Brogborough – A Very Windy Friday!

         Brogborough Lake on the Friday beckons with a strong breeze, and it is a welcome invitation to all the windsurfing community, that is not ignored.

         I arrive early and sense the air of expectancy, and capture some of the preparations, so since the number of shots takes some time to create the galleries, I have split them up so that my task is made manageable.

Here is the first Gallery Link – the preparation:

http://www.fntn.co.uk/rodwp/BrogboroughPrepsForBreeze

         I found myself capturing some of the other aspects on offer, a cormorant passing close to one of the sailors, gulls fishing, a distant heron landing, and billowing clouds in a blue sky, as well as the waves breaking on the foreshore in front of where I was located with my tripod. I was using the 150-600mm Sigma Sports lens on the EOS 7D MkII, and the 24-70mm on the 5D MkIII — the long lens on the sturdy Benbo, and the other handheld.

         The gusts we’re often strong enough to make even this weighty beast to threaten my stability! Also, I altered where I shot from, but this was a mistake on this occasion as I missed some of the action; in particular one series of jumps made by a windsurfer as I re-established my tripod.

It was quite an afternoon, Here is the next gallery: 

http://www.fntn.co.uk/rodwp/BrogLakeFriday–FirstShots

            So, if you wish to keep the correct chronology, rather than hit the Headline text first, you could click the links within the narrative then the Headline Text – just to keep you on your toes!

Stockwood Discovery Gardens – Windy Yet Quiet

There always seemed the threat of rain from the clouds, ever on the move, yet sharing the time with bright sunshine. The light when bright tantalisingly transient making the taking of photos a challenge, yet the gusty winds driving the swaying Pampas grass, offering curving shapes to their height. Overhead, to a background of scudding clouds, the aircraft ferrying passengers to foreign lands, whilst the children sit in schoolrooms with dreams of their summer holidays past and their renewed focus now on lessons fresh.

I had set off for the gardens for a postponed visit to meet up with friend Jan a recent gardener for Stockwood. Upon arrival in the Car Park, I had not spotted a nearby car with someone aboard till, after opening my door and gathering my camera bag, a familiar voice called out; Jan must have arrived mere moments before me. Her car door was open, and she  glanced up from looking at her phone to greet me. On hearing her voice, I remembered I had brought three booklets relating to the camera she had earlier had from me, and brought them over for her, since I knew that had I not given her then, I was almost certain to be later leaving with them still in the back of my car!

We both chatted whilst collecting our camera bags and walking into the Discovery Centre. Upon arrival, Jan was greeted from all the gathered staff at the Reception Desk, all welcoming her and obviously pleased to see her and chat, before we both moved off and into the gardens, where there were several other staff all happy to see her and catch up. It was very obvious here was a very popular lady, so I soon had my camera out to see what I could record. I stayed nearby not wishing to interrupt, and looked around at the very definite signs of the passing season until Jan was free to lead me to where we might find interesting subjects on which to focus, and every so often making observations thus adding snippets of useful information that I hoped I might later recall.

Jan led the way pointing out items of interest, but we did not shoot either specific leaves or flowers, or even from the same viewpoints, but I did offer suggestions and reset some of her camera controls and explained why. I did on occasion suggest alternative viewpoints to help in separation of subject from background, and different orientations, such as vertical, to emphasise the length of a stem; I was only offering guidance not rigid rules. In return, I was trying to glean names and other facts, such as why the plum trees suffered a particular infection due to the adjacent Pines.

At one stage in our meanderings, I completely lost Jan, and went around the entire gardens searching, before returning to where we had last been when my phone rang, and I learned Jan was wondering where I was! She described her location where we met back up and after a short while of further shooting we headed for the cafeteria. There were far more people in here than outside. We sat and chatted, and Jan showed me some shots of hers on a tablet. When you consider how sparse are fresh new blooms, it is still amazing just how much there is still to see and capture. 

It was nearing the time to leave, and after a short last trip around and a farewell chat at Reception, but just as we headed for our cars, sadly I started seeing a blindspot in my field of vision, and recognised the onset of a Migraine. I asked could I have a glass of water and took a couple of Paracetamols and headed for the car where with closed eyes I sat till the episode was over and the pills had taken effect. I did however thank Jan for the afternoon and bade her farewell. Ten minutes went by as I sat in my locked car with eyes still closed before I opened to check whether full vision was restored – it was, so I got out, locked the car and returned to Reception in case I had not thanked them for the glass of water and having apologised finally headed out and before leaving, phoned a lady who had once worked with me on a part-time basis to see whether I might visit. I chatted with Shirley and her young grandchild, Tom before finally heading home.

Goodwood Revival 2018 – The Saturday Visit

It was a day when once again I enjoy some time with my elder daughter as I had earlier with my younger girl at the Festival of Speed, but where Catherine was really tired due to work and family pressures, Lizzy had been physically poorly. In both cases though there was some time on the journey down to get some shut-eye, with occasional times where we caught up on news of the associated families.

In Catherine’s instance it was mentioning the impending departure of one of the twins to London University, and the other’s coming driving lessons and ultimately the Test. We would be having a family get together in Cambridge which in the meantime since this trip I can report was absolutely wonderful; with wishes for both for their more independent futures and lots of fun and laughter.

We made surprisingly good time on the journey, on the M1, going around the M25 and through the byways of Surrey and Sussex to the Goodwood Circuit. As we arrived several of the small aircraft from the WWII era were flying overhead. We headed from the Car Park after putting the finishing touches to our period dress and suit and then threading our way through the outside array of marquees displaying a wide range of vintage cars, and period costumes (for following year’s events!), memorabilia and cars, bikes and accessories and all the fun of the Fair, before making our way into the event proper and the circuit.

I had been hoping that a new camera body might be being used by one of the many photographers in the Media Centre so we made for there as a first port of call, but that met with little success, barring meeting some very helpful people who said they would keep a lookout and report back. We made eventually for the Richmond Lawn and the viewing area for the Chicane. At various times we also ventured out to the Paddock, and the viewing area above the Pits. I also met up with a friend who had given me help with a section of the book I wrote on “Mac OS X for Photographers” whom I had earlier brought as my guest; this meeting proved to be less than straightforward, but did finally happen. Subsequent to that trip, Alasdair had become a member of the GRRC, as fortunately he lives fairly close to the Circuit.

On this occasion much of my photography was from the Pits Roof, where we met family members of one of the racers and several of his avid followers; Grant Williams is the name to watch, as he makes the entire race exciting! If they give added points for relentless trying, then he would have been well-rewarded, his third place seemed like a Win for those watching him!

Once again I have to give grateful thanks to the Duke of Richmond and all those who played a part in making this event such a friendly and enjoyable time on his estate. Each year these events change subtly thus making each visit feel fresh. As I have often joked about his having a great understanding with the man above, we were once again allowed some pleasant weather, despite the numerous darker clouds looking threatening. For anyone who has never visited, these two car-themed events occurring each year are not just about the vehicles; and the atmosphere is overwhelmingly inviting.

I will be watching the TV coverage coming shortly to see what else I missed…

Needing a Fix – Take Showroom Pics whilst MOT…

          There are few times that I do not carry a camera, and since I was awaiting the completion of my car's first MOT inspection, I can sit down only a very short time, hence capturing images in a Car Showroom, which presents both clean architecture, gleaming new models of Vauxhall Cars, and challenging lighting, provides therapy, and keeps the brain active.
          Yes, the cars are lit to show how shiny they are, but they are also stuffed with added bumpf and are in a very non-photographic lighting environment. Without any additional lighting the range of exposure for the shadows through to the highlights means that extensive judicious processing is vital, so the therapeutic value offsets the time spent at the computer as that is at least productive, whereas sitting doing nothing or reading well-thumbed car and beauty magazines only serves to make the time pass more slowly. Keeping my hand-in balancing lighting within Lightroom on the other hand is far from wasteful, especially when paying work is diminishing, but the skills cannot afford to decline.
          Undoubtedly, capturing such images with additional lighting does bring out the nuances of the vehicles better, but to nevertheless present the images to a good level using only the ambient lighting and all handheld develops one's skills – such opportunities should never be missed as this can only add to overall experience.
          Someone considering the need for a photographer who can capture such ambiance at least must represent some worth in these images seeing the light of day, at least that is the way I view such opportunities.

Sunshine on the First of September

Initially, I checked on whether there was any wind on the Lake at Brogborough – there wasn’t, so on I travelled towards Newton Blossomville, and the nearby river, in case there was a spot conducive to finding the likely environs for kingfishers; upon investigation, that seemed unlikely, but where I had parked my car, I had noticed a digger at work, and after taking a few landscape shots of the river, I was sufficiently intrigued as to what might be happening, so I took just my 24-70mm on the 5D MkIII and walked to where the man and his digger were pulling away the bushes at the top edge of the field.

I surmised he might be trying to increase the area to be cultivated, but I was wrong. I had noticed wire fencing to keep rabbits out, and I learned that the work was to cut down on their habitat, as they were causing havoc, and this work was to clear the overgrown hedgerows to a degree to protect the farmers’ crops. As I approached the digger, the driver stopped work, and I learned he remembered me from an earlier trip to this area when they had been working in the fields with a large Claas Combine Harvester. We chatted awhile, and not having a card I wrote the blog address down for him, so that he could see those shots he remembered me taking.

On returning to my car I realised I actually had a print there so, rather than walk back, I drove closer to where he was working and showed him the shot I had taken, and he said he had seen it as when I left to go the car, he had looked on his phone and found them! He was more impressed when he saw the A4 print of the headline picture!

He was not able to give me any hints as to where I might find some kingfishers, but mentioned he had been fishing one time when on landed on his rod to keep his eye on any likely meals. I returned to the car and continued to Harrold-Odell Park where I did manage to get some shots of a couple of herons, one in-flight as he reacted to my presence.

I walked all around the lake after meeting a family lakeside, and the father began chatting, as he owned a Canon 5D, and he suggested I walk along the river as he felt it was far more appealing. On this occasion I found there was very little activity on the river compared to admittedly a larger though fairly mundane bird population on the lakes. That said I did see the two herons, and a grebe amongst the numerous swans.

The walk certainly exercised me, as I now do ache somewhat as I was not using my lightest tripod, and the Sigma 150-600mm Sports lens can never be described as lightweight, and I still also had the 5D MkIII with the 24-70mm slung around my neck!