f/10. ISO 250. +0.67 exposure compensation. 0.6 neutral density grey grad filter.

© 2009

The Mudeford Run...

The cold spell continues across Dorset, and with high atmospheric pressure and low tides predicted, conditions were conducive for an early start. Leaving the house before dawn, I cycle along the coast to Mudeford Sandspit at the entrance to Christchurch harbour. Photographed from the southern shore shortly after sunrise today, the image shows the Mudeford Run - the narrow entrance to the harbour - that can produce currents up to 9 knots on a spring tide ebb. Had the tide been in, I would not have been able to shoot from where I did.
Yet again, the bike proves its worth by allowing me to get into position with the minimum of fuss. It is fast becoming my favourite photographic gadget.

12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8. ISO 250. 0.9 neutral density grey grad filter.

© 2009

Still cold...

With daylight hours increasing noticeably it won't be too long before the sun begins to rise inland along the south coast of the UK. Taking advantage of what good light is available, between rain - and in some places, snow - I again return to the seafront to photograph the dawn. The Met Office predicted clear skies, and I decided on the location the night before, as I did the lens that I used. This is one of two third party zoom lenses I own (these are a throwback to the days of film), mainly to give it some exercise (yes, they do need it).
So it was on the bike before sunrise, and braving a temperature of -3˚C, I cycle to Hengistbury Head, Dorset, to see what nature had to offer. The image shows the sun rising over The Needles, Isle of Wight.

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX-DG lens. 1/200 second at F/7.1. ISO 400. +1.0 exposure compensation. 0.9 grey grad ND filter.

© 2009

The big freeze...

Much of the UK has been subjected to heavy snow, and naturally it has caused disruptions on roads and airports. Even so, it is something of a rare occurence for it to snow in my neck of the woods due to the Hampshire basin, which tends to produce different weather patterns from those generally forecast for the south.
So it's off to the park and my local bandstand to photograph this atypical phenomenon. Although nowhere near as bad as some parts of the country, a light dusting of snow is, indeed, big news for us.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. !/50 second at f/10. ISO 400. +0.33 exposure compensation.

© 2009

Cold spell (slight return)...

The UK braces itself again for another cold spell, with snow expected along the east coast tonight. Temperatures in Dorset are expected to drop to -3˚C, and with winds gusting up to 30mph, it will feel colder still. However, enough of the weather forecast: it's back to the beach for some imposing images as the sun breaks through the cloud. Again, the conversion to mono suits the subject better than full colour, lending further drama to the scene.

85mm f/1.4 Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/8. ISO 200. +0.3 exposure compensation. Conversion in Photoshop.

© 2009