Concluding my trio of bluebell-related posts, I returned to the bluebell wood at dawn this morning just in time to see the early-morning sun breaking through the beech trees to illuminate the bluebells. Without the temptation of that lovely, golden light at dawn, my battle to get out of bed before sunrise would be a lost one. It's quite a struggle anyway. However, my bleary eyes opened up pretty quickly when I saw the bluebell wood this morning. With only a few pronking deer for company, it was a magical way to start the day.

I've put together small selection of HDR images in a slideshow and hope you'll enjoy them.

Tags: hampshire, bluebells, hdr, slideshows

My search for the definitive bluebell wood image continues and scouting around Micheldever Woods this afternoon I came across a section of woodland that has escaped the recent Forestry Commission work.


(click for larger version)
The light was pretty harsh in the middle of the day but by using an ND graduated filter over the top section of the frame I managed to control the exposure enough to keep it all within what the digital sensor could record.

It's certainly not the definitive bluebell wood image yet but I'm half-way there, finding the right location is probably the hard part. I plan to return with some friends from WPS tomorrow evening when the light is more sympathetic and we'll see what we can turn up then.

In the mean time, I hope you might enjoy this HDR image taken on today's scouting trip.

Talking of bluebell woods, my mate Nic can knock up a decent photo of a bluebell wood. I haven't mentioned Nic's photo blog for a while but, as the name suggests, his London Daily Nature Photo blog is a daily source of inspiration, providing you have no objections to his occasional unapologetic inclusion of pornography.

Tags: hampshire, hdr, bluebells

Sunday started so much brighter than Saturday in Swanage and so I took the opportunity to wander along the front and to stroll up the pier. Did you know that "strolling" is the correct verb to use when referring to walking on a pier? It's 40p to "stroll" on the pier as the sign at the front gate says. I also noticed that local people ask for "Two strollers please" when they pay the man on the gate. So, if you're in Swanage and don't want to seem like a tourist, ask for "One stroller please" when you pay to go on the pier. You don't get this kind of local insight on other blogs.

These two images are HDR (High Dynamic Range) constructions. I find that I'm shooting more bracketed exposures these days. It's not that I'm less certain about the exposures that I'm making, simply that it takes no more time to fire off three frames than one and I'm not using up film so there's no reason not to. I'm usually bracketing about a stop apart and I've been surprised to find that it's sometimes the "Over-exposed" shot from which I'm retrieving the most information (see my earlier post). With those shots that I'm shooting from a tripod, it's also giving me the opportunity to construct HDR images and I'm steadily learning how to get the best out of those compiled files. For some excellent tutorials on HDR constructions, take a look at the Chromasia Photoshop Tutorials.

Tags: hdr

Just to round off on yesterday's post, these are the three originals that make up the final image. Just as Masher suggested, they were taken in quick succession, all at f/16 and 1/6, 1/13 & 1/25 of a second respectively. I rarely use a tripod so often prefer to take a single RAW file and then make three versions of it, each at different exposures. I use these to create my HDR images although I know that the result is not strictly showing a High Dynamic Range.

Tags: cumbria, hdr

This photo was taken shortly after sunrise on Kirkstone Pass between Ambleside and Patterdale. It's a narrow, winding and very steep road that's known locally as "The Struggle".

This is another HDR image although rather than using three files constructed from a single RAW image processed at different exposures, this is a combination of three separate images, taken in quick succession with the camera fixed firmly to a tripod and with a remote release cable.

I've been experimenting with the HDR process recently in an effort to produce more natural-looking images. HDR images can look a bit artificial. It's a look that suits some images but I find that they can end up looking very alike. I think this one's reasonable though. It doesn't seem to have that very obvious HDR feel to it and I think I'm beginning to find settings that produce more realistic images.

(Canon 1Ds MKII - 43mm - 1/6, 1/13 & 1/125 at f/16 - ISO100 - No Flash)

Tags: cumbria, hdr

I joined up with Jon Sparks today for a photo workshop in Silverdale, Lancashire. It really was the most beautiful of spring days and setting out on a walk with a group of enthusiastic photographers was a treat. The great thing about spending time with other photographers is that you pick up little hints and tips that had previously escaped you. For instance, Jon pointed out that most of us carry a pretty sizeable reflector with us whenever we go walking but don't even realise it. It folds up to pocket-sized yet unfolds to become the largest light reflector you could ever need. And what is this magical light reflector? Why, it's your Ordnance Survey map of course. Cheers Jon!

This photo was taken at the end of the day and is an HDR image constructed from three images made from the same original RAW file processed at different exposures.

If you're interested in attending a photo workshop with me in April, don't forget that we've added a second date to the Purbeck Workshop in Dorset.

Tags: cumbria, hdr