A scoundrel and a Cad(over)

One of the best things about living in the southwest is the wealth of beautiful landscape and history right on my doorstep.

I must admit though, until a few years ago I took it all for granted, almost ignoring it. A long time ago we (my family and I) used to walk our dog at Cadover bridge, a local Mecca for dog owners. I went for a trek there yesterday, loaded down with camera but with no dog for company. After a decently long walk to the Dewerstone and back I came away with a few images of Cadover cross (amongst others).

Pictures like this remind me of the photographers mantra "Overcast days are black and white days".

There are still a few crosses like this in the area, fortunately the string of thefts a few years ago passed them by.

Experimental

I've wanted to try this for a while, and now I have.

Now I have my much more reliable remote flash triggers, multiple flashes are a doddle, which makes catching the action much easier.

Very cool.

More Tonemapping

I've been having a little play with my Tonemapping software, and have reworked another couple of images.

First up is a piece of Plymouths history. The Millbay Grain Silo has dominated Plymouths skyline since the 1930's, and was a somewhat ugly welcome for ferry passengers ever since. However, I kind of liked it. It's a shame that it couldn't have been reworked in some way.

Oh well, here's the shot.

Next up we have another local landmark. This time the Kitt Hill stack. Originally used for the winding and stamping engine of Kit hill consols mine, it has since been used as a place to bolt transmitters to.

And now we have a holiday snap!

No, luckily it's not me in the pool but Whitehaven's West Pier light. Oh it was cold that day, great light though.

The pier had so much history, literally worn into it. I have another shot of some steps which have been unevenly worn by many a foot.

Not a great picture, but it's a memory. Walking along the top was a little scary, no handrail and the cold water below. I was glad to get back to the car!

It's oh so quiet

Yup, as I said before I am poor at updating, but this time I've been moving house so cut me a little slack, right?

But I've been taking a little time out to rework some old favourites.

Firstly Brunels Railway bridge, appropriate as it has just celebrated it's 150th birthday. Looking good for it's age!

Both bridges together, a stunning sky.

And everyone loves a lighthouse, here is Smeatons lighthouse again, given a similar HDR treatment but looking much more dramatic. Funny thing is I never noticed the warships in the background when I took it.

And photog's are supposed to be observant...

The spirit of pop-art

Yes I've been playing with my toys, and the results are here:

What was actually a burnt orange looking model, becomes dayglow "art".

As always, prints available from www.skphotographic.co.uk or email skphotographic@me.com

Cold feet

And hands, and knees, and the rest of me.

Well it's snowed in theh UK, and everything grinds to a halt. In an age where heating may be expensive, but freely available it surprises me when people cannot stay in work.

And all those parents driving little Jimmy to school can actually have an excuse for that 4 wheel drive, instead of using it to park badly on curbs at the local supermarket they can actually use it for what it was designed for! But no...

Anyway, I managed (in my 2 wheel drive saloon) to get myself up on Dartmoor today to take some shots of the snow before it melts to slush. Shockingly beautiful, ironically the roads were packed with other people making the most of it.

First up, a 9 shot Pano.

Now a Panorama made up of 7 shots. Of course, the preview afforded by Blogger doesn't do them justice.

If it snows again tomorrow I may focus more on macros.

Birds and (not the) bees

I used to have a thing for following bees around the garden, taking macro shots and generally avoiding being stung. But lately my focus has been more on birds, namely the birds frequenting my parents garden (no my father is not Hugh Hefner...).

A bit of a work in progress, but for a quick stab at catching some action, it's not at all bad.

I have some more, arty, complicated thoughts in mind.