Surf's (finally) up...

The much awaited artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Dorset, is finally to be started at the end of this month, and be completed by the end of the year "at the latest", as stipulated in the Bournemouth council contract. The cost of the reef, said to be Europe's first, is currently £1.4 million.
There are a number of instruction schools set up, waiting to take advantage of the expected influx of surfers once the reef is ready. Once such school is shown here, breaking from theory to get some practical experience amongst the waves. The revamped beach chalets and restaurant (yet to be finished) and Boscombe Spa Village (ditto) are in the background.

© 2008

More ducks...

...and why not? Nobody reads this stuff, anyway: I'll write whatever I like. The mandarin family (previous post) is now down to just two; three ducklings have gone since Monday. Sadly, nature is harsh. The concept of all the animals gathering together at the end of the day in a woodland clearing, seated on treestumps drinking tea from china cups - all accompanied by a rabbit on a banjo - are entirely false.
So, I decide to photograph the mallards instead.

© 2008

The perils of the natural world...

Apart from shooting images of the pied wagtail (previous post), I also made a number of photographs of a young family of mandarin ducks. There were, at the time, four ducklings, but on my return today there were just two remaining. I can only assume that two have become the victims of natural predators, so much of my attention was directed at recording this small family. Curiously, the drake has not been in evidence to offer any sort of protection; this is the case for both mandarin families on Eyeworth pond, and is possibly a charactistic of the species.

© 2008

Hunting wagtail...

I spent most of the afternoon at Eyeworth pond, in the New Forest, photographing anything that came by; notably a mandarin duck and her four ducklings, who made several close passes (on foot!). But my attention was caught by a pied wagtail (Motacilla alba), that would periodically hover over the lilly pads in search of a meal. Capturing this erratic behaviour with a telephoto lens is no easy task, and out of all the frames I shot this image was the best. It shows the result of a successful swoop, and an unfortunate damselfly becomes part of the food chain.

© 2008

Jolly Roger...

Is the crane operator on the site of Boscombe Spa Village trying to tell us something? The flag being flown from the top is known in pirate circles as the Jolly Roger, or Skull and Crossbones. It was historically flown to identify pirate activity, and this design, used by Edward England, dates back to around 1720.
I'm sure the driver has a valid reason for adorning his crane the way he has (although it beats me!).

© 2008

Summer solstice, 2008...

So, it's the first day of summer in the northern hemisphere...hang-on, these are the same words I used to start the post on the summer solstice last year; but then again, it's the same weather. The image shows deck-chairs set out for the summer visitors, and an RNLI Lifeguard setting up windbreaks in the background on Southbourne beach, Dorset, this morning, in prepatation to keep a close eye on swimmers, or anyone else using the local beaches. The main problem is that few people actually do, these days. Although the seven miles of sand beaches are kept to a high standard by the local council, they mostly get used by the odd dog-walker, or early morning jogger/fitness enthusiast. Maybe the current "credit crunch" will entice holidaymakers back to seaside resorts next year.
There was no visible sunrise to mark the start of the celebrations of Pagan rituals this year, and I left the beach just as the persistant drizzle closed in from the west.

© 2008

Now, there's a surprise...

It has recently been reported that the much talked-about artificial surf reef at Boscombe, Dorset, will eventually cost double the original estimate. The original figure of £1.3 million is likely to double before completion, and as I write, construction has still not started: let's hope it's a success (if it ever gets built).
Oh, yes, the image: I shot it this morning.

© 2008

Web address...

It was an early start today, on banks of the Dorset Stour. There was still overnight mist at 5:00am, which is always photogenic, especially when back-lit by the sun. Spider webs, heavily laden with dew, continue to fascinate, and it is remarkable that these little guys manage to spin the webs they do without the aid of a diagram.
The teasel image shows how effective dawn light can be for the photographer, although it means getting out of bed at 3:30 am at this time of year to be there as it happens.

© 2008

Boscombe Spa Village: different perspective...

Taking advantage of the now-open Boscombe pier, I get my first shots of the Boscombe Spa Village development from a seaward viewpoint, as the pier had long been closed to the public before any visible signs of construction were apparent.
The construction of the much publicised artificial surf reef to the east of the pier has still not started, although latest news hints that this will commence this month.

© 2008

Boscombe pier

Shot early today, the image shows off the new planking of Boscombe pier. Despite the free admission, there was very little human traffic on the pier, making photography easier from my point of view.
Ever since the demolition of the Mermaid theatre at the pier end, the structure has taken on a more stark appearance, loosing most of its character, and to me seems little more than a glorified jetty (albeit without the landing stage).

© 2008

Boscombe Spa Village...latest image

The image, photographed from the beach at low tide, shows how Boscombe Spa Village continues to grow in an easterly direction along the Dorset seafront.

The recently renovated pier was reopened to the public on 24th May.

© 2008

Dragonfly...

I thought it would be a good idea to return to Corfe Castle and photograph the steam trains, but not so. After shooting a number of pointless images (there was no steam running, and diesel engines just don't hold the same fascination), I opt for damage limitation and head for RSPB Arne, and photographing the Sika deer. This also proved less than fruitful, as the only deer visible were in herds in fields: also pretty boring. However, there were dragonfly present at the nearby pools of standing water, so I concentrate on those. It soon became evident that I was not equipped with the right lens for the job (a 300mm f/2.8 just won't focus that close), but I persevered and got some acceptable images, such as the Four-spot Chaser (Libellula quadrimaculata). This dragonfly gets its name from the dark spot on the nodus, half way along the leading edge of its wing.

© 2008

Old trick...

...but still effective. Back in the olden days of film and wet prints, hand colouring mono images was a time consuming technique, and mistakes could be costly in both man-hours and materials. Image manipulation using Photoshop allows the same results in a fraction of the time, and also greater control over the entire process.

The image, shot early today, took around twenty minutes to produce, from RAW file to web-ready finished article.

© 2008

Afterthought...

As an afterthought for today's posting, I include an image of the construction of Boscombe Spa Village, photographed from the beach during mid afternoon, today.

© 2008

Ice cream weather...

Having made the decision to start the May day bank holiday weekend early, I venture out along the Dorset coast in search of something interesting to point my lens at. A beach promenade kiosk display (image), offers a selection of refreshments for passing trade. Unfortunately, it was not open for business: a missed opportunity for sales, as the pedestrian traffic was swollen by the fine spring weather during late afternoon.

© 2008

Boscombe Spa Village (and a new lens)...

Having taken delivery of a Nikkor 12-24 mm lens, yesterday, I give the lens its first outing by photographing the progress of the Boscombe Spa Village project. It has been roughly 18 months since the site was just a car park, and the image shows the progress to date.

© 2008

Swanage railway branch line weekend...

With a back that's beginning to suffer from lugging heavy camera gear about, I aim at something more genteel today, and stumble upon the last knockings of the Swanage railway branch line weekend. Quite by chance I stopped at Corfe Castle to see what the railway was running, and despite the unpredictable weather trying to put a stop to my shooting, I wait with a handful of other railway enthusiasts who were equally determined to shoot whatever came by. The image, shot during an impromptu hail storm, shows a Standard Class 4 tank engine pulling the train, with an LSWR M7 tank engine at the rear, ready to pull the train in the opposite direction for the return journey.

© 2008

Cervus nippon...

In much need of a change of pace, I travel west to the RSPB reserve, Arne, on the shore of Poole harbour. Although well known for its open heathland, oak woodland and bird populations, it was photographing the sika deer that was the primary purpose of my visit. Although they tolerate human presence more readily than other species, it's still no easy task to get good images of these wild animals, and you still need to employ all the necessary precautions to get within range with a telephoto lens.
The deer were originally introduced into UK parks during the 1860's, but escapees established themselves into the countryside.

© 2008

Blue Tit...

The image, made at Eyeworth pond in the New Forest, is my first serious attempt at photographing the smaller species of British birds. Up until now, I've tended to concentrate my energies on the larger specimens of the indigenous wildlife to be found on these islands. For one, they are easier to shoot: the bigger they are, the slower they tend to move, but taking the easy option doesn't improve my photography. So, attaching the x1.4 tele-converter to my 300mm ƒ/2.8 lens, I set to work. Not the best of images ever made, but a fair attempt at what is, after all, a faster moving subject. The biggest problem, as ever, is selecting suitable backgrounds that compliment the subject, so that's going to need some work. I think I'm gonna need a longer lens...

One foal a-leaping...

Today, there was snow in my garden from an overnight fall. It's the first time I've seen snow in this area for nearly nine years, so it was something of a rarity. Of course, once the sun started shining, it all disappeared quickly.

Despite the unseasonable temperatures, I head for the New Forest, hoping that some foals have been dropped during the past week, and this time I strike lucky at my first stop. It took all of five minutes before I stumbled upon a mare and its recently born foal. I get a few insurance shots before the pair move off into deeper forest. I decide against following so as not to cause undue stress, but later the pair re-appear and seem relaxed enough to allow me to spend an hour or so photographing them.

© 2008

Ducks Deluxe...

For the first time in several weeks, I venture back into the New Forest to seek out the new-born foals, but again I draw a blank. I'm told (again) that it's still too early for the mares to have given birth, although opinions seem to vary. So, off to the secondary target in the hope that I will catch a glimpse of the Mandarin ducks (Aix galericulata) that live on Eyeworth pond, near Fritham, Hampshire. Having made several visits since last October that proved fruitless, today I was treated to the unexpected bonanza of several pairs that not only came into range to be photographed, but decided this was the time to mate. The waterfowl is not high on the birdwatchers conservation list because of its alien origins, and many regard it as "plastic", but few can deny the stunning plumage that the male of the species possesses.

© 2008

Boscombe seafront...

After several months of being plagued with a "gammy foot", last week's operation seems to have solved the problem, and now allows me unrestricted movement. Today, I decide to test my new found mobility with a 5 mile walk along the seafront, and suffered no adverse reactions. Of course, I had a camera with me, and took the opportunity to record the current progress of Boscombe Spa Village and the re-development of the Boscombe Overstrand, which is now in an advanced state (foreground).
The artificial surf reef construction, which has experienced several delays, is scheduled to begin in May, and will be completed by October.

© 2008

Groynes 27-33

The latest phase of replenishment was completed this morning between groynes 27-33 (Portman to Fisherman's Walk), Bournemouth, and is part of an annual top up to keep the beach volume high. Since the replenishment schemes began in 1970, the beach has now essentially become an artificial feature; the natural supply of sand and gravel being prevented since the construction of seawalls and groynes, designed to stop erosion so that houses could be built on the cliff tops. The work is funded 100% by Grant Aid from The Environment Agency, and two more top ups are planned over the next two years.

© 2008

Call that a storm?

The worst storm of the winter (words of the weather forecasters) came in during the early hours, today. With heavy rain, and wind gusts up to 80 mph predicted, I prepared my cameras for shooting in such conditions. However, by first light, the Dorset coast was bathed in sunshine with blue skies, and the gale force winds had dropped to breeze level. But all was not over, as a second front began to batter the coast by mid-morning. I decided that the exposed areas would give the best images, and headed for Hengistbury head, on the far eastern coast of the county. It was there that the wind off the heavy seas made the act of just standing upright a challenge. I shot a mere 8 frames before the weather got the better of me and my equipment, and I retreated to the shelter of the car. By early afternoon the skies had, once again, cleared.
Shooting under such conditions is at best, difficult. Keeping the front element of the lens dry, and the camera steady is a major effort, but you do get images that most people wouldn't bother attempting.

© 2008

Not exactly a host ...

...but a lone golden daffodil. It took some searching to find an individual bloom amongst the display at Fisherman's Walk, Southbourne, today, but find it I did, doing its fluttering and dancing as a soloist.

© 2008

Telephoto compression...

The fine, spring weather continues over the south coast, so I elect to concentrate my energies photographing local architecture. Rather than adopt the usual approach and use a wide angle lens, I opt for a telephoto and dig out my 300mm f/4 lens. Long lenses have the ability of being able to appear to compress perspective, making things seem closer to each other than they actually are. The image of the late Victorian house terrace that overlooks Boscombe pier demonstrates this perfectly.

© 2008

From mate to chief...

At some point during the past seven days, the support platform and crane have been removed from Boscombe pier, which suggests that work on the refurbishment is near completion (photo). I asked the lone construction worker on the site when the pier would be re-opened to the public. "No idea, chief", was his reply. This differs to my perceived status from last November (18th), when I was referred to as "mate" after asking the same question at the same location. I'm still unsure if that's a promotion, or not.

Spring continues to display its colours here in Dorset, with the tree in my garden beginning to blossom three weeks earlier than usual, due to the unseasonably warm weather.

© 2008

By way of a change...

Things got off to a poor start today, with a trip to the West Country being re-scheduled at short notice. I should have spent the day at Slapton Sands with two fellow photographers, but due to illness this has been put back to a later date. Consequently, it was back into the New Forest, in a rather half-hearted expectation of finding newly arrived foals. Although still a few weeks early, I figured that the early onset of spring may have had an effect on the ponies, but if it had, there was no evidence of it; in fact, again, there were very few ponies to be seen anywhere. There were, however, a number of cattle grazing the hills, so by way of a change I decide to photograph those instead.

© 2008

Signs of an early spring...

Another crisp, clear morning on the south coast, and it's down to the beach front with an 85mm f/1.4 lens. Rather than just record the progress of the building developments, I decide to shoot on a theme: that being shadows (image).

There is also evidence of an early spring this year, as there are trees in blossom and daffodils in bloom, as well as insect activity. This is three to four weeks ahead of last year, and it is nature displaying the fact that the planet is warming up.

© 2008

Come fly with him...

The spring-like weather continues along the UK's south coast, and today members of the Wessex Paragliders club were taking advantage of the favourable conditions at Southbourne, near Bournemouth. The image shows once such flier, with the promontory of Hengistbury Head in the background.

© 2008

Pier pressure...

Ignoring the wild guess of the on-line weather forecast, I ventured out before sunrise today to benefit from the good light, and photograph the progress of the renovation of Boscombe pier. Although mechanical sounds emanated from the structure, it's difficult to see what is actually being achieved from the restricted vantage point of the beach. From what I can observe, the final shape of the pier is now pretty much evident: not that it was worth the wait. It looked better with a derelict structure languishing on the end. The "improved" version has a rather sad 'T' shape added to the end, almost as an after thought. I suppose, ultimately, it came down to how much money was made available for the project.
Still, things could be worse: it might have been demolished altogether.

The image was shot shortly after dawn, today.

© 2008

Boscombe Spa Village: January progress...

Boscombe Spa Village continues to take shape above the seafront, and some sections now have roofs in place. Adjacent to this, the seafront chalets have scaffolding erected against them, as they too, are starting to undergo renovation: ultimately to contain shops and a restaurant. Work on the much discussed artificial surf reef (now granted a special licence by the local council) should be started in spring this year (no specific date available), and be completed by October.

The pier revamp, however, is running well behind schedule and now has a projected completion date of May this year; some 8 months later than forecast.

© 2008

Far away, across the fields...

It's been a while since I've been able to get out with a camera, but today's weather was good, and so was the light. My current project, photographing the ponies of the New Forest, progressed little as there was scant evidence of any in the area I'm concentrating on. Despite walking for an hour, there were only several to be found, and apart from the token shots I took, there was nothing in the camera worth pursuing.

The image of Ibsley Church, Hampshire, was shot from some distance away across the fields using a 300mm telephoto lens, and is the only useful image from the session.

© 2008

First of the year...

Starting the new year as I mean to carry on, it's a morning shoot in the New Forest. It took a while to find any ponies today, but a bit of searching proved fruitful. Conditions were ideal for photography: bright/overcast, which enables me to get images of the lighter coloured ponies without contrast problems, and blown highlights. The weather forecast for Thursday is light snow. If that turns out to be the case (doubtful: the forecasts are usually something of a guess, it seems), then I will be back in the forest with my camera.

© 2008

Morning mist...

Undoubtably, the best way to assess the weather is to look out of the window. The web based weather forecasts are a rather hit or miss affair, and today was no exception. The cloud cover, admittedly, did appear as predicted for the second half of the day, but the clear start was omitted from the augury.
On arrival at my favourite location, I was greeted with the bonus of morning fog (always photogenic), through which the sun would occasionally burst, creating a continually shifting luminosity to the landscape: ideal for some atmospheric images of the ponies in the New Forest National Park. They didn't disappoint, and again were there in numbers. I shot a number of images using the 300mm f/2.8 lens, but later changed to the 85mm f/1.4 to give a different perspective to the shoot. The image was made with this lens.

© 2007

Cravings...?

I was surprised to learn today that ponies eat gorse: not just the flower, but the spiky leaves as well. Since the mares are now showing visible signs of pregnancy, maybe it's just a craving they get whilst in this condition. Why else would they eat such vegetation that must be hard on the mouth?
The pony in the image, however, showed no signs of this behavior, and only ate grass and heather (at least, whilst I was present).

© 2007

They call it stormy, er... Friday...

The weather this week is about as unpredictable as it gets here in the UK: and that's in spite of the forecasts! Today, heavy rain swept down from the north, accompanied by strong winds. There were the usual mix of afternoon strollers and dog walkers enjoying the winter air on Boscombe beach, but they soon disappeared as the storm front (image) rolled in. I stayed only as long as necessary to record the event, before beating a hasty retreat myself.

© 2007

Feast of Stephen (Boxing day, to you and I)...

The weather forecast was accurate today, so out with the 300mm lens and into the New Forest in search of the ponies. The location I'm now using seems to come up trumps every time, and there must have been at least two dozen just waiting to be photographed. In fact, two ponies obligingly moved into a suitable position shortly after I arrived, and I was able to get numerous shots in good light and pleasing backgrounds in no time at all.

© 2007

Beside the seaside (revisited)...

My original plan for today was scuppered by the weather, and as tomorrow's forecast promises to be better, I decide to stay local. Despite persistent rain, not to mention the fact that it's Christmas morning, there are always those brave souls determined to be in the great outdoors, come what may. So, on with a pair of wellies; out with the umbrella, and off for a relaxing stroll along Boscombe sea front to build up the appetite, no doubt, for the hardy couple in the image. Surprisingly, they were not alone.

© 2007

Boscombe Spa Village (latest)...

Boscombe Spa Village continues to rise above the seafront, and in some cases, the cavity insulation for the apartments is now in place. The image, shot yesterday, is indicative of the progress to date, as construction has come to an end before the holiday period starts.

© 2007

Pockets of colour...

I've had enough of the beach...too many people. So, back to the New Forest and time to do a bit of exploring. As usual, it's the 300mm lens that gets into my back-pack for the day; that, plus a flask of hot soup and a wide zoom, just in case. I was quite surprised at the location I was shooting at, as there was more colour than I expected for the time of the year. By now, all the leaves have usually been blown off the trees by strong winds, but this year they have not come.


© 2007

Boscombe Spa Village update...

I mentioned the progress with the building of Boscombe Spa Village in the last post, but at the time of writing I had no suitable current image. The image here was shot just after sunrise this morning.

© 2007

Old Rope...

Boscombe Spa Village is now taking shape at an ever quickening pace, with most of the steel framework having been assembled, and in some cases, roof timbers being put in place. This work contrasts with the progress being made on Boscombe pier (pictured). The pier should have been re-opened to the public last month, but the work is still nowhere being completed.

The artificial surf reef, which was due for completion this autumn, is now to be started during the spring of next year.

© 2007

No idea, mate...

This weekend the weather is more in keeping with UK patterns for the time of year, and the settled conditions of the past few weeks have been blown away overnight. Still, I'm not going to let a spot of drizzle stop me from venturing into the great outdoors to shoot some images. My original idea was to photograph people struggling against the bad weather, but it seems that most had more sense and stayed at home. I did, however, notice that renovation work on Boscombe pier was in progress despite the conditions. The work should have been completed some time ago, and the pier re-opened last month. I asked a hard-hatted, high-visibility vest clad man when the public could now expect the use of the pier. "No idea, mate", was his reply.

© 2007

All the leaves are brown...

This morning's dawn patrol in the New Forest was all but fruitless from a photography point of view...until I crossed the road. For an hour or so, the ponies I was photographing were more intent on feeding than being the subject of my lens. Sure, I got the usual token shots just to get the creative juices flowing, but the images I wanted were not happening. It was then that I spotted a lone pony on an adjacent hill and decided to concentrate my energies in that direction. I was surprised to find that the pony in the picture was not only tolerant of my approach, but adopted a variety of poses (obviously a pro), one of which is included here.

© 2007

Little Scotland...

Despite the fact that the weather in the southern UK has remained relatively stable for a number of weeks now, getting images that merit a posting here are few and far between. It's not for the want of trying, it's just that sometimes no matter how hard you try, it just doesn't come together. This morning's trip to the New Forest produced some of the best images for a while, and temperature inversions and an overnight frost helped things along.
The pony in the image was shot at a location I now know to be referred to by the locals as Little Scotland. Although I have been familiar with the area for over twenty years, I had not heard it described as such before.

© 2007

That first half hour...

The location in the New Forest that I am using for my pony shots is a fairly small valley situated near Ringwood, Hampshire. Despite this, the variety of colour of the animals seems almost limitless, as each visit brings a different photographic opportunity.
The weather is holding for the next few days, and pre-dawn starts are the order of the day if I am to be prepared to start shooting at first light. Using a 300mm f/2.8 telephoto at maximum aperture enables me to get some images before the sun has risen above the horizon, but the best shots in my opinion, are during that first half hour of direct light.

© 2007

First frosts...

The first frosts are appearing in the south of the UK, and the New Forest takes on a different appearance as a result. The image of a young pony was shot just after sunrise today, and within yards of the same location of the pony in the previous post, illustrating the contrasts between late summer and autumn. The bracken has now died off and the heather is loosing its colour, and its these muted hues, along with the low angle of the sun that will form the bulk of my outdoor photography in the coming months.

© 2007

Browns and reds...

The colours of the New Forest are starting to take on their autumn hues, and the wild pony images I'm after are coming together. Leaves on the silver birch are beginning to turn, and the bracken is taking on various shades of brown as the ferns die-off: sunrise was at 6:48 am today.
The image, shot at Linwood early this morning, is a taste of what the New Forest is capable of displaying at this time of year.

© 2007