Landscape 1-to-1 session
My first Landscape 1-to1 day of the new year on saturday, was realy looking forward to meeting up with Kevin, as a fellow Fuji X series enthusiast we had cameras in common. He was bringing his new XE2 out to play.
Typically the weather didn't hold much promise, this was the view from Mam Tor on my way over to Nether Booth near Edale.
As well as being very overcastit was raining, fortunately the weather improved a little. Allowing us to capture some of the lovely waterfalls in Crowden Clough. This was the second outing for me up the Clough, in just over a week, I will be as fit as a butchers dog at this rate :) it was Kevin's choice to go there. The weather really suited water photography as it allowed the use of much lower shutter speeds without the usual blown highlights. Very impressed with the his new XE2 the rear screen was amazing compared to my trusty X pro 1. Focus seemed a little snappier as well. Another fantastic camera from Fuji. Looking at his images from the shoot, I have to say I was very impressed with Kevins composition and thought processes during the day. Proved himself a very competent photographer.
Kevin's rock balancing ability:)
All my images were shot using the Fuji X pro 1 with 14mm lens.
The day proved to be a great success, very pleased that Kevin got some great images. He really enjoyed the rock scramble which added interest and a little drama as the rock was a tad slippy. You can read his comments about the day in the guestbook section.
Winter in the derbyshire dales
Shooting landscapes in winter is one of the hardest things to do, its usually down to the weather being so changeable. Take yesterday for instance, what started out to be a lovely crisp morning turned sour after lunch. I like shooting in the afternoons, because the quality of light can be so wonderful, plus I hate getting up early doors.
I had an idea to go back and shoot at Robin Hoods Stride near Elton, I had been there climbing a few times in the summer, and fell in love with the place, so a trip in winter seemed like a good idea. On the plus side I was driving up through some wonderful dales scenery and had already ticked off some possible locations to shoot. Needless to say the minute I got my gear in the car, the weather started to turn (always the way), still I was commited to getting out, I've had to long a break. On the good side I was also testing out some near gear, a new compact rucksack ideally suited to the X pro gear, and a very nice gitzo carbon fibre tripod. I will be doing a review of these in the weeks to come.
So the afternoon went well, I didn't get wet :) and was even treated to a nice rising moon. All images taken on a Fuji X pro 1 using 14mm 55-200mm and a few nd grads and a 10 stop filter.
First outing of the New Year
So Christmas has come and gone, had a nice few days off, was looking forward to getting some photography time in, but the weather put paid to that idea. The forecast for yesterday was pretty good, any rain holding off till later in the day. So I was off for a trip up Crowden Clough, should be a good walk up, enough to blow the cobwebs off anyway. The first half of the walk up the valley was quite interesting lots of little waterfalls on the way up. The sky had some drama in it too, could end up being a really good day for photography.
Following the narrow track past the barn to Crowden Clough, Fuji X pro 1 14mm
Looking down the valley with Rushup Edge in the far distance, Fuji X pro 1 14mm
Plenty of water on Edale Moor meant some nice little waterfalls Fuji X pro1 14mm
The climb does get steeper and becomes a rock scarmble towards the top. The calm conditions of the valley below were replaced by a real hooligan of a wind, several times gusts threatened to knock me off my feet. Finally made it to the top, and started off skirting Crowden towers, thinking I would walk round by Edale Cross and descend down Jacobs Ladder. 20 minutes later I was in the teeth of a massive storm, the rain being horizontal by this point, gusting winds easily 40 knots pinged the rain into my face.
Going up the clough with Crowden Towers bathed in a little sun, Fuji X pro 1 14mm
Now the climb starts to be fun, notice the windspray above Fuji X pro1 14mm
A lovely little pool of amber Fuji X pro 1 14mm
Amazing gritstone steps at the top of the Clough Fuji X pro 1 14mm
The last shot of the day in the teeth of a gale Fuji X pro 1 14mm
Getting back down was interesting ended up doing a bum slide down several hundred feet of wet turf, laughing my head off. Got back to my car thoroughly wet through despite the Goretex. Whoever thought Landscape photography was easy :)
A Merry Christmas to one and all
Wow, cannot believe how quickly this year has gone. The Gallery has been running for 8 months, it seems like a blur. I would like to wish all our visitors, customers and friends a Very Merry Christmas and a great New Year. Looking forward to the New Year, some photographics projects planned with visits to Skye and the Highlands in January. So keep checking the blog updates.
Nick & Trudy
Why I love the Derbyshire dales
Because it simply offers outstanding views and scenery, and not a million miles away from the cities of Derby and Sheffield. This is my back garden, and I am delighted to be here. The images were taken a couple of days ago, after a foggy start to the day the afternoon turned out to be fantastic with incredible light. I chose to have a run up to the upper Dove Valley as there was a particular tree I wanted to get an image of. The lighting ended up just being right. These images printed very nicely on archival matte paper, the rendering of the image from my HPZ 3200 ps large format printer gives really accurate tonal shading.
