With courage, nothing is impossible...

An early morning ride along the coast brought me, once again, to Poole, Dorset, and it's a recently unveiled sculpture that I've come to photograph. Situated in front of the RNLI headquarters, it commemorates the 778 lifesavers who died at sea.

Designed by Sam Holland, it depicts a figure in a small boat pulling another from the water, and was unveiled by the Duke of Kent earlier this month. The sculpture is over 15 feet (4.5 metres) high and carries the family motto of the RNLI's founder, Sir William Hillary: "With courage, nothing is impossible", as well as a list of the names of those volunteers who died trying to save others.

The RNLI charity has saved over 137,000 lives since it's foundation in 1824.

12-24 mm f/4G Nikkor.
Top: 1/1000 second at f/11. -.033 EV. ISO 200.
Below: 1/500 second at f/11. -0.33 EV. ISO 200

© 2009

Poole Park, Dorset...

My mountain bike has suffered a breakdown in the form of a broken spoke, resulting in the somewhat distorted rim of the rear wheel. It will be out of commission for around a week, so it's back on the hybrid bike for transport - that, or nothing.

Being restricted as to where I can ride I keep it simple and pay a morning visit to Poole Park, Poole, Dorset. There are various resources to keep a visitor entertained dotted around the area; restaurants and cafés, the boating lake and resulting variety of waterfowl, or the narrow gauge railway - not to mention Poole itself, just a few hundred yards away - but it's the Poole Radio Yacht Club (image) that gets the attention of my lens. The club, established in 1950, organise races for experienced yachtsmen or provide tuition for beginners, and sail boats in five classes.

24-70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens. 1/400 second at f/8. -0.33 EV. ISO 400. Converted to mono in Photoshop.

© 2009

Purbeck Way...

I don't advocate photography during the middle of the day: even at this time of year the light is just too harsh when the sun is at its highest. But on the odd occasion it does have merits.

I take the same initial route as Monday, starting at Handfast Point and Old Harry. Climbing along "Old Nick's Ground" I reach the start of Purbeck Way. By now I'd already decided to ride on to Swanage on the Dorset coast. It's mid-morning and the sky is cloudless, but by the time I reach the obelisk on Ballard Down cumulous clouds are casting moving shadows across the Purbeck hills, and the opportunity is too good to pass up.
The patterns of light and shade transform the landscape, and I spend an hour or so capturing the forms created and the features picked out by the sun.

24-70 mm f/2.8 EX-DG Sigma lens with polariser.

Top: Marker at the start of the Purbeck Way (with Swanage in the distance). 1/80 second at f/11. +0.3 EV. ISO 320.
Below: The obelisk and Currendon Farm (right). 1/100 second at f/11. -0.33 EV. ISO 320.

© 2009

The Obelisk on Ballard Down...

It's the last day of summer in the northern hemisphere, and as the weather remains good I decide to make the most of it with a bike ride. Still undecided as to where exactly I wanted to ride to, I cross to Studland on the ferry and continue west. I eventually make the decision to visit Handfast Point: the beginning of the eastern end of the Jurassic Coast.
Once there I make a number of photographs of Old Harry Rock and surrounding area but continue on, riding the 2½ miles uphill along Ballard Down. I toy with the idea of descending into Swanage, but it's the obelisk that eventually gets my attention.

The last time I passed this structure was in June, which at the time was festooned with hill walkers and the like taking a break for refreshments, or just being photographed for posterity, but on a late summer's Monday afternoon I get the hills virtually to myself: just me and the cows. The obelisk once stood on Lombard Street, London, and served as a gas lamp standard until it was moved to its current location in 1892. This was to commemorate the new water supply to Swanage.

There is a plate attached to the base which reads as follows:

"The obelisk was dismantled in 1941 to avoid its being of assistance to enemy aircraft during the war.
It was re-erected by men of 129 (East Riding) field squadron Royal Engineers (volunteers), under the direction of Capt. R. Alton, R.E.
The lowest section was found cracked and was mounted beside the obelisk."

The inscription is dated 2nd July 1973 (Roman numerals).

70-200mm f/2.8 Apo Sigma lens. 1/640 second at f/9. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

Bovine intervention...

The weather has been on and off for most of the day, alternating between sunny spells and grey cloud, so it was late in the day that I decide to go for a ride.
Packing a basic camera and short zoom lens I cross the entrance of Poole Harbour on the ferry and ride the Rempstone Trail for the first time in several months. It was as I reached the highest point of the old Fayles Tramway that two cows, mooing away at apparently nothing, interrupt my progress: time for some shots.
I'm constantly nonplussed at the wariness these animals show humans - considering their size and weight - and as I approach one of them immediately beats a hasty retreat to a more comfortable distance. The other, however, is somewhat less camera-shy, and allows me to get a number of close-up images. The wide angle lens gives the cow a more comical expression.

18-35 mm f/3.5-4.5 D Nikkor. 1/320 second at f/8. +0.67 EV. ISO 100.

© 2009

The intimate landscape...

Today was largely overcast here in Dorset, but I was not going to let that stop me going out in search of things to photograph. Just because the light is flat doesn't mean it's not useable, and good images are there to be made: the intimate landscape.

These photographs rarely include sky or a horizon, and work best in subdued, low contrast conditions rather than harsh, direct sunlight. So I pack just a basic camera and one lens and ride out to photograph details that often don't get a second glance. The image of the faded poster and ivy is just the juxtaposition that I looked for, and the conversion to mono adds to the graphic quality.

50mm f/1.8D Nikkor. 1/60 second at f/4. ISO 400. Converted to mono in Photoshop.

© 2009

Poole Bay at dusk...

Although not strictly an Indian summer, the spell of good weather continues along the south coast of the UK in the run up to autumnal equinox next week.

I spend the early evening at Mudeford sandbank at the entrance to Christchurch Harbour, Dorset. The area is quiet, although there are a number of water-related activities such as wind surfing, jet-skiing and fishing evident: the dunes themselves are largely deserted.

It's on my way home that the image here presents itself. The sun had long set, and although dusk shooting was not on my agenda tonight I still make the photograph, having to improvise a makeshift support to keep the camera still for the long exposure. Dramatically increasing the ISO was an option, but that invariably produces unwanted digital noise - mainly in shadow areas - so I wedge the camera against a rail and post to keep things rigid to get the shot.

70-200 f/2.8 Apo Sigma lens. 1/3 second at f/5.6. -0.67 EV. ISO 400.

© 2009

More Steam...

Today I make a second visit to the Heritage Railway Steam Gala, and this time decide to base myself where the whole thing is co-ordinated: Swanage, on the Dorset coast. To get there I cough-up the nine quid for the return ticket and take the train from Corfe Castle - it's been years since I travelled by train, let alone on a steam line.
The weekend appears to be a success as the carriages are almost full to capacity on most trains with people travelling in either direction, and Swanage station itself is continually busy during the time I'm there - further proof of the popularity of these events.

The first image is of the Battle of Britain class Bulleid Pacific 34070 Manston - recently restored and a permanent fixture on the railway - seen here leaving Swanage station.





The other photograph is of the Waverley Boat Train, waiting to leave Swanage station.
The locomotive is the recently repainted Drummond M7 50053 - on this occasion being used in connection with PS Waverley - which made a call at the town, today.



24-70 f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens.

Top: 1/640 second at f/8. -0.33 EV. ISO 400
Below: 1/1250 second at f/6.3. -0.33 EV. ISO 400

© 2009

34028 Eddystone...

The Swanage Steam Gala is in full swing on its second day, with the railway running all of its available steam. I spend the afternoon by the track side, as well as higher locations - including two thirds of the way up the hill that has Corfe Castle perched on it - attempting to shoot the trains with a telephoto lens; but nothing seems to be coming together.
So I eventually decide to switch to a mid-range zoom lens and move back to the side of the track.
By now it's early evening and the harsh light that plagued my efforts has now softened and warmed up considerably - soon the sun will have dipped below the Purbeck hills.
The image (the last shot of the day) is of the rebuilt West Country class Bullied Pacific Eddystone crossing the B3351 at Corfe Castle, Dorset.

24-70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens. 1/320 second at f/8. -0.33 EV. ISO 640.

© 2009

Paddle Steamer Waverley...

The last seagoing paddle steamer in the world, PS Waverley begins its September itinerary along the south coast of England.
Launched in October 1946, the 693 tonne steamer was originally designed to operate on the Firth of Clyde, Scotland,
Withdrawn in 1973 as being too uneconomical to keep in service she underwent a major rebuild between 2000 and 2003, restoring the ship to her original condition.

PS Waverley is seen here tied up next to Bournemouth pier in the early evening sun.

70-200 mm f/2.8D Apo Sigma lens. 1/800 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 200.

© 2009

First Light...

Dawn breaks at 6.38 am on Bournemouth Pier, Dorset, and although some artifacts of the summer holiday period still remain - the stacked plastic beach recliners that will now see little use, and strategically placed waste bins - the season is all but over.
However, the weather forecast for the coming week indicates summer is not done yet, with temperatures in the mid-twenties Celsius predicted for the south of England.

24-70 mm f/2.8 EX DG Sigma lens. 1/80 second at f/5.6. -0.33 EV. ISO 640. CPL.

© 2009