Iceland - Landscapes

Icelandic horses on the plains to the east of Reykjavik

I'm not going to say much about this series of landscape images from my recent visit to Iceland, only I hope you enjoy them and maybe it will whet your appetite to visit this land of stunning contrasts too. Several of these shots were taken on the move in an attempt to capture the images I would have so loved to have spent a little more time setting up. This is part of the frustrations of being a photographer with someone else in charge of the driving - be it in a jeep or a 56 seater coach. So I guess this visit I have treated as the 'city bus tour' to get the taster of where I would like to return to, and next time I will ensure that I am more in control of the wheels that are getting me around.
I weep at all the stunning missed shots during the 4 days but I'm delighted I was able to capture some images to remind me of this amazing place.

Rainbow over the snowfields on the way to the Langjokull glacier

View from Þingvellir across Þingvallavatn

The Sólheimajökull glacier

The church at Þingvellir

The church at Vik

The stack rocks as seen from Vik

The sea stack and black basalt sand at Reynisfjara

And of course, everyone was asking "Did you see the aurora?"
Well, yes we did but...

On our third evening, following a period of snowfall, we went way out of Reykjavic up into the National Park. However, it wasn't far enough to be able to exclude the lights of the city, being reflected in the low cloud. Coupled with the fact we only had a 10-15 minute 'light show' it was a challenge to commit anything to the memory card. In fact, I only managed to capture three images that night which were worth giving a second look. Considering I had hired a lens specifically suitable for photographing the aurora, it made the (not so spectacular) image below rather a valuable shot!

We found out later, that the aurora kicked off a couple of hours after we had returned to the city, and was also spectacular the following evening when we opted for an early night in readiness for our flight back to the UK next morning.

Being a wildlife photographer too, I understand more than most that you can't just 'turn up and see' any natural happening such as this. It is all down to a series of conditions all aligning and then being in the right place at that time. So despite being a little disappointed with my first ever sighting of the aurora, I remain philosophical that this won't be the first and last, and as always, strive to improve image on image...but I do have a record shot. That will suffice for now, until I return to Iceland for a complete photography indulgence.

Anyone up for a visit to Iceland?!!

Remembrance Sunday, Saffron Walden

The annual Remembrance Parade took place in dry sunny conditions. After the downpours of the previous night, it was a welcome relief for the huge crowd who had gathered for this notable centenary year for the beginning of the First World War and what had been the 70th anniversary of D-Day.

Along with the Engineers from Carver Barracks, all armed forces were represented as well as the respects being paid by other organisations from the town. The salute was taken for the Last Post, before hearing the church clock strike eleven, the start of the two minute silence.

Following a short service and the wreath laying, the parade was led by the band of the Air Cadets, leading the way to the service at St Mary's Church, those lining the route, including the town dignitaries and The Rt. Hon. Sir Alan Haselhurst MP, applauding as the soldiers passed by.

I will now leave it to the images to tell the story.

Lest we forget

Snapshots from Castletownshend

It is only a matter of days before my first guests / photography students arrive here in West Cork to absorb the whole feel of this special corner of Ireland, whilst enjoying the opportunity to widen their knowledge and practise the art of photography. It was with this coming weekend in mind that himself and I took a walk around the nearby village of Castletownshend on a lovely October Sunday evening, and although I have visited many times before, I used this visit to pay close attention to details. This is just one such exercise I will be encouraging my students to carry out in their quest to understand and put into practise the some of principles of exposure and composition, light and colour.

For those who will be arriving this weekend, here is a taster of what you might find. For those who couldn't make any of the weekends this Autumn, here is a taster of what you could do if you book onto one of the workshops or weekends which are planned for the Spring! Watch out for more details soon.

Day 15 - August Challenge 14

Challenge - Reflections

Suggested by -Sharon via Facebook

When this challenge came up, I had an image in mind, but I had blogged that particular view in the past, and not being one to want to repeat images if I can help it, I went on the search for something new this evening.

Restricted by other commitments on a Friday, I'm limited to when I can do the shoot, so armed with my camera and tripod, I took a stroll into town this evening, in search of a reflection that would say something. I wanted to be able to show that it was Saffron Walden rather than just anywhere, and so the church was probably going to be a good reflective subject. I also needed a suitable reflective surface. I tried various windows around town as the evening progressed to dusk, but none really cut it. Eventually, I returned to where I had started in the market square, and where I went back to the first window I had tried. By now, the wonderful night-blue sky had descended and the town lights had come on, giving a new dimension to the view. Thankfully the dimensions and angles of the window of the barbers shop meant that there was an interesting perspective to be found of the market square via just one shot - and yet due to the angles, I wouldn't have to be in the reflection. Perfect!

So, on one hand we have the market square with the church, fountain and Corn Exchange clearly in view and including signs alerting car drivers of preparations for market day tomorrow. On the other hand, reference to the reflectively borrowed window and with glimpses of the town hall, and the building housing the Tourist Information Centre, who, incidentally are doing a most splendid job in selling my 'Tour de France in Saffron Walden' books! Copies still available from the TIC or online


Today's image and all the other images from my August Challenge will be on display in Design Essentials during September.

 

Tomorrow - Day 16 (half way though now!)

'Market"

Saffron Walden in Uttlesford

Little did we know, back in January 1985 when we moved into the town of Saffron Walden in Essex, that almost thirty years later the area in which it is located would be named as Britain's most desirable rural area to live. Call it good judgement on our part but we have enjoyed living in this beautiful part of a county which, normally conjures up images far from a rural idyll. This is not TOWIE country, this is North Essex, with gently undulating English countryside. It could be argued that being this far north in the county, the area is also influenced by the near neighbours of Cambridgeshire and Suffolk, each only a few miles away. In fact the area is so unique, that it is almost its own little county - let's call it the county of Uttlesford. Actually that isn't too far from the truth as Uttlesford is the administrative region for, amongst others, the towns of Saffron Walden, Stansted, Thaxted and Great Dunmow.

Those of you who follow my blog will know that I often post about the delights of this area, and I frequently feel so fortunate to live in such a lovely place. So much so, that both himself and myself have moved our mothers to the town in recent years. They have also grown to love their adoptive home-town, just as we have over the years. I agree that the town doesn't perhaps have quite so much to offer those at the other end of the age scale but it hasn't hindered us in raising our family here.

In celebration of the title, I am airing an image I took early one September morning back in 2011. It was such a glorious golden hour, and with the birds beginning to rise from the trees it was ripe for capture from this aspect, which is seldom covered. Already the image has been steadily circulating on Twitter since the news broke, and so it is inevitable that I should choose to share it again, here on my blog, as the ideal representation of the area I call home.


Now for the business bit!
The image is available to order as a print or greeting cards by putting your request into the contact form at the side of this blog. (Sorry the e-shop isn't quite ready but will be open very soon) Alternatively you can come and see the image for real when it will be in exhibition during the Saffron Walden Open Studios 26th/27th April & 3rd/4th May. Watch out for further details.

Day 30 - August Challenge

Challenge - "Young singers Friday 30th August colour"

Suggested by - Gill via blog

The suggestion, 'young singers' is liable to conjure up different ideas for different people but for me, my first idea is that of church choir singers. This is most possibly due to the fact that at the age of 8, I became a chorister myself, which seemed only natural following on behind my two older siblings and my father, and I spent the next ten years quite seriously involved in music. (After not getting very far with playing the clarinet which I mentioned yesterday, I had far more success with singing!). Now, it is the turn of my nephew to sing, and who I am proud to say, recently completed three years as a chorister and the last year as head chorister of Cantoris at Truro Cathedral. He has now progressed into the National Youth Choir (Training, South) where only last night, they performed a concert in Rochester Cathedral.
I strongly suspect, that the then, diary date for this event, was the influence for this assignment suggestion?!!

With thirty other suggestions alongside 'young singers' this month, there has been quite some considerable arranging of shoots but those who know me, also know that leaving things to the last minute is, well, not a great attribute I have, and found myself stupidly putting this challenge to one side. With about a week to go, I emailed our local church office with my proposal, hoping that a dialogue would be set up and I would either have a green or red light for a shoot at the choir practise, held, on... a Friday evening. Unfortunately, August is holiday time and my mail remained unanswered, so it was with considerable reservations, I decided to make a direct approach to the director of music. (In my day, that equated to a braces-wearing, balding, old man (or so it seemed old to an 8 year-old me) who was also rather keen for a pint (or two) after evensong. Happily, these days, it is much more Gareth Malone!)

My reservations were not without grounding. As a photographer, I know exactly the issues regarding photographing minors and so I suggested a view from the back of room so as not to identify the youngsters. Even though I was appearing out of the blue at the practise (something I definitely hadn't wanted to do) there was a slight warming to the idea but after mulling over the details, it was decided it would be against their child protection policy to allow it to go ahead. I fully understand this view and St Mary's in Saffron Walden should be applauded for standing by their robust child protection policy My apologies for putting them on the spot.

So, the idea of quietly rounding off the assignment back at my computer with a glass of wine was not to be, and a move to a vague Plan B had to be made. Where else might I find a reference to young singers - Cambridge? Maybe a busker or two?  There were certainly no young singers, only old swingers playing (rather good) jazz numbers. No posters on the railings advertising summer singing workshops either. The only reference was in the Kings College shop on Kings Parade, where a new release of Mozart Requiem was being promoted. I endeavoured to include a reflection of the gothic building too (used as a back drop earlier in the month) but sadly the window angle didn't work. However, there is a clear view of an image of young singers! (If I knew who to attribute the image(s) to, I would certainly add it)

So, artistic licence, or failure - call it what you will. :-/



The screen grab

My thanks to:
Gill for the suggestion
St Mary's for being prepared to discuss the assignment







Tomorrow, Day 31. The last day...

"Urban Fox"

Day 14 - August Challenge

Challenge - "How about quartz for number 14 as it contains silicon and silicon is number 14 in the periodic table?"

Suggested by - Su via blog

Perplexed!
That was me on the run-up to todays challenge. How could I photograph that material which, for one, we know exists inside our common or garden clocks?
I started with a bit of research.
-It is the second most abundant mineral in the Earth's continental crust.
-There are many different varieties of quartz, several of which are semi-precious gemstones.
-There are two basic kinds of quartz:
   1. Crystalline includes amethyst, cairngorm, rock crystal, and rose quartz
   2. Cryptocrystalline and includes agate, bloodstone, carnelian, flint, jasper, onyx, and sardonyx.

Wait! What was that? Flint?

Well Su, if you linked '14 on the periodic table is silicon' with 'silicon is found in quartz', then I am going to play my artisitc licence card, May I go one more tenuous step to flint please?

According to research (aka Wikipedia) "Flint is a hard, sedimentary cryptocrystalline form of the mineral quartz"

OK, so no worries about taking clocks apart! I could go on the seach for something that is very abundant in this area. After all, we are on top of a chalk substrait and flint is commonly found in chalk, hence the preponderance to use it as a building material in this region. Even our town church is built of the glassy or sometimes waxy looking mineral, which comes in a variety of colours: dark grey, black, green, white, or brown. And the church is where I headed to take today's image of - flint.

So, after the very distinct image from yesterday, today we have something much more abstract.

You almost had me beat, Su!


The grab shot

My thanks to:
Su for her suggestion




Tomorrow, Day 14

"For a 12 year-old birthday boy"

12.12.12

A colourful dawn on a notable day in the calendar.

The clear frosty morning created the perfect conditions for a sun dog (above trees on right)

 

  

Mutt went skating (Ice dog!)

People went walking. (Spot the sun dog)

 

Oblivious to the date, the coal tit pee-chew'd,

the long tailed tit barely stopped still long enough for a picture,

and Mrs blackbird sat elegantly in the tree, 

 as the hands on Saffron Walden church clock moved around to-

12.12 on 12.12.12