Tag: Ely

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

Cawdle Fen

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rpphotographer

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

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

The Bagel Bar

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rpphotographer

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

rp

Corridors in Black and White

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rpphotographer

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

rp

Ely Cathedral Photograph

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rpphotographer

My Ely cathedral photograph – the cathedral must have been photographed millions if not multiple millions of times, like many other sites of interest; in Britain and around the world. So, with that said, how do you take a photograph and make the subject look different, or fresh or up to date?

I approached this from the perspective of, a forced perspective.

murpworkschrome - Ely Cathedral - Ely Cathedral I image
Taken with Fujifilm X100V using Classic Chrome film simulation (post-processed)

The cathedral is imposing and one thing that people do when they visit is look up. Driving toward Ely, the cathedral presents itself, in its entirety but from a distance, its true nature is not revealed. It’s only when up close that the vast stone building shows its splendour. However, up close when having approached from High Street, the human eye cannot take in the whole. And, while the walls of cream stone are interesting, especially as some have stood since 672 AD, looking up to one of the two towers is a natural thing to do.

So, I’ve added to the millions of photos of another site of interest. I like to think my Ely cathedral photograph of the West Tower as a positive addition.

murpworkschrome - Ely Cathedral - Ely Cathedral II image

Peace and photography

rp