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Sunday, July 28, 2013

Jet engines for willow on leather...

Today's planned shoot  didn't really get off the ground. I had intended to photograph the Red Arrows taking-off and returning to the local airport, and cycled there with a big lens. Upon my arrival they were nowhere in sight; neither parked in their customary spot, nor preparing to leave. I appear to have got it all wrong, and it was little wonder that I couldn't find any info on the internet.

Not to be deterred, I set off in the direction I had come and headed for the cliff tops of Poole bay, Dorset. The weather men (and possibly, women as well) had shown that the skies would be clear over the area, but as I rode to my secondary location it started to rain. Although it didn't really turn into a downpour the skies had clouded sufficiently to scupper my contingency plan. However, all was not lost.




On the way, I came across a cricket match being played out on a local green, and since the light was ideal for such a subject I stopped to take a few shots. I also thought it might be a nice change on here, having had all that football talked about over the past few posts. I covered the pre-season friendly between European giants Real Madrid and AFC Bournemouth - the latter being outclassed to the tune of 6-0 (at Spanner's request) - but crowd shots were not really inspiring, and I didn't go to the match itself (another merry tune of sixty quid for a ticket), so I didn't bother with making a post here.

I have planned to photograph a cricket match for quite some time, but never seem to have gotten around
to doing so. I have the feeling that it will be relatively easy since nothing moves particularly fast, and it is played during the summer months - both a bonus in my book. The few snaps that I did take today were a bit half-hearted as I had my eye on the clock and the Red Arrows appearance, and I wish I had spent more time doing so. Maybe in a week or so.

Yes, the original plan. If the sky had been clear, as was indicated by the weather forecast, then I might have pulled it off. As it was, grey cloud didn't give me the backdrop I wanted. I did take some even more half-hearted shots of the display, but at a distance of 9 miles the effect was not working at all. At the end of next month it is the Bournemouth Air Festival, and I will get three chances to add more images of the RAF Display Team to the archives, and I will have my friend Nic staying with me to help things along. Can't wait.



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 

Top: 1/500 second at f/5.6
Right: 1/320 second at f/5.6. + 0.63 EV compensation
ISO 400. Monopod



 © 2013



3 comments:

Nic said...

Great shots. I think the team would like to see these, you know. I hope they stumble upon them.

I can't wait either. :)

Spanner said...

Thanks for the score. I couldn't resist asking. Following Fulham means I'm always being hassled by my Chelsea colleagues when results don't go my way.
On a totally different subject I'm thinking of buying another camera. Something to record progress on my (hopefully soon to be) new home and new town. It must have a view finder as screens don't always suit me. Any ideas/suggestions.
£60 a ticket is a bit steep!

Richard Brewer said...

Thank you, Nic. Maybe a career move into sport? ;-)

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I thought the score was likely to be somewhat higher than it was, Spanner, considering who they were up against (15-0 was a prediction I made to someone I got talking to). A bit of an eye-opener for The Cherries, I fancy.

As far as the camera goes: what is your budget? I agree about having a viewfinder. Trying to compose a photograph with the camera at arm's length doesn't sit well with me, either.