October 2020 – Andy's Photography blog

In all weathers

In April this year, like many, I was furloughed for a number of weeks, time that I think I used fairly constructively in finally getting around to cataloguing and sorting through a few terabytes photos, a job that had been remained permanently rooted to the bottom of my ‘to do’ list for far too long.

Once the decluttering phase had begun with the photos, it became contagious, books, cd’s and dvd’s found their way into my ‘no longer required’ boxes, ready for when we may once more safely give to charity shops or to the local recycling facility.

Then came the crunch day, when I decided it was time to purge the camera gear that had lain unused for too long, ebay bargains I had intended to sell but used, liked and kept, older models of newer cameras, the classic case of gear acquisition.

I was given plenty of time to evaluate my decision, with only essential shops still open, it would not be until the beginning of August that I was able to trade in at my local camera shop and collect the Lumix G9 I had decided upon.

One of the deciding factors in deciding upon the G9 was the weather proofing, it would give an opportunity to still get out on those wet and windy days, as long as it was paired with a weather sealed lens of course.

It is only in the last couple of weeks that I have acquired the Olympus 17mm 1.2 Pro lens, great not just for being weather sealed but good for low light photography, of which there will be plenty of opportunities with the clocks going back an hour just a week ago.

Having a couple hours free this Saturday morning, rather than making a cup of tea and heading back to bed after hearing the rain against the window, I packed the G9 and headed into town to hopefully get a few moody wet day shots.

Monochrome was the only way to go for todays brief foray

It was still a little early to capture people in numbers as they went about their day, however, I did manage to capture a good few reflections and ‘outside looking in’ shots as shops were preparing to open.

These shots have had very minimal editing, I really like the tones that the in camera ‘L monochromeD’ setting offers.

Now I have no more excuses not to go out wet days, as a whole new wet and windy world awaits to be captured.

Photography from the dark side

With autumn stepping into Summer’s vacant shoes, I reluctantly bid a fond farewell to those long, light evenings, but welcome the opportunity to capture the colours and moods of one of my favourite seasons of the year.

With woodland and riverside walks high on the agenda, hopes will be high to capture that colourful carpet of fallen leaves before they fade to winter mulch, golden leaves on lichen cloaked rocks teasing us with a show of colour before the barren winter months to come.

It is also at this time of year that I try to embrace the inevitable darker evenings, by honing my favourite photographic genre, low light and night time photography.

Emerging from summer photography mode into the discipline of low light work, my skills area little ring rusty, it is time to re-hone the skills with a couple hours night shooting around Exeter.

With me, I have my Olympus EM5 MKII with a recent new addition, the 17mm F1.2 Pro lens, with the EM5’s image stabilization and the wide aperture, I want to see how this combo performs with hand held shots.

As usual, the Ricoh GR3 tags along, small enough to fit in a pocket, it is a great little camera to stand on some of the street furniture, that act as a substitute tripod.

No night time foray is complete without the obligatory traffic trail shots, I do my duty with the ricoh perched on top of a metal pavement bollard, a passing bus giving a nice abstract look to the scene.

The olympus with the 17mm perform admirably too, my first shoot with this lens, so experimenting aplenty here.

I have deliberately chosen a less busy Thursday night for tonight’s foray, tomorrow will see more looking to start the weekend, I am happy in an emptier city.

The ricoh GR3 perched comfortably on random street furniture, at least I do not have to carry my improvised tripod around!

These shots all hand held with the 17mm wide open at F1.2

With a little of the ring rust shaken off, I have a couple of ideas for some night time photography projects in the coming months, after all, I may as well take full advantage of the longer hours of darkness.

October sunrise

Thursday morning, the fourth morning of a well earned week off and the most promising in terms of a possible sunrise, after a damp and miserable start to my holiday.

Today also happens to be my 54th birthday, so I have set aside the whole day to indulge in my two favourite pastimes, walking and photography.

Sunrise is around 7:30 am, so I arrange to leave Exeter Central station an hour or so earlier, the twenty minute journey gives plenty of time to find my sunrise location and to scout other potential areas of interest.

Having set up close to the sea shore, I opt for a place near one of the many groynes along the beach, a typical sunrise shot with a silhouette of groynes and beacon against the rising sun, that is when the plan changes.

Two shots into today’s outing and the lighting behind me casts a golden glow on the path above the beach, the picket fence and grass, either side,the sand covered footpath is a shot to good to miss.

Watching the sun rise, my attention was soon turned to the dramatic light and cloud behind me.

It was to become one of those rare days that wherever I turned, the beautiful October light presented so many photo opportunities, I was in my element!

Happy with the shots I had captured, it felt like I had put a single coin into a fruit machine and won the jackpot on the first roll, yet I still had the rest of the day ahead and a small matter of 12 miles to walk back home…..

….But first, a pit stop at a local bakery, where a hot cup of tea and a breakfast baguette went down rather well, the perfect fuel for an October morning hike.

Signs of autumn are all around, the local amusement park closed until half term, its attractions hidden under tarpaulins, the transition of greens to golds, oranges and reds of leaves along the way, the coolness of the early morning, lingering for a few minutes a day more.

The walk along the estuary trail to the Exeter canal has some of the most wonderful scenery, it is a walk I will always enjoy, whatever the season,my camera will be kept busy today, with the wealth of opportunities.

A couple of panoramic images, one showing the Estuary, the other, the verdant rolling fields around Powderham

From Dawlish Warren and Starcross, through the small village of Cockwood, the path takes me through Powderham, where my route goes from B Road to footpath, alongside the estuary, where it passes another favourite haunt, Turf locks.
The Turf locks pub is sadly closed, the views, fortunately are still very much open.

Pictures 1, 2 and 4 are at turf locks Marina, the lodge house is on the road to Powderham, just before joining the footpath along Turf locks. A picture of the path, bottom middle, while at bottom right, a cyclist takes in the views of the estuary.

One could be forgiven for thinking that this route cannot offer any more in the way of stunning views, yet as the path meanders from estuary trail to canal trail, there is still much to see, changing with the seasons.

Just a selection of the day’s images along the canal trail

With a good nine miles under my belt, the opportunity for a welcome refreshment at the double locks pub is far to good to pass up, from the outside, the pub commands picture postcard views, even the interior is worth a photo, as I like the way the light and shadows play through the large windows.

Double locks, my refreshment haven with a good nine miles under my belt

It is well into the afternoon before I reach Exeter, it has been a long time since I had a whole day set aside for my own indulgence, it is a day I have enjoyed immensely, a day that will end with a well earned fish and chip supper before looking through the days efforts.