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.

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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

Boscombe pier progress update...

The image, shot today, shows the stage of the replacement of the decking of Boscombe pier. Also visible is the framework of the new wind break which runs the length of the neck. Despite the scheduled October re-open date, there's still some way to go before the end of the pier is removed and the planned 'T' section is in place.

The latest information available re: the artificial surf reef is that "...it has been delayed", but construction has been given the go-ahead, and will start in the autumn.

© 2007

Down by the seaside...

So, it looks as if the weather experts have got it right. On the south coast of the UK (at least) it looks like an Indian Summer, just as they predicted, after the wettest summer on record this year. This has drawn people out and onto the expansive beaches, but despite the rarity of blue skies and sunshine, there are those who are determined to keep in the shade at all costs whilst sun-bathing.

© 2007

Paddle Steamer Waverly...

Waverly, the last sea-going paddle steamer in the world, made a visit to the UK's south coast today, and is seen here tied-up along side Bournemouth pier.

Launched in 1946 and designed for the more sheltered waters of the Firth of Clyde, she is now operated around the coast of Britain. In 1999/2000 the steamer underwent a two stage re-fit financed by the National Lottery Heritage Fund, and was completed in 2003.

© 2007

Boscombe Spa Village development update...

For the first time since construction began last October, something resembling a building begins to take shape on the site of Boscombe Spa village. Shot just after mid-day today, the image shows a girder framework rising at the western end: one of many more to come.

© 2007

Low tide at Boscombe pier...

I returned to photograph the progress being made on Boscombe pier, today. The removal of the end of the structure is nearing completion. In addition, the wind-break, that runs the length of the neck has been replaced, and new planking replaces the decaying timbers that make up the deck of the pier. The re-vamped 'T' section design is due to re-open in October this year.

At the time of writing, there is still no evidence of the planned surf reef being constructed.

© 2007