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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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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.

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