Depth Of Fall, Rickmansworth

Depth Of Fall, Rickmansworth, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Quick shot from this evening's walk and having seen everyone's seasonal shots I thought I'd take a couple too. The leaves on the trees are still all green I think, but the early evening sun and shallow DOF field have created some yellow, orange and reds ahead of their time.

Field Of Dreams (Penalty Kick Light Painting), Rickmansworth

Field Of Dreams (Penalty Kick Light Painting), Rickmansworth, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Following on from www.flickr.com/photos/flatworldsedge/5233410987/ and www.flickr.com/photos/flatworldsedge/5022793280/ I'm really enjoying exploring the possibilities of light painting.

For clarity, as with all my light paintings, every line in this shot is drawn in camera by torch or flashlight. There were lots of kind comments, messages and questions on this front last time round, and that's all there is to it!

However, by way of full disclosure this one is a two take painting - I've used the cross, ball, goalkeeper and striker's head and legs from one shot, then editted in the striker's torso and arms from a second take. I've also had to go over the lines to remove an unwanted blue tinge which came with a white balance edit across the whole frame, aimed at allowing the night sky to come through against severe urban light pollution.

It's a 248 second exposure at ISO 100 and f/13, which has mostly worked, though the bush behind the goal has over-exposed a little due to passing traffic.

Perhaps I oughtn't to say I don't really like this image, at least not as much as the other two (which I adore). The setting was a little tricky, with traffic going by in the background and dogs rushing about in the early evening. I shot early than usual to try to catch some blue in the sky, and hadn't realised how busy it can be! However, I had the concept in mind and wanted to keep the momentum to my light painting - and unless I'm doing them and posting them, I won't be getting better!

Hope you like it, and are all having a great end to the week.

See Field Of Dreams (Penalty Kick Light Painting), Rickmansworth on Flickr.

Coldfrontation (Bury Lake), Rickmansworth

Coldfrontation (Bury Lake), Rickmansworth, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

If you are looking at this photo, thank you! I know the thumbnail, which clips the geese, looks about as banal and flat as a pebble dash conference in Scunthorpe. So thank you for clicking through regardless.

Please do view on black!

Quick shot from this morning's wander in the snow and ice. A very foggy morning, so it's taken with the old 18-200mm Sigma lens - fortunately the misty atmosphere meant nothing doesn't resent it's softness! All ice in this shot, with a thin sheen of water which, in the stillness of the fog, created some lovely reflections.

For those few interested, the boat house is indeed the same one as in www.flickr.com/photos/flatworldsedge/5184896770/, shown from the other side this time.

Hope you're all having a great weekend.

See Coldfrontation (Bury Lake), Rickmansworth on Flickr.

Blue (Bury Lake), Rickmansworth

Blue (Bury Lake), Rickmansworth, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Firstly, thanks to everyone who had a look at and shared their thoughts on www.flickr.com/photos/flatworldsedge/5182134181/in/photos... - I'm thrilled with the Front Page and really appreciate everyone's contributions.

This is a three minute exposure taken an hour or so earlier yesterday evening. It's a shot of Bury Lake in the Rickmansworth Aquadrome, looking across the kayak water polo court (is it called a court if it is water?) towards the sailing club.

Needless to say, the colour is completely different from the previous shot, which I guess is down to three key reasons. Firstly, this is just before streetlamps came on - the darkness is more from the shaded undergrowth and epic mist. Secondly, it's facing a different direction with fewer light sources - not least it is not looking towards London! Finally, and most importantly, this only had a minor cooling tweak to WB, whereas I lied wholesale to the RAW on the previous shot by telling it was shot in the shade (a lie with massive warming implications, obviously!). Or it could have been a million other things I guess; any ideas let me know!

Have a good one all!

See Blue (Bury Lake), Rickmansworth on Flickr.

Sodium Cloud Forest, Rickmansworth

Sodium Cloud Forest, Rickmansworth, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Ten minute exposure after sunset today, as the thick fog slowly cleared from the Aquadrome. The fog lingered in the trees, backlit by London's no shortage of sodium streetlights, whilst the bright moon rose high enough to bathe the foreground grass in a soft pearl light. I was startled by the colours on the LCD when it had finished "cooking" - I had been stood in near darkness.

My £19 cable release remains the best piece of kit I have. Long exposures keep surprising me with their interpretation of nighttime scenes. Early winter nights couldn't have come at a better time.

Hope everyone else is having a great week too.

See Sodium Cloud Forest, Rickmansworth on Flickr.

Two Pair (Stocker's Lake Reflections), Rickmansworth

Two Pair (Stocker's Lake Reflections), Rickmansworth, originally uploaded by flatworldsedge.

Unlike the tricky and lengthy noise reduction for www.flickr.com/photos/flatworldsedge/5126748478/ in this case I just maxed Lightroom's noise reduction and dropped the clarity. It's a 226 second exposure (F/22 ¦ ISO 100) from one of the bird hides on Stocker's Lake in Rickmansworth Aquadrome.

There were hundreds of ducks floating about in the foreground, but none made sufficient impression against the bright reflected sky over the long exposure. Hope everyone is having a great week!

See Two Pair (Stocker's Lake Reflections), Rickmansworth on Flickr.