Morning Glow

I have used a range of exposures for theses shots; the shortest exposure being 2.5 seconds  the longest being 15 seconds. Given the brightness of the sunrise I also used a 32ND filter and aperture of f22 and ISO 100. My camera was also mounted on a tripod of course.

It was a beautifully crisp and clear morning as you can see. There was virtually no breeze at all however I was surprised that there was still quite a lot of disturbance on the lake's surface making the longer exposures essential. You can still see the rippled surface to the left of the jetty in the first few images. The colour images give a sense of warmth from the sunlight despite the fact it was bitterly cold. The black and white image does give a sense of how cold it was but also looks like it could have been shot on a different day entirely.

I like using long exposures, when the subject is right of course, the calendar I produced for 2025 is almost exclusively long exposure photos. This method allows more light onto the sensor/film and exposes more detail in the image. This is really useful when doing night skies, it can create subtle motion blur and can also provide fun details like light trails from traffic. In the images below it has been used to smooth out the surface of the water and to create some nice soft reflections.

Although longer exposures capture more detail there is another slightly counter intuitive effect that is possible and that is it can help eliminate moving people/objects from a scene. Depending of course on how fast or slow the people/objects are moving and how long an exposure is used. In the final image below you can see how this has worked with a small group of people walking  on the path around the marine lake just below and to the right of the moon. They appear as a white blur, had I used a longer exposure I could have removed them completely but then the whole image would have been washed out. It is fun to try different things and develop these skills. The fact that this location is within walking distance of my home means that I can practice often without having to make any long journey. It means I can make better use of what is local to me, something I mentioned in another recent post. Anyway enjoy the pictures and hopefully a sense of calm.

I love where I live. 

 

Bejewelled

At first glance as I walked through the meadow alongside Colemere the dew encrusted spiders webs were just a pretty white (very damp) blanket but as the sun rose above the treeline the early morning rays lit up the webs in a glorious display.

Misty Dawn

If I ever wonder why I go camping I look at scenes like these and it makes it all worth while, even getting up at 4.00am. What you don't get from looking at these images is the stunning soundtrack of the dawn chorus but believe me it was an absolutely wonderful experience.

It was a beautiful morning, hardly any breeze and a light mist rising off the surface of the mere. Although I paid for it later (I was so tired by the time I got home) it was so worth getting up for this and I felt privileged to be there.

Carnevale

Here is another Reflection of Venice.

My visit to the city was a week before the famous Carnevale when the city comes alive with people in costumes and masks and it is a non-stop round of balls and parties. I was a little disappointed to miss it but having spoken to a local shop keeper perhaps I wouldn't have enjoyed it completely. The city is packed with visitors and I think I prefer the quiet of the city as it was

I have called this photo Carnevale because when I look at it I can see lots of faces or masks and it seems fitting for the season.

How many faces can you find?

Sunny Morning Light

So if you have seen my blog recently you will know that I have been doing a series of "Reflections of Venice" and if you haven't seen them they're well worth a look.

I haven't posted anything for a couple of days so decided to come back with something bright and colourful which hopefully will catch your eye.

Sun Kissed

In the early morning this gondolier makes his way gently through the quiet canals as the city wakes up and the locals go to work.

In the background the famous Bridge of Sighs is illuminated by the sun almost as if a spotlight is being trained upon it

Glass Half Full

So today I have another of my Reflections of Venice series and this is one of the Venetian Sunrise images that I am super proud of. 

It is also one of two images I submitted to a local gallery for an open exhibition that opens on 30th March. I found out today that this picture was not selected but my other one (which I will post tomorrow) has been. So while I am a little disappointed, because I love this shot, I am staying positive because my other image will be on display and getting some good exposure.

One of the things I like about this shot is the  transition from turquoise through brown and sand to bright blue all held together by loops of black. I also like the irregular swirls and the glossy sheen. I also love the fact that moments later the image had changed making this a unique view captured in time.

A New Perspective

Here is another of my reflections of Venice series and I think this is a really strong image.

I have cropped and rotated this shot of two buildings reflecting the early morning sun in one of Venice's narrow canals. It looks a little like a seismograph or perhaps a colourful electrocardiograph. It also looks like it is made up of layers of paper, the top part resembling a wasps nest. 

I love this view because each time I look I see something new. What do you see?

Trick Of The Light

There really is something special about this image. There is so much colour and so many intricate patterns and all it is is light on water.

A few moments before a small boat had chugged past creating ripples across the width of the canal and what had previously been a recognisable reflection of a beautiful building became an ever changing abstract image with light and shadow,and in places it was almost like gold leaf spread across the waters surface.

Venetian Sunrise #2

Here are two more abstract reflections of the sunrise in Venice. I love the gold and green in these images, unlike the pictures of the last two days where there was a bigger variety of colours. It gives a real sense of sunshine on the water.

When you look into these images you can make out the windows of the building that is reflected and each time you look you will see something different, like the contours on a map, or a heart, or maybe even some cartoon faces. Maybe you don't see any of these things but hopefully you will find these eye catching.

I will post something different tomorrow but I have more abstract images to share in the coming weeks.

Venetian Sunrise #1

So from the title of today's blog you might have been expecting to see the sun coming up above St Marks Basilica or some other Venetian Landmark but if you have seen the post from yesterday you may have been prepared for these more abstract views.

Just like yesterday's images these show the sunlit reflections of Venetian buildings in the surface of the canals. The sun was still low in the sky so the reflections weren't washed out. With the naked eye and given the rapid movement of the water the light was glinting brightly and the reflections seemed more complete but by freezing the image and looking a bit more closely all of these intricate and unique patterns appear. 

I am really really pleased with these pictures because they are so unique.

Feel free to leave a comment.

The Sun and The Moon

I took these shots across the lake early one morning as the sun was rising behind the Sleeping Giant. There was a chill in the air but there was barely a breeze so there was hardly a ripple on the lake.

I love the golden light in these shots it was a perfect start to the day.

As the day begins night ends and as I was watching the sunrise the moon was still high in the sky behind me.  It seems so odd with such a contrast between the golden sky over the lake and the cool blue cloudless sky over Mission Marsh

Clearly Reflected

An early start on Saturday meant that I got to witness a truly beautiful sunrise and the lighting for these pictures was absolutely perfect. In the shade of the stable block there was no breeze to disturb the surface of the water and so the reflections of the trees, buildings and clouds are flawless. Another bonus due to the early start was that I had the place almost entirely to myself and without the masses of visitors who would arrive later in the day I was able to get these undisturbed shots.

From Night to Day

Today I have two pictures for you, the first was taken just after sunset looking along the valley to the River Wharfe and the second was taken just before sunrise the following day looking down the lane from my campsite to the mist shrouded valley. It was a nice walk down to the priory but the walk back up was fairly tiring as the hill is deceptively steep.

This is a lovely spot however and I have some fond memories from the various times I have camped here.

Layered Landscape

I really love this picture, I love the hard and soft layers, I love the cold frosty rocks in the foreground, the trees lit up by the rising sun and the mist separating the hill in the distance, and then I love the layers of colours in the sky with the peachy glow.

It was a lovely morning and I think this picture captures it really well.

As The Sun Rises

Sunrise on Thurstaston Common on a very cold and frosty morning. 

Morning Glow

So yesterday I posted a black and white shot of the waterfront at West Kirby and I mentioned the lovely colours in the morning sky, and today I have decided to post a different view looking across the marine lake in colour so that you can see for yourself the glorious sunrise.

This was a fairly long exposure, as long as I dared given that it was hand held and low light, so that there is a nice effect on the water's surface and the delicate pastel shades of the sky are really beautiful. The moon is also just visible as a bright spot high in the sky.

It was -3C (26F) and so my fingers quickly got numb, all the same I think it was worth it and for the next two hours I made the most of the perfect light to get some great shots.

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.  

Sunburst through trees

I haven't been able to get out with my camera for a little while because I haven't been feeling too well, or when I have had the chance to get out the weather hasn't really been good enough, or more importantly the light just hasn't been right.

Earlier this week as I was out driving for work I could see the Cumbrian fells were covered with snow and so I decided that when the weekend arrived I would head up to the lakes. Yesterday morning there was a beautiful sunrise and a decent frost so I thought that was a good sign and I was excited at the prospect of getting out. This morning however there was a thick fog so the idea of a long drive through the fog didn't seem too appealing and I decided to go somewhere closer to home; the lakes will have to wait.

It was still dark when I left the house and I started with some nice shots of the local roads lit by street lighting shrouded in mist, then I went on to West Kirby and photographed the marine lake before heading for higher ground at Thurstaston. When I got there there was another photographer setting up his tripod in readiness for the sunrise, he had a great spot and I am sure that he will have got some nice images.

I think I was also well rewarded for my efforts with a variety of pictures from across the common and as always I am excited to be able to share them with you.

Today's picture is actually one of the last ones I took as I walked back to my car. I noticed a patch of bracken which was lit up by the rising sun and so stepped off the path to have a closer look and then I saw the burst of light through the trees, I have to say that this is one of my favourite pictures and I will be printing this one and framing it to go on my wall.

Fishing at First Light

A variation on yesterday's theme here is another shot of the harbour at sunrise but today I have a fishing party heading out to Lake Superior, perhaps on the hunt for some nice fresh Pickerel.

The guys on the boat were aware that I was taking the shot, I am not too sure they were that pleased but I think it makes a good picture and I wished them well on their way.