Monday 23 January 2012

Hartlepool Headland - Windy and cold, but bright


I took this one some while ago. I guess that this old lighthouse is of a similar construction to the metal lighthouse at Sunderland, with a cast iron frame and wrought iron cladding. I don't know its year of construction, but it was relocated to its present site during WW1.


A beautifully presented row of Georgian houses.


This gentleman had found a sheltered spot in the sun.


The Municipal Buildings and former market hall dating from 1865, a listed building designed by C. J. Adams. According to the public information notices, it was based upon a Bavarian theme.

Tuesday 17 January 2012

Lindisfarne

With sub zero temperatures but a clear blue sky, Holy Island looked near its best.


We had been listening to the debate about independence for Scotland while driving so it was appropriate that the cross of St Andrew should be in the sky! Judging by the ceramic plaques on either side of the doors, the building appears to have been an old lifeboat house, now used to store farm equipment.


The levels are well off in this shot, but I prefer the subdued low contrast look that seems to fit the scene.


The much photographed upturned boats that are used as sheds by the fishermen. Trying to avoid a cliche I went for an abstraction, but no doubt that's been done before too!


A study in blue, a freshly refurbished shed.


I saw this vehicle approaching while walking along an embankment, and, thinking that he would be coming my way, scrambled down to a lower level to grab a shot. However he turned off and I had to dash back up the slope and, without time to make any adjustments, take the photo. Sometimes you get lucky!


Well the classic view of the castle, could have done with a more dramatic sky, but you can only take what's there!


The lines of the old lime kilns point obligingly towards the castle.

Some of these photos are available for sale at Alamy

Canon 5DII 24-105L

Tuesday 3 January 2012

New year's Eve Ceilidh - Lanchester

Lanchester Wildlife Group organised this sell out event.

The room was too big to fill with flashlight so, for overall shots, I was forced to up the ISO and shoot without flash. Two different approaches, both using ISO 6400 and with the white balance tweaked during the RAW conversion in DPP.

1) Freeze the action 1/100th at f4 24mm


2) Allow some subject blur 1/25th at f9 again 24mm


I think that I prefer this one.

3) Using diffused flash for a closer shot ISO 1600 1/125 f8


At the halfway stage Appalachian step dancers, Step This Way, performed with local lad Colin Tipping playing the fiddle.


Canon 5DII 24-105L