Thursday, September 30, 2004
Tees Barrage
After last nights picture I decided to visit the Tees Barrage tonight
Taking the picture 15 minutes earlier meant there was still some light in the sky.
Time 19:04pm Shutter 10 sec Aperture F22 Focal Length 28mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Wednesday, September 29, 2004
River Tees at night
I had never thought of photographing this view of the River Tees in Stockton until I spotted it for the first time this evening.
The reflections of the lights on the river surface make for an interesting picture.
Time 19:22pm Shutter 10 sec Aperture F19 Focal Length 200mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Tuesday, September 28, 2004
Autumn Colour in Wensleydale
We have reached that time of the year in England when the Autumn colour (Fall Color) develops and changes every day.
Time 17:21pm Shutter 1/8 Aperture F8 Focal Length 175mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Sunday, September 26, 2004
Flowers
Mam asked me to take a picture of some flowers today.
So I placed them in the conservatory, used the garden as the backdrop and made the most of the diffused natural light.
The camera was mounted on a tripod to keeps things sharp.
Time 15:27pm Shutter 1/10 Aperture F8 Focal Length 200mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Saturday, September 25, 2004
Old Railroad Track
The sky has been very grey all day today so photography has been challenging.
It was only at sunset that the sun made a brief appearance in the western sky.
Then I had to find something to do with the little bit of light on offer.
As I was driving out of Northallerton, North Yorkshire, it occurred to me I might be able to do something with the old railway track nearby.
So this picture was the result. It was taken from the level crossing / grade crossing so I was able to take the picture safely and with out trespassing.
Time 19:28pm Shutter 10sec Aperture F13 Focal Length 200mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Thursday, September 23, 2004
Gateshead Camera Club
Have you ever thought of joining a camera club as a way of stimulating your photography?
A search on Google should help you find your local club.
I am a member of the Gateshead Camera Club and our new season has just started tonight.
And to be topical above is a picture of the Gateshead Angel, also taken tonight. The jogger just came along at the right time!
Time 19:04pm Shutter 1/60 Aperture F6.7 Focal Length 28mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Wednesday, September 22, 2004
Autumn Equinox
Today is the Autumn Equinox - one of two times a year when the sun crosses the equator and the day and night are of equal length.
Time 17:58pm Shutter 2 sec Aperture F9.5 Focal Length 90mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Monday, September 20, 2004
Inspiration
It was a year ago this week my farther lost his 7 year fight with cancer.
He was and always will be my inspiration.
These pictures, taken this morning at the village church, are for my dad.
Time 09:08am Shutter 1/250 Aperture F8
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Saturday, September 18, 2004
Rainbow
This double rainbow came as a complete surprise.
I was waiting for a little bit of evening sunlight to fall on a tree.
Then a heavy shower started and the sun came out at the same time.
The result – a double rainbow – and I got very wet – but it was worth it
Time 18:08pm Shutter 1/250 Aperture F13
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Wonderful Tree
I set out today to take some pictures of a stream I had noticed in the North Pennines near Stanhope in Weardale.
As I walked along the banks of the stream I discovered this wonderful tree.
You’ll notice I am up to my old tricks – Taking the picture into the sun and using the tree to hide it.
Time 16:42pm Shutter 1/90 Aperture F16 Focal Length 15mm
Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Jaguar S type 3 litre V6 Automatic
On Friday Ford announced plans to stop car production at the historic Browns Lane Jaguar plant in Coventry, England. Jaguar has been making cars in Coventry since 1928.
So it’s a good excuse for a picture of my pride and joy.
Time 15:43pm Shutter 1/250 Aperture F8 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Friday, September 17, 2004
Autumn just around the corner
It has been cold the last few nights and I noticed today the trees are just starting to change colour in the North of England.
At Whorlton on the River Tees I am hoping these trees are going provide many a photo opportunity over the coming weeks.
At the moment you can just to say see they are starting to change colour.
Time 13:10pm Shutter 1/90 Aperture F13 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Texture
I am always on the look out for great texture to photograph.
Wood, Water, Stone, Flames, Weathered Paint, etc
Getting in close on these flames makes for a strong colourful image.
Time 10:03am Shutter 1/750 Aperture F5.6 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Thursday, September 16, 2004
Office
Here I am hard at work in the office.
Hopefully I will get chance to get out with the camera at the week-end.
Time 16:12pm Shutter 3 sec Aperture F19 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Monday, September 13, 2004
Traffic Jam
I always try to never miss an opportunity to take a picture.
So when I spotted this traffic jam on the A1 in Lincolnshire today I quickly found a suitable place to stop and take some pictures.
Why you might well ask? Well a large percentage of my photography is client focused and I know this is the kind of image that will sell … to the right client.
It also conveys a strong message which is easy to absorb.
It could be used to illustrate congestion, impact of cars on the environment, the futility of travel at peak times, etc
Time 13:12pm Shutter 1/250 Aperture F9.5 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Sunday, September 12, 2004
Houses of Parliament in London
This is great example of the impact of some Sun on a subject.
The building is the Houses of Parliament in London, England.
The lower shot is dull where the top shot has plenty of colour.
Time 12:08pm Shutter 1/90 Aperture F19 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Nelsons Column
When you have a strong subject, like Nelsons Column in Trafalgar Square, London England, you can create something different by giving the subject a little space.
In this view it gives Nelson somewhere to look
Time 10:58a Shutter 1/250 Aperture F9.5 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Saturday, September 11, 2004
M25 London Orbital Motorway
The M25 London Orbital Motorway is the busiest road in the United Kingdom and a road I have never managed to photograph.
So today I made the most of the chance to take some – You never know when someone will want to buy a picture of the M25.
This view involved a ten second time exposure
Time 19:42m Shutter 10 Sec Aperture F27 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Lincoln
It is very easy in Lincoln to take the standard pictures of the Castle and Cathedral
So to be different I took this picture of an old building instead.
Time 15:14pm Shutter 1/250 Aperture F5.6 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Humber Bridge
The Humber Bridge is an Icon of the Humberside area and is always worth stopping to photograph.
Today I was there at midday – never a good time to take pictures.
I had to be very careful with the exposure as I was shooting into the sun and it would have been easy to over-expose the shot.
Note how the bridge has been light by the sun reflected of the water.
Despite everything being against me I waspleased with the end result.
Time 12:55pm Shutter 1/250 Aperture F16 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Thursday, September 09, 2004
Into The Sun
This picture uses a technique I often use whenever I want to take a picture into the sun.
I find something, in this case the tree trunk, to mask the sun.
So you end up with an image, which is partly silhouette and partly sidelight.
It also helps when you are shooting just before sunset.
These fields are near Hawes in Wensleydale, North Yorkshire, England.
Time 19:02pm Shutter 1/125 Aperture F9.5 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Wednesday, September 08, 2004
Whitby, North Yorkshire
The fishing town of Whitby on the North Yorkshire coast is always a delight to explore.
My favourite image of the day is this view from the end of the pier.
I have used a small aperture and a long shutter speed to give me a greater depth of field, which keeps everything in focus.
Time 17:49pm Shutter 1/60 Aperture F16 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Tuesday, September 07, 2004
Misconceptions 1
Misconceptions – You need an expensive camera to take a good picture.
Your camera is just a way of capturing an image and how much it cost should not stop you taking great pictures
The footpath sign was taken with the Camera on my cell phone just to prove the point.
It is more important that you…
(a) Become familiar with your camera and its features so you don’t have to think about anything but the subject when you use it.
(b) Try to understand the relationship between shutter speed, aperture and depth of field so you can use them to best effect.
(c) You become aware of the light, where the sun is, how best to use the sunlight and where you should stand in relation to it. Explore this BLOG and my site FreeFoto.com. Then try and work out where the sun was when I took each picture.
I will explore these themes further in future postings. Also feel free to post your questions in the comments section.
Time 09:30am Handsprint Treo 600 Cell Phone
Monday, September 06, 2004
Spiders Web
This classic view of a Spiders Web is not an easy image to capture.
If you like it, leave a comment and I’ll let you into the secret of how it was taken.
Time 12:39pm Shutter 1/90 Aperture F4.8 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Spiders Web 2
So how did I take the Spiders Web Photographs?
Well first of all I was walking with my eyes open and saw the web on my car. It was between the wing mirror on my car and the door frame which is not an ideal location. The problems where…
(1) It was raining and a little windy.
(2) The background was bright and confusing.
The rain I sorted with an Umbrella and the background was covered with some black underwear – my normal black cloth background was too big.
I then used my camera on a Tripod with a Macro lens to allow me to get in real close.
The light was very diffused and from above because of the rain
I was also able to use the black background to keep the sky out of the frame
Finally I had to be patient and wait till the wind to drop and for the web to stop moving.
15 minutes latter I had a set of images I was really happy with
Time 12:41pm Shutter 1/90 Aperture F4.8 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Sunday, September 05, 2004
Twilight
This moody shot of a local chemical works was taken with a 500mm lens mounted on a tripod.
The trick to still having colour in the sky at night is too shoot in the twilight.
Another 15 minutes latter the sky would have been black instead and not as dramatic.
Time 20:28pm Shutter 2 Sec Aperture F6.3 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Sunset
As I left church this evening I spotted this great looking Sunset.
I had only a couple of minutes to grab my camera from the car and try to find something to silhouette against the sky.
In the end I choose the spire of the local Parish church in Stockton on Tees
Those of you into Photography may be interested to know I used a 125mm lens and it is pin sharp, despite an exposure of only 1/60 of a second.
Time 19:57pm Shutter 1/60 Aperture F5.3 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Flowers of Remembrance
Today Funerals have been held for victims of the Russian school siege in the small North Ossetian town of Beslan.
At Church this morning we stood and prayed for the heartbroken families.
As I drove home I saw these flowers marking the spot where a young English man lost his live this week in a swimming accident on the River Tees.
Time 12:51am Shutter 1/250 Aperture F8 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Saturday, September 04, 2004
Horse Chestnut Tree
In my village by the Brownlow Arms public house is a hugh Horse Chestnut Tree covered in fruit.
The local children will soon be trying to knock them of the tree for their conker’s.
Every Autumn children drill a hole through the middle of the nut or "conker", thread a string through, knot it and then proceed to take alternate blows at the opponent's "conker".
The winner is the one who breaks the opponent's "conker".
Time 16:59am Shutter 1/250 Aperture F5.6 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
Thursday, September 02, 2004
Wensleydale Railway
When it comes to photographing trains I always like to capture them as part of the landscape
This a very unusual view of two locomotives crossing the River Swale near Morton on Swale
Only hand a full of trains operate across this bridge every year.
Time 11:45am Shutter 1/250 Aperture F9.5 Camera Kodak DCS Pro slr/n
You can enjoy more pictures by visiting the FreeFoto.com Blog Archives - The links are in the right column.
