Year Two (48) – Purbeck Hills and Coast

I escaped for a few days away enjoying the Purbeck Hills and coastline – the challenge for any traveling photographer is what kit to take and what to use … I was really pleased with my selection and think I got it right for the locations I was visiting… so I thought I would share.

Day 167 – Isle Of Purbeck – A few days away – 4

Another coastal and scenic walk… how do you know when to stop walking though and excepted that there might be a great view round the corner… but if you keep walking forever your legs will wear out!

These are just a random selection of shots that I selected from today’s walk, the polarising filter was on my lens, and I had my Sigma 18-250mm lens on camera. We climbed up and down as we explored the view.

I love the circular bay below and the colour of the sea … the white sailing boat adds a sense of scale and tranquility to the image.

The views from the cliff top were stunning… it was such a lovely walk… and we were lucky that the skies had puffy white clouds adding interest to the photo. Including my hubby and photo buddy gives the image a real sense of scale which it would otherwise lack.

I had hoped for fields of red poppies in Dorset… but i was not to be … I spotted one on the cliff top – I gentle poppy battling against the elements, much like the soldiers on the battle fields which we remember with the poppy… so I took the opportunity to capture it there with the sea and cliffs in the background, trying to emphases it’s importance to the scene.

The cliffs were made from huge chunks of rocks… the people in the background here, once again help show how impressive the landscape was.

We made it down to sea level… the photo buddies had a swim… the polarising filter enables me to see right under the water and it enable me to capture the scene from a totally different angle. I have had a lovey adventure and can’t wait to go exploring again!

Day 166 – Corfe Castle – A few days away – 3

Corfe castle is a prominent landmark in the Purbeck Isle… I have seen many lovely photos of it on facebook and through other photographers and I wanted to see if I could discover where the best place was to capture the castle….

• The light was too strong already at 10am in the morning which meant that the shadows were too dark and loosing detail
• A tripod should be essential especially on an exposed hillside
• Moving your feet is essential too.. a few meters can make a big difference
• working with landscapes I really need to work out a way to get the colour balanced. Using the polarising filter to get a bluer sky… throws off some of the other colours in my opinion.

I am disappointed with most of these images… but I do have an idea of where I would like to be if I go back and the light is right…. maybe one day I will.

Day 165 – Monochrome Village – A few days away – 2

A beautiful grey coloured houses of the Isle of Purbeck were images that I wanted to capture… and after a recent talk about at camera Club about monochrome images… I thought this would be an ideal time to experiment to see if I could capture the timeless quality that the villages reminded me about.

I just wish that perhaps the sun had not shined so brightly .. as the harsh shadows are more apparent that I would have liked… but looking at the images, I really think you get a sense that time stood still here.

Day 164 – Star Trails – Chasing the Dark (part 3)

Off in our campervan for a few days… and from our camp site location … we have wonderful dark skies – so I am going to have another go at star trails.

My settings

• F8 – I was not sure… and I choose this as mid range … lesson learnt, I should have remember it was a wide aperature – F3.5 would have been better
• A tripod and shutter release
• A camper van … I set the camera up inside the camper pointing at the hills beyond…. the star trails were dependent on my view – and the camper windows…

What I discovered

• Take waterproof cover for the camera … if I am ever going to lay in the camper and try and sleep with the camera going off every 30 sec from 11.30pm till 3.02 am to get one picture … remind my not too…. grubby dogs, grumpy me and grumpy hubby in the morning!!
• The position of the stars is essential to make the shot interesting… this is so boring and not worth the grumpy individuals
• Wide Aperture is essential!
• Winter is much better than summer… it is nearly the longest day and it takes forever to get dark.

Day 163 – A few days away – Part 1

A few days away… means an opportunity to enjoy the British Countryside, enjoy some great company and to walk and explore and take photos or memories away with me. I hoped to have some sunshine and to see some poppies as they are just coming into season… but equally I hoped to enjoy some different views.

Our adventures this time took us to the Isle of Purbeck – which is not really an island at all. We headed off on a walk with only my 18-250mm lens … on the idea to capture some of the scenery near our campsite.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F7.1, 1/500 sec

This is my hubby .. he is included in the photo to give a sense of scale… I was further up the hill… and looking down the valley the wires lead you to a house.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F13, 1/250 sec – Follow the road to the sea.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/320 sec – Look there is the sea

We reached the sea … or we could easily see the coast line – we were so lucky to have a clear day … and again hubby is included partly cause they are my memories of the day and partly because I feel it gives the landscape a sense of scale.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F16, 1/60 sec – The water with my polarising filter

At this point I remembered I had my polarising filter in my bag … a great time to use it as it really reduced the reflections on the water. I do wish though I had set the white balance to allow for the filter, and I made mental adjustments that the filter increased the time the shutter needed to be open.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/80 sec – Behind you

My eyes were drawn to the coastline… but it was well worth turning round and looking behind me to enjoy that view too.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/50 sec – The Tower

On our walk we came close to Clavell Tower – you can see my hubby pointing to it above … it really is true how an image can change as your angle to it changes, as the light reflects on it differently, and as you get closer.

Clavell Tower – which is available as a holiday let for two – how cool is that … was an interesting focal point on today’s walk as it sits on the headland over Kimmeridge Bay.

Sigma 18-250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/100 sec – The tower from the cliff edge

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/250 sec – From the beach looking into sun

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/80 sec – The Tower from Sea Level

It was fascinating how just taking a few steps around Kimmeridge Bay created a different feel to the image as you could capture different foreground interest and explore the beach from a whole set of different angles.

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/80 sec – The Tower from Sea Level

Sigma 18/250mm lens, ISO200, F14, 1/100 sec – The Tower from Sea Level