World Photography Forum

Fireworks

gordon g — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 16:37:46 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: The final part of my kitchen wall triptych. Although I enjoyed the colour original, I prefer this treatment, concentrating on form. The small flower heads remind me of the bursts of fireworks.

3 comments

Scabious reworked

gordon g — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 16:37:45 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: One of three monotone images I now have as a triptych in my kitchen. I like the way the mono treatement removes the distraction of colour, revealing more of the detail of the image.

3 comments

Sputniks reworked

gordon g — Sun, 19 Jan 2014 16:37:45 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: Another from my kitchen wall triptych. The original is almost monotone, but converting it has brought out more textural detail.

3 comments

The End of the Rainbow

gordon g — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:45:07 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: I had spent a very wet day in Glen Etive, battling against steady rain and strong winds, when finally the clouds broke and the wind chased the rain away. I had gone down to the river in the hope of some interesting light as the weather broke, but the double rainbow was a delightful surprise!

7 comments

Loch Ba, Rannoch Moor

gordon g — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:45:07 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: Rannoch Moor is one of those places I have long wanted to explore, but have always had other targets when I have been in the area before. This trip, in October, I had set aside a whole day to get to know the place better, and luckily it was the one day of the week that it didnt rain! This image, looking over Loch Ba, made me wish for a canoe to travel further into this wilderness...

7 comments

Summer Storm over the Dark Peak

gordon g — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:45:06 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: An image I made in the summer. I had walked up to Stanage End with the idea of getting some shots of the heather in full bloom in the evening light, but as I got there, a heavy squall blew in, giving a much more compelling image. That sheep shelter was soon used for more than foreground interest!

4 comments

The other view

gordon g — Mon, 13 Jan 2014 23:45:06 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: I expect a lot of photographers know the classic image of Buachaille Etive Mor from Dalness - the strong triangular form of the mountain rising above the waterfall and the stand of birches. When I first went to this location about twenty years ago, there was a narrow deer trod leading along the river, now there is a muddy track several metres wide leading to some holes that are spaced just right for tripod legs... I decided for a number of reasons to make an image of the other view, looking downstream towards Meall a' Bhuiridh. I find it every bit as 'Highland', but more interesting for being less often seen.

10 comments

Bluebell portrait

gordon g — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:09:21 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Another from earlier this Spring. Bluebells are one of my favourite flowers, but I usually struggle to convey that sense of them carpettnig a wood. My fall-back shot is such as this - close-up and personal.

5 comments

Puffin 2

gordon g — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:09:20 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: I took this shot in a much more old-school style than the flight shots. This was made using a 500mm lens with 2* teleconverter on, which meant manual focussing. With strong back-lighting, I used the spot meter and exposed manually too, and took the shot sat down using my knees to support the lens while I focussed. For all the ease of modern technology, it is very satisfying to use some of the old skills...

3 comments

Wild cherry

gordon g — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:09:20 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: One from earlier on in our rather abbreviated Spring. It was reasonably breezy, and this sprig of blossom was a bit backlit, so I used a plamp to steady the branch, and a gold reflector to lighten the shadows.

3 comments

Guillemot

gordon g — Thu, 20 Jun 2013 00:09:19 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: The bird with the eyeglasses on stood out from the crowd, so I composed to frame its head with the other birds. Although you dont see so many with this marking, it is just a variant, not a different species.

5 comments

Puffin

gordon g — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:08:13 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: I love these birds - so colourful and comic, but surprisingly fast in the air. I am a bit out of practice with shots of birds in flight, so it took me quite a few attempts to successfully track one and get a well-composed shot that was in focus. As with most of my flight shots, I left a bit of space around the bird to make getting it in shot easier, then cropped in to improve the framing.

9 comments

Sea Swallow

gordon g — Tue, 18 Jun 2013 22:08:13 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Arctic terns are such graceful birds in the air - it is a joy to watch them in flight, even when they are trying to peck you on the head. This one wasnt trying to drive me away from its nest, but was cruising over the shallows fishing for sand eels.

8 comments

Pennine twilight

gordon g — Sun, 12 May 2013 15:06:20 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: I had a quick trip out hoping for a sunset last night, but the promised underlighting didnt materialise as the cloud layers closed up on the horizon. A strong wind was blowing the clouds over, so I waited a while to see what developed. About 45 minutes after sunset, some colour did appear near the horizon. I decided to use the cloud movement to add some interest to the sky, and made a 30second exposure to capture this.

8 comments

A wintery blast

gordon g — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:42:42 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: This was our first blizzard of winter this year, back in January. It is difficult to capture near-whiteout conditions with a camera and still keep the image interesting, but I think the receding trees give an impression of the blowing snow.

9 comments

A sharp frost

gordon g — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:42:41 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: A detail of some of the ice in Black Clough, taken from the same stance as the wide view of the falls. These icicles, about 5' long, were immediately at my back as I took the wide view perched on a small ledge. I managed to make space to swing the camera round and make this image before sliding my way back to the floor of the clough.

4 comments

In the deep mid-winter

gordon g — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:42:40 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: This was taken just as the thaw started - some of the icicles had already collapsed, and as I left, more were coming down by the water. To give some scale, the waterfall is around 25' high. This viewpoint is one I have tried and failed to make work several times in the past, but on this trip, the composition fell into place nicely.A clear sky gave a lovely cold blue tint to the shadows, and the northerly aspect and steep sides of the clough reduced light levels enough to make a slow exposure.

9 comments

Golden light on silver birch

gordon g — Wed, 24 Apr 2013 12:42:37 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Having been frustrated by a knee operation preventing me getting out during our first spell of winter, I was really pleased when we got a second cold spell. This image was made a week after the big snowfalls around easter, once access to the moors was possible again. I was returning from an abortive trip up Cut Gate - the drifts were waist deep and higher for several miles, so I turned around, but was lucky enough to get a spell of lovely warm light over the snowfields as the sun dipped near the horizon.

5 comments

A walk in the snow

gordon g — Thu, 17 Jan 2013 16:56:45 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: My current companion on photo walks - he hasnt yet learnt the degree of patience my old dog had whilst waiting for the wind to drop and the light to be right, but I'm sure he will with practice!

3 comments

Scots Pine Impressions

gordon g — Sat, 12 Jan 2013 23:55:48 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: This is a straight shot - no fancy manipulation, but I rather like the impressionistic results and the way it makes the viewer question the image.

6 comments

Slioch from Grudie Bridge

gordon g — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:57:02 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: This shot was taken when I returned to the road from Glen Grudie. My companions opted for lunch, but I was taken by the modelling light on the flanks of Slioch and found a suitable foreground to compliment the scale of the long view. Even in the middle of the day, in October this far north the light is quite low angled.

4 comments

Beinn Eighe from Glen Grudie

gordon g — Tue, 20 Nov 2012 22:57:01 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: An hour up a stalking track from the side of Loch Marie I found the view south to the northern corries of Beinn Eighe beginning to open up. With time running against me if I wanted to avoid shooting into the sun, I was pleased to find this stand of scots pines on small islands in the river.

8 comments

Highland autumn

gordon g — Sat, 17 Nov 2012 17:27:32 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: Taken on my first trip down Glen Carron scouting for locations. This is the view up Fionn-abhainn looking north towards the hills around Bein Damh. The overcast lighting helped bring out the subtle variations in hue in the vegetation

4 comments

Resplendent Rowan

gordon g — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:12:02 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: This wonderful Rowan and the vibrant bracken at its foot were the focus of a lot of attention on our trip up Fionn-abhainn from Coulags. The colours of foliage and berries deserved their own study

2 comments

Evening light on Beinn Damh and the Torridon Hills

gordon g — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:12:01 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: This was a wonderful end to a superb day spent exploring Upper Loch Torridon - very little wind even on the Bealach, beautiful warm light patterned with cloud shadows on the hills in an empty landscape.

9 comments

Ben Alligan

gordon g — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:12:00 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: Another shot that materialised as I was driving. I could see the light on Ben Alligan was getting better by the minute, and was driving in hope of finding a stopping place with a good foreground to do the distant view justice. Lo and behold! Just such a place turned up after a mile or two of rather distracted driving. It might look like the middle of nowhere, but two of the tripod feet were on tarmac!

11 comments

Serene after sunset

gordon g — Thu, 15 Nov 2012 21:11:58 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: While driving back to Torridon from Loch Carron, I noticed a small loch down a track which looked likely to have some good reflections. Turning off, I quickly found that it was even better than I had thought. Unusually for the Highlands in October, there wasnt a breath of wind across the water. Composing the image was simply a case of walking along the water's edge until something said 'Stop here'...

5 comments

Peak District sunset

gordon g — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:37:52 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: The flat plateaux of Kinder Scout and Bleaklow sit on the horizon, bracketing the spot where the sun hit the horizon. Subtle light on the high cloud gives some colour in the sky, and bouces just enough light to pick out the heather in the foreground.

Derwent Edge in the evening

gordon g — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:37:51 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Late evening light and a view over towards Win Hill from Derwent Edge. The heather season has been a little disappointing this year, but there are some patches of colour still around.

2 comments

Wier detail

gordon g — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:37:49 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: My eye was caught by the orange of the leaf pinned to the rock, and the diversion of the water flow.

4 comments

Going with the flow

gordon g — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:37:48 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: A low ISO and full polarisation allowed me to show the water flow, and a pair of wellies helped me get the tripod in position! A 2 stop Nd grad above the wier and a 1 stop inverted on the brighter water in the foreground balanced the exposure.

10 comments

Autumn Approaches

gordon g — Mon, 03 Sep 2012 16:37:46 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: It might only be August, but the trees know autumn is beginning. Early leaf fall in the river...

3 comments

Bluebell portrait

gordon g — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:43:17 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: It is that time of year again - and up in my area, the bluebells have been superb this year, if a little later than usual. I discovered a new venue for flower photography this year (well, new to me anyway), and this small area of woodland alongside the River Don is carpetted at the moment with bluebells, forget-me-not, white campion and more - I dont remember a display as good...

4 comments

Take-off!

gordon g — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:43:16 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: This is actually an old image - from summer last year taken as part of a commission for Friends of the Earth bees campaign. Fortunately my in-laws go to great lengths to keep bee friendly plants in their garden, so at least the location was easy, even if the photographic challenges were not!

Spring squall over swaledale

gordon g — Sat, 26 May 2012 23:43:14 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Looking down the dale from above Wainwath Force I was lucky enough to capture the drama of a squall of spring rain heading east. Worth walking up in the rain...

5 comments

Autumn gold

gordon g — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:09:13 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: My eye was caught by the reflected golden light from the hillside above the stream contrasting nicely with the glimpses of reflected clear blue from the open late autumn sky above.

9 comments

Cold snap

gordon g — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:09:12 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: This winter has generally been much milder than the last two up in the Dark Peak, but when we had a few days of consistently sub-zero temperatures, I went out in search of ice...

5 comments

Downpour

gordon g — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:09:10 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Dark rain clouds were pouring over the Cuillin ridge ready to add their loads to an already rising river in the glen. Having opened the shutter for this image, I quickly closed up the camera bag!

3 comments

Marsco

gordon g — Wed, 28 Mar 2012 01:09:09 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: Marsco from down in Glen Sligachen, taken in changing light as a rain squall approached from over the Cuillin

2 comments

Winter berries

gordon g — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:06:36 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: Another image from a very damp and foggy day in Lathkill Dale - the sky wasnt worth including in any view, just a flat white sheet, so I used the low cloud to isolate the hawthorn with its beautifully coloured berries from the trees on the slopes opposite.

8 comments

Sputniks

gordon g — Sat, 12 Nov 2011 23:06:34 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: ... as my kids call them. AKA burs! I found these seed heads on a very drizzly day in Lathkill Dale last year, when the weather was far from promising for any other type of photography. However, the dull light and the damp made for a richness of colour that made the search for small details a pleasure.

2 comments

Scabious

gordon g — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:46:07 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: I found this image along the side of the stream in Middle Black Clough on a rather humid summer's day. Shortly afterwards in rained heavily, spoiling the flowerheads, and then the midges came out, forcing a retreat.

6 comments

Summer Storm

gordon g — Thu, 03 Nov 2011 23:41:24 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: Taken at the height of the heather bloom last year. I was lucky to get a great variety of light that afternoon, from picture-postcard blue sky with fluffy white clouds to this much more interesting light under an impending storm. And after the rain passed, the moon was up... but that's for another posting!

16 comments

Hoverfly on burdoch

gordon g — Tue, 01 Nov 2011 22:23:47 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: I always struggle a little to find good local landscape images in the summer - the high moors of the Dark Peak just dont work for me in easy weather. So this summer I spent some time down in the White Peak limestone dales looking for subjects that spoke more of the season. Tideswell dale has a wealth of plant and insect life, making it a good choice whatever the weather.

4 comments

Mysterious Marsco

gordon g — Sun, 30 Oct 2011 23:12:26 +0000

by: gordon g

Description: This was actually a handheld grab shot. I had the 1Ds11 all set up on a tripod waiting for a break in the clouds to light a portion of the main Cuillin ridge, and turned round to see this dramatic lighting on Marsco as the rain blew over. It lasted just long enough for me to get the 7D and 70-200 out of the bag and move a few feet to get the composition right. The image is pretty faithful to reality - nothing beats nature doing what it does best...

8 comments

Slow swirls

gordon g — Thu, 27 Oct 2011 23:03:45 +0100

by: gordon g

Description: A slow exposure - 8 seconds - allowed the gentle movement of the current to be recorded as the water entered the pool below Tin Mill Rocher on the River Don. A 3 stop ND grad was used on the trees, and a 1 stop inverted on the foreground water to balance the exposure and allow enough light onto the rocks and wier.

19 comments