Tag: B+W

A Mist Opportunity in Glastonbury

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rpphotographer

The opportunity for a January morning walk in the mist in Glastonbury. Everything still, muted and serene…

A mist opportunity - glastonburyInTheMist_7sq_BW image

The last series of images I took in mist were in Ely, Cambridgeshire in 2022. Boats in the Mist focussed upon narrowboats and river boats on the River Great Ouse; we were living aboard a narrowboat at the time. Now back on dry land, the location has changed dramatically but the mist always presents opportunities to abstract the world.

The above image was one I felt captured the moment. More images at murpworkschrome

rp
Peace and photography.

Another Misty Morning

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rpphotographer

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

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Another Misty Morning - Marina Boats in the Mist I image
Marina Boats in the Mist
murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Another Misty Morning - Boats in the Mist image
Boats in the Mist

Peace and photography

rp

A Flock of Swans

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rpphotographer

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

rp

Marina in the Mist

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rpphotographer

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

rp

Ely Cathedral

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rpphotographer

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

rp

The Old Boat Lift

rpphotographer
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

rp

Boat Lift Beam B+W

rpphotographer
murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Boat Lift Beam I BW image

I photographed the Boat Lift Beam in colour before but wanted to explore it a little more in B+W.

The lift is a fixed metal affair with straps that can lift a GRP cruiser, out of the River Great Ouse onto land in the marina. I assume it can lift narrowboats as well but haven’t seen it do this, as yet.

The last photo I took was of the light on the end of its beam, at night. I was pretty pleased with the result, especially its minimal aspect. Returning to photograph in B+W, I took a minimalist approach once again.

murpworkschrome - light on a lens - Boat Lift Beam II BW image

Wanting to explore the subject in a square format, I performed this on a second image in post, in Lightroom but this was just a trial, before going out with the camera set in square mode, to exclusively pursue this format.

Purposefully going out to shoot square, I believe will yield a better result but I was pleased with the crop. I’ve cropped a few images square recently and it’s definitely becoming a thing I think I might pursue.

The Boat Lift Beam in B+W proved to be one of my favourite current images. I have a few more images in mind, which will crop up later (no pun intended).

Full images at murpworkschrome.

Peace and photography

rp