My Weekly Photos During 2015 - Part 2

[Geoff F]

I will try to post at least one photo per week during 2015. The scenes will vary to show something of the area where I live and things which happen here.

In order to keep this thread within a reasonable size I will split it into 4 sections. Part 1 is here:-

My Weekly Photos during 2015 - Part 1

Week 14 - Mobile Obstructions on the Coastal Path

These Highland Cattle are used to keep the foliage under control. Sheep were previously used but dog attacks meant they had to be replaced with something more robust.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens 1/800 F11 Iso 400. I should have reduced the Iso but many of the angles had quite a bit of shadow and I wanted to have a reasonable fast shutter speed for any subject movement.

Another part of the path.



They look rather fierce but are quite friendly if they know you aren't a threat to them. Although this image manages to make one look quite frightening.



1/320 F11 Iso 200

In a different part of the area I encountered some more traditional cows for this part of the country and they were nicely lined up for a photo; but, of course, as soon as I took out my camera they were all over the place. I'm sure I could hear them giggling as they moved into total disarray.



Then a couple of joggers came past, with all the jogging actions, so the cows all lined up against the fence looking totally bewildered.



1/160 F11 Iso 200. The scene was really a bit too much in brightness levels to capture in one shot but I didn't have any alternatives so this is a merge of two different Raw conversions. There is still a little bit of missing detail in the highlights and some shadows are a bit strong.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice set

[Barbara Ponder]

I love the Highland cattle shots and especially the one that seems so menacing.

[deetheturk]

Very nice Geoff, think I would have legged it if #3 had looked at me like that

[Kaye Leggett]

Aren't the highland cattle lovely - I bet they give a few people a bit of a scare. I like the 1st image best as you get the whole scene and I love the fact that the path is left for you

[Shadowman]

Nice series, I was going to ask if the shaggy beasts were docile, good to know if I ever encounter them.

[KimC]

Love the Highland Cattle and their furry faces :-)

[vaez]

very nice shot lovely 2 image they are very cute

[Cantab]

I love the photos of the highland cattle transplanted from their homeland! They look like they're completely safe from dogs.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the remarks. And now:-

Week 15 - Beesands. A small UK south coast village.

The overall scene.



7d with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/400 F1 Iso 200. A bright day but a little hazy in the distance.

The main street and a builder's delivery vehicle meets oncoming traffic.



As the builder unloads, a crowd has gathered outside The Cricket Inn.



The beach at the far end of the cove.



The Boat Winch. There is an engine underneath the protective covers.



This angle was causing some exposure problems so I manually set the camera to 1/160 F11 Iso 100 and used some fill flash.

[Kaye Leggett]

I like your narrative

[Geoff F]

Week 16 - West Charleton Marsh

I am a bit uncertain about these photos so I've been hanging on in the hope of getting something better; but time is passing so I'm going with what I have anyway.

Looking towards the village from the reedbeds.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens 1/800 F11 Iso 200

And looking the other way towards the bird hide. There is an estuary on the other side with a shallow channel which comes up to the hide.



Tried from the hide with a big lens but not much about and the harsh light was from a difficult angle so I'm lacking in fine detail. The subjects were a bit too far distant as well.

An egret



7D with Sigma 150-500 lens 1/1250 F10 Iso 200

And a swan



7D with Sigma 150-500 lens. 1/400 F8 Iso 400

A pheasant gave a bit of colour on the landward side.



I did take a few shots looking across the estuary but rejected them as lacking interest in the foreground; although I suppose they would have helped to set the scene for anyone who doesn't know the area.

[Barbara Ponder]

All nice but the pheasant is lovely! A portrait of the pheasant would be wonderful. Do you think you could get him to pose for you?

[Kaye Leggett]

I think your swan and egret photos are lovely - great composition and not easy to get right. I like the landscapes too but would be tempted to make both of them 16*9 and therefore to lose some of the foreground grass in each - it's quite bright and there detracts from the main image.

[IzzieK]

How did I missed this series? I must have been asleep...No! the first one was taken on my birthday...I was away...

Now to catch up -- the cow shots I prefer the last one with all of them near the fence. With my imagination running wild this morning, I can just hear them cows saying "I wish I can jog that way too if it helps loosen up some muscles and keep me fit for the dinner table." Really love the rest of the images specially #3 the three legged cow bit. Looks menacing to me...

Week 15, Beesands, the coastal village, I like the one with the crowd (what crowd?) hanging around the Cricket Inn..it is nice to see a representation of a simple quiet town...

Week 16, still the current week, I prefer the three birds. Excellent shots all....

[Geoff F]

Sometimes, Izzie, two people sitting together in a deserted street represents a 'crowd'.

With most landscape scenes I try to work in 3 x 2 ratio thinking ahead towards my calendar photos later in the year; and other similar uses.

Which is why I struggled with those marsh images in attempting to force the scene into that ratio. I had tried many crops without really getting what I was after.

The view down the marsh towards the bird hide certainly adapts to a 16 x 9 ratio but I'm still not sure about the other angle looking towards the village. I did try some closer shots with just the tops of the reeds in the foreground but somehow it didn't look right.

Anyhow here is a 16 x 9 crop.

[bnnrcn]

Very nice images, the crops look better

[Geoff F]

Not sure if this idea is going to work but I was returning from an insect shoot and wondering what I could do for this week when I started looking at views through gaps in the hedge from the field where I was walking. So . . .

Week 17 - Salcombe Harbour through a gap in the hedge



40D with Canon 70-200 lens 1/160 F11 Iso 200

Malborough through an open gate. Well more like over the top of a missing gate.



A gate in the fence



1/320 F11 Iso 200

[IzzieK]

I like the first one, Geoff...the second one has too much foreground and the third one is quite simple but a compelling view that makes my eyes want for some more to look at after that curve. Good ones....I can't wait for the next ones you will share with us.

[Kaye Leggett]

I like Izzie like the 1st and third. The second is too busy. But the first does not say 'gap in the hedge' to me as there is no really noticeable 'hedge gap' to see.