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!!!

Remembering summer on the South Bank

Back in August I spent a day with a friend on the South Bank taking some snaps. I have only just got round to looking at some of them and decided to make a post out of some of my favourites.
As they say in all the best competitions...in no particular order

This one was taken as people were rushing off to work in the morning, me crouched on the floor to get this angle caused more than one strange look!

The Millennium Bridge has been photographed many times and yes I took all the usual shots. However I wanted a different angle, when I saw this corner I knew I had it...literally... and it was just a matter of waiting for a city gent to walk past.

Sometimes this just seem odd, I called this Ancient and Modern, for obvious reasons.

Another odd find was this hot air balloon tethered outside Tate Modern, we never did discover why it was there.

Boris's bikes just had to be taken, although only by photographers it seems!!!

 This building was lit as you see it, just one of those lucky finds, although I suspect that if entered into a competition it will be dismissed as a selectively coloured image.

I always say when taking photographs look, up, behind and down, as well as in front. Looking down I saw this bit of peeling paint always 'appealing' to a photographer!

This one had to be taken. I am still working on it in order to get the most out of this image, may be one which will be entered into a competition one day.

London is full of reflections, again it was a matter of spotting the potential and waiting for somebody to move into the right spot...and bingo there is your image.

Back to the Millenium Bridge, this time with my infra red camera. I tried a low angle, but I think St Pauls is just a bit too small, back to the drawing board on this one.

My final image was taken at the end of the day, when we were both rather tired and sitting on a wall getting enough energy to make our way back to the train station. I called this 'Culture Clash' and although I like the idea I think that, to work properly, it needs the young people to be looking towards me rather than away.