East Ruston Old Vicarage Garden - Close Up, Macro & General Garden
Pillbox at Happisburgh. I tried to capture the movement of the crop. I Also tried moving the horizon & rule of thirds placing, to see which shot looked better. 1/1000 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 70mm
I used the arch as a framing device to focus the eye on the “tree” beyond. Unfortunately I did not compose the image correctly, as I have more of the arch visible on one side than the other. I changed the contrast, highlights/shadows, clarity & vibrance. I used the adjustment brush to reduce exposure on the arch. 1/60 sec - f5.6 - ISO 125 @ 25mm
I was trying to take a picture of the church through the peep hole in the hedge, when the couple walked into the frame. They were useful to add a sense of scale – then even better – the lady pointed at the church! The purple borders lead the eye towards the couple, & then the church, which gives a sense of directional movement through the image.
I changed the contrast, highlights/shadows, clarity & vibrance. I used the adjustment brush to improve the exposure & clarity on the couple & the church. 1/100 sec - f2.8 - ISO 100 @ 90mm
Not sure what this plant was – but attracted to the colour of the bloom against the green background. Taken at f2.8 to give a small area of sharpness, with reducing DoF throughout the rest of the image – giving the background a smooth green look. The shutter speed of 1/500 was not high enough the freeze the effect of the wind – but this does give the image a bit a motion blur & adds to the softness of the image. 1/500 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm
I love a path with soft overflowing planting spilling across the path edges. I sat down on the path to take the shot from a low angle. I focused the doorway at the end – I took several other shots, with the focus point on different plants on either side of the path. I changed the contrast, highlights/shadows, clarity & vibrance. I used the adjustment brush to improve the exposure on the couple path (which was too bright). 1/160 sec ~ f8 ~ ISO 160 ~ 90mm
The same path – taken in portrait orientation. I like how this shows the height of the borders & how it emphasises the route down the path – rather than focus on the planting. The path ends halfway across the frame. I also like the details on the top of the wall; & the bits of blue sky above the wall. 1/160 sec ~ f8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm
The day had mostly been cloudy, but suddenly the clouds cleared whilst I was shooting the giant yellow scabious. Yellow & blue are an extremely effective colour combination, so I took a few shots from a low angle to capture the blooms against the blue sky – I really need the cloud in the bottom right to have moved away though! I should have sat down on the path (again), to have had better control of my composition, & then I wouldn’t have had some blooms chopped off at the top of the image (& have avoided the cloud). 1/4000 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm
A (1:1 magnification) macro shot of a giant yellow scabious flower bud. I moved round the bud until I could get into the correct position to place the light behind the bud, to make best use of back lighting. As my aperture was only f2.8 the hairs on the bud are not sharp – but the back lighting gives a glow to the out of focus hairs. It’s not on a rule of thirds intersection, & I deliberately didn’t place it in the centre of the frame either; but it might look nice cropped to a 1:1 ratio. 1/640 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm
I liked the sweet peas; I thought they would look effective within a portrait orientation (as I hadn’t taken many with that orientation). I thought the colours were effective. 1/200 sec ~ f8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm
Just a quick shot, as although there were a lot of people in the garden, they were spread out & it never felt crowded. Suddenly a whole herd of people came streaming past – I watched for a bit – then thought I would grab a shot of the last of them striding off. 1/400 sec ~ f8 ~ ISO 125 ~ 90mm
I really liked poppy seed heads, as they can look quite sculptural – I could see that they were quite a way in front of some really nice coloured flowers, so though I would be able to use the separation to obtain some really nice background colours – whilst making the poppy heads really stand out with a wide aperture. This part of the garden was quite exposed, & therefore very windy. I should have increased my shutter speed to have frozen the seed head. 1/1000 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 125 ~ 90mm
Was attempting to focus of the lighthouse visible through the peephole in the perimeter planting, when this young lady strode into the scene & started walking towards the bench at the end.
I think that the image is pleasing, the different foliage, & different lighting on the foliage make a really interesting framing device. The eye is drawn to the foliage, down the hedges, to the young lady, the lighthouse & back to the young lady.
Of my non-macro / close up shoots this is one of my favourites.
I imported the image in Lightroom, & undertook some processing of the RAW file, including recovering detail from the shadows, & reducing exposure of lighthouse. 1/200 sec ~ f7.1 ~ ISO 125 ~ 210mm
I liked the clock tower & weather vane on one of the restaurant buildings. I liked the blue sky (& clouds) & how well the blue went with the weathered boards, flashing & the blue clock. I cropped the image to echo the shape of the clock tower. 1/640 sec ~ f6.3 ~ ISO 100 ~ 55mm
The restaurant room below the clock tower. I liked that the sculpture in the garden on the other side of the building was framed by both of the doors being open – so that you could look through the building to the sculpture (& beyond the sculpture into the garden). Whilst taking some shots the owners’ dog walked into the shot & sat down for a scratch – I managed to catch its attention, so that it looked up at me (briefly) – which gave an extra point of interest to the composition. I think it could have been better if taken with my 16-70 lens though, as I would have been able to include a bit more wall on the right hand-side for a better balance.
I had to make quite a few adjustments to this image, as the gravel, sculpture & foreground were very bright – but the interior of the building was too dark. 1/100 sec ~ f6.3 ~ ISO 100 ~ 55mm
On the part to the exit, spotted some black bamboo canes down a side path – I could see further down the path that some of the young shoots (canes) were back lit by the sun – making their green canes look at extraordinary neon/lime green, so I took a few shoots.
Shot at f2.8 – with the flexible spot focus point of the cane on the right hand side rules of thirds.
Quite pleased with this shot, although you can tell its bamboo, it was my most abstract image of the day. 1/160 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 1250 ~ 90mm
Don’t know what this flower is, but like them!
Set aperture at f4.5 (rather than my usual f2.8) to give more sharpness to more of the bloom (given its large & varied shape).
This part of the garden was shady (but not windy) so I upped the ISO to 500, but had a lower shutter speed than other more windy areas of the garden. 1/160 sec ~ f4.5 ~ ISO 500 ~ 90mm
Focused on just the top part of the (previous) flower – to capture the detail.
I liked the background colours too, so tried a portrait orientation to maximise the background colours in the top section of the image. 1/160 sec ~ f4.5 ~ ISO 800 ~ 90mm
My favourite shot of the day. I like the pastel colours of the flower & also within the smooth bokeh. I moved around whilst composing the shot to try and capture the best background colours - these were made up of a greenhouse roof & other dahlias. Taken at f2.8 to give small DoF on tiny section of flower. 1/2000 sec - f2.8 - ISO 100 @ 90mm
Black & White and Colour Pop
Sculpture in Wensum Lodge grounds. Thought it was a strong shape, with a “clean” background. On a rule of thirds line – but probably would have been better placed on the left hand 3rd line, rather than the right one. Shot at F4 to ensure background de-focused, to emphasise the sculpture. Cropped slightly to remove a plant on the right hand side. 1/ 800 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 38mm
Whelk Coppers Café – Sheringham. I liked the way the promenade wall had been painted (with large pebbles) to match the floor. The original colours were all of the same tonal range – which whilst all this relatively pastel – I thought would make a nice monochrome conversion. The original had the look of a painting, which seems even more pronounced in monochrome. Did consider a colour pop on the flowers too! Focus point at rear of frame, therefore some foreground blur. 1/1000 sec ~ f2.5 ~ ISO 100 ~ 50mm
Sheringham Ice Cream - an ice cream shop which included a sauce with the ice cream – which caught my eye (when I saw a man with a strawberry one). Daughter wanted butterscotch – so not such a strong colour – but I think still works well. Focus point on the ice cream, tried to get ice cream / mouth on a rules of thirds intersection. 1/320 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 70mm
St Peters Church, Sheringham - just liked the strong lines of this church carving, & though it would make a good monochrome conversion. Used my F1.8 50mm to shoot handheld in the lower light. 1/15 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 640 ~ 50mm
Purple Plant in Wensum Lodge Grounds. hought that the plant was delicate, but striking – with a “clean” background. Although not a really strong colour, I think the colour pop is still effective. 1/500 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 70mm
Fishing Boat, Sheringham - I spotted the row of boats on the shore, though the orange buoys would be good for a colour pop edit. Fought against my natural “neat” desire to shoot the boat “straight” within the frame, to create more diagonal lines (the boat, rope, net handles, the shingle & sea). Decide to only “pop” a couple of the buoys. 1/500 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 70mm
Fishing Boat, Sheringham - I spotted the row of boats on the shore, though the orange buoys would be good for a colour pop edit. Fought against my natural “neat” desire to shoot the boat “straight” within the frame, to create more diagonal lines (the boat, rope, net handles, the shingle & sea). Decide to only “pop” a couple of the buoys. 1/500 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 70mm
Whelk Coppers Café, Sheringham - the “hat” makes another appearance – on my daughter this time. In the original the colours were all of a similar palette, so I thought the colours of the hat band would work as a colour pop. The shape of the hat is echoed in the round wall post to the left of the hat, & then the buildings to the right – they all go upwards like a series of steps diagonally across the frame. 1/400 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 47mm
Whelk Coppers Café, Sheringham - the “hat” makes another appearance – on my daughter this time. In the original the colours were all of a similar palette, so I thought the colours of the hat band would work as a colour pop. The shape of the hat is echoed in the round wall post to the left of the hat, & then the buildings to the right – they all go upwards like a series of steps diagonally across the frame. 1/400 sec ~ f4 ~ ISO 100 ~ 47mm
Black & White - High Contrast
Bicycle Wheel Shadows, Wensum Lodge. I liked the shadows cast by a bicycle chained up in the car park; & thought it would suit a BW conversion & a crop into a square (1:1) ratio. The shadows cast by the bicycle frame are nice & strong, & are placed diagonally sweeping out of the frame. 1/ 640 sec ~ f4.5 ~ ISO 100 ~ 70mm ~ E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS
Pergola at Waterloo Park. I had this pergola in mind as a location, as I thought there would be some strong lines, diminishing perspective & given how hot & sunny it was some nice sharp shadows & lines. I really like how the central shadow on the floor goes straight down the middle to the end of the pergola. Probably should have placed husband further down the pergola – but was trying to catch some shadow lines on him too. 1/500 sec ~ f5 ~ ISO 100 ~ 41mm ~ E 16-70mm F4 ZA OSS
Steps & Squares. The pergola was casting some excellent crisp geometric patterns on some steps. I thought they made a strong graphic image.
They look ok in 1:1 ratio, but better in 3:2.
I choose f7.1 to achieve a decent level of sharpness – to suit the sharp lines. 1/400 sec ~ f7.1 ~ ISO 100 ~ 37mm ~ E 16-70 F4 ZA OSS
Pergola’s’ End. I thought that the end of the pergola would make a good shot – but it really didn’t!! My least successful image. 1/640 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm ~ FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS
Vashta Nerada. Finally found the right spot to make the most of the shadows! Really liked the strong shadows cast by the pillars, decided to place the husband in the gap between the pillars for an excellent man shadow! The lines repeat, & diminish through the frame, which is pleasing. For those that like the David Tennant era Dr Who, this made me think of the Vashta Nerada as soon as I saw it, lurking in the shadows ready to strip the flesh of those who strayed into the shadows. If you had two shadows yourself, it was too late – they had already got you!! 1/800 sec ~ f5 ~ ISO 100 ~ 39mm ~ E 16-70 F4 ZA OSS
Vashta Nerada II. Couldn't resist a tighter shot & a different pose. It’s lost the repeated columns, but the figure is “stronger”. 1/800 sec ~ f5 ~ ISO 100 ~ 65mm ~ E 16-70 F4 ZA OSS
Pavement below the Pergola. I liked the lines of the paving slabs overlaid with the shadows, of varying thickness cast by the pergola itself. I cropped the image to only contain the shadows (not the ends of them), & rotated the image so that they run diagonally through the square frame, to make it a bit more dynamic. 1/2500 sec ~ f2.8 ~ ISO 100 ~ 90mm ~ FE 90mm F2.8 Macro G OSS