- Love the sharp edges of the concreet in combination with the blury sky very cool photo... - L3o-on
- compelling work - Terp's ~ R. Terpolilli
Silver Lining
(Published in Photo Technique, Spring 2013)
(Explore #1)
'What do all these buttons do again?!'
So went my text message to Keith Aggett earlier today, suddenly finding myself alone in a wet and muddy field, camera in hand and innapropriate flip-flops (foolish given yesterday's downpour) adorning my feet. A combination of incessant rainfall with no respect for the season, home decorating, family commitments, long hours at work (I manage a team doing twelve hour shifts and it's surprising how often twelve can become sixteen), and my own general dislike for summer imagery had left me precious little time to get out and take any photographs. In fact, it's fair to say I was feeling slightly disconnected - not good for any photographer - although I was pleased to note it didn't take long before my camera began to feel reassuringly familiar in my grasp, apparently forgiving me for it's period of impromptu hibernation.
My phone rang in response. Answering it, Keith's query of "You're out shooting then mate?" was met with a spluttering cough before I could reply properly. Oh, didn't I mention above the cold I'm recovering from? No? Oh well, never mind... Keith's revelation that there was some excellent racing cloud (LE practitioners will understand) where he currently was in Exeter - some twenty miles from me - didn't do a great deal to inspire, although several minutes into our conversation and I suddenly cut him off with the news that the singularly ominous, dramatic bank of cloud I'd been waiting to head nearer was gaining position...
'That cloud is full of rain. I'm now wet.'
That was exactly how my next text message read. Determined to embrace the stalwart British tradition of perseverance, I ignored my sodden shirt and the rain dripping from my nose (at least I think it was rain - damn that cold), keen on removing the lens cap now that the shower had moved on. Quickly assembling my ND filter lens housing, eager to capture something of the remaining brooding sky without the threat of droplets ruining the shot, I turned briefly to see an enormous dog bounding towards me. I mean enormous. Had I meant big, or slightly larger than average I would have said so. This dog was clearly related to The Hound Of The Baskervilles, and looking beyond it I could see it had two similarly apportioned siblings - both of which seemed unsure whether to rush me or bide their ground in case the first one failed to take me out alone, a feat that seemed highly likely at that point. I barely had time to register it's unseen owner's shout of beckoning as the animal skidded to a halt, it's intended leap limited to just two dirty pawprints on my jeans. I didn't care - I was alive! It's not that I don't like dogs - far from it in fact, I had my own for a good ten years and intend to get another eventually. It's just that in my experience, most dog owner's I encounter when I'm out taking shot's seem to assume that everyone else loves their pet too. The number of times I've had to loft my backpack high to stop some beast urinating on it, or shout at one myself as an insidious hind leg begins to cock itself against my tripod - while simultaneously the owner remains conveniently oblivious. Perhaps next time I'll run after the person concerned, jumping up at them and popping a flash unit in their face manically! At least on this occasion the owner did make some half-mumbled words of apology as he trudged by with his trotting trio of Satan, Lucifer and Beelzebub... Looking down I realised I'd been stood all the time just inches away from a pile of what I shall politely describe as canine excrement, judging by the size of which I (perhaps unfairly) attributed to my new four-legged friend.
Deciding it was time to try a different subject from the telegraph poles it had been my intent to capture (I haven't yet reviewed the images but feel I will be lucky if I nailed the shot), I went on to a second nearby site where I've tried several times to shoot a particular item. Minutes after I got out of the car it started to rain again, leading me to take shelter beneath some overhanging trees at the side of a path, crouching down to gain better cover and trying not to let my resolve weaken. A second dog walker passed me by, eyeing me suspiciously in my lair as I raised a hand in the universal symbol of 'I'm ok, really I am.' Several email checks later, a quick game of Angry Birds and a catch up on my flickr contact's recent uploads and the rain suddenly cleared. Hurrying on to my destination, I was confronted by the newly revealed sun placed directly behind my subject - creating huge contrasts and glare. I did actually set up my gear, frame everything up, focus and get my filters and cable release ready hoping for a fresh bout of obscuring cloud but it wasn't to be. That didn't happen until half an hour or so later when I was back in my car heading for home...
Nobody said landscape photography was easy! It isn't, but all of you I'm sure have had occasions like these - and I'm sure you'll agree the good times are all the more sweet because of them. Yin and yang in all things.
Consequently, this shot is one from my archives taken almost a year ago on a day when things went my way a little more easily...
On a separate note, I'm happy to announce my 'Snake' image (elsewhere on my photostream) was a Nominee in the Fine Art category of the recent international Black & White Spider Awards - www.thespiderawards.com/. It's my first year of entering and I submitted two images in just the one category, so am pleased with the outcome. Congratulations also to Keith Aggett (he's like a bad penny!) for similar recognition in the competition, alongside Bill Allen, Marina Chen, Michael Diblicek, Gavin Dunbar, Robert Moran, and Vassilis Tangoulis who all also enjoyed success(es). My sincere apologies to anyone I've inadvertently missed.
Comments and faves
Hesham Alsufian | , Glenn Pfab, Richard Whitney, nanobotulism, and 376 other people added this photo to their favorites.
PeteZab (11 months ago | reply)
That's a good picture, it's almost minimal in its composition but very effective because of that. Nice mono conversion too, the tones on this are quite sublime. Also, well done with the snake image.
Hesham Alsufian | (11 months ago | reply)
Great work Andy!
Glenn Pfab (11 months ago | reply)
Brilliantly captured Andy!
nanobotulism (11 months ago | reply)
That's stunning Andy. Your images often have an enviably balanced exposure with velvety blacks and clean whites and this is no exception. That crisp solid wall contrasts dramatically with the dynamic sky. The composition and clean lines are drop-dead gorgeous as well. One of your best I think.
Seaton Carew (Still looking for inspiration) (11 months ago | reply)
Another top-notch mono Andy.
maxxsmart (11 months ago | reply)
I need to come back for the read, but for now I'll say I am speechless.... Your images have been doing that to me a lot these days.
Back soon!
agavephoto (11 months ago | reply)
All the dark tones seem very fitting together. You've positioned the cloud movement quite well with the lines of that wall, which, with the extreme contrast of the smooth sky and water against the solid and textured wall make this one to study for a bit. Very nice, Andy. I bet you get a lot more clouds than I do! LOL at the dog about to mark your tripod as his ... I can just imagine that scene!
Mairi M Martin (11 months ago | reply)
Very beautiful and a stunning black and white image !
izzy's-photos (11 months ago | reply)
It hasn't been a good year for landscapes!!!! I love doing long exposures too (though I greatly admire your compositions, I wish I had your eye!) but haven't had the chance of many recently :(
This one is fab, I love the range of tones, and the composition is beautiful. Bad luck with the terrible weather on your outing, especially in flip flops! Are you mad???!! I've got a good pair of wellies you could borrow if you were nearer ;o))
Thanks for your visit to my stream :)
George Sheils (seoirseosial) (11 months ago | reply)
Fantastic image and a great story too.
Fine work.
scott howse (11 months ago | reply)
Yes, the weather is becoming a little tiresome. I've been out twice in the last 5 weeks pffff and I've a new camera to learn and break in. It's nice then to finally get out though I'm beginning to wonder when next that will be for me. Lens at Nikon being repaired, perpetually piss poor weather, a postponed trip to Cornwall (due to said weather) and expensive car failure just about sums up my photographic summer so far. Utterly frustrating.
Glad you got out, you've captured a nice frame here. Love the darks (very apt) and some nice attention to the highlights giving a nice overall contrast.
Jake Pike (11 months ago | reply)
Fantastic mood and detail :) Nice looking tones and composition and liking the cloud movement! Very well processed too.
PeterChinnock (11 months ago | reply)
What a wonderful narrative to accompany this wonderful shot! Really interesting and amusing to read, I love little insights like this into lives... nobody needs 16hr shifts though, thats never good for photography!
Super toning and textures on the sea wall Andy and a top sky to boot!
Julia-Anna Gospodarou (11 months ago | reply)
This is wonderful, Andy!!! Love the mood and the highlights that draw you into the frame. I'm so curious to know what's behind this wall where the light is coming from!
Laurence Cartwright (11 months ago | reply)
Those deep blacks and greys work so well here.
HdueK (11 months ago | reply)
semplice!fantastica!!!la curva,la texture,il flusso delle nuvole...
Peter Levi (11 months ago | reply)
Just such a glorious work...you are just king at this!
Photon-hunter (11 months ago | reply)
Extraordinary (the shot). Reading your stories made me understand that the lives of us the LE shooters are all based on the same (cheap) script. :)
Good light!!
Jonny_Cawley (11 months ago | reply)
stunner
EvenSteven! (11 months ago | reply)
a+
ecirp1 (11 months ago | reply)
Really great photo
James Duckworth (11 months ago | reply)
What a story..... made me smile on this Friday afternoon at the office. Flip flops in the brush tch tch tch....... as I've gained more experience in the LE world I really begin to appreciate the trials and tribulations of which you so eloquently write - not that canine poop cannot show up when photographing high speed imagery of cyclists or some such sport.
This is a nice comp Andy. You've brought balance to the image with the highlights. As always wonderful tones and range. The drama in the sky tells a lot of the conditions. Congrats on your Spider award - your Snake image is a nice one. Spiders and Snakes not something one would think of as a winning photographic combination.
S. Monteiro (11 months ago | reply)
Wonderful tones and contrasts here !
Great LE !
JGo9 (11 months ago | reply)
The textures are jumping off the screen and I love the dark contrast.
VassilisPhotography (11 months ago | reply)
amazing tones my friend! really perfect dark mood! Congrats for the nominee title..! surely you deserve more than that!
.Rohan (11 months ago | reply)
Perfectly composed and lovely dark tones, and congrats Andy, very much deserved
John Ormerod (11 months ago | reply)
Angry Birds is a great game
Gavin Dunbar (11 months ago | reply)
Congrats to you as well Andy on your success in the Spider Awards, very well deserved! Super texture to the seawall in this shot, and that sky is just perfect!
bsimak (11 months ago | reply)
Just splendid oh master of dark tones. I just love these shots. Perhaps you encountered a dire wolf. "A dire wolf is an unusually large and intelligent species of wolf." Once I actually did fend off a large and rather unfriendly looking German Shepard with a massive blast from my strobe. His ears dropped and he beat a hasty retreat. I wish I had a taste of your weather. We are in a drought here. Temps in the 90's, 86% of possible sunshine and no clouds. But back to your image, the water contrasted with the sky and the light on the wall is really excellent.
paulwynn-mackenzie.co.uk (11 months ago | reply)
Fantastic shot as always Andy! I love the way that the clouds and wall pull you through the photo :) And of course excellent processing as always :)
Esteban Abel Guerra [deleted] (11 months ago | reply)
Soberbia toma, me gusta la cmposición y la edición que le da mucha fuerza y atractivo, te felicito!!
StephenCairns (11 months ago | reply)
Fantastic dark image Andy. I'm off to work so will drop in later for another look. Oh...congrats on the Spider Awards as well. Lots of good competition in that Fine Art category.
Michael Salmela (11 months ago | reply)
Beautiful dark sky and wonderful textures!
...arpi... (11 months ago | reply)
Fabulous. Love the rough texture of the wall
vulture labs (11 months ago | reply)
awesome work here man
Dalang55555 (11 months ago | reply)
Powerful work!!
Sue Brown - Devon (11 months ago | reply)
This is just beautiful Andy. Just as I think my work is improving you come along with these beautiful masterpieces. Many thanks for the inspiration.
M Belmar (11 months ago | reply)
Magnífica edición
Felicitaciones
/// Jeem /// (11 months ago | reply)
A killer !!!
MichelleWhy - Stefanie Loges (11 months ago | reply)
Oh I enjoyed reading this a lot Andy, it happened just yesterday when I was out shooting. Stupidly I chose the dogsbeach here in Schleswig...wish I had read this before ;)
Wonderful image to go with, like the light and how it surrounds the pier to emphase the curve. Congratulations to the nominee, sure well deserved, if not even more!
ps. I LOVE Angry Birds :)
Trevor Cotton (11 months ago | reply)
A superb image Andy, trademark rich dark tones in a masterly processed comp.
Together with a great story that most of us coastal LE fans, can all too closely relate to.
StephenCairns (11 months ago | reply)
Wonderful composition. Wide and close is perfect here. I'd really like to see this much bigger. The way you've brought out the textures and details along the retaining wall(?) is superb.
Keep your feet clean this weekend Andy.
This photo was invited and added to the Magician's Square (by invitation only) group.
This photo was invited and added to the Black and White Elegance group.
Gintaras Varnagys (11 months ago | reply)
Well done Andy !!!
maxxsmart (11 months ago | reply)
Back again! The read brings back some all too familiar memories of dogs crashing my landscape party, rain changing my plans, and the more recent of all, work getting in the way of my life with the camera. As always, your writings have brought some smiles, some nail biting, and edge of the seat anticipation of what will happen next. As for this image? Well... I love those dark tones in the sky, faint detail of clouds defined on the horizon, and the rich texture on that wall. If I had to name 5 of my favorite photographers of todays age, you're no doubt one of them. Brilliant work (mrbuk1).
wandavella (11 months ago | reply)
Your story is great and made me laugh!! After all that you went through and then ended up driving away empty handed! I kinda felt that way when I was reading your story and then in the end this shot was not from that day!! haha This is beautiful and like you said if you didn't have bad days the good days wouldn't feel as good even in everyday life!!
Kevin Corrado (11 months ago | reply)
Congratulations Andy. I followed the link and i'm glad I did. Once again, you put out an amazing piece that amazes everyone.
Sean Batten (11 months ago | reply)
Brilliant B&W shot.
Douglas Remington - Ethereal Light® Photography (11 months ago | reply)
Wicked b+w. Great comp and long exposure. Love the tones!
~dr
barneymcgrew (11 months ago | reply)
I liked your story of trial and failure, it struck a chord with me - all those times you go out full of good intentions and come back with nothing...
this shot is great, though, the wall is full of such depths of light and shade, set off by the dark sky. Great stuff
Andrew James Howe (11 months ago | reply)
Yep, Andy, lovely image, as always with your work, a pleasure to look at, and your writing that go's with it always makes me smile :-) nailed on image and story too.
They say you have to suffer for your Art, and anyone who has picked up a camera will testify for sure, when it hail stoned on me on Crosby sands, I remember ring my dad up and saying I wished I lived in California (those were not my exact words!), I bet we have a 'mild' November and all........Spot on Image bud :-)