4.48 pm: Bournemouth beach...

It is days like this that do it for me from a photographic perspective. The cloud bank that moved in from the west by mid-morning gave way by mid afternoon to perfect light. The sunset coincided with low tide, today, so it was just a case of standing in the right place and hope nobody walked across the pristine sand to ruin the effect. Nature took care of the rest.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/100 second at f/11.  + 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400. Monopod



© 2014

Dusk surfer...

British Summer Time ended yesterday and the clocks were duly put back one hour in the small hours of this morning. This usually means two things: It gets dark an hour earlier and the local pier now closes its gates at 4 pm for the night and will continue to do so for the next six months. Oddly today, though, it remained open well past dusk.

Not that it mattered since I was shooting from the beach at low tide, but I did have to do the job of the local council and turn on all the lights in post processing with Lightroom, since none of them were working on the eastern side. I waited for the surfer to wander into the frame to complete the image.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/1000 second at f/8. ISO 400



© 2014

Eyesore or social comment?...

As controversial as it may be, graffiti does have a certain appeal to me. Some see it as damaging to personal and public property and an eye-sore; some see it as art/social comment, but whatever your view on the subject I almost always find myself pointing a lens at it. I also confess to having no idea as to what any of it means when executed in this form, as here on the side of Martello Tower 3, in Folkestone, Kent.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/1000 second at f/8. ISO 200



© 2014

Two yachts...

An afternoon walk in the gloom turns out unexpectedly sunny. Making the most of the one lens I have with me today I capture two yachts in the English channel, heading west.



50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor. 1/800 second at f/11.  - 1 stop EV compensation. ISO 200



  RIP, Jack Bruce
14/5/43 - 25/10/14



© 2014

In the Nic of time...

The idea to visit Wye for some sunset photography very nearly didn't happen as a road that passes the railway station of the same name was closed and we were forced to make a detour of some miles to get back on track. By then Nic and I were seriously pressed for time and it really was a case of jump out of the car when we got there, quickly take a handful of shots before the sun disappeared altogether, and get back in the car again. It all happened so quick that the sheep didn't have time to react.

24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/11.  - 1 stop EV compensation. ISO 200

© 2014 

Of distant days...

It's a mild 17º C today, and although the bright start gave way to overcast skies by late morning there were still a good number people taking advantage of the clement weather along the seafront. I came across this chap sitting alone in his beach hut, having fallen asleep whilst reading his book, and possibly dreaming of distant days.



50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor. 1/800 second at f/4. ISO 320



© 2014

Tubular bell...

A cylinder that forms part of a percussive musical instrument on Boscombe pier, Dorset, is the subject of today's photograph. One of 88 individually tuned tubes arranged so that all the player has to do is rhythmically hit each one once from left to right to play the ever-popular British music hall song: I Do Like To Be Beside The Seaside.

I used the lens wide open to create a razor-thin depth of field.



85mm f/1.4 AF Nikkor. 1/1250 second at f/1.4. ISO 200



© 2014

Fast, and wide open...

The rain is light but persistent; the sky leaden, so it is perfect weather for some detail shots of autumn. I'm using my fastest lens - shot wide open - for pictorial effect. There is very little in the image that is sharp as a result, having focused on the tip of the yellow leaf.


85mm f/1.4 AF Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/1.4.  + 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400



© 2014

For Nic and Tim...

An overcast autumn day and a walk along the beach with the minimal of camera kit, just to see what I could find. The above photograph is dedicated to Nic and Tim (you know who you are): this-blog followers extraordinare (and the one in Manchester who never says a word but I appreciate you all the same). Nic, you get the stick.



50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor. 1/80 second at f/5.6. ISO 400



© 2014

The last shot decides...

                                              The last shot of the day and the one that appeals to me the most.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/500 second at f/5.6. ISO 400



© 2014

Inspirational aerophones...

One way a photographer can get inspired is to use a different lens, and to be honest I was in need of it. Yesterday's shoot has been consigned to the trash, purely because I had repeated myself from the day before. Yes, it is always different no matter how many times I return to the same location, but I felt the images I got didn't work as I had intended so they had to go.

I decided something a bit extreme was in order, so my fisheye lens was pressed into service with the intention of producing some graphic and dynamic pictures, as with these Tembos aerophones, installed as part of the Musical Trail on Boscombe pier, Dorset. They are considered playground instruments and sounds are produced by striking the mouths of the tubes with rubber paddles. This set is tuned CDEGAC.



10.5mm f/2.8 Fisheye Nikkor. 1/2000 second at f/8.  - 0.67 EV compensation. ISO 320



© 2014

East cliff...

Autumn is starting to get a firm grip as the days grow noticeably shorter, bringing with it rain showers and some pretty stiff breezes, especially along the coast. I love it at this time of year before it gets too cold as the light is often spectacular.

I spend an hour or so on Boscombe pier, watching and waiting as the mood constantly changes: shooting when inspired, ducking behind the windbreak for some respite from the constant wind when not. I choose this image of Bournemouth's East Cliff to sum up the afternoon perfectly.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/1250 second at f/8.  - 0.67 EV compensation. ISO 400



© 2014

Kids watering can...

A taste of things to come, no doubt, but the rain that fell today was as worse as I have ever experienced - real monsoon stuff - but a check on the weather forecast told me it would clear by mid afternoon. Although the front did clear as promised, the remnants dragging behind it produced some interesting cloud and light, of which I took full advantage.

A kids watering can had been placed on a promenade bench by some thoughtful person, should its rightful owner come in search to reclaim it, but for the moment I made it the subject of my lens.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/400 second at f/11. ISO 400



© 2014

It's in the trees...

A chill is now in the air and autumn starts to make its mark, as in this woodland scene shot in a local park, this afternoon. Exposing for the foliage I stopped the lens down considerably to create the starburst effect from the sun.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/80 second at f/14. ISO 320



© 2014