Groyne #26

 

 

The images show some of the work being carried out on the beaches of Poole Bay, Dorset. Specifically, the replacement of the wooden groynes that are designed to prevent longshore drift. Speaking to one hard-hatted chap surveying the scene, he mentioned that all things being equal it will take a month to replace each one. This involves drilling holes for the numerous posts, which range between 10 and 13 metres in length, digging out the sand once all are sunk to the required depth, and then adding the boards to complete each 45 metre structure.

From what I can see they are working on only two timber groynes at a time, and this is restricted to the winter months; the beaches being needed for tourism during the summer. So, bearing in mind that the bay has 13km (8 miles) of beach, and each wooden groyne is spaced 120 metres apart, by my reckoning there are... er, loads to do.

12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. Monopod. ISO 160

Top: 1/125 second at f/8. + 0.67 EV compensation. 

Middle: 1/80 second at f/8. + 0.67 EV compensation

Bottom: 1/125 second at f/6.3. + 0.67 EV compensation

© 2015

Casual snapping

I am somewhat half-heartedly documenting the beginning of a 17 year program to refurbish all of the wooden groynes - along with several beach replenishments - along the line of Poole Bay, Dorset. Work started several weeks ago, and although I have a number of shots in the can I am still waiting for some good light that coincides with good opportunities.

Until that happens, I while away the time taking casual snaps at low tide.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8. Matrix metering. ISO 160. Monopod



© 2015

Spoilt for choice

Sometimes a photographer doesn't know which way to turn, as often as as not something equally worthy of attention is happening behind you. I make a point of occasionally looking around when shooting landscapes, otherwise opportunities are missed.

This double rainbow was starting to develop in the opposite direction to the sunset I was contemplating capturing, so before the incoming tide ruined everything I squeezed-off a few frames.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/40 second at f/8. Matrix metering. ISO 200. Monopod



© 2015

Having fun

Try as I might, I find it difficult to find anything interesting about the main (Bournemouth), pier in Poole Bay, Dorset. I am speaking from a photographic point of view, as it is clear where the money went when both piers were refurbished nearly a decade ago, but the lowly one at Boscombe definately has more going for it from a graphical standpoint.

In spite of its shortcomings as far as this photographer is concerned, I am out again armed with a 'big stopper' ND filter, purely to have some fun with it.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 60 seconds at f/11. x10 stop ND filter. ISO 160. Tripod and remote release.



© 2015

Photo essay

 

There hasn't been much in the way of colour to photograph recently, what with the seemingly continual rain and grey skies, so I thought I would shoot and post a short photo essay of one of my local piers. I choose to shoot once the sun has set, allowing everything to be lit by a mix of reflected and artificial light.



Top: 12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 46 seconds at f/11. x10 stop ND filter. ISO 160
Middle: 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1.6 seconds at f/10. ISO 160.
Bottom: 24-70mm F/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 160 seconds at f/6.3. x10 stop ND filter. ISO 160. All images photographed with a tripod and remote release



© 2015

Just another sunset

Just another sunset shot, really, but then again it is good to see the sun once in a while.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/400 second at f/9. Matrix metering. ISO 160. Monopod



© 2015

Storm Barney

Storm Barney (naming a storm just doesn't sound right to me), threatens to hit the south coast with winds predicted to exceed 80mph, so it's out with my camera to see what's on offer. In reality the forecast is way off in my part of the county, although winds do gust up to around 35mph during the day.

I time my shoot for high tide, but even so there is little in the way of sea action, and the break in the clouds that coincides with it doesn't produce anything spectacular. As is often the case what lies beneath our feet is ignored, but it can produce something worthwhile to photograph, if only we look.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/250 second at f/5.6. Matrix metering. ISO 160



© 2015

Shooting on the marsh

Autumn appears to have skipped rapidly into winter, at least as far as the weather is concerned. Bringing back memories of two years ago, low pressure systems are sweeping in from the west one after the other, bringing heavy rain and strong winds to almost everywhere in the UK. This doesn't stop Nic and I from getting out there, though, shooting familiar locations as well as finding new ones.

The church of St. Thomas à Becket (above) at Fairfield, Romney Marsh, Kent, was first mentioned to me a couple of years ago by a fellow photographer on a local pier, and I have had it in mind as a subject ever since. Unfortunately, the light wasn't forthcoming on this occasion, but I was already thinking in monochrome terms before I took the first frame. 
 


24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/60 second at f/5.6. Matrix metering.  - 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400. 0.9 Lee grey graduated filter. Monopod.

© 2015

Making do

It has either been very overcast or raining here all week. On top of that a storm was due in from the south west, and although we did get winds gusting up to 40 mph it was nothing like what I would call stormy weather. However, by late afternoon the swiftly moving weather front had gone, leaving everything clear. I could have done with a low tide to make things interesting since there was little going on, sky wise, but had to make do with the kite surfers instead.


24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8. Matrix metering.  +1 stop EV compensation. Monopod. ISO 160



© 2015

Nothing dramatic

Having photographed one of my local - and arguably lesser - piers more times that I like to admit, today I turn my lens on the larger of the two in Poole Bay. Unlike its sister, Boscombe pier, 1.4 miles to the east, Bournemouth pier has been the one maintained and kept in good repair over the years.

The fog that has caused problems with travel over Southern England during the past few days lifted for late afternoon, promising some good light, but it was soon evident that I wasn't going to get anything dramatic. Undeterred, I go about the process of making a photograph, and fish out my strong neutral density filter so I can use some long shutter speeds.

I like the way the setting sun's rays are reflected from the windows onto the sea, itself smoothed out by the long exposure, and the way the people on the shore line have recorded.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 15 seconds at f/11. Matrix metering. x10 ND filter. Tripod and remote release. ISO 160



© 2015