alan frost photography

Lake District – A new gallery page

In February 2013 I stayed in The Lake District for a few days in the company of Paul Gallagher, a very well renowned black and white UK photographer. I spent three days in the field, followed by a fourth day in his studio learning post processing and printing techniques.

We were fortunate with the weather given the time of year. It was cold but dry and there were some snow capped mountains, not to mention of course the beautiful lakes themselves.

I have just added a new gallery of Lake District images to this website. In this entry there are a few photographs which were taken on this trip but I hope you will click on the link below to view the full gallery.

Lake District Gallery Page.

Here are some links to some older entries which relate to my time in The Lake District.

Lake District 121 with Paul Gallagher

Lake District 121 – camera technique at Wasdale Head

Lake District 121 – using filters

Lake District 121 – Post Processing

Lake District 121 – pre-visualisation and post processing techniques

I will lift up mine eyes unto the hills….

Do click on any of the images in this post to view a larger version in a new window.

Or click here for the Lake District Gallery Page.

Kissing gate – a different journey perhaps?

Kissing gate

The early evening sun finds a gap in the hedgerow and casts it light on the kissing gate.

A simple physical interruption to a country path, but one which entices you to pass through and discover what lies on the other side.

If you click on the image to view a larger version you may see that someone has written ‘Jesus’ in chalk on the top right hand rail. Is the gate symbolic of a different journey perhaps?

Churches Project no 6. – Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst, West Sussex

Approached by a narrow country lane, Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst, lies between the villages of Thakeham and Ashington. With only a farmhouse as a neighbour this is the second church I have visited which is maintained by The Churches Conservation Trust (CCT). Described on the CCT website as a ‘Country gem from a gentler era’ you only have to step inside this sandstone church to know the description is very appropriate. It is quite lovely and well worth finding the time to visit.

On raised ground above the lane itself, the churchyard has views across farmland to the Iron Age fort of Chanctonbury Ring in the distance, but it’s inside the church when the true beauty of this building reveals itself. Thought to date back to the late 13th century there is evidence to suggest the timbers in the bell frame are from 1158. The interior furnishings are from the 1700’s and the silvery oak pews, triple decker pulpit and three arched screen are all rather special and in part make this church such a wonderful place to visit. Clear glass leaded windows ensure the interior is well lit, and when the sun shines, splendid shadows are cast in the window reveals.

Churches which are maintained by The CCT depend on donations but also the knowledge that the church attracts regular visitors. I was there for over two hours taking photographs and a good number of people came and went in that time. I am pleased to say that some just came to sit and pray quietly and I respected their visit and stopped what I was doing, so they could be find peace in this charming unspoilt country place of worship.

Historians might find it interesting to know that Warminghurst Park was owned by the Quaker, William Penn. Purchased by James Butler he later demolished it, as he was determined to remove all trace of the old Quaker, who as a Trustee of West Jersey gave his name to what later became known as Pennsylvania.

Shadows in arches

Altar table

The Nave and flagstone floor

18th Century furnishings

North doorway

The Nave and pulpit

West door

Doorway to South porch

Holy Sepulchre, Warminghurst

Do click on any of the images to view a larger version or visit the West Sussex Gallery page for other churches in the same county.

For more information about my ongoing Churches Project do click here.

Just having fun – processing an iPhone image of Dell Quay

Having ‘processing’ fun at Dell Quay

It’s very rare that I post anything other than black and white images on this blog. However sometimes it’s fun to play with a photograph, particularly if it’s one captured on a smartphone – in this case an iPhone5. Using a combination of Lightroom and Colour Efex, I made this rather moody, almost painterly picture of light falling on the sailing boats at Dell Quay in Chichester Harbour. Nothing is really sharp and the soft, desaturated appearance have worked together to produce a rather interesting and to my eyes at least, a pleasing result. It makes me think I should take more colour images and be a little more experimental with my work, but monochrome is still my first love. Nevertheless from time to time it’s good to play and just see what happens.

Do click on the image to view a larger version.

Churches Project no.5 – St Michael’s, Up Marden, West Sussex

St Michael’s in Up Marden is a small, beautiful and unspoilt country church dating back to the 13th Century. Within the South Downs National Park it lies to the north west of Chichester and to the south of the Hampshire town of Petersfield. Invisible from the road behind farm buildings and surrounded by trees and farmland it would be easy to pass it by. Even if you happened to find yourself along this very quiet country lane in this remote backwater of West Sussex, you still might miss the small sign which leads you up an unmade track to the church.

When I visited the church it was quite a dull day and on entry the nave was dark and it took a while for my eyes to adjust to the light. I rely totally on natural light for my work, I don’t even possess a flash but even if I did, I wouldn’t use it as I like to work with the light I am given and not create an artificial look to my photographs. I did though wonder how I was going to cope with such poor light, but the combination of a high ISO setting (1600 or 3200), a monopod, and some careful post processing, I was able to achieve the results you can see in this post.

I spent over two hours on my own, observing and taking in the atmosphere of this lovely building, working out the best way to capture the almost rustic simplicity of this church. After all it is still lit by candles, so there are no ‘modern’ wires or bulbs to take away the fact that this is a very old place of worship for country folk.