Landscape | alan frost photography

Posts tagged ‘Landscape’

‘Break through’ – (the 200th blog entry)

Break through

I started this photographic blog in June 2012 and whilst I am not a prolific blogger this just happens to be my 200th post. I recognise this is a very small number compared to many other users of WordPress but for me it’s quite an achievement. Over three years ago I never thought that I would still be updating this site five or six times a month. This partly demonstrates how much I enjoy sharing my images and my thoughts, but even more importantly it is testimony to how much pleasure I derive from making images and the art of photography.

When you reach any milestone, however small or large, it’s an opportunity to reflect and consider what lies ahead.

In the past three years I have become more critical of my own work and tried to be more discerning about what I do and don’t share on this blog. This is certainly true of what I upload to Flickr. I now only upload a handful of images a month, whereas previously almost anything and everything would be shared with the ‘online world’ – if only to increase the number of views and favourites! Don’t get me wrong I welcome all feedback but the photographs I make are first and foremost for me; they are my vision of the world in which I live. If they give pleasure to others then that’s a bonus for me, and quite naturally I hope they do.

I am fairly confident that in the future my photography will be more ‘project based’. I believe this will be a positive step leading to more considered and specialist work, with the aim of achieving a clear objective or outcome. I have a number of ideas, and these will evolve given time. I also recognise that my photographic skills and processing techniques can be improved. After all it’s never too late to acquire more knowledge about a particular craft or skill.

And maybe, just maybe, a photographic ‘break though’ lies ahead – who knows what that might be? One thing’s for sure, only time will tell.

If you are a regular reader of my ‘blog’ can I just thank you for taking the time to look and read what I have to say.

And finally…… here’s to the next century of blog entries!

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.

South Downs – a new gallery page

In September 2013 my nephew and I walked the length of the South Downs Way from Winchester in Hampshire to Eastbourne in East Sussex. A National Trail in the South Downs National Park, the Way is some 100 miles long, and is popular with both walkers and cyclists, and of course photographers!

Towards Cocking

I have now created a new gallery page for the South Downs which includes 42 monochrome photographs, the vast majority of which were taken during the walk itself. Please click here to see the entire gallery. I have included a few images in this post but I hope you will click through to the gallery and view the others as well.

Ashcombe Mill

Looking back at a selection of photographs is likely to trigger important memories and the challenge of walking the South Downs Way will always live long in my mind. From a photographic point of view these same images also define a style or processing technique which I felt comfortable with at that particular time. Two years on I am still very happy with this collection and although the camera equipment I now use has changed, I think my overall approach today would largely be the same as it was then.

I may well repeat the walk in the future and should I do so, I would walk the trail in the opposite direction by starting in Eastbourne and finishing in Winchester. I would also choose a another time of year, as the landscape would look very different to the conditions I enjoyed in late summer.

Firle Beacon

To read more about the walk here are the links to earlier entries.

Last leg first – Walking the South Downs Way

Windmills on the Way

Less is more when capturing the South Downs

100 miles along the South Downs Way and the 100th Blog Entry!

Field of curves

South Downs Gallery Page

Taken by the wind

I love the way this tree has been shaped by the prevailing wind.

The branches appear to be reaching out, as if they are trying to grab hold of something, just anything, whilst the invisible roots grow deep and long, clinging to the earth below, preventing the tree from being torn out of the ground when the next wind blows.

To view a larger version, please click on the image which will open in a new window.

Haytor – a chance to reminisce.

Haytor

I recently came home from a very enjoyable and relaxing family holiday on the borders of Devon and North Cornwall. On the return journey I wanted to take a small detour and visit the town of Bovey Tracey, which lies on the eastern edge of Dartmoor National Park, and more specifically to go and see the granite outcrop of Haytor. This is perhaps the most recognisable and accessible of all the Dartmoor Tors, so on arrival I was not surprised to find a visitor centre, car and coach park catering for the tourists. Fortunately the weather was inclement and the number of people clambering up the relatively easy hill to reach Haytor were few.

I wanted to return mainly for sentimental reasons. I have fond memories of family holidays in this part of Devon when I was in my mid teens, some forty plus years ago (take large gulp…… and ask how is that possible?) and had not been back since. Life moves on and sadly both my parents and my sister have all passed away in the intervening years. My wife stayed by the car to photograph the very tame Dartmoor ponies and I walked up the hill with my grown up daughter and our dog.

I was pleased that the rocks of Haytor were just as I had remembered them; exposed to the elements but to my eyes nothing had really changed. My memory of Haytor is now as it was when I was a teenager. Still proud and strong, still dramatic and still commanding spectacular views of the surrounding countryside. It felt good to be back experiencing this great location with my own family and for a few moments to stand quietly, touch the stone, and reminisce about past times.

It was also good to be reminded that some things change and some things remain the same, which is just as well, as we all need a ‘rock of stability’ in our lives.