Old Harry Rocks...

I've spent the best part of this week cycling to the Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, for some photography - plus a bit of exploration: Today is no different.
Again, I negotiate the climb out of Studland, but this time it's harder than yesterday - I don't think I had fully recovered - but climb it I did. Just as before I take the left fork near the top of Dean Hill, but instead of repeating myself and carrying on to Swanage I make a spontaneous decision to climb higher still to the top of Ballard Down, 162 metres above sea level.

At the top I turn left at the obelisk that once stood in Lombard Street, London, and ride east towards Ballard Point and Old Harry Rocks (image). These chalk sea stacks form the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast World Heritage Site, and are believed to have at one time formed part of a ridge that connected to The Needles, Isle of Wight - although I can find no firm evidence to support this.
Old Harry Rock itself (another name for the devil) is the stack furthest right in the photograph. Erosion will eventually make this fall into the sea (as have others in the past two hundred years or so), but new ones will be formed from the chalk islands as cave roofs collapse.

24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens. 1/180 second at f/11. -0.33 EV. ISO 320. 0.9 grey graduated ND filter.

© 2009

Swanage Pier...

Overnight electrical storms and heavy rain eventually give way to clearing skies and sunshine by early afternoon, so to get the weekend off to a good start I head west - this time on my hybrid bike - to Swanage, Dorset.
Although not a great distance to cover (15 miles - 24km) there is one major factor to be taken into consideration, which is the hill that rises out of Studland village along the B3351 before it branches left between Ballard Down and Nine Barrow Down and falls away down to the coast; it's pretty steep in either direction and the lowest gear available is necessary when climbing.
Swanage Pier (photo) was temporarily deserted when I arrived and paid my 40p admission fee, and has a distinct feel of a bygone age not found in its neighbours along the coast of Bournemouth and Boscombe to the northeast. The Victorian structure has great photographic potential and I feel I will be able to do it better justice with the right light at a different time of year, rather than the snapshot posted here.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/50 second at f/11. +0.33 EV. ISO 320. CPL.

© 2009

Pikes' Tramway...

The 46 miles (74km) I cycled today was a repeat of the ground covered Tuesday, but this time the light was better so I shot some images.

Having crossed the entrance of Poole Harbour to Studland on the chain ferry I took the Rempstone trail and rode to Corfe Castle, via Bushey. From there I went to Norden and then on to Arne. I then retraced my path to the dismantled narrow gauge tramway that crosses Stoborough Heath, near Wareham, Dorset.

The photograph (facing north) shows all that remains of Pikes' Tramway, a 2ft 8½ inch gauge railway, one of three such systems in Purbeck, Dorset, that ran in this instance from Furzebrook to Ridge Wharf on the River Frome. The line, originally operated by gravity (with the empty wagons being returned by horses), employed seven steam locomotives during the commercial life of the Purbeck mineral and mining industry, one of which survives; the 0-6-0 "Secundus" dating from 1874 - and can currently be seen at The Corfe Goods Shed Museum.
The line was finally abandoned in 1957.


12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/11. ISO 400. 0.6 grey grad ND filter.

© 2009

Dismantled Purbeck Tramway...

All that remains of the Fayles Tramway, used to transport ball clay to Poole Harbour in the 19th and mid-20th century, is the track shown in the photograph. The tramway extended from the pit workings at Norden, near Corfe Castle, across Brenscombe Heath, through what is now Rempstone Forest (not planted until the 1950's) - terminating at Goathorn pier on the southern shore of the harbour - a distance of 5¾ miles (9.25km).
The 3ft 9in narrow gauge line, opened in 1907, was abandoned 30 years later but sections of the track bed, now a tarmac road, are still in use by BP to service their oil fields at Wytch Farm.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/500 second at f/8. 0.3 grey grad filter. ISO 200.

© 2009

Summer Solstice and the English Countryside...

At my latitude the sun rose at 4:58am and to the northeast - as far north that it gets - hearalding the day with the maximum amount of daylight and the minimum amount of darkness: The Summer Solstice.
I set off early on my bike with the initial intention of just riding the seven miles to the Sandbanks peninsula, but once there I impulsively boarded the ferry and continued into the Purbeck hills.
As the weather was good I pushed on to Corfe Castle, making a number of images along the way, but even at the relatively early hour of 9:00am the sun had climbed so high that contrast was becoming unmanageable. The photograph, which shows the castle in the distance, was the last landscape image I made during the morning, at 9:10.
The ride home, via Ower Quay on the southern side of Poole Harbour, was somewhat longer that I intended, making it a round trip of 36 miles (58km).

24-70 f/2.8 EX-DG Sigma lens. 1/50 second at f/11. +0.33 EV. ISO 320. 0.6 grey graduated filter.

© 2009

Boscombe Surf Reef - latest image...

Progress on the artificial surf reef being built to the east of Boscombe pier, Dorset, continues and from elevated positions it can be seen just below the surface as a lighter area, even at high water. The photograph, taken during mid afternoon today, shows two divers standing on the reef itself (left centre) while the attendant barge and other safety craft circle the area.
Although far from complete, the effects of the reef are becoming evident as white water is now produced over the site.

70-200mm f/2.8 EX Sigma lens. 1/1250 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Poppies...

Using a bike for early morning exploration of the country lanes around Bournemouth International Airport - formerly known as Hurn Airport, and before that RAF Hurn* - has benefits you just don't get in a car. For one, you miss most of it as the scenery flashes past, and secondly the sounds and smells evade the senses, even with the windows down. Okay, the occasional farm I pass has something of a pungent aroma - known euphemistically as "the smell of the countryside" - but more often than not the countryside is a far more pleasant experience than lungfuls of car emissions that towns have to offer.

The poppy photograph was made shortly after sunrise today, and has a quality of light that you just don't get once the sun climbs too high in the sky. At this time of year it's all over by 9:00am: I usually pack up until later in the day.

*Former WW II airfield, opened in July 1941.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14E II TC. 1/400 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Take Off and Landing...

As we near the days of maximum daylight in the northern hemisphere I'm taking full advantage of the available light: Early starts - late finishes.
The top image shows the second flight out of Bournemouth International Airport at 6:50 this morning (I missed the first as I was unsure as to which direction planes were going to take off), and was shot from the eastern end of the airfield.
The shot of the Grey Heron (Andrea cinerea) was purely a chance encounter, as I found the bird fishing on a pond at my local golf course - shown here in the process of landing.

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor.

Top: 1/2000 second at f/4.5. +0.33 EV. ISO 200
Below: 1/500 second at f/4.5. ISO 320

© 2009

Never point your camera at the sun (Mrs. Worthington)...

The image posted here was shot yesterday during early evening, just before I did considerable (accidental) damage to the camera. Taking a break from shooting, I placed the camera horizontally across my open backpack. While my attention was elsewhere the camera tilted, presumably under its own weight, exposing the front element of a 300mm lens towards the sun. It was ten - maybe fifteen minutes before I discovered this.

Once I tried to resume shooting I immediately noticed the image in the viewfinder was fogged. Removing the telephoto revealed that the lens had focused the sun's rays, creating sufficient heat to melt several internal parts of the mirrorbox, and smoke from this had left a deposit on the mirror. Disaster! Oddly enough, the camera still functioned as it should, albeit with a somewhat dimmed viewfinder.

As I write the body is packaged and awaiting to be returned to Nikon UK, once the post office opens. I don't doubt for one minute that this will be an inexpensive repair, but all is not lost as I will just continue shooting using my back-up body.
The moral of this story? Watch where your lens is pointing, folks (and always have a spare camera).

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/4.5. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Condors and Oystertcatchers...

Dorset skies stayed clear overnight, so another early start down by the seaside. I choose Poole Harbour for my location - mainly because I wanted to photograph the catamaran Condor Vitesse leaving port. The image, shot from the Studland side of the harbour, shows the ferry as it passes Branksea Castle, Brownnsea Island, on its way out to sea. This 86 metre, 5007 tonne vessel, built in Hobart, Tasmania, can carry up to 800 passengers and 200 cars, and is capable of speeds up to 40 knots in favourable conditions.

The photograph of the Oystercatcher (Haematopus ostralegus) was made whilst waiting for the Sandbanks ferry to start running at 7:00am. I only managed two shots before it was gone.

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor lens.
Top: 1/2500 second at f/4.5. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.
Below: 1/1600 second at f/4.5. -0.33 EV. ISO 400.

© 2009

Old Harry yachts....

The image of two yachts passing each other - with Old Harry rocks as a backdrop - was shot from Sandbanks beach, Dorset, during early evening.
Not much I can add to that, to be honest.

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/8. -0.33 EV. ISO 400.

© 2009

The early bird...

I photographed the beachcomber to the west of Bournemouth pier shortly before 6:00 am today, complete with metal detector and shovel. They are a common sight on the shorline of Poole bay, particularly at first light on a falling tide.
What these people are looking for is open to conjecture, but they seem to be active at all times of the year.

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Pier amusements...

Poole Bay, Dorset, currently sports two piers on its seafront - but there used to be three (as well as a landing jetty to the east of Bournemouth pier). The little known Southbourne pier - opened to the public in 1888 - was damaged by a severe storm two years later. Funds were not available to effect repairs and the structure was allowed to decay, along with damaged sea defences. What was left of the pier was dismantled in 1907.

The two remaining piers have undergone renovation in recent years; the jetty is long gone, with Boscombe pier receiving the most attention. The image of Bournemouth pier, photographed early this morning, shows the pier head geared up for the summer tourists, with the Isle of Purbeck in the background.

70-200 f/2.8 EX Sigma lens. 1/400 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. CPL. ISO 200.

© 2009

Boscombe surf reef, early June...

The building of Europe's first artificial surf reef is slowly taking shape beneath the waves of Boscombe beach, Dorset, but it's the large pile of sand being used to create it - now known locally as the "Boscombe Pyramid" - that is getting the attention (image).
The reef construction is at the stage where the second layer is being added, and near-perfect conditions are required for this operation to be a success.

24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens. 1/500 second at f/8. CPL.

© 2009