Photographing Gloucester

by Damien Walmsley 05/01/2025 05/01/2025

Gloucester Cathedral, Gloucester, January 2025

Sunrises in January are an ideal time for photography. An early, low sun rising in a cloudless sky creates areas of contrast wherever the light falls. I enjoy getting up early to catch such sunrises, so I treated myself to a visit to Gloucester. I had never visited the restored docks, and I do enjoy strolling around new venues. After checking the weather for the next day, I was optimistic that I would come away with some good photographs. I was also keen to visit the Cathedral. While browsing the Museum of Gloucester website, I discovered that the International Photographic Exhibition, organised by the Royal Photographic Society, was on. I was excited, as I had a solid plan for the day.

Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, January 2025 — Shadows from the buildings create interesting shapes as they are reflected in the water.

The docks are steeped in history, and the area has been renovated with flats and restaurants. I arrived just before sunrise. The area initially looked grey, but as the sunrise progressed, the scene transformed. The brickwork of the old warehouses at Gloucester Docks began to glow as the buildings soaked up the sunlight. I love how, when the light reaches a building, a warm, radiant glow emerges. The docks have many interesting features. The boats are all individually decorated, each with their own character.

I had read that Sula, the lightship, would be in dry dock, so I was pleasantly surprised to see it in the water. Even better, the sun was already beginning to highlight the red paint. As you can see from my pictures, I was captivated by the Sula Lightship. The bright red colour of the boat was beautifully illuminated by the sunlight. The low sunrise created shards of light that highlighted local people passing by the boat on their way to work.

The Sula lightship, Gloucester Docks, Gloucester, January 2025. — The *Sula* lightship catches the sunrise.

There were many other captivating scenes at the docks before I moved on to other attractions. I particularly enjoyed photographing the Kyneburgh Tower, designed by the artist Tom Price. The internal structure, featuring ever-decreasing irregular circles rising up towards the top of the tower, was fascinating. I also passed by the small house dedicated to the Tailor of Gloucester and could not resist taking a photograph of its charming front.

The Kyneburgh Tower, Gloucester, January 2025 — Looking up inside the Kyneburgh Tower.

Tailor of Gloucester, Gloucester, January 2025. — The Tailor of Gloucester shopfront near to the Cathedral.

On previous journeys to the University of Plymouth, where I served as an examiner for several years, my train often passed through Gloucester. The Cathedral, visible from the elevated railway track, is a commanding structure. Every time I saw the cathedral; I told myself I must visit and see the interior one day. The Cathedral is awe-inspiring, and the internal ceiling structure is a sight to behold. I have seen many photographers’ pictures of the ceiling and was eager to capture my own.

I also enjoyed smaller details, such as the angels in the choir stalls. Additionally, I was intrigued by the tomb of Robert Curthose, or Robert of Normandy, William the Conqueror’s oldest son, who never ascended the throne. I like the way his tomb was set out and was more attractive than Edward II’s tomb on the other side.

There are many other parts of the Cathedral that are a joy to see. Whilst the main hall is the most visually impressive part of the building, the cloisters, famous for being a filming location for the Harry Potter films, were particularly striking. Despite the post-Christmas cleanup being underway—it was just a few days before Epiphany—I managed to take some photographs. For me, the docks and the Cathedral were the highlights of Gloucester.

The High Street, while interesting to walk through, felt like many other high streets in the UK these days, with drab shops and few people about. There are some interesting alleyways that I would come back to explore. There are several impressive buildings on the high street including the Mayor’s house from the 1600s which is now a Costa Coffee House. There is a YouTube video made by Historic England that takes you for a walk around the architectural highlights of the city.

Highstreet, Gloucseter, January 2025. — Strike a match

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The International Photography Exhibition 165, sponsored by the Royal Photographic Society at the Museum of Gloucester exhibition was a high point. I would highly recommend this exhibition to anyone interested in photography. The display featured many inspiring images, including works by international artists documenting their local environments. Having recently completed a documentary photography project myself; I found the exhibition particularly engaging and rewarding.

International Photography Exhibition 165, Royal Photographic Society, Museum of Gloucester, Gloucester, January 2025 — International Photography Exhibition 165, Royal Photographic Society, Museum of Gloucester.

There is a series of blogs on the subject “Photographing ……” and you may like the last one that I posted on Photographing the Cotswolds which is a place not far from Gloucester!

Photographing the Cotswolds

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Photographing the Cotswolds

by Damien Walmsley 03/12/2024 03/12/2024

The Cotswolds are practically on our doorstep, and over the years, we’ve taken many day trips to places such as Broadway or Bourton-on-the-Water. However, we’ve never considered staying there until now. With Thanksgiving at the end of November, my daughter arranged a two-night stay at the Cotswold Water Park, near the Wiltshire border. Our plan was to celebrate Thanksgiving and explore a few of the area’s well-known sights.

Six of us set off—or rather, six plus my four-month-old grandson—and we arranged to meet in Bibury before checking into our rented accommodation. I had added Bibury to our itinerary because it is said to be the most photographed village in England—a claim that seems tailor-made for Instagram enthusiasts. So, what makes Bibury so popular? It’s largely due to Arlington Row, a picturesque street that attracts visitors from all over the world. The row of cottages is owned by the National Trust and has Grade I listed status. Interestingly, Bibury is particularly popular with Japanese tourists because Emperor Hirohito visited the village as a young man in the early 20th century.

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We arrived in Bibury and had lunch at The Catherine Wheel, a charming 15th-century pub. The food was delicious, the service excellent and attentive, and the company even better. After lunch, we set off to see Arlington Row. I chose to take the back route from The Catherine Wheel, down a hill aptly named Awkward Hill. This approach offered unparalleled views of the picturesque cottages. Since we were visiting off-season, there weren’t too many tourists, though it was still tricky to snap a photo without someone walking into the frame. The cottages were incredibly charming and photogenic, with their honey-coloured Cotswold stone further enhanced by the crystal-clear stream running in front of them.

Bibury isn’t all about Arlington Row; there are one or two other landmarks, such as the Swan Hotel and the bridges over the River Coln. After exploring the village, we moved on to the Cotswold Water Park.

Cotswolds_2024_15 — The early morning view from our house.

Our accommodation was a beautiful house overlooking Summer Lake, one of the many lakes in the area. The lake adjacent to our house was teeming with wildlife—ducks, coots, and swans—all of which made excellent photographic subjects. On our first morning, we were treated to a stunning sunrise over Spinnaker Lake. Unfortunately, like most of the lakes in the area, it is privately owned and fenced off, which made access difficult. However, I managed to poke my camera through gaps in the fence and capture some decent shots of the sunrise.

Later that morning, I set off for a walk along the many footpaths in the area. Some of these trails follow old, disused railway lines. The paths were flanked by tall hedges that limited views of the lakes, though I caught glimpses here and there. I was able to see Spring Lake and take pictures of the reflections. Later, I learned that my daughter had booked a group meal at the Lakeside Brasserie, which is situated on Spring Lake. The restaurant was quiet, and we had a table overlooking the water. The food was excellent, and the sunlight streaming through the blinds while we ate added to the experience. After the meal, we took pictures from the lakeside veranda before heading back to the house.

The next morning brought another stunning sunrise over Spinnaker Lake. Then, it was time to head home. On the way, I was particularly keen to visit St. Edward’s Church in Stow-on-the-Wold. Even out of season, the traffic in the villages was busy, and Stow, being a bustling market town, was no exception. Fortunately, we found a good parking spot, and I was able to visit the church. The iconic image of the gates flanked by two ancient yew trees is often said to have inspired Tolkien’s depiction of the Doors of Durin in The Lord of the Rings. There were few visitors, so I had the place to myself to photograph this iconic scene at the church’s North Entrance. While it is rumored that Tolkien drew inspiration from this site, this has never been confirmed. Nonetheless, the place has a mystical and mysterious feel.

I also found Stow itself intriguing, with its “tures” (an old English word for alleyways) and its connection to the Monarch’s Way, which traces King Charles II’s escape from Cromwell at the end of the English Civil War.

Living just south of Stratford, the Cotswolds are practically in our backyard. I must admit, I have not visited them as much as I would like. This short trip, however, reminded me of the wonders of this stunning part of England.

If you liked this travel story in the Cotswolds then here is another one for you to read.

The Purple Lavender

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Birmingham sunset and sunrise from the Octagon

by Damien Walmsley 20/09/2024 20/09/2024

Sunset and sunrise, the Octagon, Birmingham City Centre, September, 2024.

The sun people.

The golden ticket on a beautiful September evening was a 155 metres journey to the top of the Octagon skyscraper. The invite from Core-marketing on behalf of Paradise Birmingham brought out the great and the good of the photographic fraternity in Birmingham. There were many people disappointed that they were not there to celebrate the “topping out” of this iconic skyscraper. Over 60 photographers gathered at the base of the Octagon waiting to be taken up the 49 floors to the very top of the building. Our “lift” was a hoist which was a platform cage that pointed away from the building. This took up the first 25 photographers. Then there was an anxious wait as the hoist came back down for the rest of us. We did not want to miss the sunset. The cage of the hoist was bordered by a metal grill and as we climbed the outside of the building to the very top , our mobile phones recorded the journey.

We were greeted with a beautiful golden sun that was setting in the West over Edgbaston reservoir. The 360 degrees view was spectacular and with time the familiar landmarks around Birmingham came into focus. There was Broad Street, the Rotunda, the Cube and the BT Tower. Further away the Aston Expressway together with various mosques and churches scattered around the horizon could be seen. The serious photographers were very active. Cameras were pointed at the view and many pictures were taken. There were two levels at the crown of the Octagon, the main level with a metal barrier around the periphery and then a central raised column accessed by a metal staircase, provided a clearer view. There were various cameras on display ranging from super zoom telescopic lenses right down to the humble mobile phone. The social media channels were going to be saturated with views of Birmingham. Nicky Warwickshire, James never Jim and myself (dammodammo) were there representing the IgersbirminghamUK team!

Sunset was upon us and we gathered to pay homage to the setting of the sun. I was reminded of the Bowie song “Memory of a Free Festival” and the lyrics of the song resonated with me. “The sun machine is going down and we are going to have a party”. This time there was no music just the quiet clicking of camera shutters. However, the fun wasn’t finished. The lights of the city came on and car headlights lights started streaking down the streets like small silver dots. Suddenly you could see into the illuminated offices hidden during the day by reflective glass. Trams and buses were gracefully moving along the streets. Particular views that I enjoyed included Moor Street station and the Birmingham canal navigations.

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Needless to say we all took so many pictures that saturation point was quickly reached and then the time came to descend back down the hoist and catch the train home. In my excitement, I forgot to get a picture of the moonrise but luckily many other photographers filled that void and I was able to see their views of the moon. One photographer Pete Davies was at Edgbaston reservoir and he captured the moonrise next to the Octagon. You can just make out the photographers on the top.

We were discussing the visit and how spectacular the tower construction was on the train home. One of the Octagon project leaders was on the same train home and he gave us a fascinating insight into how the structure had been built and what was involved in its construction. Our conversation took in previous buildings such as the Cube and what was in store for Birmingham in the future. This was a really enjoyable evening and I knew that there was still the morning sunrise to look forward to. However the weather forecast didn’t look too promising but then again we wait and see.

The sunrise shift.

Getting up at 4:00am was not easy but once I got moving, I was wide awake. After a quick breakfast and walking the dog, I drove into Birmingham and parked up in Brindley Place. Birmingham City Centre was very quiet with only a few people moving around. I walked briskly through Centenary square, past the library, into Chamberlain place and on to the Octagon for the morning session. There were far fewer photographers gathered at the base of the building. Getting up early appears to be a much more difficult activity for a photographer than the evening sunset. The weather was dull and the golden glow of yesterday evening was quickly forgotten as we checked in and made our way to the “hoist”. Soon we were back travelling on the outside of the building. This was now familiar territory and recording the journey up was much easier the second time around.

Going up the Octogen

When we arrived at the crown, the first thing I noticed was the wind and the cold. Night had not loosened its grip of the new day and the bright city lights were still shining. I got out my camera and started taking pictures. There were some opportunities to take some long exposures of the rush hour traffic that was starting to stream into the City. Reviewing other people’s photographs, I realized that I had missed some buildings and I made sure that I got St. Paul’s church and the Big Pen in the Jewellery Quarter. There were a few other places that I had forgotten all about from last night and this was the most exciting part of the visit, taking new views of the city.

Slowly the dawn crept forward and banished the dark of the night. The wind seemed to be increasing and I was glad that I had my jumper with me to add to the layers of clothers that I was wearing. A mist started rolling in and unsurprisingly, there was no sunrise but I knew the sun was out there somewhere. With my remaining time, I started looking for unusual shots around the building. BBC West Midlands radio were present, interviewing people who were getting ready for the topping out ceremony that was taking place later that day.

This visit was a quieter affair. Mindfulness is a wonderful feeling and I stood taking in the view which was much more rewarding than just wanting to use my camera. I had taken all the pictures that I needed and went back down the hoist for the final time. There was a touch of sadness as I had really enjoyed my two visits to the top of the Octagon. This 49 floor skyscraper is ready for future residential living and the plan is to rent out the apartments. The building will soon be completed and then the army of construction workers will move on to the next tall building. Birmingham is an exciting place and is changing all the time. I hope to go up the next building that gets finished, but in the meantime, I left with good thoughts as I wandered back through the city to my car. There were more workers out and about getting ready for the day, I had already completed a day on top of the Octagon and now I was getting ready for a second day. I looked forward to getting my pictures together and telling people how much I had enjoyed my visit to the Octagon.

Acknowledgements

Many thanks to all at the Octagon who allowed these amazing visits to take place. I do hope you enjoyed reading about my visit to the Octagon. Thank you to Paradise Birmingham and Core-Marketing for the opportunity.

I have given a link to some of my other visits to skyscrapers and hope you continue to read my photographic journey.

The Octagon is the new kid on the block

The popular key – 103 Colmore Row

London Times – The London Horizon from Horizon22

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Photographing the sunrise at Trwyn Penmon point, Anglesey

by Damien Walmsley 03/09/2024 06/09/2024

Trwyn Du Lighouse, Anglesey, August 2024

Our family holiday was in Anglesey staying at Gwelfor barn near to Llangoed on the east of the island. This location was near to Trwyn Du lighthouse. The weather was changeable but my Clear Outside app showed that there was a good chance of a sunrise taking place on our first days on holiday.

The day was set and I got up very early careful not to disturb the family and drove down to Trwyn Penman point. Although I had done my research, I did not realize that this area was privately owned. Driving in the darkness, I came across a burning fire and a gatekeeper standing next to it. This was 5:00 am in the morning and the sun was a long way from rising. There was a payment of £3.50 and I had no cash with me but as luck would have it, he took out a SumUp device and I was able to pay contactless with my phone. The cones were moved, allowing me to continue my drive up to Trwyn Penmon Point. The scene that greeted me was surreal with numerous camper vans parked up for the night. Some people were asleep in their cars. No one was stirring.

I quickly got all my equipment out and went down to the shoreline. The tide was going out so I scouted around looking for a good vantage point. The rocks were covered with seaweed so I was very careful with my own personal safety. The rock pools provided good opportunities for reflective photography with my iPhone. My many photographs of the of the area revealed which was the best vantage point and I set up my Cannon 5DmkVI camera on a tripod. I placed a graduated filter onto the lens. This would allow me to get a good exposure of the darker lower half of the picture and reduce the overexposure that would occur when the sun rose. I also looked for interesting foreground features to complement the composition. The background of Puffin island and the outline of the Great Orme near Llandudno was dark and therefore some compensation was required. The steps leading upto the lighthouse were starting to be uncovered by the outgoing tide. I used the steps as a leading line. I almost missed the sunrise and when you see the initial part of the sun rising, then you have about 5-10 minutes where the sun is a yellow disk as soon the the rays start to overpower your exposure. The sunrise is a very exciting experience and several pictures were taken.

I started to vary the position of the tripod although one of the problems I encountered was a large seagull that was taking interest in my camera backpack. Therefore I had to take the bag around with me! The golden hour light was falling on the old lifeboat houses and the camper vans. The North Wales coast was starting to stand put and all the time the sun was getting stronger. I remembered to take a few pictures with my Fujifilm x100vi camera. Then I stopped taking pictures and stood back to enjoy the scene. In such moments, the experience of appreciating the present and exercising mindfulness is a refreshing exercise. There were no photographs for about 5-10 minutes and I found myself sinking in and enjoying the sound of the sea against the rocks and the sun on my face.

Then I knew it was time to go. There were a few more pictures. I had my iPhone out and took a few interesting pictures of the stacks of stones that people had set up on the rocks. They mirrored the lighthouse nicely. Back at the holiday home, there was processing to be done before releasing the pictures on my social media. As a postscript, one of my iPhone pictures received many likes on Instagram, although my large Canon pictures were fun to set up. I enjoyed my time at Trwyn Du lighthouse. Unfortunately I did not get to the other lighthouses mainly through family commitments and also due to other events. Even so a magical sunrise at Trwyn Penman point was one I would not forget.

Here is a link to the lighthouse and a starting off area to other places in Anglesey.

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An early start to Middleton Lakes RSPB

by Damien Walmsley 26/07/2024 26/07/2024

The alarm was set at 4.15am but I was awake long before the music “Insomnia” kicked off my waking routine. Early starts are a necessary evil if the early bird wants to catch the preverbal worm. Within 20 minutes, the dog had been out and I was ready to leave with a hot cup of coffee in a thermos. My destination was Middleton Lakes RSPB where I wanted to photograph the wildlife. The lakes are easy to get to from the M42 and there was no traffic at that time of the morning. Passing the Aston Villa Bodymoor training grounds I reached the lakes and parked the car. There was a lovely mist over the meadows and when I passed over the canal there was a dreamy quality about the air. I was the only person around and had the place to myself.

Then there was the decision, the wetlands or the woodlands. I am glad I made the decision to visit the lakes. The Canada Geese were taking turns to set off on group flybys In the lake, I saw fish jumping out of the water to catch insects on the water. I saw a heron and other birds which I need to identify. The butterflies were waking up and enjoying the sunshine. I moved onto the meadows to see if there were any owls hunting. Whilst the owls were not out the Konik ponies were moving around. I walked around the meadow and came close to the riverbanks where there were several dragonflies and damsel flies. I was not quick enough to catch the dragonflies but the damsel flies were more sluggish. The sun was warming up the vegetation and my landscape picture was selected for the main BBC weather photograph. One downside is that there were many midges around and I found later that day that I had picked up many insect bites that persisted for several days afterwards.

If you enjoyed this visit to Middleton Lakes RSPB then please read my previous blog.

I joined the RSPB and you should too!

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Walking the Regent’s Canal – Queen Mary University of London to the river Thames.

by Damien Walmsley 17/09/2023 18/09/2023

Regent's Canal, QMUL to the Thames, London, Sept 2023

Queen Mary University of London is on the Mile End Road and is adjacent to the Regent’s canal. Part of the campus borders the canal and there is easy access from the University entrance. I was at QMUL for a conference but took the opportunity when time allowed to explore the tow path. My first walk was in the early morning and I followed the canal down to Limehouse basin and onto the River Thames. My second walk was northwards up to Victoria park and took place in the late afternoon. Both walks allowed me to photograph people, boats, wildlife and buildings along the way. This is my photographic account from those walks.

From QMUL to the river.

I was up early for this walk and was moving on the towpath by 6am. There were still many people out and about at this time. The day before had been hot and whilst there was a morning coolness temperatures were forecast to rise above 30^oC. There was a slight mist around the canal which diffused the light. Several species of birds were moving around in the water. The canal was heavy with algae and the ducks made tracks in the green covering. There is a mixture of old industrial decay alongside both modern designs of buildings. I took several pictures of the juxta positioning of the buildings and where the canal was algae free caught their reflections in the still water.

On the streets there were abandoned hire bikes. Colours were appearing as the early sunlight started to reach the taller buildings. I soon reached Limehouse basin and this coincided with the sunrise. The area has lots to see and quick decisions were made as to the best place to stand for the photographs. I used my phone to take a few quick pictures that let me quickly see and plan the pictures with my Fujifilm x100v. One of my first pictures worked well and set the standard that I needed for future views.

After spending time photographing the sunrise , I made my way along the final part of the canal to the Thames. This area is very popular with local commuters due to its proximity to Canary Wharf. The quality of housing is of a higher standard than where I started in the Mile End Road. The journey does take you through a range of housing. The Thames looked good in the early morning light and I took several pictures around Gordon Ramsey’s Bread Kitchen restaurant. I followed the commuters as they walked along the road and then onto the pedestrian walkway next to the Thames. This was a chance to practice some street photography as sharp contrasts between light and dark were created by the sunlight rising between the buildings.

After a while, I realised that I had a conference to attend and I made my way back to QMUL following the Limehouse Cut. This took me past the Sea Mission and I eventually caught up with the Regent’s canal again. The light had shifted and therefore there were different takes on pictures that I had taken on the way down. One picture that I enjoyed taking was of two swans who were tucked into a recess of the canal wall. The picture with the reflections in the background shows the beauty of this canal.

My final picture is of black and white architecture. I saw this block of flats as the canal turned after a railway bridge. The reflections immediately caught my eye. I converted the picture to black and white and I was pleased with the result. I entered into the weekly #fsprintmondays competition organised by FotoSpeed on Twitter and the picture made the top 4 for that week.

If you enjoyed this blog then there is an earlier account of my photographic journey from Kings Cross to Camden along the Regent’s Canal. This waterway has such a varied landscape which makes it ideal to satisfy my love for photography.

Walking Regent’s Canal

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A spectacular poppy field in Bewdley

by Damien Walmsley 01/06/2023 01/06/2023

Poppy field, Bewdley, Worcestershire, 2023

The alarm went at 3.30am and it was time to haul myself out of bed. I was going on a journey of 50 minutes to a field in Bewdley, Worcestershire. There were reports of poppies in the field near to Blackstone nature reserve. Sunrise was at 4:54am so I needed to get there promptly. I met up with an old friend and work colleague who I had not seen for several years. He was there armed with his camera ready to take pictures. The place was very quiet and the weather was on the chilly side. There was more cloud cover than my app “Clear Outside” was indicating. Will there be a good sunrise? Time to find out as we crossed the road and set off for the poppy field.

Social Media had left instructions of how to get to the field. This was from the Poppy and Flower finder Facebook page.

“Park at the (Blackstone) picnic site, walk across the road as there is no vehicular access. Follow the path to just under the old railway bridge and take the path on the right by the bridge and it’s there.”

The poppies were there in their glory and I spent the next two hours taking pictures in the field. The sunrise was fleeting although I was able to get a starburst as the rays broke through the treeline.

I took many pictures with one or two more memorable ones. Blue cornflowers added a blue dash to the red sea of poppies. There were some pops of white from cow parsley who were unsuccessfully trying to compete with the poppies.

I was starting to get cold standing out in the field and the cloud cover had smothered the sunshine. It was time to say good byes to the field and to my friend and head home to process the pictures. The early start to the day was memorable and I hope you enjoy the pictures that I selected.

Postscript – I learnt on social media that the farmer was out on his tractor and mowed the field that evening. Presumably he was fed up with all the photographers and other sightseers. The action set social media into meltdown as people vented their frustrations as they realised that would not be able to experience the field. I am not here to judge the action of the farmer who owned the land, I was just pleased that I had seen the poppy field in its prime.

I have been fortunate over the last few years to see several fields. In 2020, I visited the fields in Minworth, near Sutton Coldfield. The next year I was pleased that a poppy field turned up in Leamington Spa which was close to me. Last year, the field was in Churchill, Kidderminster and again was a beautiful summer experience. I have documented my poppy field travels below.

Summertime and the poppies are back

Poppy Fields in Leamington Spa

Poppy Fields

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Sunrise in Kardamena

by Damien Walmsley 19/07/2022 25/07/2022

Several mornings during July, I ran into Kardamena from where I was staying. My hotel, Acti Beach, is around 2 miles away from Kardamena. Getting up early and watching the sunrise develop during the Golden Hour is an unforgettable experience. Two years ago I was here in August and the sun rose over the sea. In July, the sun rises behind the mountains. Therefore I saw the sun start to rise by the golden colours appearing on the white buildings of the town as I ran towards Kardamena.

I run with my iPhone13 and I was able to stop for a few minutes and capture the golden rays. The fun is getting back to the hotel and seeing what the results are like. These pictures were taken on different mornings and when posted on my social media, they received a positive response. I certainly want to get back to Kos in the future and experience more sunrises on this beautiful island. This is the last of my Kos Island sequence and hope you enjoyed them.

Here are my links to Kardamena and Kos

I love Kardamena 2022

Reach for the sky

Back in 2020 when I first visited Kardamena

And where it all started with my daughter’s wedding on the beach in Kos

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Cracks Hill

by Damien Walmsley 03/04/2022 03/04/2022

This hill is the remnant of a glacier and has a prominent view of the nearby village of Crick and the surrounding Northamptonshire country side. I have visited the hill before as Sunset and captured a beautiful scene. On a recent visit to my daughter, I took the opportunity to capture the sunrise. Whilst there were no clouds in the sky the rising sun was still beautiful and I was able to frame the sun in the beacon. Whilst I was on the beacon there were several walkers who passed through for a chat. The subsequent light was beautiful and made a perfect start up for the rest of the day.

If you want to learn more about Cracks Hill then read the West Northamptonshire Council Web pages
and I have been there before at sunset visiting both the Hill and Crick’s Wood.

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January Sunrise in Hay Wood

by Damien Walmsley 20/01/2022 25/01/2022

A forecast of fog followed by a sunny day, sent me down to Hay Wood for a morning of photographs. I took my tripod and my Canon D5. Setting up the camera (Canon 5D) for the pictures I took 5 pictures of the scene by bracketing with 5 pictures at -2 EV, -1EV, 0 +1 EV and +2 EV. The five pictures were blended in Photoshop to give a HDR output. Comments on the pictures posted on social media were that the scenes took on a “painterly” look. This is the successful look that I was hoping to achieve.

Sunrise in Hay Wood — Rays of light filter through into the wood.

Sunrise in Hey Wood — Shooting at the sun and looking for a reflection from water in the field.

Links
All about Hay Wood from Forestry England
More Blog posts about Hay Wood
1-Wood Walking
2-Hay Wood: my forrest adventure with my camera

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