Framedlight

The last weekend in November we spent with the family in a charming thatched cottage in Hawkchurch on the Dorset/Devon border. The cottage had a log fire and an Aga and was the sort of place that makes your own house look deficient when you get back home. The Saturday we spent in Lyme Regis and, although winter the sun was warm enough to sit outside a cafe for a crab sandwich lunch. When we arrived it was shining directly behind the cob and gave the chance for some nice contra-jour effects. As it was a family day out I took the Fuji XE-1 only, but it coped very well with the lighting conditions, once I had adjusted the highlights and shadows in Lightroom.

Wymondham is a small town in west Norfolk and was holding a fair to host the turning on of their Christmas lights. We went expecting some steam at the very least, but steam punk is apparently an Edwardian science fiction idea mainly involving the wearing of a black, Victorian or Edwardian gothy sort of costume with pith helmets and goggles - think 20,000 leagues Under the Sea and Chitty Chitty Bang Bang. The steam implies industrial revolution but Wymondham on Saturday had none of that. Presumably suggesting it had moved on!! It was a dreich afternoon with rain threatening, so I had my D800 with a 50mm f/1.4 lens which I used mainly opened up to f/2.8 or f/1.4. I also set the camera to auto ISO which I find really useful for photographing people if I do not want to have to think about exposure all the time and miss the moment. At f/1.4, if the focus is nailed (difficult with more than one person), this is a fantastic lens.

I know that anyone looking at this blog will be fed up with the trees! After a late start autumn has hung on and on and I have been to a number of places where the trees have been stunning - and who could resist? I am a fan of forest pictures, especially liking those of Hand Strand and Dav Thomas. We happened upon Calke Abbey a couple of weekends ago after visiting friends in Nottingham and it is certainly worth going to. The house was left to the National Trust in a semi derelict state and although it looks tidy outside, apparently not much has been done to it inside. I say this because it was closed as the National Trust shuts all of it's houses over winter believing the nation is confined indoors watching daytime telly. As you can see the day was overcast and tried to rain a couple of times. The grounds are extensive and there is a river running through on one side, in a steep woody ravine. There is also an isolated church which lies a little way from the house and was shut a

I converted the Millenium Bridge photos into black and white using Nik Silver Efex Pro 2. I liked the delicate tones of the colour versions but the monochrome ones are a lot punchier and suit the cloudy skies of the day.

I spent a day in and around the Millenium Bridge in London while visiting the Paul Klee exhibition at the Tate. The exhibition is definitely to be recommended and food for thought for photographers. The following were all taken with my Nikon D800e with either the 24-70mm or 14-24mm lenses. As you can see the day was pretty changeable with sunshine, cloud and later heavy rain.

Furneux Pelham is a small village in Hertfordshire, around 20 minutes drive away from my house. My daughter discovered a nice circular walk there which starts by the church and goes through some beech woodland. We went back to give the dog some exercise and for me to again bag a few trees, travelling light with the Nikon D800e, 24-70mm f/2.8 lens and a tripod. The first picture has been subjected to some alterations using Nik Color Efex Pro foliage and glamour glow filters

Still looking for that perfect autumn shot, Alan and I went to Ashridge Forest in Hertfordshire around 3 weeks ago. We made an early start for the 1 1/2 hour journey and the forest was quiet when we got there, surprising a number of deer on the access road. It was a very sunny day, too sunny really as the contrast was extreme in among the trees. There was also a bit of a breeze blowing, but we enjoyed the morning very much. This was our first visit and I am sure that we will be back. By the time we were leaving the place was heaving with people but we did have a large bowl of pumpkin soup in the visitor centre to fortify us for the return journey! White coral fungus