Northumberland Photography Course Day 1
03rd April 2017
The long drive from Blubberhouses, near Harrogate, was contemplative but uneventful. Leaving after breakfast, and a farewell visit to the lambing sheds, thoughts about the forthcoming few days were prominent in my mind. Would I get on with the other photographers? Would they all have vastly superior kit and knowledge, compared to me? Would that matter? Considering my last course was in 2012, would I remember everything I learnt there? Would I be able to come away with a significant number of good photographs, that would make the trip worthwhile?
The tiny village of Bamburgh was delightful, with a few hotels, shops, tea houses and a butcher selling Bamburgh bangers. The dominating sight was, of course, the castle at the end of the main road - high on the hillside, offering views of the village and beyond. The nerves kicked in again - what if I failed to leave with a good photograph of this amazing sight?
At half past four we all met up, and set off for the first sunset shoot. There wasn't much time to get to know each other on the journey, as it was only a couple of minutes but I quickly established that none of the others were mass murderers - so I relaxed into the first task.
The evening was a nice, gentle introduction, where I was able to get back into using the filters and surveying the scene and surroundings for the best composition. Gary moved between the four of us, offering whatever advice we required to improve our images. The evening shoot, standing on the seaweed covered rocks, with the beach between them and the castle in the background, proved to be an excellent exercise in composition. There should be enough but not too much black seaweed in shot; we should move around until the image contains interesting lines that guide you through the scene to the castle; the castle doesn't have to be in the centre of the image.
Bamburgh Castle at Sunset
f/13; 1/40 sec; ISO 100
With the tide quickly advancing up the beach, a swift exit was made across the rocks and up the dune to the van. Dinner on the first night was excellent, as it was every night, and allowed for a great opportunity to get to know each other before meeting before the crack of dawn for the start of Day 2.
Lightscapes Photography
Northumberland Workshop, April 2017
Gary Groucutt
www.garygroucutt.com
The tiny village of Bamburgh was delightful, with a few hotels, shops, tea houses and a butcher selling Bamburgh bangers. The dominating sight was, of course, the castle at the end of the main road - high on the hillside, offering views of the village and beyond. The nerves kicked in again - what if I failed to leave with a good photograph of this amazing sight?
At half past four we all met up, and set off for the first sunset shoot. There wasn't much time to get to know each other on the journey, as it was only a couple of minutes but I quickly established that none of the others were mass murderers - so I relaxed into the first task.
The evening was a nice, gentle introduction, where I was able to get back into using the filters and surveying the scene and surroundings for the best composition. Gary moved between the four of us, offering whatever advice we required to improve our images. The evening shoot, standing on the seaweed covered rocks, with the beach between them and the castle in the background, proved to be an excellent exercise in composition. There should be enough but not too much black seaweed in shot; we should move around until the image contains interesting lines that guide you through the scene to the castle; the castle doesn't have to be in the centre of the image.
Bamburgh Castle at Sunset
f/13; 1/40 sec; ISO 100
With the tide quickly advancing up the beach, a swift exit was made across the rocks and up the dune to the van. Dinner on the first night was excellent, as it was every night, and allowed for a great opportunity to get to know each other before meeting before the crack of dawn for the start of Day 2.
Lightscapes Photography
Northumberland Workshop, April 2017
Gary Groucutt
www.garygroucutt.com