alan frost photography

‘People and Places’ at Glorious Goodwood

The end of July/beginning of August is traditionally the time for one of the most famous race meetings in the country – Glorious Goodwood. Situated on The South Downs the race course enjoys wonderful views of the countryside to the north and to the south, distant views of the sea and even the Isle of Wight on a clear day. I am not a seasoned race goer and definitely not a gambler buts its hard to resist the allure of Glorious Goodwood which attracts the famous, the not so famous and those that are simply there to win some money or have a good day out.

My reason for going this year was as part of a ‘People and Places’ photography course I was attending at West Dean College which is just down the road from Goodwood. I would thoroughly recommend West Dean College to anyone interested in an arts or crafts course held in a beautiful house set in quite superb grounds. The course was being run by Jacqui Hurst and in addition to myself there were five other participants. I will say more about Jacqui and the course in a forthcoming post.

At the outset of the week I set myself the objective of ‘seeing’ in black and white. We had to produce a portfolio of work by the end of the course, so however good some of the images might appear in colour the final selection would all have to be in monochrome. At Glorious Goodwood I wanted to capture the atmosphere of the place and its people, and whilst we were not in the ‘posh’ Richmond or Gordon Enclosures, the Lennox Enclosure would provide just as many photo opportunities.

I should just mention that a couple of weeks before attending the course I made the decision to buy the Olympus OMD EM5 with the 12mm to 50mm kit lens. The body and lens are weather sealed and having enjoyed the E-PL3 so much together with the three prime lens (12mm, 20mm and 45mm) I couldn’t wait to see how this new camera performed. Being on a photography course for a week was the ideal opportunity to find out. I can tell you now, I was not disappointed, to the contrary the results are quite fantastic and I am now wondering when the Nikon D90 DSLR will get its next airing?

Here are a selection of the images taken at Goodwood. They were all taken with the OMD and one of the prime lenses. Shot in RAW, imported into Lightroom with minor adjustments before converting to black and white in Silver Efex Pro2; a dedicated B&W plugin by Nik Software.

Racing to the line
Olympus OMD 20mm f8 1/500 ISO 200

Required reading for the day – The Racing Post

Olympus OMD 45mm f1.8 1/2000 ISO200

Watching the race

Olympus OMD 45mm f1.8 1/1600 ISO200

A family day out……could that be the winner of the next race?

Olympus OMD 45mm f3.2 1/2500 ISO400

Lining up to place a bet…..I’m happy with those odds

Olympus OMD 45 f3.2 1/640 ISO200

Typical headgear at Goodwood

Olympus OMD 45mm f3.2 1/1600 ISO200

Losing her shoe and losing her balance

Olympus OMD 45mm f4.5 1/200 ISO200

Fingers or fork?

Olympus OMD 45mm f1.8 1/2000 ISO200

Candid portrait
Olympus OMD 45mm f1.8 at f1.8 1/160 ISO 400

A day out at the races – fun for all the family!

Olympus OMD 45mm f4.5 1/800 ISO200

Entertainment from a steel band

Olympus OMD 20mm f8 1/125 ISO200

A band called Squinty McGinty play feet tapping music in the beer tent

Olympus OMD 45mm f1.8 1/160 ISO400

……and Goodwood wouldn’t be the same without a Rolls Royce in the car park.

Olympus OMD 45mm f7.1 1/200 ISO400

Festival of Speed 2012 – The Last Post

This is the third and last entry about the Goodwood Festival of Speed which took place at the end of July this year. The two earlier entries were about the Art of Design and The People respectively. This entry completes the series and is simply intended to show an overall picture of the event. There is no particular theme other than trying to capture the true essence of this remarkable event which draws thousands of spectators every year.

None of these images would win a photographic competition, but they were not taken for that reason. They are a record of the event itself which I enjoy visiting as often as can. It allows me to combine my interest in photography with my love of motor cars.

In a couple of weeks time I will be at the Goodwood Revival Meeting so expect some more images from that event but in the meantime here is my final selection of shots from the Festival of Speed.

Above each image I have added a short description and my customary Exif data. All the shots were taken with either a Nikon D90 or Olympus E -PL3.

…………………..

The custom built display which is constructed on the front lawn of Goodwood House every year is always something special and can often be seen from miles around. This year the theme of the display celebrated Lotus racing cars through the years.
Nikon D90 35mm f6.3 1/1250 ISO200

Early on Friday morning The Earl of March gave his opening address and the Festival of Speed comes to life. This shot was taken shortly before he introduced Alain Prost.

Olympus E-PL3 45mm f2.8 1/500 ISO200

One person who is sure to attract the crowds is Lewis Hamilton. Here he is at the wheel of his McLaren MP4 – 26 Formula One car.
Nikon D90 70 to 300mm at 70mm f10 1/125 ISO160

Lewis Hamilton st the wheel of his Mclaren MP4-26

The Forest Rally Stage at the top of the hill climb is a great circuit and provides plenty of photo opportunities.
Olympus E-PL3 45mm f13 1/320 ISO 200

The Skoda Fabia S2000 (above and below) makes its start. Cameras and flying dust are not a good mix, so after the shot is taken the camera is quickly hidden away!
Olympus E-PL3 45mm f6.3 1/1250 ISO200

The Festival of Speed is not just about powered vehicles. This high flying BMX biker comfortably clears the high jump……..and it yes it was high, very high. He also landed safely.
Nikon D90 70 to 300mm at 102mm f7.1 1/500 ISO200

As well as the Lotus display there was another impressive ‘work of art’ by the rally stage. A ‘Stonehenge’ made up of several arches formed by scrap cars. Here taken with the ‘Goodwood Eye’ in the background.
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f7.1 1/800 ISO200

There is always merchandise for sale. Far from being an official stall holder here a speculative trader was displaying his rather expensive books (or I thought so anyway). There was definitely no money in the hat!
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f5.6 1/160 ISO 200

I thought this car looked superb. Its the Audi R18 e-tron Quattro which won the 24 hour race at Le Mans back in June.
Nikon D90 70 to 300mm at 70mm f14 1/125 ISO160

……and a windscreen detail of the same car below after a rain shower.
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f5.6 1/1000 ISO200

Wandering the pits also provides some interesting shots as these next two images illustrate.
Olympus E-PL3 20mm f1.7 1/320 ISO200

Tyres, cars and crowds walk by in the pits. The wonderful thing about this event is the free access the public have to get really close to the cars, their drivers and the mechanics.
Nikon D90 35mm f3.2 1/250 ISO200

…….and finally one of many stars of the show…….can you tell what it is yet?(!)
Nikon D90 35mm f5 1/160 ISO200

One famous number plate, one very famous car

……..and if you need another clue?
Nikon D90 35mm f5 1/500 ISO200

I’ve photographed this magnificent piece of machinery on so many occasions but I still cant resist taking just one more. The Ferrari 250 GTO. No more to be said.
Olympus E-PL3 45mm f4.5 1/250 ISO200

So that completes my three part series about the Goodwood Festival of Speed 2012. Doubtless I will back again next year.

I thoroughly enjoyed the combination of the E-PL3 and the prime lens. Not once did I use its kit lens, and the quality of the images I achieved compared very favourably with the Nikon D90. This post is though about the results and not the camera gear I was using but its an interesting observation all the same.

Festival of Speed – The People

This is the second post relating to the Goodwood Festival of Speed. It’s been a busy summer so it has taken me a while to complete this entry and there may still be one more to come!

This event is wonderful for its cars but also for the people who drive them or indeed simply spectate. Hopefully these images give a flavour of ‘the people’ at Goodwood.

Its twenty years since the Festival of Speed came to Goodwood, courtesy of the Earl of March. It’s grown and grown, year on year, but one person who has regularly been invited but never come, made his debut appearance on this occasion – Alain Prost or ‘The ‘Professor’, the great Formula One champion of days gone by.

Alain Prost and the Earl of March
Olympus E PL3 45mm f2.5 1/400 ISO 200

Rally Driver
Olympus E PL3 45mm f4.5 1/100 ISO 200

My turn soon……
Olympus E PL3 45mm f 2.0 1/320 ISO 20

No power steering……or silencers!
Olympus E PL3 45mm f2.0 1/320 ISO 200

It’s behind you!
Nikon D90 35mm f8.0 1/250 ISO 200

Father and son
Nikon D90 35mm f6.3 1/250 ISO 200

Having a break
Nikon D90 35mm f4.5 1/250 ISO 200

Penelope Pitsop
Nikon D90 35mm f8.0 1/320 ISO 200

Top Gear – not so popular these days?
Nikon D90 125mm f5.0 1/500 ISO 200

First exhibition

Its sounds rather grand, it wasn’t at all really, but on Saturday 11th August I staged my first and modest exhibition of photographs at the Bizarre Bazaar in the grounds of Fishbourne Church, near Chichester. Any profits (I should be so lucky) would be donated to The St Peter Project (A new church hall for Fishbourne and the wider community – www.stpeterproject.org). I gave a lot of thought to the images I wanted to include. I felt the work should have a broad appeal but also showcase my eclectic tastes. The only thing I did want to do was major on black and white, as this is my preferred style at the moment. The only two prints which were in colour were deliberately chosen as these directly related to Fishbourne Church, so were more likely to appeal to those attending the event.

Prior to the event I built a large stand or easel which would display eleven 20″ x 16″ framed prints, in landscape and portrait format. On the evening before I was still cuttings mounts and framing. I shouldn’t have left it until the last minute but having only recently returned from a week’s photography course at West Dean, time was limited.

As well as receiving a number of favourable comments, I was delighted to sell five prints which was five times as many as I had expected. Its strange to think that people have now parted with their hard earned money to display my work on their wall at home. As and when opportunities arise it has certainly given me the confidence to stage other exhibitions of my work…..particularly if the profits can go to a good cause. It has also made me realise that I need to press on with my own website which will incorporate this blog.

Below are the images I displayed.

Firstly four landscapes.

Sand Waves on the Isle of Eigg
Nikon D90 10-24mm @ 10mm f11 6 seconds ISO 100

Ploughed Field – Fishbourne Meadows
Olympus E PL3 20mm f1.7 @ f10 1/200 ISO 200

Sea Swirl on the Isle of Eigg

Nikon D90 16 – 85mm @ 28mm f8 1.6 seconds ISO 100

Welsh track
Lumix LX3 12.8mm f5.6 1/800 ISO 100

Secondly a couple of people shots

Gardener at West Dean Gardens
Olympus EM5 450mm f1.8 at f10 1/400 ISO 200

Candid portrait
Olympus EM5 45mm f1.8 at f1.8 1/160 ISO 400

Thirdly a couple of motor sport shots

Lotus JPS 72 forming part of sculpture at Goodwood Festival of speed
Olympus E PL3 20mm f1.7 at f7.1 1/1600 ISO 200

Ferrari 250 GTO – Goodwood Revival
Nikon D90 70 – 300mm @ 300mm f10 1/640 ISO 640

……..and finally three shots associated with Fishbourne Church

Fishbourne Church in the snow
Nikon D90 16 – 85mm @16mm f4 1/30 ISO 400

Still life taken inside Fishbourne Church
Nikon D90 16 – 85mm @ 28mm f22 8 seconds ISO 200

Stained glass window in Fishbourne Church
Nikon D90 16 – 85mm @ 72mm f5.6 1/160 ISO 400

Now that I have included the exif data for each image, I realise that this selection has at least one or more photographs taken using every camera I have used in the past three years since my interest in photography really started. This was not deliberate and it does of course confirm that a good photograph can be taken with any camera. They are not great images but they give me pleasure as I hope they did when people visited my stand.

Olympic Torch in Bognor Regis

16th July 2012 and the Olympic Torch arrives in the seaside town of Bognor Regis, West Sussex. Despite the prospect of rain the crowds turned out of force to line the High Street. The public gathered and waited; the torch bearer getting closer and closer, and so the rain came too and got harder and harder. What a summer! Union Jacks matched umbrellas in number as the torch finally came into sight. The crowd cheered, waved and I stood on a small set of steps, Olympus E PL3 in hand with the Lumix 20mm ready for the flame, still alight – well just.

The whole occasion was a great photo opportunity. The people of Bognor, colour and the sense of anticipation were very evident. I like street photography and this gave me some shots I enjoy. I hope you will enjoy them as well.

Olympic Torch bearer braves the elements

He’s here at last and everyone is soaking wet but enjoying themselves.

Olympus E PL3 20mm f1.7 at f3.5 1/320 ISO 320

Olympic Torch bearer braves the elements

Union Jacks for sale

Selling Union Jacks on the streets of Bognor Regis as the crowd get ready to greet the Olympic Torch Parade. Oh what a happy occasion!

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f4 1/160 ISO 200

The warm up act

The band play rock to entertain the growing crowd in Bognor Regis. The torch bearer is coming!

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f2.5 1/400 ISO 200

GB forever!

A patriotic lady has come fully prepared to enjoy this once in a lifetime event.

The Olympics grab the heart of the nation.

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f2.5 1/1600 ISO 200

No its not Christmas, but people arriving for the Olympic procession

It could only be Bognor Regis…….

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f2.8 1/250 ISO 200

Union Jacks for sale

C’mon buy a Union Jack……..it will make us both happy!

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f2.8 1/640 ISO 200

Will the torch be here soon?

It won’t be long now, we’ll wave our flag and then get a movie for you to watch.

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f3.2 1/160 ISO 200

Waving the flag outside Henry Adams

An estate agent joins in the with the spirit of the event.

Olympus E PL3 12mm f2 at f2.5 1/250 ISO 200

Union Jacks everywhere

This time they have a practical purpose as this couple shelter from the rain.

Olympus E PL3 20mm f1.7 at f2.8 1/250 ISO 200

The flame stays alight

The crowd are loving this; smiles, applause, cheering and waving – if only the sun was shining.

Olympus E PL3 20mm f1.7 at f3.5 1/320 ISO 320

The torch moves on

All over so quickly. An hour or more of patiently waiting as the heavens open and the Olympic torch heads towards its next destination.

Olympus E PL3 20mm f1.7 at f4.5 1/320 ISO 320

Apart from the photos of the torch bearer all the images were captured using the E PL3 and the Olympus 12mm prime lens. So sharp and fast, ideal for the conditions. It also allowed me to get quite close to my subject which is always necessary in a crowded situation.

This type of situation again made me start to think about my camera of choice for the future. The Olympus OMD EM5 would make great use of the prime lenses I already have and if purchased with the standard 12mm to 50mm kit lens, it would offer a weather proof option with even better quality than the E PL3. It would be ideal for situations like these, but then the E PL3 does a pretty good job already. It can be a little difficult to grip at times and the controls are fiddly and easily changed unknowingly but the results are very good for a small and discreet camera. Alternatively do I really push the boat out and just trade in the Nikon DSLR gear and buy the new Canon 5D MkIII with a selection of L lenses? Full frame, great quality images and just about every feature I could ever want. A tough decision, so I shall continue to dither and for now I will just enjoy the images from today.