A New Site

For various reasons I have moved my website and blog to a new provider. You can find both at

www.photographsbyshirley.co.uk

You will still be able to access this blog, but no new posts will be added.

I have just added a post to the new blog with photographs from my trips to the Olympics.

Canary Wharf in the Wind and Rain

Last week a photographer friend and I went for one of our regular trips up to London and for a change we visited Canary Wharf, our usual spots have been South Bank and British Museum.

Weather wise it was an awful day but we arrived early in expectation of finding something worthwhile.

Of course Canary Wharf is all about business and commerce so the usual shots of businessmen and women had to be taken.

 You can see how awful the weather was. However we did see some sunshine, we persevered and had to take a couple of obligatory shots of the clocks.

Buskers around London are very good these days and these two were no exception. Not only did they play excellent music but also, for a few pence, they were happy for us to take pictures of them for as long as we wished.

My favourite shots are those candid pic which seem to happen from nowhere. You need to be in the right place at the right time with the right equipment and then, along with a bit of luck you get the chance of capturing something a bit different.

Finally the architecture of the area.

......and a Return to a Favourite Spot

Those who have been following this blog for a while will know that Ashridge Forest is a favourite spot for me. Photographically of course I am looking for something new and a bluebell forest has been 'done' so many times that this can prove difficult.

As with my previous post I look some images home and worked on them in Photoshop...this is what I came up with.

To me they have a bit of a fairy tale look about them...and they are a bit different to the usual bluebell wood pics.

A Return to some Previous Images

Well it has been a while since I have updated my blog and  I thought it was about time I got my finger out and added a few new posts.

In this post I return to the images in the previous post. Rarely do my images stay the same, over time those with potential often morph into something new. Here are two which may look familiar, but have a new twist.

 

An Early Easter Break

Earlier this week we took an early Easter break to Kent. We were lucky enough to have good weather for most of the time and I had the chance to get out and take a few photographs.

I have been wanting to experiment with a minimalist approach to beach photography but, living about as far away as possible in UK from a beach, I have to wait for the opportunity.

All taken on Camber Sands Beach at about midday - not the best for landscapes I know!!!

A Day in Brighton

Last year I made a very enjoyable and productive trip to Brighton and so, when the hotel made the same offer this year, I booked myself in.
As I think I mentioned last time, trying to find something different in Brighton, which has a thriving camera club and many excellent photographers, is a challenge. I tend to wander around with vague ideas of what I am looking for and then watch out for opportunities which present themselves.
As I arrived in Brighton after dark I decided that I would wander around and try out some low light photography.
The Brighton Pavillion is famous and well photographed but I was immediately attracted to the spires and domes lit up against the night sky. Once back home I realised I had a competent image but I wanted to give it a bit of 'ooomph', good photographic word, and bring out more depth, so I added a small amount of fractalius and curves.

The next iconic structure is the burned down pier, which is falling further and further into the sea, it's amazing just how much has been lost in the last year.
I attempted a few candid images, of course in such images luck plays a large part.

I imagine this metal detectorist..or whatever the correct term is.. to be muttering..'I know there is scrap metal here somewhere'

This one is called Two Wrecks, it's obvious why really.

 

 A political statement or just a bunch of chairs piled up ready to be used later in the day? Mmmmm

Where has the driver gone? You can never get a taxi when you want one.

Finally one which I enjoyed creating. The original image was taken on the sand, the shape was exactly as seen, the treatment however creates an image which bears little resemblence to the original. I suspect it's an image which will divide, you either love it or hate it!

A Frozen Whipsnade

Yesterday, just before the snow arrived I travelled up to Whipsnade Zoo. Most of the zoo animals were keeping warm inside so I turned my attention to some passing wild birds who used the frozen ponds, where the ice had been broken, as a convenient stopping off point.

 

 

 

Then there were a few birds in cages, they may not be wild but they do provide a good opportunity to practise bird photography.

 

 And finally the landscape. One of the plus points of Whipsnade are the opportunities for much more than animal photography. It's large expanse allows many different types of landscape picture taking.

London in December

My friend and I returned to the South Bank and the British Museum last week. The weather determined that much of our time was spent inside.

These two images were continuing the 'At ground level' theme.

The skateboard park on the South Bank is always good for a pic or two, the problem is seeing something different. Fortunately the artwork is constantly changing, presenting new opportunities.



As with many places in London, the British Museum is a popular spot for photographers, so a new angle is difficult to find. This image was taken with an upcoming worm's eye view competition in mind.

...and then one of those lucky candid shots.

Moving onto Tate Modern.....

...and finally a lucky shot...no it isn't photoshopped in!!!