Back in the Lake District

[simon3116]

Three very nice shots although the first two have a slightly purple tint to them, maybe my screen but the last shot looks not purple.

[singingsnapper]

In the Lake district in England again. Stopped at a field and set up my camera for a star trail. To the naked eye, it was pitch dark.

Pentax 645D FA 33 - 55mm at f/8 and 39mm 25 minutes


skelwith star trail by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[singingsnapper]

Here's the next one. The trees are lit with a torch for 10 minutes of a 35 minute exposure at 33mm and f/8


The bear moves past trees by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[singingsnapper]

The weather was pretty good today and I found myself in one of my favourite places, Loughrigg tarn

Pentax 645D FA 120 f/4 at f/16


Loughrigg tarn in afternoon by singingsnapper, on Flickr

I waited as the sun set and this shot was taken just over an hour after sunset, it's amazing how much light remains in the sky so long after sun set

Pentax 645D FA 33-55 at f/16 and 33mm 16 minutes ISO 100


Loughrigg tarn an hour after sunset by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[Chris Humphreys]

Paul I'm really impressed with how much your photography has improved since you started posting on here (and how you manage to find the time!). Keep them coming...

[singingsnapper]

Paul I'm really impressed with how much your photography has improved since you started posting on here (and how you manage to find the time!). Keep them coming...

Thank you! I think the catalyst was Digitalfingers' post in response to a photo I didn't think through carefully enough. I've always been a fairly quick learner and the pitfall is that sometimes I try to run before I can walk. Now I challenge myself a bit more and am more careful with what I shoot, how I shoot, and am learning a little more about editing, although I have plenty to learn with regard to cloning, and using selecting tools.

[Richampton]

Gorgeous images, particuarly like your Loughrigg tarn capture with the sun just catching the tops of the peaks

Out of interest, did you go anywhere near the Duddon Valley near Broughton, been years since ive been up there but recall a wonderful road leading up to Scaffell Pike

[Rosie]

I agree with Chris, you have improved so much and you can really tell that your images are much more considered now in terms of composition, the light and the processing. Imagine what you'll be like this time next year!

[singingsnapper]

Gorgeous images, particuarly like your Loughrigg tarn capture with the sun just catching the tops of the peaks

Out of interest, did you go anywhere near the Duddon Valley near Broughton, been years since ive been up there but recall a wonderful road leading up to Scaffell Pike

I don't drive anything except my wife up the wall! So access is awkward for me. I have walked to scafell pike from Ambleside a round trip of over 30 miles.

[singingsnapper]

On my way home on the train, after a few days in the Lake District. While waiting on the platform at Oxenholme, I had a play with my camera. This shot may be total rubbish, but I quite like the back to front message. I converted to black and white in Silver efex Pro 2 adjusting contrast and using a Ilford Pan F 50 profile

Pentax 645D FA 120 Macro at f/4 1/30 (EV -1) ISO 1000


MInd the step! It's upside down! by singingsnapper, on Flickr

yesterday was a pretty murky day so didn't get very far but took a few photos

This is the stepping stones guest house by the stepping stones on the River Rothay

Pentax 645D FA 33-55 at 33mm f/22 5 seconds exposure converted in Silver Efex


Stepping stones over the Rothay by singingsnapper, on Flickr

[Rosie]

Love Mind the Step - the light and reflections are great and love the super low angle.

[Troy]

Have to agree, love the reflections in the first one.

The second could maybe be good from another composition. The one you have here is good as it is, but i can't help think a closer/lower angle by the actual stepping stones could have accentuated them more in the frame, using them as a leading line straight through to the guest house.

[singingsnapper]

Have to agree, love the reflections in the first one.

The second could maybe be good from another composition. The one you have here is good as it is, but i can't help think a closer/lower angle by the actual stepping stones could have accentuated them more in the frame, using them as a leading line straight through to the guest house.

Thanks guys, I love the angles that I get from the 120 I was stood upright at the back of the platform.

Withe the second one, I'll have to have another look at this one next time I am up. I did go level withe the steps but only to take photos of the steps themselves. Unfortunately they don't lead directly to the guest house but to the left of the guesthouse. I suspect even at 33mm (26mm 35mm equiv.) I would need to stitch a couple of frames, but will certainly look into this. The stones always look most attractive when the Rothay is high - in other words when it's inadvisable to cross them - they were probably JUST crossable, but I didn't want to risk falling into the river with camera in hand...I'm clumsy enough on dry land!

[Troy]

Yea i realised this after i'd typed it. It would be excellent if they did lead straight to the guest house, but short of moving them yourself i don't think they will. I'd definitely be tempted to get right in the river, right down low to one of the stones using its as a foreground/main subject with the guest house in the background. But please don't do this with the Pentax, this is what Canons are for

[singingsnapper]

Back in the Lake District for a few days before I fly to Beijing on Thursday to perform on Chinese New Year's Eve.

On my way up Loughrigg again, looking towards High Street

Pentax 645D FA 120mm f/16


High Street from Loughrigg by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Having run out of battery power rather too often on long exposures, I got hold of a battery pack and bought a Pentax AC adaptor (although why Pentax charge £140 for this when they sell it in US for $100 makes me a bit niggled). My first attempt at dusk completely overexposed on a 35 minute exposure, and bulb work is often hit and miss which made me grateful for the battery pack! I messed up this shot by kicking the tripod in the last 10 minutes of a 45 minute exposure, but found it interesting how rather than being lit by the moon rising over Loughrigg fell, it could easily have been an afternoon shot:

Pentax 645D FA 33 - 55 at f/9.5 33mm and 45 minutes ISO 400


night or day by singingsnapper, on Flickr

Along the valley there is a tree that always interests me. The tree is dead but has hatched another tree within its bark. I wanted to use 2 Pentax 540 flashes to isolate the tree but the area around it was completely waterlogged so I had to content myself with my fairly bright torch. This was my test shot, to check focus as it was pitch dark and AF wouldn't function.

Pentax 645D FA 75 @ f/11 30 secs, ISO 1600


crooked tree in Langdale after dark by singingsnapper, on Flickr

I then took the main shot, and here they are in colour and black and white (converted in Silver efex Pro2

Pentax 645D FA 75 f/13 17 minutes, lit with torch for 4 minutes


Wetherlam and tree after dark by singingsnapper, on Flickr

B&W


Wetherlam and tree after dark bw by singingsnapper, on Flickr