Two From Bruges

Last year I went to Bruges twice, the first time in July and the second in November.  In July the place was hot and heaving with tourists and day trippers like me and in November the city was gearing up for its big Christmas market.  It really is a beautiful place to visit and as  Ralph Fiennes says in the 2008 movie In Bruges "It's like a fairytale".  

There were plenty of pictures of the canals and stunning architecture that I could have chosen to share but I thought I would post a couple of pictures which I feel show the fun side of the city. 

Around the city there were lots of buskers of different genres including string quartets, soloists and as in this picture some very colourful figures.  I was really pleased with this image as the guy half posed as he played what I assume was a traditional song.  I happily threw a few euros into his kettle... 

Busker
Canon EOS 6D EF 24 -105mm F4L @ 98mm f5 ISP125

Being quite small, with narrow streets and relatively little traffic Bruges lends itself to cycling and there were lots of bikes everywhere I looked.  This second photo is of one of many bicycles which have been decorated by their owners to stand out.  

Bike
Canon EOS 6D EF24 -105 mm f4L @ 45mm f9 ISO 125

Industrial

First of all I want to say thank you to everybody who has taken the time to read my blog and look at the pictures, today which is day 12 since i started my pages have been viewed over 700 times in total.  Spiral has been the most popular post so far with over 90 views to that page alone. 

Today I am posting three photos taken at Greenfield Heritage Park in North Wales on a day out with my brother and his family.  There's a range of different things to see and do and on one part of the site there are some old mill buildings and the remains of some heavy duty machinery.  I thought they made interesting photographic subjects and I have taken the same shots in monochrome and in colour for contrast.  I have posted the colour and monochrome images together...

"COG"
Canon EOS 6D 24 - 105mm f4 @ 47mm f4 ISO 100

"NUTS"
Canon EOS 6D 24 - 105 f4 @ 80mm f4 ISO 100

"HUB"
Canon EOS 6D Canon 24-105mm f4 @ 65mm f4 ISO 100

I love the way the rust and weathering in the colour photos add warmth to the industrial decay but I also love the way in which the monochrome emphasises the coldness of the abandoned machinery.  I can't decide which I prefer, let me know what you think in the comments below...

Reflection

I like a good reflection, (like when I am shaving in the morning... Ha ha), and I have often looked for reflections in the landscape to include in my photos.  Places like the Lake District of course offer lots of opportunities but every now and then being in the city can throw up some interesting and unexpected views.

I captured today's offering in November 2009 in Salt Lake City.  I had been visiting my brother and his family and we had gone into the city to see the sights. As I turned a corner between two buildings I saw the reflection of the Office Building of The Church Of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints  captured in the windows of another office block on the opposite side of the main street.  I like the way that the upright structures are distorted in the reflection and the way the sun has given added warmth to the image.

Canon 450D 18-55mm @55mm f5.6 ISO 250

Bridges

Today I am sharing a couple of pictures of bridges.  The first I took in April 2008 I think I used an LG mobile phone for this one.  It is of a footbridge across the River Brathay near Skelwith Bridge in the Lake District National Park, just downstream from Elter Water. I've been to this spot a number of times, the most memorable occasion, I had been camping a little further up in Chapel Stile and I got up around 4.00 am to take pictures as the sun came up over Loughrigg.  I don't think I took a picture of this bridge that morning but I remember seeing a fox running along the opposite bank not far from here.  It was a lovely trip and another day I will share some pictures taken that morning.

I love the design of the bridge and I feel drawn into the picture by the shape of the sides as they curve inwards.

This second picture is one I have always been proud of.  It was taken in January 2009, I had only had my first DSLR for a few weeks and I had been to Hull for a work appointment.  I have always been impressed by this bridge which I believe is the longest single span suspension bridge in the world with one mile between each of the columns. I had driven across the bridge many times in the past but never stopped to look at it until the day this photo was taken.  I think I was lucky on this particular day with the light, the level of the tide and the fact that I had time to experiment as I got to grips with the new camera.  I have a copy of this picture on my wall at home, I love the way the river acts as a reflector lighting underneath the bridge and the way the structure reaches forwards from the opposite bank.  I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.

Canon 450D  18 - 55mm f3.5 @ 23mm f11 ISO 100

Fountains Abbey

This year I have been lucky enough to visit Fountains Abbey a couple of times, it is a World Heritage site and definitely deserves that classification. 

On my first visit I had a wonderful time but didn't have the opportunity to take many pictures so I put that right today.  Below is a small selection of the better shots which I think show what a terrific place it is.

Taking photos at such a popular spot is quite challenging trying to get the right shot without lots of people in the frame.  A lot of patience is required and sometimes I struggle.  

It was really nice at one point today when a couple of fellow visitors stopped to watch and chat as I tried to get one particular picture right.  They asked if I published any of my pictures and when I told them about my new blog they asked for my card, perhaps I will have to get some printed.  

Anyway I hope you enjoy the pictures I have selected for today...

Canon 6D Canon 24 -105 f4 @32mm, f9 ISO100

Canon 6D  24 - 105 @ 80mm f14 ISO12,800

Canon 6D 24 - 105 f4 @ 24mm f7.1 ISO100

Canon 6D 24 - 105 f4 @ 28mm f7.1 ISO100

Canon 6D Canon 70 - 300 f5 @235mm f5 ISO 100

Canon 6D 70-300 f5  @ 300mm f16 ISO 100

Canon 6D 24-105 f4 @ 55mm f9 ISO 100

Canon 6D 24 - 105 f4 @ 49mm f9 ISO 100

Canon 6D 24 - 105 f4 @ 32mm f9 ISO 100

Fungi

When I was a young child I would regularly visit my grandparents and often we would go into the school field behind their house and pick mushrooms for breakfast.  I used to love searching for them and was very taken with the fairy rings that we found.

I've also always found fungi interesting subjects to photograph and I've chosen a few to share today.  I am sure that in the future there will be others too.  

The first picture was taken  on a walk with my mother in Hamsterley Forest in Co Durham.   They were growing at the bottom of a tree and I had to get right down in the dirt to get the shot I wanted.  I've used it as my facebook cover photo for some time and thought it deserved a spot on my blog.

The other pictures were some of my first using a macro lens, they were taken at Thurstaston Common in April 2013.  I found these pin sized plants growing on a rotting fence post and couldn't resist trying out my new kit.

Canon 450D Canon 18 - 55mm at 55mm f9 ISO 400

Canon 450D Canon 100mm f2.8  at f16 ISO 400

Canon 450D Canon 100mm 2.8 at f10 ISO 1600

Loch Ard

As I was driving home from work today I was listening to a track  Elk by This Town Needs Guns from their 2009 Album Animals.  I was trying to decide what picture I would be posting to my blog and as I listened to this tune I visualised this photograph taken back in March 2011.  I can't really say why I matched music and picture but they seem to fit.  

The day I took this photo of Loch Ard in The Loch Lomond and Trossachs National Park, was a really good day.  I had gone up to Glasgow for work and once my appointment was out of the way I spent the day touring around the area.  I really made the most of the time I had and when I look at this and other pictures from that day it all comes back to me.  The only downside to the trip being the really dodgy haggis and chips I had for lunch.

Here it was so peaceful and as you can see the surface of the loch was mirror calm. I had visited this spot about 20 years previously and had been entranced by the view so to go back and capture it like this was a real treat.

Loch Ard (Canon 450D Sigma 10 -20 mm @18mm f5.6 ISO 200)                                                                            

A Wide Open Road

As much as I have enjoyed my visit to London I have felt a bit claustrophobic at times and I that thought in my blog today I would break out of the city and choose a picture that evokes some really happy memories and gives a taste of the great outdoors.

My brother Phil will no doubt recognise the location and possibly the diminutive figure in the scene.  

In the bustle of the city it's easy to feel small and in spite of the masses of people it's easy to feel alone but not necessarily at peace as there is always too much going on. This picture, for me anyway gives a sense of being at peace and a feeling of escaping from the hurly burly and so it's a fitting choice.  I hope you agree

And a final note, the title of this post was inspired by a song by The Triffids, which just happened to play on my iPod as I finished the post.

London at night

So, I'm here in London overnight and I thought I need to keep my daily blog going.  I had thought about using a picture I'd taken a while ago of the London Eye and then I thought how nice things look lit up.  I haven't done very much night time photography and I don't have my camera with me so I've done the best I can using my mobile phone.

I'm not promising anything regarding the quality of these pictures, they're the most recent pictures I've taken and they're unaltered in any way. So here for today are a few of London's landmarks at night...

Westminster Abbey

Spiral

Spiral Staircase at Versailles

Just one picture for today.

This was taken  on my old 450D using a Sigma 10 - 20mm EFS lens at 10mm f4. ISO 200 in aperture priority mode.  I loved that lens but it doesn't fit my new camera body so a good wide angle lens will probably be the next bit of kit I buy.  

Anyway enough of the geeky stuff, this staircase is in the Palace at Versailles.  I love the warm colour of the stone and the workmanship was outstanding.  I  also love the form as the stairs lead upwards to nothing. I like to imagine all the people who would have climbed these stairs in their fine clothes back in the day...

Bolton Abbey

Breakfast Time

Stepping Stones

Stepping Stones too

Stepping stones in wood

Around the river bend

So today I have a small selection of pictures from my early morning walk around Bolton Abbey, the day after the balloon pics from the previous post.

I love the early morning, it was such a peaceful time with just a couple of dog walkers sharing the morning before the day trippers arrived.  It was quite misty and there was little colour to the sky but even so I think I captured the essence of the English country morning (at least I hope so!)

I think my favourite image here is the stepping stones in wood.  Let me know which is your favourite. . .

Ballooning

For today's offering I have chosen a few shots of a hot air balloon taken last Friday close to Bolton Abbey in the Yorkshire Dales.

Two or three times a year I like to combine photography with another of my favourite activities; camping.  I find an area with good photo opportunities and I try to get the best of the light during the evening and early morning.  Of course in the summer months the later sunsets mean more time to get snapping but the downside is for the sunrise I have to get up at stupid o'clock. In spite of this however I enjoy the peace and the beauty being out alone as the sun comes up and I've been able to get some great shots.

Last weekend I decided to make the most of the good weather and set off for the Yorkshire Dales.  I had found a fantastic campsite catgillcampsite on the Bolton Abbey estate.  I have to say it was probably the nicest campsite I have every stayed on and the facilities were genuinely first class (seriously you should check out the photos of the shower block on their website).  I'd found a nice flat pitch and got set up and then I'd gone for some tea at another great find just a mile or so up the road. Billy Bobs Parlour has a superb range of ice cream and 1950's American Diner food.  It was so good I went back the next morning for a massive breakfast which set me up for the day.  

Anyway it was after tea on Friday as I was driving back to the campsite when I saw this balloon drifting towards me.  I could see that it was coming down, looking for a safe place to land, so I pulled over and took a number of pictures with my Canon EF 70 - 300mm f4 and I've picked a few to share with you. 

I like the way the burner adds interest to the pictures, looking at them brings back the roar of the flame and the sense of anticipation as the basket seemingly skimmed the trees and dry stone walls.   Feel free to add a comment.

I have to start somewhere. . .

I have been interested in photography for many years having first got to grips with a Kodak Brownie as a child but starting properly in 1980 with my first camera, a Praktica MTL5 and eventually upgrading to an Olympus OM10 which I used for many years.  I focused mainly on B&W and even did a bit of processing using a cheap darkroom setup in the bathroom.   But that was a long time ago and when the kids came along my hobby took a back seat, cameras were sold and I wondered if I would ever get back to it.

In 2001 I bought my first digital camera, a Konika  4mp compact which reawakened my passion and I longed for a DSLR but for so long I couldn't justify the expense.  I eventually took the plunge and bought a Canon 450D (which cost little more than the Konika had a few years previously). I gradually invested in a few lenses and I happily snapped away everywhere I went.

I now proudly own a Canon 6D and a couple of EF lenses and my youngest son has my 450D and we have had some good times and I have enjoyed sharing my interest with him. 

I have enjoyed sharing my favourite pictures with family and friends and I love getting feedback. I have now decided to create a blog with the intention of sharing my pictures with a wider audience, at least that's what I hope for, and I welcome comments and criticism so that I can develop and improve.  

I will be posting individual favourites from past and present and I decided to start with this picture which I snapped on a very memorable day in the New Forest in June this year. I was balancing on a log when I heard a rustling in the leaf litter and I spotted this little frog. After bit of careful handling it was taken using my Canon EF 24-105mm at 105mm f4.0 ISO100.  I'm very fond of this little frog, let me know what you think. . .