Autumnal

I went for another walk today, as I had a free afternoon. I walked to a local spot that I visit frequently. In simple terms, it’s a long path which stretches for about a mile, lined with trees in parallel the entire length. It’s one of my favourite places to go. I didn’t actually have a “free” afternoon as such; I was supposed to be Christmas shopping! I managed to get all of my shopping done with some time to spare, so got a bus to the start of the road and walked the entire stretch with my camera.

The only major problem with lining the street with trees is that they aren’t evergreen and present an issue when you decide you wish to sit anywhere! By the time I got to the end of the path I still had a little time to wait, so I went in search of a bench. I found one, but it was covered in leaves.

I decided to try to take a picture of this, using a wide aperture to blur what was behind and underneath the bench and to focus on the front few leaves. I wanted to make the photo more interesting, so I pre-focused the camera before moving it. This had the effect of changing which part of the photo was in focus, drawing you into the picture. Apart from increasing the saturation in Photoshop slightly, I haven’t edited the picture as I wanted to keep the effect of using natural light and I liked the original image.

I never did get chance to sit down; I’m afraid I’m too easily distracted. It was a shame I missed my bus though- I blame the camera…

Bex
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Reeds Against The Trees

I got a chance to take some photos with my new flash gun today, and they all came out fantastically! Unfortunately I arrived home quite late so I haven’t had a chance to take the photos off the camera yet. So I’m going to use another photo from our recent trip to the duckpond.

I saw this group of weeds standing out on front of the background of trees, I thought that the contrast between the background and the subject made for an interesting composition. To make the most of the composition I use the widest aperture possible, which in this case was F4.5. This aperture gives a small depth of field and makes the subject stand out in front of the background.  I used a tripod for this photo as well as the others to ensure that maximum sharpness was retained.

I didn’t edit the photo because I was very pleased with how the composition had been captured. The exposure had been calculated perfectly so I didn’t need to change any settings. The effect of the photo I find to be very pleasing.

Bex has been suffering from computer problems recently, so I’ve been left in charge of the blog for a short while. She is trying to sort the problems out and will be uploading more of her fantastic photos very soon.

Mat

Crafted

Today Mat and I went to a local Christmas market together - which seemed like a good idea to start with, but got a little annoying after a while (his new camera sounds like it’s on helium!). The word “new” being added by Mat while reading over my shoulder, just to emphasise it a little more!

All joking aside, apart from the incessant camera talk, it was a lovely day full of photographic opportunities. The Christmas market had a Victorian theme, which was great as everyone jumped in whole-heartedly. This meant a lot of fancy dress and led to almost everything being handmade! On one of the stalls, everything had been crafted from wood by the stallholder; this is where I stopped to take this shot!

I used an aperture of F5.6 and a shutter speed of 1/50 so I could get an incredibly shallow depth of field. I used a slow shutter speed as it was starting to get dark but I wanted to avoid using flash.

One effect that I didn’t mean to create was that I focused on the centre object, but this also meant that the far end of the first was in focus. I actually like this effect, even though it was an accident! I really enjoyed myself today; attending this kind of thing is one of my favourite pastimes, as it’s always so varied and you’ll never know what you might find.

Bex
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Roaring Flames

As I've done quite a few fireworks photos recently, I thought I would carry on the theme but with a bit of a twist. I took this photo during the same evening as the fireworks; they had a bonfire before they set started setting the fireworks off.

So for this photo I wanted the whole frame to be in focus so I used an aperture of F16, but this meant I needed to use a high ISO (ISO 1600). This gave me a shutter speed of 1/125^th of a second which was fast enough to capture the roaring flames of the fire. Also as the shutter speed was fast enough I didn’t need to use a tripod or a flash-gun.

To edit the photo I cropped the photo down a bit, and I also increased the colour temperature. I increased the colour temperature because I wanted the photo to be very vibrant and the fire to look warm and appealing. I cropped the photo down because there was quite a lot of empty space in front of the fire which was causing a distraction.

I’ve still got a lot of photos from the firework display, there are so many that I like; way too many to be uploaded. So if I upload any more I’ll upload the very best ones for you all.

Mat

Moody Dandelions

This is another of my photos from Monday’s photography wander with Bex. This set of dying dandelions caught my eye when we were on our way back. I thought they could make an interesting composition if I took the photo with the right settings.

So to get the composition right, I took the photo with an aperture of around F6 to get an adequate depth of field. I also chose to use the low key gradation setting to make the dark parts of the background look blacker. By doing this it creates a dark and mysterious atmosphere to the photo, which I thought would make the composition more interesting.

When I uploaded the photo onto my computer I decided that it didn’t require any editing. I liked the overall effect of how the photo worked straight from the camera. The background is perfectly blurred with the low key effect creating the moody atmosphere I wanted.

Bex and I are planning to go for a wander into the nature reserve again tomorrow. I hope the weather holds so we can get a varied mix of photos.

Mat

A Bridge To Not So Far Away

Yesterday I went for a wander with Bex in our local nature reserve. This was before we had a chance to look at her new set of twenty eight filters! In the nature reserve there is a brook which flows all the way through. About half way down there is this small wooden bridge that crosses the brook.

I thought the bridge would make an interesting photo if I got the composition right. By only including half the bridge in the frame I thought it would make the composition more interesting. I used a high F-stop (F18) to add some depth to the photo and to keep as much of the bridge in focus. I didn’t use flash because the end of the bridge would white out, and the overall effect would be spoiled.

When I took the photo off the camera I decided to make the shadows darker and the increase reds. I darkened the shadows to create a moodier atmosphere to the photo. I increased the reds to bring out how the bridge looked in real life.

I’m really looking forward to trying out Bex’s new set of filters (if she will let me!). Maybe we might take a few on our next wander with us. We’re planning another photography walk in the next few days, so hopefully we shall have some more photos to upload for you.

Mat

Waterways

I didn’t manage to get out today, so I looked through my computer for some photos that I have taken previously.

This one was taken on the holiday that Bex and I went on in early July. It was taken while on a walk beside the canal. I really enjoyed the holiday and took plenty of photos; this is one of the best ones though. The canal was very calm as there was no wind, so its reflection was just like a mirror. I used a small aperture to get quite a deep depth of field. Because of the small aperture I had to boost the ISO so I could take the photo without a tripod.

I decided the photo didn’t need any editing done to it. The only thing I noticed was that a person was on the path on the right hand side. So I cropped the photo a bit to remove the path and make the scene more photogenic.

I like how the photo looks; it comes across very tranquil and peaceful. The effect is spot on what I was trying to recreate when I took the photo.

Yesterday the blog turned 5 months old! Also we’re very close to 4,000 page views. So just a quick thank you to every one of you; without you the blog wouldn’t be what it is.

I’ve enjoyed running the blog this week, but I’m away from this Saturday for a week; tomorrow being my last post after that I shall leave you in Bex’s capable (and better) hands for the week. She tells me that she has been taking many photos. Also she plans on uploading the best ones to the blog, just for you.

Mat

Facing Fears

I will freely admit that apart from the odd wander with my camera, I’m not the sort of person who relishes time in the outdoors, and I fear almost anything with the ability to fly, sting or walk on 6 or more legs.

I went for a walk through our local nature reserve today, but to a part that I don’t often visit. There is a small man-made pond in a field on the outskirts of the reserve, which has a wooden platform at the edge. I sat on the platform for a rest, watching the dragonflies and pond skaters, before I noticed a small spider at the other end of the platform. I got about 4 inches away from it and managed to take this picture before it ran away.

Later, I increased the saturation in Photoshop and sharpened the whole image. I’m really pleased with this picture (and only partly because I managed to hold my nerve long enough to take it!). Maybe facing your fears is good for photography too…

Bex

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A Lone Daisy

This is another photo from yesterday’s short wander. It was actually taken about 50 feet down the path from yesterdays upload!! I noticed how the water droplets had settled onto the daisy; I really liked the effect that it created on the flower.

I thought I should put the camera onto a portrait format; I did this so as to only show the daisy in the centre, it also focuses the attention onto the head of the daisy. I used a large aperture to blur the background so as to not distract the attention away from the daisy. I preselected the white balance to make sure that the daisy petals came out a really clear white against the green background.

After putting the photos onto the computer, I used photoshop to edit them. I reduced the colour temperature to make the white petals even whiter; I also tuned the shadows down a little so as to keep the interest on the flower itself.

I really like how the photo has come out, with the detail of the water droplets and the detail in the petals. Hopefully the weather will make a turn for the better so that I can take some sky shots. Bex and I have been making the best of the bad weather with our photography. Have you been making the most out of the wet weather too?

Mat

Small reflections

This morning, Bex and I went for a walk in our local wood. It had been raining and had just stopped when I saw this piece of grass with the fresh rain dripping from it, and thought it would make a good photo.

I cropped it to focus the attention on the droplet itself. When the taking the photo I used a large aperture to blur the background and keep the attention on the grass and the rain droplet. I love how the reflection is really clear on the raindrop with the reflection of the grass.

I know this is very similar to one of Bex’s earlier photos, but I really like the effect of the water droplet so I thought I would ‘reflect’ Bex’s idea in my own shot!

I really like going for walks after it has rained in the morning because of how the grass and the trees reflect light off of them. When is your favourite time to go for a walk, morning, afternoon, or evening?

Mat

Aim for the skies

I managed to get a chance to go out today, in between revision and other homework. I went down the woods for a little photography wander with Bex and her camera. While I had the camera I saw these trees, what I liked about them is how some of them are in shadow while the others are in the daylight This gives the photo some interest, because of the contrast between the left side of the frame and the right side. I edited the image in Photoshop afterwards. I increased the colour temperature and the saturation, while making the shadows darker; this increased the contrast even more.

This is why I love nature; you can go out whatever the weather and take great photos really easily. I randomly looked up and I found this photo. Why don’t you go out and take some photos of nature while the weather's still lovely?

Mat

An odd thing

I have chosen a rather random picture today, and of course; it’s of a rather odd thing to go with my rather strange mood.  Before I confuse you any further, allow me to explain.

It’s my birthday tomorrow, and for the last week I have been annoying all my friends by giving them a daily countdown. This afternoon I went for a walk in the woods, slightly with the intent that I might calm down a bit by the time I got home (no such luck!).

As ever, I was attached to my macro lens. I spotted this fungus on a fallen branch, which wasn’t anything out of the ordinary, but I liked how it seemed to glisten in the sun. I used low-key mode to try and make for a more dramatic shot.

Hopefully I will stop being quite so irritating after tomorrow! Have a good rest of the evening.

Bex

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Finer Things

I've finally had chance to get out and take some photos! Today, I went to our local woods with Bex. When I (eventually) got the camera off of her, I took this photo of a tree that had been cut down years ago. I decided to use the flash to highlight the details like the fungi and moss which were clinging on to the side of it. I used quite a wide aperture (F3.9) which meant that lots of light went through the lens which, when coupled with using the flash, meant that the white highlights on the fungi became more noticeable. I really like how the flash picks out very fine details.

Again, next week I may not get many chances to take any photos. I shall try my best otherwise it’s up to Bex; which is probably no bad thing as I reckon she’s the better photographer!

I think that the flash really helps when picking out detail, but what do you think works best; using flash or increasing the ISO?

Mat

Getting close

I didn’t get a chance to take any industry photos today, so it’s more of the nature close ups again!! Today’s subject is a piece of fungus on a fallen log. I got in really close with the macro setting armed and took the shot.

I used aperture priority and opened it wide open to give the shallowest depth of field possible. I think this effect worked really well, and because of the higher shutter speed and taking the photo at a lower angle the shadows became a lot darker. I think this photo worked very well, although I think it may have been a little too dark.

I will take some more industry shots soon.  But what do you think I should do, now is your time to vote: Industry and man-made, or nature and landscape shots? Perhaps tweet us and tell us your favourite shots? http://www.twitter.com/DailyWanders

Mat

Tangled

Today, I went to visit a relative who lives quite near to me in a more rural area. We both have a wood within walking distance of our homes.

I brought my camera with me as always, as I thought there might be some interesting pictures, so that I could deviate from always choosing pictures of my own area.

The wood I visited today is a lot smaller than the one in my area, meaning that an awful lot less people go walking in there and it’s left to grow on it’s own terms.

I spent about two hours walking today, and I was on my way back when I spotted this leaf tangled in a spider’s web. From the looks of things the spider was long gone, but I loved how some dust had stuck to the silk.

I took the photo in macro, and used the flash to try and capture the web with more detail. I think this worked really well, as not only the spider’s web, but the leaves also, have been captured with all the finer details.

I love finding new places to go, as I think sometimes going to the same places too often can become monotonous.

Bex

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Stumped

As I’ve mentioned in previous posts, my favourite way to relax is going for a walk with my SLR and setting myself the challenge of finding the most interesting shot possible- the type of shot that you notice something new every time you look at it.

This afternoon I went for a walk around my local nature reserve accompanied by my umbrella. It started to rain more heavily so I walked through the woods for shelter. When Mat and I go into the woods, we normally sit on a fallen tree to watch the world go by. I was alone today, but decided to stop there never the less. As I walked up to the log I noticed this strange fungus on a tree stump next to the log.

I took this picture in aperture priority to try and get a deeper depth of field. Having looked at this picture a few times so far, I have noticed the pattern on the fungus, the different shades and the texture on the underside.

Keep looking, perhaps get your friends to have a look and see how many details you can spot.

Bex

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Small details, large effects

I went for a quick wander yesterday with Bex round our local area yesterday. We stopped for a minute so she could climb a tree- not as crazy as it sounds, she wanted to get a good shot. While Bex was out of action I spotted this piece of bark jutting out and thought that it would make an interesting photo. I took it with the flash on, but it was so powerful that the whole background got blacked out!! I’m impressed with this image, and how the bark is incredibly clear and very sharp against the black background. It looks like it's been set up.

I love nature, especially the small pieces of detail that we all miss in our busy day-to-day lives. Maybe we should slow down a little and observe the smaller, finer details of nature around us?

Mat