Pushy

Everything that is going to turn green has turned green in the Dorset landscape, whilst The Church of St James - known locally as The Cathedral of Purbeck - appears to push its way through the foliage at Kingston.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/250 second at f/8. Matrix metering. ISO 100



© 2019

Tree on Nine Barrow Down

What I like the most about black and white photography is the ability to transform the mood of a scene. It's a fine Spring day, but the dense early morning mistiness that covers the Purbeck Hills in Dorset refuses to lift. I try to pierce the strong haze with the use of a polarising filter, but to no real effect.

Instead, I create a quality that wasn't there at the time by converting the picture to mono; boosting contrast; adding some brutal burning-in, and finally a large dollop of film grain.



24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/400 second at f/5.6. Matrix metering. Mono conversion in Silver Efex Pro 2. ISO 50



© 2019

No joke

Monday morning, and I decide to have a day out at Corfe Castle station, photographing the Heritage Railway. It's a clear blue sky over Dorset, and by the time I arrive at mid-day the light is horrible; not good for landscapes, at least in full colour.

As I shoot I'm already thinking about converting the final images to black and white, but end up sepia toning and adding various ageing effects, in the hope of producing something interesting.



All images converted to mono in Silver Efex Pro 2, but 'aged' and toned in Analogue Efex Pro 2.

Top: 12-24mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/8.  Matrix metering. - ⅓ EV compensation. ISO 50
Middle: 12 -24 mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8 Matrix metering. - ⅔ EV compensation. ISO 1600
Bottom. 24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/8. Matrix metering. ISO 200



© 2019

Flying visit

The world famous Flying Scotsman steam locomotive is currently making a short visit to my local heritage railway.

Built in 1923, it set two records for a steam engine: it was the first to be officially authenticated to reach 100 mph (160.9 km/h) in 1934, and the other is the longest non-stop run for a steam locomotive of 422 miles (679 km), in Australia in 1989.

Threatened with the scrap heap in 1962, it was saved by the group Save Our Scotsman in 1963, having raised £3,000 to buy her: the scrap value of the engine.



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor. 1/500 second at f/5. Matrix metering. -⅓ EV compensation. Monopod. ISO 100



© 2019