Old Stones

So yesterday I shared a picture from inside the stone circle at Castlerigg looking out towards Helvellyn. It is such a mysterious and magical place.

Today I have chosen another shot from inside the circle, focusing on four of the stones but giving the image different treatments in post processing.

One of the great things about digital photography is the range of tools that are available that mean you can turn a photo from a simple record into a piece of art. I do always try to get the image a close to what I want in camera but then I will use Lightroom or photoshop to make some minor adjustments to get the scene as close to what I saw on the day. 

In the first image I have tried to stay faithful to the scene although I have adjusted the contrast slightly and emphasised the dramatic sky.

For the second image I have converted the original to black and white and used a pre-set in Lightroom to create a more punchy image.

For the final picture I have used masks in photoshop. Originally I used the mask to show the background in colour and leave the stones in black and white but while that was quite effective the stones just looked grey and that could have been taken for their natural colour so I chose to highlight the stones against a monochrome background for what I think is a really striking image.

Prehistoric!

 

Yesterday I was able to take an unexpected but very much needed day off work and I headed up to the lake district for a scenic drive and a few hours of photo therapy.

I stopped off at a few of my favourite spots and I managed to get some really good shots and I am pleased to share one today.

This is Castlerigg, a 4,500 year old stone circle high on the fells above Keswick in the shadow of Blencathra, Skiddaw and as can be seen in this image Helvellyn. The low cloud provides heaps of atmosphere and the sun breaking through lighting up the distant fells lifts what would have been a sombre scene.

I will post a different view from here tomorrow so look out for that...

Rialto Bridge

This abstract view of the Rialto Bridge reflected in Venice's Grand Canal was the last picture I captured on my recent trip to the city. It wont be the last one I share though as I still have some wonderful images to share, and hopefully very soon I will also have some exciting news.

The bridge spans the grand canal and is a popular spot to shop or to stand and take in the magnificent view and the atmosphere of the city. I love the way the lights from the bridge stretch out in coloured pillars creating loops, whorls and curls, the white light reflected in the middle almost looks like a fingerprint.

Last Light At Castlerigg

Recently I shared a couple of pictures of the night sky over Castlerigg in Cumbria and today I am sharing a few images from earlier in the shoot (around 10.45pm) as the last daylight faded away. I used fairly long exposures to ensure some detail in these pictures and I think they all work really well.

The first shot is looking in the general direction of Helvellyn, the second is looking towards Blencathra while the third is looking towards the fells beyond Keswick. The low cloud gives the pictures a nice atmospheric feel and while they help create a powerful image I was frustrated because I was hoping for clear skies to get good shots of the stars. 

I got very little sleep that night as I stayed up in the hope of the perfect shot and then I waited for the sun to come up. You can see how that went over the next few days so please come back tomorrow for another selection...

Huntsman's Cottage

So although I have called this a Huntsman's cottage it is probably more likely a game keepers cottage but set in the wooded parkland it could be either.

I like the first shot in black and white, I think it is really atmospheric and you can almost picture this as a haunted house. 

Shot from a different angle the picture looks so much better in colour with the autumn colours and the way the building is framed by the trees.

Subtle Tone

So today I have tried something new. I process my photos using Adobe Lightroom but mainly use auto settings to make minor adjustments to exposure and highlights. I have tried a few times to create colour highlights in black and white images (see my recent post "Shipwreck" from 4th Sept) with fairly decent results, but I haven't really experimented with any of the other features for fear of mucking things up and getting the colours completely wrong.

However because changes made in Lightroom can be easily undone there really is no harm in trying and so I decided to watch a couple of tutorials and be a little creative.

I like boats and this old hulk moored at Glasson Dock is full of character especially as it is moored alongside some new and sleek yachts. The original image was shot in colour but I have converted it to black and white and then added a colour hue to the highlights and shadows to create a warm and atmospheric image rather than the original which is quite bland in comparison. I also applied a graduated filter to bring out some detail in the sky.

I am really pleased with my first attempt and I hope that you will like it too. I would be pleased to read any feedback in the comments below.

Misty Morning Marine Lake

Although it was quite foggy the early morning sky had a warm glow and the colours were quite lovely and I will post a different view in a day or two so that you can see that for yourself. 

However, it was also quite an eerie feeling walking along the edge of the lake and the further from the shore the denser the fog became and I think that this picture in black and white gives a real sense of that eeriness.  

What's a Wogan?

This is...

Under Pembroke Castle there is something referred to in the guide book as a wogan. This is a cave which was likely home to the earliest inhabitants of the Pembroke area. Apparently it has never been excavated but there is a similar cave nearby which has revealed traces of human activity dating back to 10,000 years ago which is in the mesolithic era.

The castle is built above and there is a narrow stone staircase which leads down from the relatively modern courtyard. The entrance to the cavern has been enclosed by a thick stone wall with high windows and a steel gate and being a cave its really quite dark inside, fortunately my camera is able to pick out the detail even in low light and without flash so that is how I am able to share these pictures with you.