2020 Project 52 by Geoff F

[Wavelength]

Nice images

[Cantab]

And another of those 'this won't work, but I might as well press the shutter anyway' situations



1/250 F11 Iso 400 merge of two conversions from one Raw file.

An interesting image. I was left wondering what's behind the sheep where the land disappears: a treacherous cliff down to rocks and ocean below, or gently rolling farm land?

[Geoff F]

There is a fairly steep grass field, Bruce, which goes down to a hedge before dropping down to the estuary.

Week 47. I returned to my idea of Week 43 which entailed photographing the local fishing boats as they returned to harbour. It was low water so I thought I would clamber over the rocks to get a better angle but that didn't work out as I intended.

I thought I was auto focusing on the boats but from that low angle there was a lot of water between me and the boats and my camera tended to focus on water ripples instead of the boats. The distance also created a lot of unsharp foreground water with an equally problematic background. Because of the subject movement I needed a shutter speed of at least 1/400 and an Iso of 400 or less to prevent excessive noise in the shadow areas; which gave me an aperture of F8 for most of my shots.

With this image, I have moved the two boats a little closer together and I suspect a widescreen crop to reduce some of the foreground would be an advantage



7D with Canon 70-200 lens plus 1.4x converter. 1/500 F11 Iso 400. Merge of three conversions from one Raw file

Including some of the rocks, I thought, would create a more dramatic image, but in reality that just added to the overall confusion and also produced far too much deep shadow background as well as the foreground focus issues.



1/320 F11 Iso 400

Before giving up on that shooting spot I did snap this pair of paddleboarders



1/500 F11 Iso 400 without the 1.4x converter

So then I returned to the road and the same shooting position from Week 43; but with better light, although not exactly an ideal angle so I have had to darken the highlights while lightening the shadows.



1/500 F8 Iso 400. Merge of three conversions from one Raw file.

I tried a different approach with this shot



1/500 F11 Iso 400

And one boat which stopped to put some of its catch into a storebox.



1/400 F11 Iso 400

[Cantab]

Geoff, these form an interesting collection.

The first is one sense a real action shot: the paddle boarder desperately(?) trying to get out of the path of SE33. I tend to agree that a slight crop of the foreground would increase the emphasis on the subject of the photo. Looking at the sandy beach in the background, I have a sense that the beach shelves steeply. If that's the case, what's the tidal range in your area?

The penultimate photo works well. Looking down, it gives a clear view of the rocks that need to be avoided.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments, Bruce.

On the biggest tides we have a range of about 15 or 16 feet. The harbour tides flow at a reasonably acceptable rate but it gets stronger on the coastal headlands because they project out into the main English Channel flow.

[Wavelength]

A set of pleasing images

[Geoff F]

Week 48 - Another gloomy lockdown English morning. This morning, from my house. Then the weather turned to mist and drizzle. These lockdown mornings remind me of those typical Sundays from the 1950's when I was a young boy and you couldn't do anything enjoyable on a Sunday. UK readers, of a certain age, may remember a Tony Hancock programme which nicely summed up the tedium of those days.



7D with Canon 70-200 lens 1/125 F8 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures.

And a closer scene as the mist approached.



1/250 H 8 Iso 400

[Cantab]

Geoff, these are good gloomy photos!

In the first photo, the sinuous shape of the sheep trail is interesting.

Edit: I've now had a closer look at the sheep. Those in the trail are actually leaving the bulk of the flock and heading somewhere important. But where?

[Geoff F]

Thanks Bruce.

I suspect the farmer had spread some feed along that bit of path so when it was gone they would head off into one of those small fields to continue grazing. They certainly knew where they were going.

[Geoff F]

Week 49 - From my garden

Female Blackcap



7D with Sigma 150-600 Sport lens. 1/320 F10 Iso 500

Greenfinches



1/250 F8 Iso 640

Coal Tit. Just a quick shot as I was setting up for some video; but despite the technical problems I rather liked this bird's pose. It is one of those species which never sits still for long so it was a case of press the shutter and hope for the best with no thinking time.



1/320 F8 Iso 1600

Iris unguicularis. Flowering a bit early. They usually start in January.



1/60 F8 Iso 400. Merge of three focus points.

[Wavelength]

Beautiful birds and flower

[joebranko]

Beautiful birds. I especially li5the Coal Tit! Great capture!

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments. I also liked the Coal Tit but even after some rather heavy editing there is still quite a bit of shadow noise.

Week 50 and a return to the same location as Week 46. I am intending to put together a slideshow about this area.

Another of those quick point and click shots without any thinking time.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens. 1/200 F11 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures.

And continuing with the tree theme



Another merge of two exposures.

This shot was really taken with the local history society in mind. A wrought iron fence with cast iron end post. The lettering reads Hill & Smith and their location is given as Brierley. I don't know anything about that company but there is quite a bit of that fencing there and it appears in some 100 year old photos.



1/160 F11 Iso 400

And some boats in the harbour



1/400 F11 Iso 400. Another merge of two exposures

[Geoff F]

And another boat scene but the light was rapidly deteriorating.



1/400 F11 Iso 400. I liked the reflection but those boats are a bit of a jumble. Merge of two exposures

[joebranko]

I enjoy these types of scenery with the roadway disappearing in the distance. This one has a bonus provided by the Lady in Red.

[Wavelength]

That "Walk away" image is wonderful; also the last mooring one

[escape]

The first image in number 33 is my favorite. It has a timeless quality about it, like a page from a well-worn storybook. Excellent

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments.

Week 51 - Tides Reach Hotel rebuild. I had been meaning to take some images to show this work but for various reasons I didn't do anything until recently. The original hotel didn't have much architectural merit even though it was constructed in the 1920's. There was a movement around then for square concrete buildings. Several companies produced plans for a demolish and rebuild but they were all massive characterless structures which were totally out of keeping for this little beach on the town edge. Eventually this design was approved.

A dull day and I had to shoot towards what light was available without any perfect shooting position.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens 1/80 F8 Iso 400



1/100 F8 Iso 400

[Geoff F]

And while on an architectural theme. I had to take my car for a service and MOT yesterday, so while waiting I had a walk around some areas which I don't normally visit and found this unusual angle of the town



1/400 F10 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures.

I also had a walk to one of the estuary creeks where there were a few showers but at least some rainbows ensued.



1/500 F11 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures

ps. I have used those photos from Week 50 plus others to create a slideshow of that short walk around part of the estuary, concentrating on autumn/winter scenery when the area is much quieter.

It is on Vimeo at this address

vimeo.com/490380265

[Cantab]

Geoff, I enjoyed the photos here at CiC and very much enjoyed the Vimeo slideshow.

Is the first photo in post #39 part of Salcombe? I assume the pointed spire belongs to the parish church but then there's also another church with flat tower.

I'm looking forward to further photos as the construction (post #38) proceeds, but don't fall into the water or get run over cement trucks.