Northumberland Photography Course Day 2
04th April 2017
The schedule for the course included "dawn shoots". As sunrise was at about half past six, this meant for a meet up time of six o'clock, and a wake up time of half past five, which allowed sufficient time to shower and put on the required number of layers. The plan was to go to the same spot as the previous night, to capture the castle and beach at sunrise. Using the guidance provided for the sunset shoot, we quickly were able to get into position and set-up in time to get some photographs before the sun rose.
Bamburgh Castle and the Beach at Sunrise
f/16; 0.6 sec; ISO 100
Once we were all satisfied with our shots, we clambered back to the van and were taken a little way back along to road, closer to the castle. We got out and walked into the dunes, where we were presented with a different viewpoint of the castle at sunrise. It was tricky finding a spot where the foreground interest of the grasses was present, but not obstructive to the castle, or too dominating. Capturing the right amount of light, and the movement of the grasses was also important - and we all seemed pleased to come away with an alternative dawn shot of the castle.
Bamburgh Castle through the Dunes at Sunrise
f/16; 0.15 sec; ISO 100
After a carb and protein packed breakfast back at the hotel, we met up again at half past ten and headed about an hour south to Whitley Bay, to photograph St Mary's lighthouse. With the lighthouse being on a little island at the end of a short causeway, and two bays either side, the best composition didn't seem obvious. Often the best composition can be subjective, and I like to spend time thinking about whether I'd like the photograph printed and hung on my wall. If the answer is no, then I move on. After moving on several times, I liked the texture on some of the large rocks in the foreground, but the sea was proving too distracting. So I decided to use the 10 stopper to see if it calmed the sea and provided more contrast against the rocks. The midday sun was very harsh, but did mean the reflection of the lighthouse was visible across the bay, and this became more noticeable with the long exposure. The photograph was converted to black and white in post production.
St Mary's Lighthouse Long Exposure
f/16; 30 sec; ISO 100
Upon making my way back to the rest of the group, I found them closer to the lighthouse, capturing the building reflected in a small pool of water as the tide receded. With the sky so blue, I was told that this would work well converted to black and white, so I got down low in the puddle and took a few photographs, before the water completely disappeared. I converted the best image to black and white, and of course it does look great.
St Mary's Lighthouse Reflection
f/8; 1/200 sec; ISO 100
After the morning's work, we'd developed quite an appetite and were taken to Barter Books at Alnwick railway station for a quick lunch. This was an amazing book shop, with a very good cafe - but there was no time to be tourists, we had some serious photographing to do.
The next stop was just outside the village of Embleton, to photograph Dunstanburgh Castle from the north. After a half mile walk across the golf course, we arrived on the rocky beach where we would be located for the next few hours. The large boulders were not easy to walk on, and seemed as though they would be rather unforgiving should one fall and drop a tripod and camera. So, taking it steady we all made it safely to good spots. We needed some big boulders as foreground interest, and the sun on the castle in the background. The sun was going in and out of the clouds, so I moved further down the beach to the water's edge. This was where I was able to take my best photograph, as the lighting was good on the castle and on the boulders. This was a lovely location and we were the only people there.
Dunstanburgh Castle
f/16; 1/20 sec; ISO 100
We stayed later than we probably should have, considering the drive back to the hotel. Nevertheless, we weren't too late for dinner and once again enjoyed good food, whilst discussing the day's photography.
Lightscapes Photography
Northumberland Workshop, April 2017
Gary Groucutt
www.garygroucutt.com
Bamburgh Castle and the Beach at Sunrise
f/16; 0.6 sec; ISO 100
Once we were all satisfied with our shots, we clambered back to the van and were taken a little way back along to road, closer to the castle. We got out and walked into the dunes, where we were presented with a different viewpoint of the castle at sunrise. It was tricky finding a spot where the foreground interest of the grasses was present, but not obstructive to the castle, or too dominating. Capturing the right amount of light, and the movement of the grasses was also important - and we all seemed pleased to come away with an alternative dawn shot of the castle.
Bamburgh Castle through the Dunes at Sunrise
f/16; 0.15 sec; ISO 100
After a carb and protein packed breakfast back at the hotel, we met up again at half past ten and headed about an hour south to Whitley Bay, to photograph St Mary's lighthouse. With the lighthouse being on a little island at the end of a short causeway, and two bays either side, the best composition didn't seem obvious. Often the best composition can be subjective, and I like to spend time thinking about whether I'd like the photograph printed and hung on my wall. If the answer is no, then I move on. After moving on several times, I liked the texture on some of the large rocks in the foreground, but the sea was proving too distracting. So I decided to use the 10 stopper to see if it calmed the sea and provided more contrast against the rocks. The midday sun was very harsh, but did mean the reflection of the lighthouse was visible across the bay, and this became more noticeable with the long exposure. The photograph was converted to black and white in post production.
St Mary's Lighthouse Long Exposure
f/16; 30 sec; ISO 100
Upon making my way back to the rest of the group, I found them closer to the lighthouse, capturing the building reflected in a small pool of water as the tide receded. With the sky so blue, I was told that this would work well converted to black and white, so I got down low in the puddle and took a few photographs, before the water completely disappeared. I converted the best image to black and white, and of course it does look great.
St Mary's Lighthouse Reflection
f/8; 1/200 sec; ISO 100
After the morning's work, we'd developed quite an appetite and were taken to Barter Books at Alnwick railway station for a quick lunch. This was an amazing book shop, with a very good cafe - but there was no time to be tourists, we had some serious photographing to do.
The next stop was just outside the village of Embleton, to photograph Dunstanburgh Castle from the north. After a half mile walk across the golf course, we arrived on the rocky beach where we would be located for the next few hours. The large boulders were not easy to walk on, and seemed as though they would be rather unforgiving should one fall and drop a tripod and camera. So, taking it steady we all made it safely to good spots. We needed some big boulders as foreground interest, and the sun on the castle in the background. The sun was going in and out of the clouds, so I moved further down the beach to the water's edge. This was where I was able to take my best photograph, as the lighting was good on the castle and on the boulders. This was a lovely location and we were the only people there.
Dunstanburgh Castle
f/16; 1/20 sec; ISO 100
We stayed later than we probably should have, considering the drive back to the hotel. Nevertheless, we weren't too late for dinner and once again enjoyed good food, whilst discussing the day's photography.
Lightscapes Photography
Northumberland Workshop, April 2017
Gary Groucutt
www.garygroucutt.com