Donna and Ryan at Hartsholme Park

Trevor and I had a fantastic day at Hartsholme Park in Lincoln at the end of October with Donna and Ryan. The weather was kind, a bit dull, but warm and the trees looked magnificent. Golds, reds and copper hues everywhere. Autumn can be a great time for a wedding or portrait shoot and it's brilliant as a photographer to be able to take advantage of these gorgeous colours at this special time of year.  

I was working with Trevor on the portrait shoot  and we had to work fast to make best use of Hartsholme park and its many amazing locations. Luckily Donna and Ryan were up for it and the afternoon was really good fun, the four of us zipping around the parks locations before the ambient light started to drop. 

Our first destination was under the canopy of a large Beech tree. Two off camera flashes were used to add punch to the scene, and help enhance and saturate the colours that surrounded us. This worked a treat, the images really coming to life. A couple of nice relaxed images here and then time to move on.

I love this relaxed pose of Donna and Ryan on the steps, the glorious colours of the trees in the background really help frame the couple and Trevor has captured the moment perfectly.

Next we moved to the beautiful bridge in the middle of the park. It's just been renovated and looked fantastic. It always makes for a great destination when working on a portrait shoot. A mixture of semi posed and candid images worked well here, and we managed to attract a bit of an audience at one point which is always fun.

As we started to loop back towards the car park, we stopped for another mini shoot with a lovely woodland backdrop. It's always a good idea to let the couple be themselves. Sometimes just a tiny bit of direction is all that's needed in order to capture great Images. By now Donna and Ryan seemed completely relaxed and at ease in front of the camera, and I think this really comes across in the images.

Loving the Fuji X-T2

We decided to get a couple of individual portraits as we got back to the Cafe' and visitor centre, and two more images of the couple together. We knew that this would be enough to put a lovely little portfolio together for Donna and Ryan. I had been using my Nikon D4 up to this point but decided to use the Fuji X-T2 for my portrait shots of Donna. Coupled with the Fujinon 56mm F1.2 I fired off a few images, setting the camera to continuous shooting mode. The X-T2 performed admirably, producing pin sharp shots of Donna. The Fuji really is an impressive bit of kit, and it will be accompanying me on future portrait and wedding shoots.

Lovely depth of field

It was a fun afternoon with a great couple,  and we managed to pack a great deal in to just one afternoon.

If you are interested in a portrait or engagement shoot, or are getting married soon, why not drop us a line. We would love to hear from you. You can click the link brettalexander.co.uk

First impressions of the Fuji X-T2

I've had the Fuji X-T2 for about a month now, and it will be used alongside my X-T1 for landscape work as well as weddings and portraiture. The Fuji X-T1 has been a wonderful camera and produced many landscape images that have sold really well in my gallery in Wells next the Sea, North Norfolk. The X-T2 will provide me with a camera that offers higher resolution, something not necessarily crucial for wedding and portrait work, but great for making big landscape images.    

Initial impressions are very positive, the 24mp sensor a welcome upgrade over the 16mp of the Fuji X-T1. Images are sharp straight out of the camera, and there is little need to sharpen them any more in software. Ergonomically the two cameras are very similar, which is a great thing, especially if they are being used together on the same shoot. I've not yet tested the autofocus capabilities of the new camera, not having shot a wedding with it yet, but once I do I will let you all know what my impressions are.

Albatros will full moon behind

The image of the Albatros was taken as the full moon (super moon) rose behind it. Coupled with the Fujinon 10-24mm F4 lens, I was able to get in close, almost under the boat to add real impact. This wide angle lens is an absolute cracker, and coupled with the X-T2 makes a formidable setup.  

Dusk at Holkham bay

Another image of the beautiful Holkham bay on the North Norfolk coast, this time looking West towards Hunstanton. This really is a beautiful, quiet area, and I would highly recommend a visit. 

Dusk at Holkham bay

Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 10-24mm F4 lens, cable release and tripod. Lee 2 stop ND hard grad.

Holkham looking East

The beautiful Holkham bay on the North Norfolk coast is a magical and peaceful place. It's very picturesque and makes for a wonderful destination for any landscape photographer. The bay sits just West of the beach huts at Wells-next-the-Sea and the easy walk between the two is delightful. 

This image was captured on a lovely late September evening just as the sun dipped beneath the horizon, the clouds turning a gorgeous salmon pink, the grasses forming endless patterns moved by the warm southerly breeze.  

The Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 10-24 F4 lens was set on my tripod, cable release attached with a Lee one stop hard ND Grad filter in place. Shooting at a shutter speed of about a second allowed me to capture the movement of the grasses, while an F stop of F11 and focal length of 10mm ensured front to back tack sharp focus. This 10-24 mm Fujinon produces astonishingly sharp images and I would highly recommend it to anyone searching for an excellent wide angle lens which produces very little distortion at the wide end of its range. Yet again, the X-T1 was faultless. I have no regrets swapping over to Fuji for my landscape work, the system I carry around must be less than half the weight of my Nikon kit I previously used for this type of work. It's been a very liberating experience.

Holkham looking East

I have now purchased a Fuji X-T2 which I will write about soon. Keep checking back.   

Herb Robert - Geranium robertianum

The Herb Robert is a type of Crane's Bill which can be found in a variety of habitats, including woodlands, hedgerows as well as coastal areas. It is a small, rather delicate plant with pink petals, flowering between May and September.

Herb Robert - Geranium robertianum. 

   

Nikon D4 with Nikkor 105mm F2.8 macro lens. Tripod and cable release.

Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera

One of our most beautiful flowers, the Bee orchid can be found along dry, chalk and limestone grasslands from June to July. It is found throughout the U.K. but is rather scarce in the North of the Country. 

Bee Orchid - Ophrys apifera

Photographed with a Nikon D4, Nikkor 105mm F2.8 macro lens, tripod and cable release.   

Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis

A beautiful little orchid that flowers throughout June and July. It grows in chalk grassland as well as scrub, road verges and coastal regions.

Pyramidal Orchid - Anacamptis pyramidalis

This particular orchid was found amongst a field of Birds-foot-trefoil and grasses, the yellows, greens and purples really seem to compliment each other.

Shot with a Nikon D4, Nikkor 105mm F2.8 macro lens, tripod and cable release.

Heath Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza maculata

Another beautiful orchid, found in damp meadows especially on acid soils. The heath spotted orchid is similar in appearance to the common spotted orchid except the middle lobe of the three petals is smaller than the two either side of it. The common orchid has three lobes of roughly the same size. 

Heath Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza maculata

The heath spotted orchids lip markings are often more streak or loop like and less dot like than the common spotted orchid. 

Heath Spotted Orchid - Dactylorhiza maculata

 Nikon D4 with Nikkor 105mm F2.8 lens with tripod and cable release. 

Southern Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza praetermissa

The last few weeks have seen me out and about searching for beautiful wild British Orchids. Orchids probably first came to my attention back in 2000 - 2001 when I worked for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust on a regular basis. I visited many different reserves within the County throughout this period and observed first hand the changing seasons. One of the many marvellous things I witnessed during this time was the beautiful displays put on by the wild flower meadows found throughout Lincolnshire, the several species of orchids being amongst the stars of the show, appearing as it seemed almost over night.  

I'm  trying to focus a bit more on macro and close up photography at present for a few different reasons. The first is that nice portraits of wild flowers and insects are always in demand with magazines, book publishers and newspapers. I've done pretty well over the years selling this type of image to various outlets, (even though the money received now is far less than it used to be) so I want to expand my portfolio as much as I can. The second reason is that i'm leading some photography workshops at Whisby Nature reserve in Lincolnshire later this Summer, and I want to get a feel for what's about at certain times of the year. I'm hoping that if the courses go well, I may be able to make them a regular thing next year. The last reason, and really the most important one for me, I just love taking pictures of our beautiful flora and fauna. I truly believe that if you don't really enjoy the subject you are photographing, it will show quite clearly in your work. I've always lived near wild areas and love being surrounded by trees, meadows, streams, and all the wildlife that goes with it. There's nowhere I would rather be.     

The first orchid I've managed to photograph this year is the Southern Marsh Orchid, a lover of damp or marshy ground, and pretty common in Lincolnshire. I try to find good specimens, ones that haven't been nibbled or damaged in any way, and aim to capture the plants in as natural a state as I possibly can. I think orchids can look their best when flowers at the very top of the plant have yet to come out, leading to a nice neat, triangular tip.

Southern Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza praetermissa, portrait

Possibly my favourite photograph of a Southern Marsh Orchid, showing the plant virtually in full bloom, only a few flowers left to come out at the very tip of the flower head. A perfect specimen, photographed in a particularly marshy part of this Lincolnshire Wildlife reserve. 

Southern Marsh Orchid - Dactylorhiza praetermissa

This particular plant was found in a slightly drier area of the same reserve, the flowers slightly darker in colour, again the uppermost flowers yet to bloom.

Both images were taken using a Nikon D4, Nikkor 105mm F2.8mm macro lens, tripod and cable release.

Lady's Smock - Cardamine pratensis

Lady's Smock or Cuckoo flower is a lovely little plant frequenting damp grassland, ditches and roadside verges. The lilac or white flowers are 1 to 2 cm across with four petals. It has a blue-green upright stem with very narrow leaves in a rosette at its base.

Lady's Smock - Cardamine pratensis  

Quite a delicate little flower, which makes photographing it quite tricky. A still day is ideal as the slightest breath of wind will get the plant swaying. A tripod, cable release and selecting mirror lock up will yield the best results and ensure a pin sharp image.

Up close, you can see just how beautiful the flower is.

Lady's Smock - Cardamine pratensis 

Common Lizard

I've always wanted to capture a decent shot of a Common Lizard but they're very wary and super fast, the closest I normally get is the rustle of grass and the briefest of glimpses as a tail disappears in to the undergrowth, camera still by my side. All that changed a couple of days ago, whilst out photographing orchids. A beautiful and quite large female was basking away on top of a blanket of reeds, body spread out, maximum exposure to the sun. It was such a good position that I think she wasn't going to move for anybody and I was able to get quite close. No time for a tripod setup as this would've likely spooked her, so a technique whereby you shoot on continuous high was adopted, allowing me to rattle off a number of shots in quick succession. Shooting like this gives me a much greater chance of capturing at least one sharp shot and I would highly recommend it to anyone if a tripod is impractical. The Nikkor 105mm F2.8 macro comes with vibration reduction, and this was invaluable in this instance.  

Common or Viviparous Lizard

I had recently read a guide book where the lizard was described as having skin that resembled many tiny beads and I think you can clearly see this on the image above, they really are fascinating

 After I had taken a few shots and was satisfied with the results, I left her in piece and carried on with some orchid photography. Walking back along the path an hour or so later, there she was, in exactly the same position, having not moved an inch. What an absolutely beautiful animal. 

Lily of the Valley

Lily of the Valley

The beautiful Lily of the Valley is a fantastic little plant that carpets shaded woodland floors throughout many parts of the U.K, it's delicate little white flowers, dancing with the slightest breeze. The beautiful, fragrant scent this plant produces is truly wonderful, and it's a joy to see every Spring.

Not really the easiest of flowers to photograph as the mass of broad green leaves covering the floor can make it difficult to select a suitable subject. Delicate stems of tiny white bell like flowers poke through this sea of green, so for me, isolating one specimen seemed to work best, the surrounding leaves acting as a great background. It's a very short plant, no more than 15-20 cm, so I adopted a very low camera position to try and capture the delicate beauty of the flowers, as well as the shape of the stem. Using a tripod and getting in close allowed me to achieve this. Patience really is the key with close up photography as the slightest movement of the subject can ruin the image. Days with little or no wind will likely provide the best results and shooting with a cable release will also help avoid any camera shake.

A beautiful little plant and well worth searching for during May and June across dry woodlands and hedgerows on chalky soils.   

Beautiful butterflies

With the weather warming up and the days getting longer, now is a great time to take a stroll down to your local woods to try and capture images of the many butterflies that are on the wing. There are many different species, all flying at different times of the year, so a little guide book will help you with their identification and the best places to look for them. Best times to photograph are first thing in the morning or later on in the evening when it's a bit cooler and the butterflies are less active and likely to be resting. Try and get in close and use a tripod if you can, this will help in capturing sharp images and the subject will fill a large part of the frame. Wider shots, taking in the immediate surroundings of the subject can also work really well, and shooting towards the sun can give glorious results, as the light provides a halo effect around the insects wings.     

Common Blue

A glorious male Common Blue butterfly at rest. Getting in close and using a macro lens and tripod helped me isolate the subject from the cluttered background. It was vital that the butterfly was parallel to the camera's sensor to ensure a pin sharp image. The slightest breeze would have ruined the shot so patience is key. I find that a cable release is also an essential piece of kit.

Marsh Fritillary

This beautiful Marsh Fritillary was at rest on a long piece of grass. It's quite difficult to believe that the subject was surrounded by a great deal of clutter, bits of grass sticking up everywhere. A macro lens can help isolate a subject and allow you to capture a really striking image. It just needs a bit of patience and lightness of movement getting yourself and your gear in to position, otherwise you risk scaring the subject. Shots like the two above are great images to have in your portfolio as identification guides and magazines are always on the lookout for pictures like these. 

Meadow brown

This shot of a Meadow Brown beautifully backlit by the sun was taken hand held. As I was a bit further away from the subject, capturing a pin sharp image was much easier, depth of field being less of a problem. Unlike the other two photographs, the grasses in this image help enhance the subject, showing the butterfly off in it's natural environment. It has been used in magazines across double page spreads and has been a good seller for me.    

All images Nikon D200 with Nikkor 105mm F2.8 macro lens.   

Study of Bluebells

One of my photography passions is close up and macro. I spent a number of years trying to perfect this particular genre, but lost my way a little as wedding assignments took over and became all consuming, not allowing much time for nature shoots. Since opening my gallery in Wells-next-the-Sea on the North Norfolk coast and focusing on landscapes, I have managed to find more and more time to address this and indulge in nature photography once again, particularly flower portraits. I'm not trying to look at subjects with my business head on necessarily, but if I were to capture an image that has sales potential, all the better. Flower photography has always been popular and I tend to look at two different shooting styles when I'm out which may appeal to different markets. Standard portraits with good light, perfect focus, possibly showing habitat, may be a requirement for book publishers or a nature magazine editor. They may be looking for stock images illustrating how a particular plant looks, possibly for identification purposes or maybe to accompany a magazine article. More arty, soft focus, hazy images may appeal more to people who want to buy a piece of art and hang it on their walls. This second category offers photographers huge artistic licence, and for me, when shooting flower portraits in this way, I strive to capture the essence of the plant as well as its beauty.       

Bluebells are probably one of the most photographed wild flowers in the U.K. and whenever I have the chance, I will always try to visit nearby woodland, simply to take in their beauty. This year I visited the beautiful Tattershall Carrs wood in Lincolnshire, and was met by the most breathtaking of scenes. The Bluebells stretched as far as the eye could see, turning the woodland floor into a carpet of electric blue. Bees buzzed lazily between the flowers and the sound of Great Spotted Woodpeckers drumming away echoed throughout the woodland.

Tattershall Carrs

The lovely carpet of bluebells at Tattershall Carrs make for a great photographic subject. I visited the wood on numerous occasions but unfortunately the light was fairly flat each time I was there. It was still worth visiting however, as the more familiar I became with the wood, the more I understood what composition might work and where best to set up the camera for future visits. The composition for the image above seemed to work quite well, the trees framing the top half of the image, holding the bluebells in. The only thing missing for me was a lack of strong directional light. That would have given the image more depth, the raking shadows adding some much needed visual interest. 

Study of bluebells

But artistic shots are different. You can fashion your own light, add your own colour, add a texture. Pretty much anything you want. Have a bit of fun with it and go with what feels right for you. The more time you spend photographing certain subjects and certain locations, the more you will understand what works and what doesn't. Remember there are certain rules within photography, but remember also, these rules can be broken.

So next time you're out in the woods with a camera, look a the many different ways you can photograph a scene. Go wide, get in tight, go high or get down low. You'll be amazed at how many ways you can capture the one place, and how much fun you will have doing so.  

The Lifeboat Inn

The Lifeboat Inn in Wells-next-the-Sea is a beautiful building, and a great place to stop if you're

visiting the North Norfolk coast.

Taken from a photograph on my Fuji X100, I produced this digital painting. It seems to capture the place really nicely, the eye taking in the lovely Inn, then wandering over the brow of the road, down towards Wells quay and beyond, to the open sea.

The Lifeboat Inn

'Saucy Sue'

Saucy Sue

A beautiful, calm day, at Burnham Overy Staithe on the North Norfolk coast.

Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 18-55mm F2.8 - F4 lens

Morston, Looking East

A freezing, early February evening at Morston in Norfolk. Looking East, you can just make out Blakeney Church in the distance, as darkness descends across the land.  

Morston, looking East 

Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 18-55mm F2.8 - F4, Lee 2 stop hard grad, tripod and cable release.

'Hayley'

Taken nine minutes after sun down, and as the tide ebbs away, little trawler Hayley nestles down for the evening, surrounded by the many other small boats and dinghies that call Burnham Overy Staithe their home.

'Hayley'

Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 10-24 mm F4 lens. Lee 3 stop hard grad, tripod and cable release.

Beautiful Weybourne Beach

In my last post I mentioned how much I love Weybourne, for it's ruggedness and reasonably isolated position along the North Norfolk Coast. There are a couple of things that really strike you about the place. The cliffs to the East, and the proximity of the sea to the beach. The waves crash onto the shingle, only a matter of yards from the car park, so there's no long trek over the dunes to reach the sea, (although there's nothing wrong with that if you want a nice walk). 

I've wanted to try and capture a fairly simple image of a Weybourne vista for some time, and I managed to finally spend a few hours there a couple of weeks ago. Shooting West along the beach/sea line seemed to offer the best combination of composition and beautiful, soft fading light, which was just catching the tips of the waves as the sun started to dip below the shingle bank. A slowish shutter speed of 1/4 second recorded motion throughout the waves without them becoming 'too misty like', which I felt would have reduced their power somewhat. Shooting with a much faster shutter speed however, almost certainly creates a very static image, where the motion of the sea can be lost, something I wanted to try and avoid. The Fuji X-T1 was set up on a tripod with a cable release, and a Lee two stop hard grad in place, positioned across the horizon. As the waves crashed in I tripped the shutter, reviewing the images on the LCD. I ended up with three that I really like, taken over a six minute period. What's quite amazing is just how much the light has changed in such a short space of time, completely affecting the feel of each image.

Warm light at Weybourne

Crashing waves 

Last Light 

Notice how the light has become a steely grey by the time we get to the last image, taken just six minutes after the first. I love the movement of the retreating sea in the second image. This really sums up Weybourne beach for me. And finally, notice the little sea creature in the first photograph, which looks like a Common Sunstar. 

I love this place, and I know I'll be visiting again real soon.

Outfall pipe at Weybourne, North Norfolk Coast

One of my favourite spots along the North Norfolk Coast is Weybourne. It's one of those places that you could easily miss whilst travelling along the coast road. It lies between Blakeney and Sheringham, and on first glance, is a quiet, unassuming little village. But if you follow the sign to the beach, along a narrow, potholed single track road, and climb over the shingle bank, you will be greeted by the most wonderful of vistas. A steep pebble beach quickly gives way to the sea, waves crashing and breaking, only a matter of metres from the car park. To the East, chalk cliffs stretch as far as the eye can see, to the West, wonderful views back towards Cley and Blakeney. I think I like Weybourne so much because it feels isolated and away from the crowds. It feels wild, untamed, and I like that. 

Photographing here, for me anyway, requires a different approach to my usual landscape work. I'm trying to capture the rawness, almost emptiness of the place. It's a challenge, but any excuse to visit and I'm there. On this particular occasion, I photographed the Outfall pipe, something that greets the eye as soon as you crest the bank. The pipe makes a great subject, and for some reason doesn't look out of place in such a beautiful spot. This particular shot was taken four minutes after sunset. A shutter speed of two seconds was used to create a sense of movement through the water, as it started to envelop the pipe. I was using the Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 18-55mm, tripod, cable release, with a Lee two stop, hard N.D. grad filter.

The Outfall pipe at Weybourne 

The image was converted to black and white, with a few simple tonal adjustments.  

Fuji X-T1 with Fujinon 18-55mm F2.8 - F4 lens.
2 seconds at F14, ISO 200.  

Two more from the Moor

Happy New Year everyone. Wow, what a busy few weeks. December was taken up with a Christmas Fair in Wells-next-the-Sea, where the gallery, 'Saltmarsh and Samphire', was exhibiting photography, craft, and fabric makes. And after that, towards the end of the month, I had a wedding shoot in Hull. Before I knew it, fireworks were signalling in a New Year, and I realised that I hadn't written or uploaded anything to the blog for some time. So apologies for my lack of posts, I'll try and pull myself in to some kind of shape and get back on it from now on. This week, I've been out and about along the North Norfolk Coast, to one of my favourite places, Weybourne. I captured an image that for me sums up this pretty magical place. I will upload it soon, and try to describe why I love the place so much . But for now I'm posting my last two images from Roughton Moor that were taken recently. They have a sepia type filter applied to them, similar to the recent 'The Long Path' and 'Fallen Leaves' uploads. Filter stuff isn't something I normally do, but I quite like this set of images, and it's fun to try something a bit different every now and then. They have a slightly haunting appearance, and for me,  it kind of sums up Roughton Moor quite well. The wood has a special place in my heart, I used to muck around there as a kid, and I'm now the woods voluntary reserve manager for the Lincolnshire Wildlife Trust.

I think the four images might look quite cute as A4 sized framed prints, and I may offer them for sale in the gallery in the coming months, just to try something a bit different.   

www.saltmarshandsamphire.co.uk       

Not a Breath

Still waters

I've also been shooting some film stuff too, both colour and black and white. I'll have some new film blog posts in the next couple of months or so. I do enjoy shooting with this medium, and they are amongst the most read and commented on articles across my site. I'm still on the look out for a Leica M6 and Nikon FM2, to add to the collection.... maybe this year. 

So lets get snapping everyone, and here's to a fantastic 2016.