Picture of the month | January 2011

I'm pleased to say that the recent changes to the website have not been purely cosmetic, and that in addition to the new online store; I also plan to start incorporating a number of new regular features. This post is the first of these. At the start of every month, I will be looking back at my favourite image captured in the previous month - As well as recalling the story behind the photo.

Whilst January was not the most productive month for new images, I did manage to get out and about a few times and produce a selection of images that I felt help to satisfy my creative cravings. This shot, which I have affectionately titled ‘Black Light’ was 1 of only 2 monochrome images captured this month and actually began life as a colour shot.

The day had begun with a trip to the Holy Island of Lindisfarne but unfortunately the BBC weather forecast had proved to be incorrect (yet again), and my 5.30 AM start had resulted in a couple of hours standing around by the castle hoping that there might be a minor weather miracle. There wasn’t. However in the distance I could see a small patch of blue so I decided to head inland to the Cheviot Hills near Wooler.

So began the ‘chasing of light’ game! As I reached Wooler the conditions were improving but that elusive patch of light was still a way away. A quick check of the map later, I decided to head over the border to Kirk Yetholm in the Borders. Here conditions were better but still I had not found the treasure!

So I continued through the village and headed towards my, as yet unknown, destination. Imagine my elevation when I finally found myself in a desolate Border Valley under a blanket of blue sky and white clouds!

A quick climb of a hill later, and I found myself standing on the ancient Dere Street Roman Road looking across the border ridge towards the English Border at Carter Bar. After passing a couple of hours taking a few shots looking back towards Northumberland and the Cheviot Hills, I noticed an interesting break of light above a misty patch of the uplands. By now the wind had picked up and I knew that using my 70-200mm lens to isolate details in the landscape would be a tricky proposition. I quickly composed my shot and fitted my 3-stop hard and 2-stop soft filter to the lens. Next it was just a case of firing the shot when there was a lull in the breeze. Out of about 30 shots there were only 2 that were sharp enough to keep.

Whilst the colour shot was pleasing, I felt that the colour distracted from the mood of the location. Ironically after a day spent trying to find a splash of colour, I found myself capturing one of my favourite black and white images to date!

Keeping the balance

We are entering an age where some landscape photographers consider software to be of equal importance as the camera system they use to capture their images. With the term HDR becoming more and more prominent throughout the photography universe, some may consider that the use of neutral density graduated filters to balance the exposure range when capturing images is no longer necessary and perhaps something of an antiquated technique in landscape photography.

On paper, the use of HDR (High dynamic range) photography techniques to capture your images should provide the most pleasing results. Essentially HDR photography is undertaken by widely bracketing a number of exposures (ie -2, -1, 0, +1 and +2 f-Stops) which are then combined using specialist software to create an HDR image. So far, so good. Then a technique called Tone Mapping is utilised to reintroduce some contrast into the image and to make it appear more realistic. And this is where the problems begin for a number of photographers using this technique… poor tone mapping can result in an image that simply looks unrealistic, and sometimes quite horrendous.

Another problem with combining multiple exposures to create an HDR shot is movement during the capture of the bracketed sequence. Whilst at first it may appear a calm enough scene, the processing of this shot of the Chalamain Gap in the Cairngorms National Park was made far more difficult by the movement of clouds between the -2 and +2 bracketed exposure. My only option was to blend the exposures using my HDR software (technically not a full HDR shot) and then using Photoshop I manually combined the bracketed shot with the best exposure for the sky and then using a layer mask I removed the underexposed foreground to reveal the 'exposure blended' foreground. It probably took me about an hour to produce this one shot and whilst I am really happy with it, I would have preferred to have captured it in camera using filters. But there was a major problem with using filters in that the horizon was haphazard and the difference in exposure required for the shot was around 5 f-Stops. Basically if I had used neutral density graduated filters to balance the exposure, the evidence of their use would be apparent on the final image.

So whilst it is apparent that there are some definite advantages to combining multiple exposures, I personally found the length of time involved to process the final image is enough for me to only use this technique when there are no other options available. And luckily for the majority of my images, neutral density graduated filters prove to be more than adequate to provide the end results I require.

Whilst it is commonly believed that the 'soft' graduated neutral density filters are easier to use than the 'hard' graduated filters, I personally find that the 'hard' filters are far more useful when they are used in landscape photography. I find that a harder transition can often be placed in such a way that the use of filters is often unapparent to the viewer of the final image, which is what I am always striving to achieve. For the shot above I used a 3-Stop 'Hard' ND graduated filter and a burst of fill-in flash to illuminate the foreground interest. You should never be a afraid to combine a number of techniques in your quest for the perfect landscape photography shot!

8 Tips for Landscape Photography

Readers of this months Photography Monthly magazine, may have noticed that I was asked to offer eight tips for successful landscape photography. Here they are again just in case you have not read the magazine!

• Reach your location at least one hour before sunrise or, in the case of sunsets, stay until about one hour after.
• Instead of using your zoom lens, use your feet instead.
• Religiously check the weather forecast and tide time tables if you are planning to visit the coast.
• Always work with the light and weather conditions and choose a location that will benefit from them.
• Always consider the rule of thirds but remember that rules are there to be broken.
• Whenever possible, always use a good sturdy tripod, remote release and hot shoe spirit level.
• Don't get to wrapped up in buying the latest camera gear, it is the person behind the camera that makes a great landscape image.
• Always try to perfect the shot in camera as opposed to 'fixing it' back home on the computer.

Of course this is not a comprehensive list but if you remember the above you should start to see a distinct improvement in your own landscape photography!

Two images shortlisted for 2010 'Take a View'

I am delighted to announce that two of my images have been shortlisted for this years 'Take a View - Landscape Photographer of the Year' awards. I feel honored to have reached these final stages, and I just hope that the judges enjoy the images as much as I did capturing them!



Click here to learn more about this prestigious competition.

Win a copy of Spirit of Northumberland

I am delighted to announce that my first book to be released this year, my seventh book so far, has just been released!  

Northumberland is not only the northernmost county to be found within England but also the least populated. The ‘land of the far horizons’ offers some of the most picturesque scenery to be found throughout the British Isles, although it is often overlooked by visitors heading north to the uplands and highlands of Scotland.

 Any visitor to the region has an array of locations to visit which all have something to offer. Be it the impressive remains of the World Heritage site of Hadrian’s Wall, the beautiful coastline of the Northumberland Heritage Coast or the rolling yet domineering features of the Northern Pennines as they sprawl towards the Southern Uplands of Scotland, the county can lay claim to a mix of quintessential English scenery.

Although Northumberland is now possibly one of the most tranquil and peaceful spots to be found in England, it has not always been that way. Marauding invaders from Scotland and Scandinavia dictated the construction of numerous fortifications to protect these northernmost English lands.The remnants of these buildings remain dotted across the landscape providing an enigmatic contrast to the natural features of the region.

With the relatively sparse population, and a large amount of suitable habitat, a wide variety of wildlife is found within the boundaries of the county. The Farne Islands are something of a Mecca for the bird watching community, whilst inland areas of woodland host the endangered Red Squirrel that any watchful visitor may have the privilege to see.

Through the medium of Jason Friend’s superbly evocative photographs the reader can experience at first hand all of the glories that help make up the Spirit of Northumberland.

I have a couple of signed copies of my latest book to give away to two lucky readers!  To be in the draw to win a copy of the book simply become a fan on my Facebook page or follow my twitters! I will give one copy to a random follower from both networks... so why not join both and double your chances of winning a copy? I will be making the draw on the 6th April so don't delay if you want to win a copy of the book!

Follow the link below to view some of the images:-

http://www.halsgrovemedia.co.uk/imagebase/data/albums/KB41/KB237/Spirit%20of%20Northumberland.pdf

Plan B

One thing that I have learnt over the last 10 years of pursuing photography as both a hobby and an income (has it really been 10 years since I had my first ever image published?), is that you should approach each shoot with an open mind and a willingness to employ a flexible approach to the subject should it be required.  The last couple of days I have passed photographing various subjects throughout Northumberland, have once again reinforced the importance of having a Plan B.

Yesterday my problems were with snow and the difficulties associated with hiking through it. My first plan had been to hike down the Breamish Valley within the National Park, with the goal of reaching a suitable viewpoint overlooking the Cheviot itself. My progress was slowed down by snow and I decided to work from a lower elevation in the valley to ensure that I could return to my parked car by dusk. The Cheviot had to wait but I turned my camera towards the valley and surrounding hills - returning home with a handful of memorable winter images.

With the promise of a good weather forecast, I left my house at 5.30AM this morning and drove north towards Ross Sands along the Northumberland Heritage Coast. Why can a promise from a weather forecaster never be 100% trusted! As I drove towards my destination, a large blanket of cloud started to appear on the horizon - and I started to get worried! As I reached Alnwick, I decided to use Plan B - Cullernose Point.

I reached Cullernose Point and I was delighted to see that the blanket of cloud had remained in the north - just. It was almost as if the point I was about to photograph was the divide between the cloud and the clear skies.

I had two minutes of exquisite light before the blanket of cloud finally obscured the rising sun as it steadily started to hug the north-east coast. I doubt that I would have even taken a photo this morning if I had not taken the decision to abandon my trip to Ross Sands. Plan B worked... and I returned home with one of my favourite images to date!

Feeling the chill in Scotland

I am writing my first post of the year from a hotel lobby situated in the rather cold Scottish Highlands.  As chilly as it may be, the dumping of white stuff which has been disrupting the whole of the United Kingdom has transformed this already spectacular landscape into something far more beautiful - and I honestly did not think that this could be possible.

I am currently back up in the highlands working on a book to be released later this year by my long standing publisher - Halsgrove. This book, The Spirit of the Highlands, will be my third book, out of a total of five, to be released during 2010. Work is also being undertaken on a another two books for release during 2011 - Someone is going to be busy over the coming months!

Working in sub-zero temperatures does have its disadvantages. The actual means of reaching the locations are often limited. Car travel is possible but the icy roads are making it a dangerous proposition and upon reaching the location, finding a suitable viewpoint is both a laborious and time consuming affair as the the thick blanket of snow makes the smallest of hike feel like a major expedition.

Luckily some of the locations can be photographed from viewpoints close to the roadside such as the image of the Pass of Glencoe below.  So far this trip has been very productive so I thought I would share a couple of shots with you. Enjoy the snow!