35mm Summilux | alan frost photography

Posts tagged ‘35mm Summilux’

Shelter in Piddle Wood

Woodland shelter

When I am out walking in the countryside I always hope to stumble across something which catches my eye and in my view is worth photographing. I always seem to struggle in woodland areas but when I saw this dilapidated woodman’s hut made of corrugated iron it caught my attention.

The scene itself was made more interesting by virtue of the large puddle of water which provided some reflections, not only of the shelter but also the spindly trees. The line of stones gave me a good lead in to the hut and I like the overhanging branch which helps to frame the main subject of interest.

Yes, the hut has seen better days and I would guess has not had a particular purpose in life for quite some time, but photographically speaking this is what makes it all the more interesting – well it does to me anyway.

Transient light – the best of both worlds perhaps?

Transition (Blending in photoshop)

This is the third and final entry in series which only serves to highlight the array of choices when it comes processing.

The first entry (Transient light – when only colour will do) showed a relatively straight forward colour image. The second entry posted yesterday (Transient light – when mono works as well) was the black and white conversion and today I have posted this image, which is effectively a mix of the colour and black and white versions. I opened both images in Photoshop with the colour image as the background layer. I then created a separate layer using the mono version which had been previously processed in Silver Efex. I then blended the two layers and reduced the opacity to arrive at the image you see here.

Overlaying the more dramatic and contrasty B&W image has given the original colour version a little more punch in my view. The rain shower has been enhanced and there is more detail in the clouds on the horizon which has added depth. The colour which attracted me to take the shot in the first place has not been lost.

So three versions of one image. Which one is best? I don’t think there is a ‘best’ image; photography or any form of art is very subjective so everyone will have their own personal preference. For me it has been an interesting exercise and will make me stop and think a little more about processing options before I even begin.

Transient light – when mono works as well

One of the joys of blogging are the comments that are made and these are of particular benefit to me when they offer constructive suggestions about an image. Yesterday I posted a colour image called ‘Transition’ in a post entitled ‘Transient light – when only colour will do’. One of the comments I received came from John Dominick, a friend and fellow photographer, who said he would like to see a mono interpretation. This came as something of a surprise to me, as it had never crossed my mind to convert the photo into black and white. Given that I have almost exclusively been working in mono for the last few years, you would have thought it would have been my default approach, and not just dismissed without consideration.

I am therefore very grateful to John for planting this idea in my mind as the mono version (converted in Silver Efex) in my opinion works just as well. It’s a very different image now, there is more drama and atmosphere in the shot but this aspect of black and white photography has always appealed to me.

Having made this second image it has made me think about combining or blending in Photoshop both the colour and black and white versions to see what can be created. This is my task for today and I shall aim to post a third version of ‘Transition’ tomorrow.

I always try and reply to comments and in this example respond to any constructive ideas put forward. Thank you as always for your feedback, it’s most welcome.

Transient light – when only colour will do.

Transition

Photography is painting with light – and that light can be very transient in the landscape. The weather and consequently the light can change in an instant, so to capture these fleeting moments there has to be an element of good fortune.

This image was taken a couple of weeks ago in the beautiful county of Dorset. We were experiencing all types of weather that week; in fact it could be said we had all four seasons in just one day. Bright sunshine followed by clouds and then hail showers, turning the ground white if only for a short time. Hopefully the last blast of winter before the summer truly arrives. At this time of year we also see fields turn yellow as the vibrant colour of the oil seed rape crops burst into life. Combining these two key ingredients is potentially a recipe for some good landscape photography which can only be enjoyed in colour.

When I took this shot I was standing in sunshine, looking back across the rolling hills to the north of the county town of Dorchester. As we returned to our cottage I could see dark shower clouds moving in quickly from the west and as the rain fell on parts of the countryside it was lit by the sun. I quickly parked the car, got out, and walked very briskly to find a suitable position to take a handful of shots. Within a few minutes the special light had gone, but I knew I had captured the transient light and colour of the scene before me.

Tranquility at East Head

There are many subjects which I enjoy photographing but seascapes are a particular favourite of mine. There is something about a deserted beach at low tide when the wet sand reflects the clouds in the sky above. There is a sense of calm and tranquility in this image, even though this might quickly change, as circling rain clouds threaten to alter the scene.

Whilst black and white is my preferred style, I am beginning to find that the introduction of subtle colours adds another dimension to an image and this is certainly true of this shot. The almost painterly quality in the sky is lost without the combination of the blue and grey hues. A hint of ochre in the sand is also important to the overall feel and mood. This colour palette is I think rather pleasing and I hope you agree.

East Head is owned by The National Trust, so for more information about this rather beautiful location on the South Coast do click here.

Here are two more posts which also feature East Head –

Low tide at East Head

Gathering storm at East Head