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Monthly archives for January, 2014

Tips from the Field #1

Jan30
2014
Written by Stephen Street

I was standing on top of a rocky shelf at daybreak as waves crashed all around me.  Light from a new-born sun sliced across the ocean and glanced off craggy boulders in front of me.  I had already fitted a three-stop neutral density filter to try and get a swirling sea effect, but I really needed an even slower shutter speed.  So I added a polarising filter, which gave me the effect I wanted as well as saturated warm colours and reduced unwanted reflections.

Then I went to take it back off.  I couldn’t, it was stuck fast.  Perhaps I had screwed it on too enthusiastically; perhaps a grain of sand had been picked up and was now wedged tight in the threads.  I don’t know.  All I knew was that I now had two filters stuck together tighter than the clasp on a Yorkshireman’s wallet.

Back at base I almost gave myself a heart attack trying to unscrew the filters, but they wouldn’t budge.  I tapped them, I banged them; I tried twisting them one way and then the other.  I even shouted at them, for some strange reason that only seemed to affect me.  I was running out of ideas and decided that I had applied enough brute force and ignorance, now it was time to try a different approach.  I would try the appliance of science.

I poured hot water over one filter, thinking that it would expand and release its grip.  No joy.  Next I decided to try the opposite; I put the filters in a sealed plastic bag and then left them in my freezer for a short while.  Twenty minutes later both filters screwed apart with no problems at all.

So, what’s the tip?  Clearly, it’s don’t waste time shouting at your filters.

Notes on the title.

‘Tips from the Field’ suggests that you will find pearls of wisdom in what follows.  This isn’t necessarily true, a more accurate heading would be ‘Ways in which I messed up and sometimes got away with it’, but that’s a bit too wordy for a title.

‘#1’ suggests that there are more tips to follow.  This may or may not be true (I don’t have any others in mind at the moment, but I’m always finding new ways to mess things up so who knows…) however, this is still the first of its kind and so the title stands.

Posted in Out & About - Tagged coast, daybreak, filter, problems, technique, tips

Wildlife Photographic

Jan15
2014
Written by Stephen Street

The latest issue of Wildlife Photographic magazine is now available for purchase from the iTunes store. As well as showcasing the best wildlife images from around the globe and providing tips and inspiration to aspiring outdoor photographers, it also manages to feature an article of mine.

Wildlife Photographic is edited by Craig Orr and can be downloaded here.

Posted in Miscellaneous - Tagged app, personal approach, shameless self promotion, technique

The Corner of My Eye

Jan12
2014
Written by Stephen Street

It had been one of those frustrating mornings where much was promised and little delivered.  My plan had been for an early start, so that I would to be on location early enough to catch pre-sunrise colours reflected in rock pools that are exposed at low tide.  I put in the effort but nature changed her mind and failed to match the weather forecast.  Instead of the desired mix of colourful clouds and attractive reflections that I was looking forward to, daybreak was welcomed by rapidly clearing skies, bland reflections and a disappointed photographer.

Whilst driving over my local moors back towards home, I spotted a few red grouse here and there.  They were mostly brown blobs on brown heather and not even worth slowing down for.  I saw one standing on a boulder quite close to the road side, but again it didn’t seem to offer much photo potential.  Just as I drove past it and just as I began to drive down a steep hill, I caught a fleeting glimpse of this bird out of the corner of my eye that looked completely different.

So what do I do now?  Do I drive on or do I go back.  If I go back will it be worth it or has my mind been playing tricks with my peripheral vision again?  So many times when this has happened I’ve turned around only to find that the actual scene is nowhere near as good as I thought it was.  Well, as you can see, I went back.   For once it was worth the effort, but I had to be quick.  Parked on a twisting narrow road at the top of a 20% gradient isn’t the best way to endear yourself to your fellow motorists.  I stopped, took a few shots and then quickly moved on.

Posted in Out & About - Tagged bird, grouse, North York Moors NP

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