Appledore and Instow

Or things to do on a dull grey Devon December day - part II.

The day after Boxing Day I was joined by Vic for a trip to Appledore and Instow.  We started off at Appledore with a walk along the estuary to the burrows.  We particularly wanted to find an old derelict slipway that we had seen used to good effect in other pictures.  Sadly the light was just as poor as the day before, this and low tide meant that we had to settle for a some low angles and close-up abstracts.

 After lunch in Bideford, we crossed the estuary and spent a couple of hours in Instow.   The light improved slightly, so I chanced a couple of wide-angle shots of the boats stranded by low-tide.

Beachcombing at Westward Ho!

Or things to do on a dull grey Devon December day. 

Post Christmas day, I always like to get out with the camera for some fresh air, exercise and maybe get a few images of the fabulous North Devon coast.  Sadly the weather this year was not helpful, with several very grey days.  So on Boxing Day I spent a few hours at Westward Ho! 

Westward Ho! is famous for being the only place in the UK that has an exclamation mark as part of its name (and the only town I can think of that is named after a novel).  It is also a place I know well, having spent many summer Sundays there as a child.  I knew I could find some potential pictures along the huge pebble ridge that is a major feature of the beach.  Sure enough, I was able to find enough interesting bits in the strand-line to keep me occupied for a couple of hours.

A Christmas Tree

An appropriate image for my last post before Christmas, and one I have been waiting a year to show.  I took this shot on Boxing Day last year on the edge of Exmoor.  Before anyone accuses me of decorating the tree myself, let me assure you, it was like that when I found it.  Besides it was far too cold to get creative. 

I have seen, and photographed, this tree on a previous Christmas and it was decorated then too.  So it must be something of a local tradition.  I have no idea why.  There are no houses in the vicinity.  Just a minor road, the moor and a tree with tinsel on it. Still, that's Devon for you.

Cambridge Christmas Lights

This is a busy time of year, so I am behind on the blog.  About 10 days ago, the Abbey Horizons group had one of our regular outings to take pictures.  The subject was the Christmas lights in Cambridge.  We spent 3 hours or so circuiting the centre of town followed by a warm-up, pint and bite to eat in the Eagle.  Discussing our pictures, we came to the conclusion that Cambridge's lights are just too tasteful.  Lots of subtle white lights and no gaudy riots of colour. I tried a few zooms to add interest and also shot the occasion shop window.

Hill Testing The Pen

Some shots from the second day of my recent trip North.  We did a fairly gentle trip around 4 fells in rather grey weather.  I wasn't expecting much photographically, and thought this would be a good opportunity to put the Olympus Pen through it's paces in hill conditions.  I didn't come away with any great shots, but exploring the details of a dry stone wall gave me an possible idea for a panel for next year's portfolio competitions.

Ingleton Waterfalls

Last weekend I visited my friend Vic for another couple of days of hillwalking, photography and beers.  The weather forecast on the Friday wasn't too promising.  The best of the weather was to be had in the east and not too high.  So we opted to head for the Yorkshire Dales and do a gentle walk around some waterfalls at Ingleton. 

Fungi Foray in Thetford

Last Sunday I spent a lovely sunny day in Thetford Forest with other members of the club shooting the late Autumn colours and searching for fungi.  Despite the fact that many of the beech trees still had their leaves, I didn't end up with any pictures of the colours that I liked.  But I did come away with some fungi shots I liked. 

All The Fun Of The Fair

Three from the funfair on Midsummer Common that accompanied last week's fireworks.  As much as I love watching the fireworks, photographically I always find a trip around the fair afterwards more rewarding.  It was only the deadline of the last park and ride bus that dragged me away.

Fireworks night

Being a well established huge child when it comes to fireworks, I joined other club members to watch and photograph the Cambridge display.  Conditions were fairly good.  The threatened rain held off to just an occasion spot and the wind was light.  Photographing fireworks is something I have tried many times with a very low success rate.  I must be getting slightly better at it, as I managed more successful shots this time than ever before.  I still deleted dozens though.  And I have not yet got a shot that truly captures the event.

Watching The Skies

The post sunset glow behind one of the radio telescopes that forms part of the Mullard Radio Astronomy Observatory.  It's a shot that I have been been meaning to try for a while.  The original intention was to have a go at some start trail shots as well.  I waited for an hour in the cold after this picture, but it still was really dark enough.  I could decide if it was the very last glow of the sun or light pollution from Cambridge.  I will have to try again at a later hour.

Borough Market

Some images from a recent(ish) trip to Borough Market at London Bridge.  As I have said before, it is a difficult place to photograph, due to the crowds and the low light conditions in much of the market.  I found using the Pen this time made things a little easier.  I concentrated on high or low angles. The high angle shots were rather hit and miss (mostly miss), since I couldn't see what I was focussing on.  This first picture was my most successful high shot, although I would have preferred not to decapitate the server.

Zip Line

One shot from this weekend, to make up for the fact I haven't sorted the images from last weekend yet.  On Saturday I went to Go Ape! at Woburn Safari Park as part of a colleague's leaving do.  Naturally I took the Pen with me.  I am quite pleased with this shot of another colleague on a zip line.  Particularly as there wasn't much light available and I was shooting straight into what little there was.


I like the very graphic nature of the image, thanks to the extreme contre-jour, but I am sure a judge would hate the lack of detail.

A little night photography

I thought it was about time for a few more night pictures.  I will happily shoot at night all year round, but the next few weeks is probably the best time for it.  During the summer, shooting after the sun has gone down can make for some late nights.  In winter, the sky is full black long before I have left work.  But between now and the clocks going back, the blue hour and rush hour cross over.  Meaning that it is possible to leave work and get the best part of the night whilst there are plenty people around.  Plus it's still pleasantly warm of an evening.  Handy when you are standing in one place for an hour or two.

Botanic Garden

September always seems to be a busy month for me.  Which can mean few chances to get out and take photos.  It's nearly the end of the month and this is my first post, well short of my target of 4 posts a month.

Needing some photographic inspiration I spent Saturday afternoon at the Botanic Garden in Cambridge.  Thanks to the glass houses, there always seems to be something to shoot.  It was a sunny afternoon, but a little breezy.  So, inspite the turning autumn colours in the gardens themselves, I spent much of my time inside

New Toy

I have just bought an Olympus Pen. I had been thinking of getting a micro 4/3 camera for some time, as a nice compromise between my 40D and a point and shoot. Ever since I saw one being used to good effect whilst doing my winter skills training in 2010. I spent a lot of time comparing the Olympus and Panasonic systems. Eventually Tesco made me an offer on the E-PL1 that I couldn't refuse (never underestimate the power of the clubcard point).

Thanks to the very 'mixed' bank holiday weather, I haven't had much chance to play with it yet. I did manage a few shots around Cambridge on Sunday afternoon. I am still learning the controls. I can work the buttons on my 40D instinctively, without looking at them (handy in the dark or during action shots when you don't have the time to take the camera from your eye). This caused a few issues, as I 'instinctively' pushed the wrong buttons on the Pen, but that's just me and not the camera. Having to rely on the LCD for framing shots is also new to me (even my point and shoot has a viewfinder). Still, initial thoughts are positive. I like the flexibility that the small size of the Pen gives me.