Dorset | alan frost photography

Posts tagged ‘Dorset’

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.

Alone on The Cobb

The Cobb at Lyme Regis in Dorset is an old stone curved pier forming a large harbour. Some 870ft in length there is an appreciable slope to the upper section with a sheer drop on one side into the sea. The lower promenade on the harbour side is better protected from the elements, but far less spectacular. On the horizon are the dramatic cliffs of the Jurassic Coast but I would advise stopping to take in the view. There is a notice informing anyone who wishes to walk along The Cobb not to do so in high winds. It’s easy to see why. Even on a clam day walking along the slope of The Cobb can be a little unnerving. This location was of course made famous in the 1981 film ‘ A French Lieutenant’s Woman’ featuring Meryl Streep.

A popular and much photographed scene, the inclusion of a lone figure walking on The Cobb not only adds human interest but also raises questions in my mind. It’s an image of solitude, coupled with the drama of truly spectacular location. The Cobb’s slope is clearly visible and the sea is clam. What are the thoughts going through the mind of the person in the picture? Is he enjoying an inner calm and peace or are his feelings of a very different nature? Perhaps he is simply enjoying the wonderful view on a beautiful Spring day? Questions but no answers, but hopefully an image which can be appreciated for a variety of different reasons.

West Bay – A Dorset fishing harbour

Harbour wall
It was low tide so the full height of the harbour wall was visible. I don’t know how old the harbour wall would be, but for many, many years, the water has risen and fallen with the tide, covering the old ladders, wooden posts and exposed brick and stonework. The buoys and reflections of the wall in the water, together with the wall itself I think make an interesting image.

Fishing harbours are wonderful photographic subjects, where the eye is inevitably is drawn to the fishing boats, clusters of old rope, endless rusty chains, small mountains of lobster pots, and piles of decaying painted wood – the list goes on and on.

Back in December when I visited the fishing village of West Bay on the Dorset coast (now famous as the back drop to the crime series ‘Broadchurch’), I tried as hard as I could to avoid the obvious, which in this type of environment is a rather challenging thing to do. Whether or not I have succeeded is hard for me to judge but whatever the results, I spent a very happy hour or two walking around this most attractive location in relatively warm winter sunshine, with a camera in my hand looking for things to photographic. What could be better?!

‘Broadchurch’ cliffs
In truth the spectacular Jurassic coastline at West Bay in Dorset.

The fishing village of West Bay to the south of Bridport in Dorset was the ‘film set’ for one of the best television crime dramas for many years. With Olivia Colman and David Tennant in the leading roles, the series was called ‘Broadchurch’ after the fictional town in the story. In the opening episode the body of a young boy was found on a beach at the foot of some spectacular cliffs.