Black + White Archives - light on a lens

Following on from seeing the marina in the mist, another misty morning presented itself. This time, the mist was thick, as thick as fog in places. There is a distinct difference between the two as discussed here, but I will go with mist.

I love the indistinctness the mist brings. Images can be conjured out of the air. Objects loom or recede with a delicate fall-off that is difficult to replicate without it. There is mystery. I used both the Fujifilm X100V and the Fujifilm XPRO1 (with the 50mm f2 lens) and was very pleased with the images from both.

On my walk, I limited myself to the marina and the river Great Ouse around Waterside and along to the railway bridge, in Ely. The subjects of structures, trees and boats made great images. I was particularly pleased with several.

Here are some of the images taken for another misty morning, with the Fujifilm X100V. Find more at larger size, at murpwokschrome

Structures in the Mist

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Another Misty Morning - Boat Lift Mist I image — Boat Lift Mist I

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Bench image — Bench

Trees from a Misty Morning

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Another Misty Morning - Tree in the Mist I image — Tree in the Mist I

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Tree in the Mist image — Tree in the Mist

Boats in the Mist

Peace and photography

A Flock of Swans

Black + White, Colour, Fujifilm X100V, Nature

rpphotographer13th April 202213th April 2022

Since moving to what can be considered the side of the river Great Ouse (I’m in a marina, just off the river), I’ve seen swans. Every day, a flock of swans appear by the slipway at Waterside (though in truth, there are only a handful). They are there, waiting for tourists to feed them. The feeders are rewarded with waddling hulks of bird within arms length. Occasionally, a glide by in the river itself.

So, I’ve bee trying to capture the essence of a swan in a photograph. It’s early days yet but some of my attempts are up on murpworkschrome.

I initially started photographing in colour but I feel my best effort so far has been in B+W. See what you think, I’m posting the best image from several separate attempts here.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - — Taken from my first attempt in Swan 2022 at murpworkschrome – I feel colour works here

From Swan I 2022 at murpworkschrome – Colour but maybe B+W would have been better to ‘abstract’ the shape

Swapping to black and white from Swan 2022 at murpworkschrome – B+W and beautiful but the top of the image distracts

The latest from Single Swan 2022 at murpworkschrome – B+W and getting there…

I’ll keep on the look out for a flock of swans in future, whilst trying to capture the essence of these magnificent birds.

Peace and photography

Marina in the Mist

Black + White, Fujifilm XPRO1, Landscape

rpphotographer10th April 202210th April 2022

A first real treat of the experiencing the marina in the mist here in Ely. It took me straight back to A Misty Morning used in the Contact Card post. There was an ethereal feel, just like before. I find I really like the indistinct. I think it’s the idea that a thing has the possibility be something else. There is mystery.

From a photographic perspective, it provides great opportunities for mood. The autofocus hunts at times, depending upon the thickness of the mist or fog but it worked in most cases. Manually focussing is always a solution.

I was using my newly obtained, old Fujifilm XPRO1 with its new 50mm lens. It captured the images in black and white just how I wanted them to be.

Here’s one of four photographs I took

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Mist on the Marina - Marina in the Mist III B+W image

See the marina in the mist photo’s at murpworkschrome.

Peace and photography

In the Flat Field

Black + White, Fujifilm XPRO1, Landscape

rpphotographer7th April 20227th April 2022

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - In the Flat Field - Field I image

In the flat field in Cambridgeshire. I now live in a remarkably flat area of the country. This image was taken looking out toward Queen Adelaide. Looking out across the land, it made me think of Bauhaus

“I do get bored, I get bored…” (Bauhaus)

Head over to murpworkschrome to see an ever so slightly different take in Field II

Peace and photography

Morning Coffee

Black + White, Fujifilm X100V, Urban

rpphotographer4th April 20224th April 2022

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Morning Coffee - Silver Oak Coffee I image

I love tea but each morning, I climb the hill from Waterside to Market Square for coffee. On each day of the week, come rain or shine, the large black trailer from Silver Oak Coffee is stationed in the square. All except Monday’s that is. However, there is a solution to Mondays…

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Morning Coffee - The Bagel Bar - table and chairs I image

The Bagel Bar is open and selling Silver Oak Coffee coffee.

It’s the start to my day…

Peace and photography

Cawdle Fen

Black + White, Fujifilm X100V, Landscape, Nature

rpphotographer23rd March 202223rd March 2022

A short walk to Cawdle Fen on the 4th March 2022.

Cawdle Fen is situated just outside of the city of Ely. It is a drainage board for the surrounding area, taking rainwater from the higher area, into the river Great Ouse.

This was a first walk I took, in which to photograph. It had been raining slightly and this provided a doomy, moody feel.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Between Two Boats image — Between Two Boats

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Fence image — “You’re Going the Wrong Way!”

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Cawdle Fen - A Cut in the Landscape image — A Cut in the Landscape

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Cawdle Fen - The Curve image — The Curve

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Tracks image — Tracks

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Cawdle Fen - To the Bridge image — To the Bridge

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Cawdle Fen - Passing... image — Passing…

I’ve added the best images of this day to murpworkschrome here and here.

Peace and photography

Ely Cathedral

Architecture, Black + White, Fujifilm X100V

rpphotographer20th March 202220th March 2022

Ely is famous for several things but one of the main ones is: its cathedral.

Founded in 672, it stands atop a hill in the flat landscape of Cambridgeshire. It has been likened to a ship: The Ship of the Fens. I see it every day and it stone pervades any walk I take around the small city.

Initially, I photographed in the cathedral in colour. This is my second attempt at capturing something of the majesty of the building, this time in black and white.

The following photograph was taken on a walk, back from the garage (had to take the car in for some work) and it’s the one I really like.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Ely Cathedral V image

Go to murpworkschrome to see further images of the walk’s Ely cathedral.

Peace and photography

The Old Boat Lift

Black + White

rpphotographer16th March 202216th March 2022

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - The Old Boat Lift - Old Boat Lift V sml image

A lot of boats of varying sizes can be found on the river Great Ouse. The river is serviced by the Cathedral Marina, Waterside in Ely. It provides the facility to lift boats out of the water and does this via a boat lift. It is basically a metal frame, with straps that can be placed underneath a boat, and the boat lifted out of the water.

The marina has a fixed boat lift that faces onto the Great Ouse. However, around the back, it has an older, movable lift. This is (or was) basically a large wheeled crane, which presumably used similar straps to the fixed boat lift.

It sits out of the way and provides a looming presence but one of old power, waning…

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - The Old Boat Lift - Old Boat Lift V image

Go to murpworkschrome for three further images.

Peace and photography

The Bagel Bar

Black + White, Colour, Fujifilm X100V, Urban

rpphotographer13th March 202213th March 2022

The Bagel Bar at Buttermarket, Ely was one of the first places we saw when mu and I first visited the city. Not only does it sell an excellent range of bagels but it is one of the homes of Silver Oak Coffee. Came for the bagel, stayed for the coffee.

My first image of The place, taken on 01-02-2022 captured it nicely lit by the early morning sun. It was in colour, using Fujifilm’s Classic Chrome.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - The Bagel Bar image

I returned 23-02-2022 and captured it once again, early in the morning but this time in B+W which seemed to do it a little more justice.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - The Bagel Bar I BW image

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - The Bagel Bar II BW image

01-03-2022 it was raining, and The Bagel Bar was closed but the chrome seating looked inviting – to photograph

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Chairs II BW image

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Chairs III BW image

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Chairs V BW image

Another visit on 08-03-2022, the latest, this time in colour and in the sun. Photographed purposefully using a square aspect ratio.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - The Bagel Bar - in the sun image

And then continuing on in black and white

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Table and Chairs image

I’m sure there will be more in the future…

Peace and photography

Corridors in Black and White

Architecture, Black + White

rpphotographer6th March 20226th March 2022

Corridors in Black and White initially started out with the idea of a series of photographs of corridors, in colour. It started here. However, it became apparent that some just worked better in black and white. So, under the monochrome stream, Corridors BW has started.

Both have a long way to go before I’ll be really happy with either of them. I feel they are pretty perfunctory so far. But, I’m showing my working out as it were as I think it will help me along the way.

This image is starting to get to somewhere near what I envisioned

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Corridors in Black and White image

Peace and photography