Carrying a Camera in Derbyshire
Yesterday, we voyaged to the Derbyshire Peak District, and knowing that there can be a lot of dry, scrubby moorland I almost didn't take my camera. After eating in a tasty tea-room we traveled to Longshaw Estate. Architecturely eye catching, with it's cubic, node-like construction, the Hall looked out over stunning scenery and would probably have made a great photo, especially with such perfect lighting conditions. However, I struggle in bright sunlight always setting the shutter speed to low, the aperture too high and ending up with a white wash! I really need to learn how to take photos in bright sunlight. I managed to get an OK picture of Longshaw Hall, using some grass in front of it to focus on. I wanted to take a rare picture of a place that will have had films and films of photographs taken. I didn't think this was a very good shot so I won't upload it, but it goes to show that it's always good to carry a camera, so as moments like this are not missed.
The best photos were taken while we walked through the almost onomatopaeically-named Burbage Brook. This beautiful, refreshing stream runs through an ancient woodland, making gorgeously dynamic waterfalls as it tumbles over the gritstone boulders, worn smooth by centuries of water erosion. I've always wanted to get long exposure shots of water and this brook provides perfect conditions for it. The leafy canopy filtered the harsh sunlight away and provided an idyllic green glow to the logs, rocks and water below. The low light level also meant that, with a small aperture and ISO value set to 200, could get relatively long exposure times of between half a second and a second. This was perfect to capture the movement of the water falling off and crashing into the rocks.
They're nothing new, and they won't win me any awards at the Macclesfield Camera Club next year but I am really happy that I took my camera with me and got these shots. This is part of learning to be a photographer and one day I hope to be like the 'pros', staking out the wildlife in the forest, trying to get the best shot. I would not even have been able to practice if I had concluded it wasn't worth it to carry my camera with me and I would be no where nearer to becoming a developed (no pun intended) photographer.
I think my favourite shot of the day combines the long exposure of falling water; the green, mossy rocks; the browns and oranges of the warmth from the sun; and the natural, green light which floated down through the canopy.
I will definitely be taking me camera with me in the future. In the words of Forrest Gump "taking a camera wherever you go is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get".
The best photos were taken while we walked through the almost onomatopaeically-named Burbage Brook. This beautiful, refreshing stream runs through an ancient woodland, making gorgeously dynamic waterfalls as it tumbles over the gritstone boulders, worn smooth by centuries of water erosion. I've always wanted to get long exposure shots of water and this brook provides perfect conditions for it. The leafy canopy filtered the harsh sunlight away and provided an idyllic green glow to the logs, rocks and water below. The low light level also meant that, with a small aperture and ISO value set to 200, could get relatively long exposure times of between half a second and a second. This was perfect to capture the movement of the water falling off and crashing into the rocks.
They're nothing new, and they won't win me any awards at the Macclesfield Camera Club next year but I am really happy that I took my camera with me and got these shots. This is part of learning to be a photographer and one day I hope to be like the 'pros', staking out the wildlife in the forest, trying to get the best shot. I would not even have been able to practice if I had concluded it wasn't worth it to carry my camera with me and I would be no where nearer to becoming a developed (no pun intended) photographer.
I think my favourite shot of the day combines the long exposure of falling water; the green, mossy rocks; the browns and oranges of the warmth from the sun; and the natural, green light which floated down through the canopy.
I will definitely be taking me camera with me in the future. In the words of Forrest Gump "taking a camera wherever you go is like a box of chocolates. You never know what you're gonna get".
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