Something of a post-Christmas experiment; running burning wrapping paper through a mill stream tunnel in a foil wrapped Christmas pudding tub. Just one tub, with me shuttle running it, reloading with paper and relighting for each run. The 1112 second exposure (f/8.0 ¦ ISO 250) allowed for numerous runs, though only four or five made it down the rapids without toppling and quelling themselves.
The experiment was enabled in no small part by my new Christmas wellingtons. A good hour or two in the water constantly and no leaks or chills.
By way of putting ecological minds at rest, I spent about thirty minutes clearing the stream of debris before setting up in the middle of the stream. I also built a small damn of branches to ensure none of the paper or the pudding bowl escaped. Running back and forth in utter darkness to collect the bowl, knowing I was within feet of an invisible camera on tripod surrounding by cold water and stone was somewhat tense.
The green areas were in darkness and so I painted them with LED torchlight for around thirty seconds at the start of the shot.
Hope everyone is enjoying an exciting run up to New Year - whether that is only a day or some weeks away for you. Have a good one!
See Elemental (Mill Stream & Fire), Loose Valley on Flickr for additional notes.
Thursday, 30 December 2010
Elemental (Mill Stream & Fire), Loose Valley
Wednesday, 29 December 2010
Skeleton Coast, Rye Harbour
Foggy late afternoon at Rye Harbour. This is 444 second exposure (f/8.0 ¦ ISO 200) through a 9 stop ND filter. In response to enquiry in the comments, I use the "Lightcraftworkshop LCW ND500 MC filter 77mm" which works well. It does give images a bluish cast, which I correct in LR3, but was screw in - my main consideration to keep my kit bag light.
Probably best viewed on black - which brings out enough detail to see the soft grain in the wood of the posts. The large mass on the righthand vertical third is a tangled collection of discarded ropes and fishing nets. It's my second posted shot with the 9 stop filter. So far I'm pretty happy with it, though am yet to get a result that works in colour.
Hope everyone had an epic Christmas and is looking forward to a great New Year.
See Skeleton Coast, Rye Harbour on Flickr for extra notes.
Tuesday, 28 December 2010
Backlight (Winter Brambles), Hoohill
Hope everyone is well after a splendid Christmas and enjoying the run up to New Year!
Quick shot from Christmas day, as I start to learn my way around the new machine. Composition is a little wayward, but the colour demanded something quick. This light lasted less than a minute.
Catching up now!
See Backlight (Winter Brambles), Hoohill on Flickr.
Beware Of Dog (Leeds Castle Door Detail), Kent
Quick shot from last week's bleak visit to Leeds Castle. Hope everyone is having a superb week.
See Beware Of Dog (Leeds Castle Door Detail), Kent on Flickr.
Monday, 27 December 2010
For Whom The Bell Tolls (The Burghers of Calais), France
Close-up of one of Rodin's first cast Burghers of Calais, taken in front of Hotel de Ville in the town itself where they stand.
Full information about the sculpture and the grimly intriguing events they commemorate can be found here: en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Burghers_of_Calais.
See For Whom The Bell Tolls (The Burghers of Calais), France on Flickr.
Sunday, 26 December 2010
Priced Out Of Lingerie, Milan
Female version of my compulsory fashion pictures from Milan. The chap's version is www.flickr.com/photos/flatworldsedge/49946703.
Lightroom 3 was used for the switch to black and white, and Photoshop may have been employed to make a thematic enhancement to the price tags. As you might expect, this one looks classiest on black background. If I were trying to justify the luxurious price, that is certainly how I'd pitch it.
See Priced Out Of Lingerie, Milan on Flickr.