Two fishermen

  Fishing from the beach, Boscombe.

24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/5.6. Matrix meterting. + 0.3 EV compensation. ISO 160



© 2016

1,000th post

I have been aware of the forthcoming milestone of 1,000 posts on this blog for a while, and ideally wanted the image to be something outstanding to mark the occasion. I hadn't intended to visit Corfe Castle, nestled in the hills of Dorset's Isle of Purbeck, but an afternoon bike ride developed into the unexpected.

Photographed from The Rings; an earthwork fortification that was used by Cromwell's Parliamentarians as a gun battery during the English Civil War, the castle dates back to Norman times and was built by William the Conquerer. It has been in its current state of ruin since 1645, when it was partially demolished with explosives. The castle has also been thought to be the inspiration for Enid Blyton's Kirrin Island, featured in the Famous Five books.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/5.6. Matrix metering. ISO 160



© 2016

   Poole Harbour, from Sandbanks.

12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/800 second at f/8. Matrix metering. + 0.3 EV compensation. ISO 160.



© 2016

Lifeguard station

It's not uncommon to post process an image using two editing software suites; Adobe Lightroom and  Photoshop, for example, but in this case I used three. Well, actually the third is a plug-in from the Google Nik Collection series; a set of 8 that once commanded a hefty price tag but now available as a free download.

My favourite of the bunch is Silver Efex Pro2 - a monochrome conversion tool - and I used it here just to see how far I might take a straightforward shot and add a bit... well, quite a lot of, drama. It's almost like discovering the dark room all over again.



12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/7.1. Matrix metering. ISO 160. Silver Efex Pro2



© 2016

Bus stop

It's not often I get too excited about bus stops, and this is no exception, but the one at North Haven, Sandbanks, made me look twice today. Not too sure why I shot with the lens wide open, though. Maybe it was all the excitement.


12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2000 second at f/4. Matrix metering. - 0.6 EV compensation. ISO 160



© 2016

Autumn equinox

It's the autumn equinox - a day later than usual because it's a leap year - and the glorious weather has me out on my bike and heading west. Taking the chain ferry that crosses the mouth of Poole harbour, I ride to Black Heath on the Isle of Purbeck specifically to photograph Agglestone Rock.

Also known locally as the Devil's Anvil (he gets about a bit, doesn't he?), it is estimated to weigh 400 tonnes, and takes its name from the old Dorset dialect: "Aggle" meaning "to wobble". The chalk cliffs of the Isle of Wight can be seen on the horizon, 21 miles distant.



70-200mm f/2.8D Apo EX Sigma lens. 1/640 second at f/5.6. Matrix metering. ISO 160



© 2016

No experience necessary

At the time of writing I'm still not sure if I turned down a golden opportunity to fly as a passenger in a paraglider, this afternoon. The Wessex Hang-gliding and Paragliding Club were doing their thing from the clifftops at Southbourne when I stopped to take some photographs of three already airborne. Watching from the ground were two pilots, and I casually engaged one of them in a conversation about whether or not you felt the effects of the wind whilst flying.

His answer was pretty much what I expected (yes, you do), but was then quite taken aback when he offered me the opportunity to fly in tandem with him and find out for myself. There and then! I wasn't sure if he was serious or not to start with, but it turned out he was. Apparently, previous flight experience isn't necessary for the passenger, but I politely declined. 

It all looks safe enough from the ground as the fliers glide effortlessly to and fro "up there where the air is clear", but the take-off over the cliff edge looks a trifle hair-raising in my book. Besides, I would need a bit of time to get psyched-up for such an event rather than an impromptu, daredevil lunge out over the sea, however competent the pilot may be.

Maybe next time...

24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/4000 second at f/4. Matrix metering. + 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 160

© 2016

The last knockings of summer

A couple of days of summer remain, and although it is still relatively warm for the time of year the locals have their beaches back to themselves. This is more than likely due to the fact that most of the UK has been hidden below a blanket of cloud for the best part of a week, but even so there is a noticeable absence of people; even the dog walkers.


24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/320 second at f/8. Matrix metering. ISO 160


© 2016

It won't be long

Enjoying the late summer as we are in the UK, yesterday was the warmest September day since 1911, and it is something of a novelty to be shooting on the beach in the pre-dawn wearing a T shirt. Today wasn't a planned shoot, but since I was awake at 5am I took the opportunity of a clear sky for a spot of seascape photography. I love the soft hues created only by light reflected from the sky; the sun not yet visible above the cliffs of the bay behind me.

The sun is still rising and setting inland on my particular stretch of coast, but thoughts of those winter afternoons at low tide are not far away.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/25 second at f/8. Matrix metering. Monopod. ISO 200



© 2016

To Affinity and beyond!

Photoshop for under forty quid? Surely some mistake? Although the designers don't claim it to be that, Serif Affinity Photo is a serious contender and gives the Adobe industry standard a (damn) good run for its money; at a fraction of the cost. I have spent the past week or so evaluating a free 10-day trial, and having concluded it does what I want (and a whole lot more), I whipped-out the credit card to buy the license.

The test image is part of a much larger mural on the wall of a local railway station, and is the work of local urban artist Adam Klodzinzki.



Sigma 20mm f/1.8 EX DG lens. 1/200 second at f/5.6. Matrix metering. +0.33 EV compensation. ISO 250.



© 2016