Guiding Light

My last outing with my camera had been to a local woodland where I photographed fungi, which was very relaxing. A week later I found myself on the beach at New Brighton photographing the lighthouse and sea defences, which was also fun and relaxing. I didn't have a lot of time but fortunately despite a couple of light showers the weather and the light was very kind to me so I was able to get some nice shots.

I have photographed this lighthouse a few times in stormy weather and it really looks magnificent with waves crashing around it. However, this was the first time I had been down to see it with the tide at its lowest and on such a nice day. Whatever the weather I think it must be a welcome beacon to the shipping that comes into the River Mersey.

I experimented a little with a variable ND filter and longer exposures for some of these shots to  get the most out of the reflections and the sky. I have also mixed up some colour and black and white images for contrast.

Walking on the beach was pretty safe, but I often like to make things difficult for myself; (in the past I have waded into the middle of streams to get a better angle on a waterfall, or set up close to the edge of a cliff for a particular view), so why should this outing be any different. I wanted to get some shots of the sea defences which involved a bit of scrambling over some slippery rocks and it was a bit fiddly setting up my tripod and finding a safe foothold at the same time. I think the effort paid off. I have shot these in black and white because I think it creates a better image. In colour images the green seaweed coating on the concrete groynes is a bit too much and doesn't give as much definition or depth. I think the shot of the groynes which includes the lighthouse (the penultimate image) would have been better using my 17 - 40mm lens instead of the 24-105mm because 24mm just wasn't wide enough to get it all in as I had wanted. However, swapping lenses at that point was a risk too far. There is always next time...

Enjoy, and feel free to comment.

I have questions...

I love being outdoors and every day I try to get out for a walk. Usually that means in my local area and I will walk between 3 to 5 miles. I maintain a brisk pace and if I am on my own I will have my headphones on and listen to music. The scenery doesn't change too much but the weather does and with the changing tides the walk along the sea front the view is always good. I see lots of people along the way, some other regular walkers; old retirees like me, couples, dog walkers, young mums with kids on scooters, bikes or in prams. Many will return my smiles and say hello while others head down are less keen to engage.

Today was no different however as I was walking along I startled by some joggers who approaching from behind ran so close to me that they almost hit my elbow as if oblivious to my presence. This annoyed me the first time it  happened and even more the second time, Why did they lack basic spatial awareness? Am I invisible? and then as I walked on I started to wonder about other things; Why when I offer a cheery "good morning" do some people just look away? Why when I catch someone looking directly at me and I smile do they scowl and pretend they haven't been caught out? why do some people walk along with their phones on speaker and have conversations that everyone else can hear? As I walked on I noticed that I was starting to feel grumpy and I shouldn't let things like this bother me, I will continue to smile and say hello, and I will try to notice things that will lift and inspire me. What I did notice this morning was a beautiful male pied wagtail in breeding plumage strutting "proudly" and "hopefully" in front of a potential mate, and I also spotted the first pair of Swallows that I have seen this season, swooping low over the beach catching flies and I look forward to seeing more as they arrive over the coming weeks.

I also tried to think about what pictures I would share in my blog post today. I wanted something that would promote calm so I decided on the following images of a stone stack I built on the banks of the river Coe in Scotland last weekend. I had been for a really good walk in the morning and before heading off to explore more of the area in the afternoon I spent a few quiet moments on the riverside next to the campsite. My aim when I build these things (as I do occasionally) is not to build really high or elaborate stacks but to create an object that fits within the landscape so I try to use the light and the backgrounds to create a finished image and then when I am done I return the stones to where they came from (if they don't fall down first). I think that with the stack in these pictures, taken from different angles I met my objective. Have a look and let me know what you think...

  

On Tour...

 Walking around the dock I spotted this young couple of visitors to the city, the weather was a bit miserable so I am not sure they were having the best time as they explored some of the sights.

In the first shot they look a little bit tired, and maybe a little underwhelmed and I wondered whether they might have had a slight disagreement as they didn't seem quite together as they passed by.

A little further on I spotted them again, this time they were in step as they crossed the swing bridge and I think this creates a really nice shot.

A short while later I saw them again, this time she was taking a photo of her partner using a cheap disposable camera, which seemed odd given they both had decent smart phones with them. However I asked if they would like me top take a photo of them together which they seemed genuinely pleased about and when I asked if I could take a photo for myself they also agreed. Despite the language barrier they came across as a lovely couple and genuinely pleased with the friendly interaction. I think that comes across in the photo too, which is one of my favourite shots of the day.

Across the World

 This is just a selection of shots from around Liverpool's Albert Docks and Chavasse Park on the last bank holiday. The city is gearing up for Eurovision 2023 and it is bringing people together from around the world in a celebration of music (not that I am in any way a fan of Eurovision) at a time when there is so much conflict and division around the globe.

It is 33 years since I first came to Liverpool and I have seen a lot of changes in that time, I like what has happened to the city and although as I say I am no fan of Eurovision I am pleased that Liverpool was chosen to host it this time round and I am encouraged when I see the way the city has embraced it (despite the disruption and inconvenience) just as it did as City of Culture in 2008.

Potty

 Having taken a break from shots around Venice recently I have now run out of the star light/star trail images. Even though I shot several hundred separate photos because of the stacking process I only ended up with 8 or 9 final images which I hope you have enjoyed.

For today I have chosen something completely different and you might think a little odd. I was walking around a public garden in Venice when I noticed this row of pots lined up on a wall tucked away next to a greenhouse. I knew straight away that it would create a nice, simple image.

It will probably come as no surprise that my favourite of the two is the black and white one. I do like the warmth of the colours in the second shot but I think there are better shadows in the first image.

Anyway my next blog will be something of a landmark so I am going to have to try and do something special, be sure to look out for it... 

Faro (that's lighthouse)

Here is another one of my experimental long exposure shots. The lighthouse is at the entrance to the marina by the Abbey of San Giorgio Maggiore. I was using a long  exposure and variable ND filter so I could smooth out the surface of the water, there was a fair breeze so the lagoon was a little choppy. As I clicked the shutter a small boat passed in front of the camera, initially I was annoyed but when I saw the resulting image I was actually quite pleased because the blur of movement and the swirling water have added a really nice effect.
 

Together

 It was a sunny afternoon and like many other people around the city I spent a few hours soaking up the sun and enjoying the views. I also captured a few shots of people taking it easy. 

I like the shots of people deep in conversation, in pictures 3 & 4 for example the speakers were becoming quite animated and their expressions make me wonder what had got them so worked up.

My favourite picture today however is the first one with the older couple carrying their shopping bag between them with a small dog stopped in their path; guarding the way ahead, or maybe hoping for a bit of a fuss? Turns out he was a bit of a scaredy cat and ran to hide under the nearest bench where its humans were sat in conversation.

Stark Contrast: Palace and Prison

 One of the genuine benefits of visiting a city like Venice in early spring is the relative absence of other tourists. It is a beautiful city with a fantastic heritage and it is no wonder that millions of people flock to see it. It is also no wonder that the locals, despite a dependency on the revenue from tourism find the hordes of people that swarm over the city during the summer months quite hard to bear.

By going in March it was possible to avoid the crowds and the queues and visiting the Doges Palace was so much more enjoyable as I was able to walk in without having to queue at all. I could also get lots of photos without having to wait ages for people to move out of the shot.

The interior of the palace was as grand as you would expect, it being the hub of the wealthiest and most powerful business and political centre in renaissance times. Rich wood panelling on the walls, marble floors, elaborate frescos, ornate staircases, archways and windows, and sculptures depicting opulence and plenty everywhere you look.

The palace was not so much a residence but a council chamber where the affairs of state were administered and justice meted out to those who would destabilise the empire. Locals were encouraged to denounce anyone who might pose a threat to stability (see the "letter box" in my last post).

After a court hearing in extravagant surroundings convicted prisoners were then taken across the Bridge of Sighs to the prison on the opposite side of the small canal. Conditions within the prison were dire and convicts would likely never see the light of day again.

The selection of images above highlight the stark contrast between palace and prison.

Something Interesting Around Every Corner

There literally is something of interest around every corner in Venice. Whether that is the silver bust of a horned being in a window next to a bridge, 

a staircase in a hidden courtyard, 

a slot where you can anonymously denounce your neighbour or colleague, 

a well in a secluded street, 

or the apparent absence of  building codes in renaissance Italy. 

 

Passing Time

 So here is a small selection of shots of people round and about the streets of the city or passing the time of day in cafés.

As always when people watching I try to imagine what each persons story is; is the girl in the first image waiting for someone or just enjoy a moment of calm on her own?

The couples who are in bars, what has brought them together? what are they talking about?

For the men who are on their phones, I wonder whether they are responding to important messages that have interrupted their day in the city or are they casually passing the time while a companion is in a shop nearby?

There are so many possibilities and it is so much fun creating narratives for complete strangers. Sometimes I keep them to myself or other times I will share them with whoever I am traveling with and maybe collaborate on expanding the story into a wild and ridiculous fantasy.  If you have never done this then take it from me it is a fun way to pass some time.

The last image in today's post was a reward for patience. I had been seated near the group of people (possibly students on a break from their studies) on the bench, I took a couple of photos but thought they were fairly uninteresting and I was just walking away when the young woman leant forward to connect with the young man closest to her. It was a tender moment and I was really pleased to be able to capture it.