Boscombe Pier

nobody@flickr.com (Andy Farrer) — Sun, 26 Feb 2012 02:15:52 -0800

I was running a one to one workshop today and one of the things we discussed as the day progressed is working with what you've got and adapting your technique as the light changes.

Earlier in the day as we decided on our sunset location we had looked hopefully at the heavy cloud, keen for it to break up enough for the setting sun to light it up. As you can see, the sky was clear of cloud at sunset, so we needed to change our tack and try to either find compositions which minimised sky or simply embrace the clear sky and break the norm.

I'll be the first to admit, I am not keen on clear skies as a rule. You'll not find many clear skies in my images. I love the drama of a good weather front or the delicate formations of a cirrus sky; however, what I liked about the sky tonight was that with the pier as a diagonal the actual transition of blue to yellow was interrupted and the impact of both colours seems more dramatic.

I use a polariser to beef put the blue and a 0.75 soft grad at about 45 degrees coming in from the top right hand side of the frame, to control the highlight area from the west. I also was using the 1.2ND to smooth out the water. When I had things as I wanted I still had some highlight clipping in the top area of the biggest arch, closest to the edge of the frame, so I left the camera on continuous shooting and waited for the clipped area to become correctly exposed.

Processing just took a few minutes in lightroom and no exposure blending required.

Under normal circumstances, had I looked out of the window I would probably not have even gone out with the camera cursing the lack of cloud. I shall think more carefully next time.

Worth viewing on Black (Press L)

The Morning Fisherman

nobody@flickr.com (Andy Farrer) — Mon, 04 Apr 2011 00:21:00 -0700

Andy Farrer posted a photo:

It was an almost cloudless morning despite the forecast. This was shot just before sunrise when the colours were still pretty subtle. It wet very contrast very soon after the sun poked over the horizon.

For those of you not familiar with the Dorset coast, this is Durlston Bay, with Peveril Point being the closest headland, Swanage Bay behind that and then Old Harry Rocks on the far side and the mouth to Poole Harbour and the skyline of Bournemouth on the horizon.

Please press L to view large on black.

© Andy Farrer 2011 | All rights reserved

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Boscombe Pier

The Morning Fisherman