Tag Archives: photo101

Motion

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Moment and Motion.

Right, so everyone thought there was going to be a photograph of a Harley or some other motorbike. Well, to be honest that would have been nice, but as I can’t ride one and take a photo of it at the same time we will all have to settle for something else!

Again the old Dookes grey matter has been stretched, but I came up with something that I think fits the task.

The lunchtime train running bunker first on the Bodmin and Wenford Railway, near the wonderfully named “Crabtree Lane” bridge.DSC_0006
My variation on the “Motion” theme was to use a slow shutter speed and “pull” the zoom at the same time as shooting, it’s like panning, but use it for when something is moving towards you. The background blurs, but the subject should stay reasonably sharp.

It sorta works, but not the best in my opinion!!! The shot certainly has blurred motion though.

I have to admit that I’m not a great fan of this sort of photograph, it’s an engineering mindset I guess, I like things to be sharp. I’m happy to hear what you think though!

“Gonna be your man in motion, all I need is a pair of wheels”

Catch you all soon.

Dookes

PS Don’t you all think it’s time for a motorbike type post? 🙂

Architecture – In Monochrome

Gallery

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Architecture & Monochrome I was delighted to get this task, especially as we are still having a bit more hazy weather with muted sunlight…it could have been made for monochrome photography! Additionally, I knew just the … Continue reading →

A Pop Of Colour

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: A Pop of Colour

I’m beginning to feel that the Weather Clerk is firmly cracking the whip on my efforts for this photography course; today, there was no sunshine yet again!

OK, so I’m getting a good mental workout in lateral thinking and it was a case of deja vu whilst I pondered what I could do.

Unfortunately I didn’t have much time to play around experimenting either, an uncooperative motor-gearbox unit occupied much of my time today, still it was better than sitting behind the desk!

Anyway, I had an idea and this is what I’ve come up with. I have a collection of various bits and bobs from my railway career and one thing certainly stands out, colour wise anyway! It’s a nameplate off one of my favourite locomotives, English Electric Deltic Class 55 007 “Pinza.” The engine was named after the thoroughbred racehorse which as a colt won the 1953 Epsom Derby and the King George VI and Queen Elizabeth Stakes. I can’t think of anything better to name a high-speed railway locomotive after than a racehorse!

Anyway, I dusted off the ‘plate and hung it on the outside wall of Dookes H.Q. The way that the red background stood out against the stone and aluminium letters looked pretty OK to me. Taking the shot on an angle helps, I think, to make the picture a bit more interesting.

A Pop of Colour.

A Pop of Colour.

I hope you like it!

“I’m going off the rails on a crazy train!”
Dookes

The Mystery

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Mystery and Lighting Effects.

Hello Bloganaughts.
Well, we are halfway through this course now and I have to admit that I’m having a ball!

Todays mission is to create a photograph that encompasses “Mystery” at the same time as using light to create mood and effect. I have to admit that I have been looking forward all day to getting to work with a camera, some bits and bobs and a few ideas.

If I say so myself, I’m pretty darn pleased with the end result too!

Can you solve the Mystery?

Can you solve the Mystery?


I do have a slight problem, because I can’t make up my mind between the colour shot or the same in black and white. I am open to suggestions, comments and opinions!

Sinister Monochrome Mystery…?

Sinister Monochrome Mystery…?

…”a ride on a mystery train, to a place I’ve never been.”

Catch you all soon,
Dookes

Warmth & The Quality of Light

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Warmth and The Quality of Light

I’m beginning to believe that Cheri and the WordPress.com team are looking at my local weather forecast before sending out the daily curved-ball! Today we were tasked with capturing an image of warmth, using the sun as the light source. Oh yeah? Welcome to Cornwall and the view out of my office window!!

It's Cornish Sunshine!

It’s Cornish Sunshine!

Mindful that the rain and mist was set in for the day and not wanting to fall back on my photo archive, I did a bit of lateral thinking.

The answer lay at home in the form of the log fire, so draw up a chair and get warm!

Warm enough?

Warm enough?

Well, I might have bent the rules a bit, but sometimes you have to realise when you are beaten!

“Come on baby, light my fire.”

Dookes

Natural World & Leading Lines

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Natural World and Leading Lines

Hello everyone.

It’s been a bit of a grey, misty and wet old day here in Cornwall and with an assignment to look at and take photographs of the Natural World. . . well lets just say it’s been tricky!

Like yesterday, I’ve been teaching children about food and farming again. Fortunately for my voice the event is now over, but it has kept me caught up and not able to rove too much. That’s not really been a problem though, as it’s made me open my eyes to what is available.

In the boundary of the Showground I found a small wood of pine trees, fortunately not too wet and misty either!

The nice thing about trees is that they are so fantastically three-dimensional, look up, look down, look all around and there is something to shoot!

Pointing to the sky.

Pointing to the sky.

Barking2

Texture, lichen and lines in the bark.


Even underfoot there are things to photograph and marvel, including the beautiful Primrose, Primula vulgaris, one of my favourite wild flowers.
Primula vulgaris.

Primula vulgaris.

Keep it all natural and I’ll catch you soon!

Dookes

“Big”… or Did You Say…?

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Big.

There I was munching on my breakfast this morning, when up pops todays assignment email.

“Lets go big,” extols Cheri from the WordPress.com Team and there in the middle of the email is a wonderful picture of the pyramids at Giza!.

Now how on earth is a geezer, Giza/Geezer, like me expected to match up to that?!?!?

Oh boy indigestion was coming on worrying this one through.

Today I have been helping out at a Countryside and Farm Education Event; teaching literally hundreds of seven to ten-year olds all about where their food comes from. Good fun, if a tad tiring. Then walking around I had an idea, cos those tractors are BIG!

Putting the camera on the ground, I got this shot.

It's certainly Big!

It’s certainly Big!

Or did you say…

Pig?

Pig?


Only kidding!!
Dookes

Connect

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Connect.

Sometimes the trickiest problems have a solution that sits almost right under your nose! Or in the case of this assignment, up in the air above it. Early this morning, I picked up the email with todays task just before setting off towards the office.

As I opened the gate to the lane at Dookes H.Q. I was pondering the angle to take when I looked up and saw the answer on the telephone line pole opposite! I don’t think you can get more connected than this!

All Wired Up!

All Wired Up!

Stay connected and I’ll catch you later!

Dookes

Solitude

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Photography 101. Todays assignment: Solitude – And The Rule of Thirds.

Hmmm. Tricky this one. I spent all morning thinking about solitary trees.

Then maybe a single apple on a plate, but that would have been a bit desperate!

Time for a ride on Harley, that normally gets the old mind back in working order! The light was fantastic, just perfect for taking colour photographs

We trundled around the North East side of Bodmin Moor and then ended up on the old World War Two airbase, Royal Air Force Davidstow Moor.

This is a very special place. It nestles high up in an ethereal corner of Cornwall; though when the mists roll in it can feel cold and sinister, time to leave it and it’s spirits alone.

The silent runways still lie largely intact, as are the ruins of air-raid shelters. Not much else remains, except for the gaunt, block-like, decaying hulk of the old Control Tower which remains as witness to the events of the past.

The Tower seems to stand vigil in sad solitude; waiting to welcome home the ghosts of aircrew who never returned.P1030151There is a tangible presence around the place which is hard to define, it pulls me back frequently, but I can never stay for long…

Per Ardua ad Astra.

Dookes

Bliss

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Photography 101. Today’s assignment; Bliss.

OK, so you all thought that I’d post a picture of my beloved Harley, didn’t you?

Well, to be honest the thought did cross my mind… but actually the bliss part comes from riding and it’s quite hard to capture the essence of that feeling in a photograph.

So I did a little thinking and as I was walking the dogs this morning at Dookes H.Q., it came to me.

The sun was up and slowly warming the day, encouraging more daffodils to open.

The sky vibrant blue and a gentle breeze tickled the catkins on our Purple Hazel trees.

Corylus Maxima Purpurea: Purple Leaved Hazel

Corylus Maxima Purpurea: Purple Leaved Hazel

For a few seconds I let the world stand still.

It was sublime, proof that the seasons had moved on and warmer days were coming; a moment of bliss!

I hope you agree.

Dookes