How amazing has the weather been so far this summer? I hope you have all been able to make the most of it so far, and maybe even had time for hobbies. I'm straight back into being a Driving Instructor with BSM around the Leamington Spa and Warwick areas in Warwickshire. But there's still enough time for my hobbies of running, mountain biking and photography.
Since coming back from the French Alps in Spring I've thrown myself into improving my landscape photography. What with subject matter and strong composition both important factors in creating a punchy image, interesting light will make or break a shot. You can be at the most amazing viewpoint in the world, but with strong bleached midday sunlight, hazy conditions or flat grey clouds, an image can lack impact. Let me give an example with this next shot.
Harriet and I recently had a walking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales based at Ingleton. This is Harriet on the limestone pavement on Whernside, one of the three highest peaks in Yorkshire, looking across to Ingleborough. It's a very special, picturesque area of the UK. But to me the photo just hasn't worked, even though it's a nice record and memory to have. But later on that evening I hoiked up Ingleborough and waited for sunset.
The bleached mid afternoon sunlight has gone, making way for subtle colours. Professional photographers have a description for this period, ie before and after sunrise and sunset, it's called 'Happy Hour'. I can see exactly what the pros mean, the light goes through some magical transformations during this time. Standing at the side of Canon sat on tripod watching the light evolve is very special. The next weekend Harriet and I went to Wivenhoe in Essex, to visit her parents, and also the place where we married. This next photo shows you aren't guaranteed decent sunsets every night. Just thirty minutes before sunset time a whole bank of cloud rolled across the colours. Oh well, you win some, and you lose some.
So far I've only mentioned sunsets and not sunrises. Why? Mid summer now means sunrise is stupidly early. But if I'm pretending to be a pro photographer (as all hobbyists do!) then surely I should give it a go. Hhhmm. We revisited Snowdonia in North Wales recently, back to the Idwal area, one of our regular favourites. Was I brave enough to experience a sunrise? My alarm was set for 03.50 am on the Saturday morning for pre sunrise. Did I crawl out of bed on cue past a snoring Harriet? Oh yes, check this out.
It's a gorgeous place, but boy oh boy, at 04.20 am the shot had to be worth it to warrant getting up that early on a Saturday. I stayed on location drinking coffee for a while, watching the colours in the sky and light transform, sat next to Canon feeling quite content. An hour later I took the following shot just before the light became too harsh, with the Tryfan and the Glwdr Fach peaks in the background.
Anyway, enough of me banging on about my hobby. I hope you are all having fun smothering yourselves with hobbies, whatever they are. Enjoy the long summer evenings, and early light mornings !?!
Martin
Since coming back from the French Alps in Spring I've thrown myself into improving my landscape photography. What with subject matter and strong composition both important factors in creating a punchy image, interesting light will make or break a shot. You can be at the most amazing viewpoint in the world, but with strong bleached midday sunlight, hazy conditions or flat grey clouds, an image can lack impact. Let me give an example with this next shot.
Harriet and I recently had a walking weekend in the Yorkshire Dales based at Ingleton. This is Harriet on the limestone pavement on Whernside, one of the three highest peaks in Yorkshire, looking across to Ingleborough. It's a very special, picturesque area of the UK. But to me the photo just hasn't worked, even though it's a nice record and memory to have. But later on that evening I hoiked up Ingleborough and waited for sunset.
The bleached mid afternoon sunlight has gone, making way for subtle colours. Professional photographers have a description for this period, ie before and after sunrise and sunset, it's called 'Happy Hour'. I can see exactly what the pros mean, the light goes through some magical transformations during this time. Standing at the side of Canon sat on tripod watching the light evolve is very special. The next weekend Harriet and I went to Wivenhoe in Essex, to visit her parents, and also the place where we married. This next photo shows you aren't guaranteed decent sunsets every night. Just thirty minutes before sunset time a whole bank of cloud rolled across the colours. Oh well, you win some, and you lose some.
So far I've only mentioned sunsets and not sunrises. Why? Mid summer now means sunrise is stupidly early. But if I'm pretending to be a pro photographer (as all hobbyists do!) then surely I should give it a go. Hhhmm. We revisited Snowdonia in North Wales recently, back to the Idwal area, one of our regular favourites. Was I brave enough to experience a sunrise? My alarm was set for 03.50 am on the Saturday morning for pre sunrise. Did I crawl out of bed on cue past a snoring Harriet? Oh yes, check this out.
It's a gorgeous place, but boy oh boy, at 04.20 am the shot had to be worth it to warrant getting up that early on a Saturday. I stayed on location drinking coffee for a while, watching the colours in the sky and light transform, sat next to Canon feeling quite content. An hour later I took the following shot just before the light became too harsh, with the Tryfan and the Glwdr Fach peaks in the background.
Anyway, enough of me banging on about my hobby. I hope you are all having fun smothering yourselves with hobbies, whatever they are. Enjoy the long summer evenings, and early light mornings !?!
Martin
