Category Archives: wales

Sunset Waves

Mar
02
2012
by Adrian | 0 Comments

Sunset Waves

Hey Hey it’s Friday, It’s been a sad week with the loss of Monkey Davie Jones, especially for those of us old enough to remember them, as a kid I always wanted to be one…sad indeed.

Well I had my MRI results yesterday and the good news is that I don’t need surgery, looks like its a slight nerve pinch form a disc, bad news is I have to go to pain management now as there isn’t anything they can do for it! So I’m throwing caution to the wind and upping my training schedule again…will concentrate on gaining muscle strength in my lower back and see if that helps.

This image of the sea crashing in at Broad Beach Rhosneigr, Anglesey. A long exposure to create the misty effect whilst holding the detail of the rocks.

Looking forward to next week, NEC Monday for the Focus On Imaging show, credit card at the ready! better not tell Jo she’ll go mad..lol. I am after a Canon S100 for doing my scouting shots and when I am just out and about, really nice piece of kit but soooooo expensive.

Have a great weekend all

 

all my best

 

Adrian

Susnet Purple

Feb
03
2012
by Adrian | 0 Comments

Sunset Purple

Using filters in photography is essential if you want to create something that’s not the norm or to enhance a scene. This one utilized a Singh Ray Reverse Grad and a lee .6 ND, the Singh Ray took off the bright glare from the middle area and allowed the sky and foreground to blend more naturally and the Lee .6 was used to slow down the shutter speed and help create the misty smooth feel to the sea ….simplez! other than that the hardest part is getting a darn good soaking and of course you have to be there……

Waiting for a phone interview this morning for “The Photographer” magazine, they are doing a full feature on me so very honoured indeed, all goes in the scrap book and hopefully it will bring more commissions my way, every little helps as they say.

Went to the RPS International print exhibition at Barnsley Civic gallery on Wednesday night, some fantastic images there and it was a great turn out, congrats to the Civic team for making it a superb event, mind you there was champagne and olives , yup olives, you know I never had one til i was 40 and when I did I wish I hadn’t….sheep droppings comes to mind..never again, made do with orange juice in the end.

Will hopefully make it out this weekend especially if the snow they have forecast materialises, Stormy will be ready with harness on waiting by the door no doubt.

 

Have a great weelkend

 

Adrian

 

Llyn Gwynant – The Path

Jan
31
2012
by Adrian | 0 Comments

Llyn Gwynant - The Path

Llyn Gwynant – The Path

 

Quick one today, got to get some prints ready for a client, will catch up later

Another from one of my fav places just up the road from Beddgelert Snowdonia, you can get a great ice cream here, no wet feet or wellies required, stand in the car park and hey presto this is the view, turn to your right and its Snowdon looming high to the clouds.

Thanks for looking

Adrian

Broad Beach Sunset Ripples

Jan
23
2012
by Adrian | 0 Comments

Broad Beach Sunset Ripples

Had a great weekend away with my big sis and her hubby, we took the caravans to Clumber Park, near Worksop, some spectacular woodland walks round there as well as a great bike ride round the lake. All manner of wildlife available for the twitchers out there. Unfortunately  the weather didn’t play fair and it pretty much blew a gale force with large amounts of rain thrown in for good measure the whole weekend. I Managed a few shots yesterday while on a nice walk, will see how they look later.

This shot from my recent trip to Anglesey, building quite a following there now and selling well to the locals too which is always a good sign! I feel a book coming on..lol

Whilst at Spurn point the other day Paul who I met there took this  shot below of me and Stormy standing in mud, not sure if I had just gone splat arse end into the mud or not at this stage, needless to say i wont be going back in a hurry! Cheers Paul, great shot

Adrian & Stormy "Spurn Point"

 

 

God’s Valley – Llyn Gwynant Snowdonia

Aug
12
2011
by Adrian | 3 Comments

God's Valley

Happy Friday all

 

the weather is awful, drizzle and cold, the country is in turmoil with riots and youth gone wild!

But doesn’t it sooth your soul to see a sight like this, Llyn Gwynant in Snowdonia, the title says it all as God himself must have taken great care in designing this location even providing a carpark and ice cream van for you comfort and refreshment whilst taking your pictures….

It was a particularly  stormy day when we were there but nothing could stop you feeling that you are one step closer to the almighty than you were before you saw this sight. I must admit its always on my to do list when going to Snowdonia as is Bedgellert which is very close to this view.

Have a great hire car this week now, a Mercedes ML 350, I don’t mind now how long mine takes for repair as this is a beauty, shallow I know but its a stunning motor, may have to have a day at the coast on Sunday, Saturday is Stormy’s first day at doggy training classes, hope she doesn’t embarrass me too much, she’s into humping anything in site at the moment, must be her hormones and she’s very domineering with other dogs even big ones, I’d hate to see the site of some butch chav with his Stafffy as I try to pull a sex mad siberian husky off it’s back….the Staffy that is..lol

Have a great weekend

 

Adrian

Sunset Footpath

Aug
09
2011
by Adrian | 4 Comments

Sunset Footpath

Is it Tuesday already, it’l be Friday before we know it…

pleased to say my car repairs are taking shape, it also now needs a new tow bar as well….this being the only thing that saved my life and that’s no joke. If you don’t need one I would still recommend having one fitted, you never know!

 

Just ordered my Tilt Shift lens, I couldn’t justify hiring one at £95 a time and I have several jobs coming up that will in some way pay towards it…hope Jo doesn’t find out, at least not until she has bought several pairs of shoes and kitchen bits…she’s usually ok with it as she knows I make it good but they are darned expensive.

Must still have 30-50 shots to process from Wales, it really was that good a week this last time, I’ll do more as and when but I have a few biggish jobs on now so need to complete these to keep me in the style I have come accustomed to..lol, may sound stupid but I would rather have a new lens than eat, well skip a few meals anyway..and looking at me I could stand to lose a few pounds or stones…before anyone says different like Glyn in Germany.

 

The shot

Canon 1ds MK II

EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

f/20, 27mm, ISO 100, 1.6s, 21.56 pm

Lee Filters, ND .6, ND Grad .9 and .6, hand held sunset filter

 

often asked about Photoshop and the processes I use, I only ever adjust I never add anything. The colours etc must all be there to start with

Correct horizon level

remove dust spots

adjust levels using curves to balance the light

adjust saturation but believe me this is minor maybe 10% extra only as the filters do the most of this, quite often I have to tone this down or just use auto settings in

the rest is dodge and burn, a little contrast to suit my taste and hopefully my customers.

Overall very little work, I would say 90% is done at sea as it were, I do enjoy the processing side but God I love the “being there”

 

Adrian

 

 

 

 

Wales 2011 Seascapes and Water Video

Aug
04
2011
by Adrian | 7 Comments

 

Well I finally finished it, this is the new Wales – Seascapes and Water 2011 video, taken me a while to get right as it’s always a little more fiddly when you have lyrics with music.

The music is courtesy of the fabulous Pendragon (special thanks to Rachel) with the wonderful tones of both voice and guitar of Nick Barrett, I am so very grateful for this, the track is so very special to Jo and myself and brings back so many many happy memories of times and places in Wales with Timba the Timberwolf/Husky cross who gave us nearly 15 years of happiness.

I was fortunate enough to be photographer for The Classic Rock Society on Pendragon’s final show of their European Tour promoting the amazing new album “Passion”, without doubt the best show and sound quality of any band I have seen, one of the most polished performance bands in the business and a must to see if you love Prog Rock at it’s very best.

I am currently changing part of my permanent exhibition at Barnsley Central Library and the 1st floor shots will be swapped for new seascapes while the downstairs main exhibition will remain Peak District. I will also be starting to compile the  book “One Tog and His Dog” video to accompany the book as well.  I’m determined to knock out at least 3 pages a week, it’s so easy to get writers block, the images flow but transferring the visual emotion into words is quite difficult without going in too deep, perhaps I need a ghost writer. I also need a poet if there are any out there for a project?

very best wishes to all who have encouraged and supported me during the Seascapes Project 2011, far too many to list but you know who you are.

 

Adrian

Pebble Beach, “far away in time”

Jul
20
2011
by Adrian | 2 Comments

Pebble Beach

OK so I got you singing “Echoe Beach, far away in time” in your head, it will be there for ages, I’ve had it buzzing round in my head for 2 hours now! it was a good song though.

This shot is from Penmon by the lighthouse, it was a beautiful sunset and the gold from the sun settled into a dip on the pebble beach, tight restrictions on composition here as there were fishermen everywhere, still I think its about right, I love the detail when blown full size.

On another note I’d like to thank Jeep for making a car that can withstand being hit from behind by an arctic lorry. I was coming off the M1 yesterday and was about to pull onto the roundabout when 20+ tons of lorry ran straight into my back end doing some speed.  It’s right what they say about slow motion, things flew everywhere. My car flew in the air and hit the roundabout centre barrier. Anyway, police cars, paramedic, then in an ambulance for an hour (finished up at Barnsley General, last night for check over as by back and neck felt worse) before I decided I dint want the hospital and they let me go, I have whiplash and lower back ache and a doozy of a headache where I nutted the steering wheel  but otherwise unhurt which as the police officer said was a miracle and mostly down to the construction of the car….The bumper and parking assist system has had it, the boot wont close properly and a scratch to the front end, oh and worst of all my Oakley Dispatch glasses flew off my head and are scratched £155 worth, that’s most annoying, they better pay for that!

Police are looking at prosecution for the lorry driver due care etc etc but it was an accident and I’m here so hopefully the pain will wear off soon and the car will be fixed, scary though I thought I had done worse to me at the time but it was shock. The guy came with the police to apologise, he said he nearly bricked it when he saw the size of me..lol not that I could have done anything.

 

Echoe beach far away in time, damn it , it just wont go from my head!

 

Adrian

 

Anadin Line

Jul
19
2011
by Adrian | 0 Comments

Anadin Line - The Boat Pool

Tongue firmly in cheek re the title,mind you are people old enough to remember The Onedin line from the 70’s, I can just remember it as it ran until 1980 and of course there’s good old “dave” channel…lol.  It was just that I had such a bad headache this night, I’d been in the sun too much during the day and must have some mild sun stroke or something. I gave up on sunbathing  a few years ago realising it’s boring and obviously isn’t doing me any favours plus there are better things to do like jet skiing and playing with Stormy in the sea, unfortunately the sun gets you what ever you are doing and just walking round produced this whopper of a headache.

Anyway the sunset didn’t disappoint and standing knee deep in the sea produced this image of the Boat Pool, an overnight stay over and anchorage point for small yachts and fishing boats

Some lucky people aren’t there?

have a great day

Adrian

 

llanfairfechan Blue Moon

Jul
18
2011
by Adrian | 2 Comments

llanfairfechan Blue Moon

Monday morning, the rain is coming down, it’s cold and windy and it’s the start of the working week….think I’ll go back to bed!

Hopefully this shot from Penmon looking towards llanfairfechan on the North Wales coast will help chill you out. It was a great full moon and the graduated filters increased the sultry blue tint cast across the sea and sky with a hint of the reflective sunset from behind me hitting the sky and mountains.

As Im often asked how I produce these types of shots I’ll give you the EXIF data.

First and most important, BEING THERE!

Canon 1DS Mark III

EF16-35mm f/2.8L USM

ISO 100

f/22.0

25 secs

35.0 mm

Lee .9 ND Soft Grad

Lee .6 ND Glass

Manfrotto Tripod, Muck Boot Artic Wellies and a smug grin (doing what I love)

In Photoshop Raw I level the shot to straighten the  horizon, adjust the exposure, recovery and saturation, then open into Photoshop CS5 where I spend  time removing spray and dust spots from the shot, my biggest bugbear on photos, I hate seeing them, I do this at 400% image size to ensure the shot is totally clean, sad I know, then it’s just a resize and save for web apps etc etc. I enjoy this part as much as taking the shot, I feel the same emotions in front of my Mac that I do standing in the sea taking the shot…double the pleasure.

now you know what I use and how I do it and hopefully a little insight into why.

 

Have a great week
Adrian

Copy Protected by Chetan's WP-Copyprotect.