Uploads from Trevor Cotton

Look out

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Sun, 12 May 2013 04:14:56 -0700

Still in Devon mode, so many inspiring locations there, like this one below the fort at Berry Head.

500px • Website

Remembering Ryōan-ji

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Thu, 09 May 2013 03:57:48 -0700

It was interesting that many mentioned Japan, in the comments of my last image, as less than 50 metres from that spot was this scene. As I set my tripod for this composition, thoughts were of Ryōan-ji.
The view is only similar to that most perfect example of the Japanese temple garden, in that it shares some elements of composition.
Located in Kyoto, the Ryōan-ji Zen garden has three very distinct layers. These are formed by a veranda, then an open space of meticulously raked gravel (representing a sea, or anything else you might envision) within which are positioned fifteen rocks, the composition is completed by the surrounding wall.
It was some years ago that I toured Japan, spending a month just visiting gardens from Tokyo to Takamatsu. Sat on the veranda, on an early morning (before the school buses arrived) viewing the garden of Ryōan-ji, was one of the most memorable moments of my lifetime.

Those with a passion for minimal long exposure work, will instantly recognise the design principles of Japanese gardens; a blend of the asymmetry of nature and the precision of man-made forms, concentrated and free from distraction.

500px • Website

Being there

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Tue, 07 May 2013 10:20:18 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Challenging to shoot because of the overly bright conditions but a very rewarding find.
Unlike all the other well researched Devon locations, this was a complete chance encounter. I was visiting the spot for an entirely different subject - only wish I had discovered this on the morning of the mist.

Better on black

500px • Website

The lock-up

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Fri, 03 May 2013 03:56:00 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

The mist prevailed. This was a long exposure but in the final processed image the sea, as you can see, was not visible, so me thinks the 160secs may have a been a tad unnecessary.

500px • Website

Silent sea

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Wed, 01 May 2013 03:56:22 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Luckily the mist lingered just enough to impart some atmosphere to the next location.

500px • Website

First steps

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Sun, 28 Apr 2013 03:46:06 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Just back from a few days in Devon's Torquay area.
This of course is the backyard of the immensely talented Keith and Andy, so I was a little apprehensive regarding what I should shoot given that between them they have given us the definitive examples of the many great coastal locations to be found in these parts.
Whilst I could not resist a number of their subjects I did try to find some new ones, or at least differing views. But it is a challenge shooting subjects that have been previously presented so well, and it's quite difficult not to view the scene with their composition in mind. Conditions were mostly against me too, being summer bright and with high tides that were just not high enough.

But one morning did deliver with some enchanting fog. So no breakfast and a hasty 15 mile drive got me to this location. I am of the 'you don't take a photograph, you make one' school, and usually spend hours if not days processing a file, trying differing treatments, crops, tweaking tones and contrast levels, leaving it then coming back. This shot was not one of those, it practically made itself, entirely due to a great location and the luck of some fine misty conditions.

500px • Website

Spring growth

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Fri, 26 Apr 2013 07:45:09 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

There are few times when I am able to prise the ten-stop from my lens, but this was one.

Ever searching for interesting 'lone trees' I was on a Hampshire, recce for a summer field option and not expecting to capture anything worth posting. But when, between the showers, the light offers something special, you just need to take advantage of it - without the ten.

500px • Website

Heavy ground

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Sun, 21 Apr 2013 03:52:17 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

500px • Website

An invitation

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Fri, 19 Apr 2013 07:09:40 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Whilst the string of lights took me to the colour treatment on the last image, here I opted for a low point-of-view to make use of the paving diagonals. Without the lights, this is the mono treatment I had originally envisaged for this seaside shelter.

500px • Website

A local shelter for local people

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Sun, 14 Apr 2013 03:48:47 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

flickr is doing something funny with the colour in the bench, view on black seems to fix it.

500px • Website

Rightly so

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Wed, 10 Apr 2013 03:51:37 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Many photographers already know that this pier is one of the finest in the UK, and now the National Piers Society has agreed, awarding Clevedon Pier the accolade of 'Pier Of The Year 2013'. Winning over those piers that are fat with commercial attractions, Clevedon Pier is simply a very elegant structure, a place for a stroll and contemplation. Long may it remain so.

500px • Website

Stormy Glen Coe

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Sun, 07 Apr 2013 04:02:23 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Spring cleaning the archive invariably leads to finding files that were, for some reason, overlooked. This capture of the iconic Black Rock Cottage, took place in very adverse conditions which meant a rather more speedy exposure than planned, hence the neglect. But then I may have lost the mood which these storm clouds delivered in, quite literally, buckets!

500px • Website

When brightness fades

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Thu, 04 Apr 2013 10:12:59 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

From last years trip to Scotland, an alternative file and treatment to this abandoned little boat.

I'll admit to being a little obsessed with wrecks of all kinds, they are just such good LE subjects, even though (or maybe because) they always seem to present so many challenges. Like finding them for instance, and when you do the setting is usually, unlike here, less than presentable.

From the number to be found in my collection, this is the only one that didn't need 'cleaning up' in any way. Mind you I did have to travel the length of the country to shoot it and it was pouring with rain when I did!

500px • Website

No more rides

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Fri, 29 Mar 2013 05:40:14 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

500px • Website

10:18am + 130secs

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Tue, 26 Mar 2013 12:00:45 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

Website Has now undergone it's spring refurbishment - it is Spring, isn't it?

Cottages and cliffs

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Thu, 21 Mar 2013 11:30:00 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

An iconic view which usually comes with a fine sunrise and magical hues, none of which were present on this bitterly cold and very grey morning.
So, I had to settle for a rather bleak scene of the coastguard cottages, but still with some grandeur courtesy of the 'Seven Sisters' cliffs.

500px • Website

Someone's missing

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Fri, 15 Mar 2013 11:20:06 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

A rather sombre tale:
Beachy Head, is the second most popular place for suicides in the country (first being the London Underground). In just one week of January there were two bodies found and numerous searches for missing persons.

My arrival for shooting the lighthouse did not bode well as the air was full of fine rain and visibility was very poor. Only one other vehicle stood in the cliff top parking area and that was one of the 'Beachy Head Chaplaincy Team', Land Rovers. I spoke with them and sure enough they were currently searching for a 'missing person'. With warnings from a very concerned member of the team, I made my way to the cliff edge. A police helicopter was searching the area and below an RNLI lifeboat was scanning the beach, you can see the wake as it passed between the lighthouse and shore during my exposure.

The search was later called off without the individual being found.

500px • Website

Seaside heritage

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Mon, 11 Mar 2013 13:45:32 -0700

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

The pier at Eastbourne, exhibits the splendour of Victorian concept and Edwardian architecture (just a shame about the scaffolding on the mid section).
Once up for sale for some five million pounds, it was later taken off the market due to a highly successful year and remains one of the most popular of British piers.

500px • Website

The rig

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Thu, 07 Mar 2013 10:10:24 -0800

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

For the long exposure enthusiast, there are few times when a sky does not benefit from the effect that the ten stop can bring to the mood. But here, when this very gloomy sky developed a couple of openings the weak rays of light needed a standard exposure to be appreciated.

So, this image is a vertorama, a 1/10sec for the sky and a 180sec for the rest. Taken from the cliff tops near Beachy Head.

500px • Website

Belle Tout

nobody@flickr.com (Trevor Cotton) — Sun, 03 Mar 2013 03:17:26 -0800

Trevor Cotton posted a photo:

500px • Website