Beach replenishment - latest...

Although the equipment has been in place for at least the last 16 days there is little, if any, evidence of the DEFRA-funded beach replenishment at the Southbourne-Hengistbury Head site in east Dorset. I've visited the area for the past three days and as yet have to witness any activity, although the support vessel MCA Ailsa was in attendance yesterday (top image). Once work began the team was scheduled for round-the-clock duties, though none of this has been evident and plant remains idle (bottom image). Admittedly, the weather was unpredictable today and may be a plausible reason for the delay, or maybe I've just turned up at quiet moments, such as tea and fag breaks, and missed the main event.

Top image: 70-200 f/2.8 EX Sigma lens. 1/1000 second at f/11. ISO 200.
Bottom image: 12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/400 second at f/8. ISO 200.

© 2009

The Bramble Bush Bay...

The Sandbanks peninsula and Studland, on opposing sides of the entrance to Poole harbour, Dorset, have been serviced by a chain link ferry that has been run by the Bournemouth-Swanage Motor Road and Ferry Company since July 1926. Although restrictions were imposed on the service during World War II (at one stage being taken over by the military) the ferry has remained in operation ever since.
The image shows the ferry landing on the Sandbanks shore this afternoon - the third such vessel to be commissioned for the job - and the first to be given a name. The predecessors were simply called Ferry No. 1 and Ferry No. 2, both of which were steam driven. The one in operation at present is diesel-electric powered and has been crossing the mouth of the harbour since 1994.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/320 second at f/8. ISO 200. +.33 exposure compensation. 0.6 neutral density grey grad filter.

© 2009

Neptune gets a refit...

Work continues during the spring-like weather on the regeneration of Boscombe seafront, Dorset. Today's image shows builders active with the renovation of the Neptune bar with Boscombe Overstrand and Boscombe Spa Village - still under its crane - in the background.
Work on the artificial surf reef is due to start again next month, with construction costs beginning to spiral up (and up, I shouldn't wonder).

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX-DG lens. 1/180 second at f/8. ISO 100.

© 2009

Memorable gates at AFC Bournemouth...

The chance passing of the Fitness First Stadium (formerly known as Dean Court), the home to my local football team, revealed an unexpected surprise. The gates (image) were once at the entrance to the South End and Main Stand, at the south west corner of the ground, before the venue was completely renovated in 2001. They are now set into a wall and lead nowhere, and commemorate the forming of the supporters club in 1957 (left portal) and the club's Diamond Jubilee in 1960.
As far as I was aware there was nothing remaining of the old ground - save the odd steel post that once supported the Brighton Beach terrace at the eastern end - so it was welcome to see that someone had the foresight to keep something that linked the past to the present.

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX DG lens. 1/125 second at f/5.6. ISO 400.

© 2009

Poole parasurfer...

Riding a bike is one thing, but transporting photographic gear as well is something else. Although I have a number of bags and cases to move equipment around (currently 9) none are really suitable for transporting large lenses on a bicycle...until now. I recently invested in the Think Tank Glass Taxi back pack, which will hold a 300mm f/2.8 lens (hood reversed) with a pro DSLR attached. There is also room for a small lens or two, but that's about it.
Having secured a monopod to the side I set off, primarily to test its practicality whilst riding. Although my initial intention was cross on the Sandbanks ferry to Studland, Dorset, I'm instantly captivated by the parasurfers in Poole harbour once I arrive, and stop to photograph them instead. Although I don't possess the focal lengths needed to pull in all the action, fitting a x1.4 tele-converter allows me to get some useable images when the subject passes close enough (photo).

Oh, yes, the bag is fine.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with x1.4 TC-14E tele-converter (VR off). 1/1600 second at f/4.5. ISO 400. +0.3 exposure compensation.

© 2009

The best time of day...

With a better than good chance of useable light, it's on the bike and along the coast to the southern tip of the entrance to Christchurch harbour, Dorset. The sky looks promising before I leave the house, but cloud from the east threatens to scupper my plans as I cycle along in the pre-dawn.
I arrive at the eastern tip of Mudeford sandspit at around 7:00 am, which gives me time to get into position and wait for the sun to break the horizon. I decide on a wide angle shot and select a neutral density grey graduated filter to hold back the sky. Although not as spectacular as I would have wished, the sun breaks through the cloud bank at 7:23 am (top image) and I only manage four shots during the minute or so the sun is visible before it is again obscured by the cloud. When it re-appears it is too high in the sky - and too strong - for the effect I am after.

The second photograph, shot shortly after 8:00 am, shows heavy plant moving sections of pipe into position at Hengistbury Head in preparation for beach replinishment, last done at this location during the winter of 2005/6. Whilst the beaches to the west are replinished with sand, shingle is used here as it is less prone to longshore drift.

Top image: 12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/100 second at f/8. ISO 400. 0.6 Neutral density grey grad filter.
Bottom image: 12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8. ISO 200. +0.67 exposure compensation.

© 2009

End to end...

Poole bay, Dorset, and its seven miles of sand beaches is book-ended by two natural harbours: Christchurch to the east, and Poole harbour to the west. Last week I featured the entrance to the former, and today made a visit to the latter. Poole harbour, created at the end of the last ice age, is a flooded valley and lays claim to being the largest (or second largest, depending on your location - there are others) natural harbour in the world.
Despite its size it is very shallow, with an average depth of 48 cm (19 inches), and it was necessary to dredge a deeper main channel for larger vessels to use the harbour.
One such ship is seen in the image as it approaches the 365 metre wide harbour entrance at Bramblebush bay, presumably on its way to France.

12-24mm Nikkor. 1/80 second at f/10. ISO 250. +0.67 exposure compensation. 0.6 neutral density grey grad filter.

© 2009

The Mudeford Run...

The cold spell continues across Dorset, and with high atmospheric pressure and low tides predicted, conditions were conducive for an early start. Leaving the house before dawn, I cycle along the coast to Mudeford Sandspit at the entrance to Christchurch harbour. Photographed from the southern shore shortly after sunrise today, the image shows the Mudeford Run - the narrow entrance to the harbour - that can produce currents up to 9 knots on a spring tide ebb. Had the tide been in, I would not have been able to shoot from where I did.
Yet again, the bike proves its worth by allowing me to get into position with the minimum of fuss. It is fast becoming my favourite photographic gadget.

12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/160 second at f/8. ISO 250. 0.9 neutral density grey grad filter.

© 2009

Still cold...

With daylight hours increasing noticeably it won't be too long before the sun begins to rise inland along the south coast of the UK. Taking advantage of what good light is available, between rain - and in some places, snow - I again return to the seafront to photograph the dawn. The Met Office predicted clear skies, and I decided on the location the night before, as I did the lens that I used. This is one of two third party zoom lenses I own (these are a throwback to the days of film), mainly to give it some exercise (yes, they do need it).
So it was on the bike before sunrise, and braving a temperature of -3˚C, I cycle to Hengistbury Head, Dorset, to see what nature had to offer. The image shows the sun rising over The Needles, Isle of Wight.

Sigma 24-70 f/2.8 EX-DG lens. 1/200 second at F/7.1. ISO 400. +1.0 exposure compensation. 0.9 grey grad ND filter.

© 2009

The big freeze...

Much of the UK has been subjected to heavy snow, and naturally it has caused disruptions on roads and airports. Even so, it is something of a rare occurence for it to snow in my neck of the woods due to the Hampshire basin, which tends to produce different weather patterns from those generally forecast for the south.
So it's off to the park and my local bandstand to photograph this atypical phenomenon. Although nowhere near as bad as some parts of the country, a light dusting of snow is, indeed, big news for us.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. !/50 second at f/10. ISO 400. +0.33 exposure compensation.

© 2009

Cold spell (slight return)...

The UK braces itself again for another cold spell, with snow expected along the east coast tonight. Temperatures in Dorset are expected to drop to -3˚C, and with winds gusting up to 30mph, it will feel colder still. However, enough of the weather forecast: it's back to the beach for some imposing images as the sun breaks through the cloud. Again, the conversion to mono suits the subject better than full colour, lending further drama to the scene.

85mm f/1.4 Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/8. ISO 200. +0.3 exposure compensation. Conversion in Photoshop.

© 2009

A foaming head...

Yet again, the bike proves its worth and allows me to respond and get into position quickly, this time for a dawn shoot at Hengistbury Head, Dorset. The wind had dropped since yesterday and the was sky clear, but there was still a strong sea running along the coast of east Dorset. With those conditions it was just a matter of waiting for the rising sun to appear between the broken cloud on the horizon to illuminate the scene above.

85mm f/1.4 Nikkor. 1/125 second at f/8. ISO 320. +0.67 exposure compensation.

© 2009

January sky...

Today's post is just for the sake of putting up an image. The weather forecast was for heavy rain, so consequently I tailored the day to accomodate the conditions, but as so often happens things turn out differently and I only had to tolerate the odd shower. The photograph shows clearing rain clouds over Purbeck, Dorset, during late sfternoon.

85mm f/1.4 Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/8. ISO 320. +0.67 exposure compensation.

© 2009

Squirrels in the park...

It is at this time of year that the grey squirrels in my local park are starting to take an interest in each other with the view to mating, and although I observed several pairs active in this respect it is next to impossible to follow them with a telephoto lens. Because they move so fast from tree to tree, I concentrate on individuals not quite so dynamic. Even so, I still have to react quickly to get any images worthwhile, enticing them with nuts to get them to co-operate for the camera.
Also visible in the park on this fine winter's afternoon are the early signs of the approach of spring, as crocuses push their way above ground, and daffodil shoots become visible.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/3.2. ISO 400.

© 2009

Bike...

I've had a bike for a week, now, and it's proving its worth. It enables me to react to changing scenery and light far quicker than when driving a car. OK, I'm restricted as to what I can carry on my back, and have to be more selective with which lenses to take with me, but that's no bad thing. As yet I've still to overcome the problem of transporting my 300mm f/2.8 lens around (it weighs six pounds on its own), but there are back packs available to carry just such optics. It's just a matter of when...
So, back to quicker response times. I saw the beginning of the effect (above) once I looked out of the door, and although I could have reached a suitable location just as quickly with a car, getting into position on a bike was far more convienient, enabling me to capture the fleeting pre-dawn light that would have disappeared whilst parking. The image of Hengistbury Head, Dorset, was shot at 7:45 this morning, 20 miniutes before sunrise (again, displaying the advantages of fast lenses).

Sigma 70-200 f/2.8 lens. 1/100 second at f/4. +0.3 exposure compensation. ISO 800.

© 2009

Frozen beaches...

For the better part of the week the UK has experienced conditions colder than parts of Iceland and Greenland, and as a result the sea has frozen at the edges of Poole harbour, Dorset, and in particular around the exclusive Sandbanks peninsula. Largely due to the low salt content and shallow depth, this is still a rare event, but as the cold snap ends and temperatures climb to around 6˚C today the ice has retreated somewhat before I can get to the area with a camera. The image, shot this morning, shows what remains of the ice, with Brownsea Island in the background.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/250 second at f/11. ISO 250. 0.9 neutral density grey graduated filter.

© 2009

Branksome Chine, Dorset...

The almost Sisyphean task of preserving and maintaining the seven miles of beaches of Poole Bay, Dorset, continues at Branksome Chine. Photographed today, the image shows work on the Long Sea Outfall Replacement project at a cost of £3 million to Wessex Water, which replaces the 110 year old outfall. New groynes are being built adjacent to the site to reduce the effects of longshore drift.

12-24 f/4 Nikkor. 1/40 second at f/11. ISO 320. 0.9 neutral density grey graduated filter.

© 2009

Goodbye, Farewell and Amen...

It's on a crisp winter's afternoon that my local Woolworths, a store chain that traded on Britain's high streets for almost 100 years, closed its doors for the last time today. A victim of the current recession and unable to find a buyer, the closure will result in 27,000 workers loosing their jobs nationwide.
Known (amongst other things) for its "pick-'n'-mix" sweets and child clothing line, "Woolies" at one time even had its own record label. The Embassy label featured cover versions of currect pop songs of the day, and sold at a fraction of the price of the major label releases (naturally).
The image shows the Boscombe branch, one of 815 outlets, trading on its last day. Sadly, I have to be content with exterior images as I was refused permission by the management to photograph inside.

12-24mm f/4 Nikkor. 1/100 second at f/8. ISO 320.

© 2009

Winter sun...

The current cold snap in the UK is forecast to extend into next weekend, but despite the low temperatures and clear overnight skies there is little in the way of ground frost for me to point a lens at. So I return to the sea in the hope of capturing the sunrise as it breaks the horizon. Again, cloud banks that must extend to France and beyond obscure the event, producing images as seen here. At least it's not raining.

85mm f/1.4 Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/4.5. ISO 400. + 1.0 exposure compensation.

© 2009

Hats off to...

Although the new year dawns with a heavily overcast sky I venture out into the great outdoors on the first day of 2009 in search of images to get the year rolling. Having taken numerous photos of various potential subjects, it's on my way home that I come across the discarded party hat of a reveller from the night before. It's my policy not to stage photographs when recording things in the environment, and this is no exception. The hat is as I found it, but to get a suitable angle I draw the odd glance from passers-by as I have to lay flat on the ground to frame the image with some sort of relevant background.

Incidentally, it is 1963 years ago today (46 BC) that Julius Ceaser introduced the 12 month, 365 days - plus a leap year every four years - reformed calender.

50mm f/1.8 AF Nikkor. 1/400 second at f/2. ISO 400. -0.5 exposure compensation.

© 2009