Thursday 22nd September 2011

Being restricted technically is tough (I wouldn't have started this project with a compact instead of an SLR), but it just means I have to put more effort into getting good shots. I think this thought was tumbling around in my subconscious because as I drove home from work the sun was shining and it felt like the last dregs of summer, and instead of going home I went to the Roaches instead. It was actually quite overcast there and I didn't quite get the photos I'd hoped, but it was quite beautiful and I enjoyed the unexpected peace and quiet (unusually it wasn't heaving with rock climbers). I walked along the crag then took a path I knew was there but had never been down. This gave me a lovely view across the blooming heather to Hen Cloud, with its similarly heathery top.

12.7mm, 1/10s, f/5. (auto)

Sunday 7th August 2011

I wish I'd made more of this. I was on a walk and we were going at a fairly swift pace so I didn't really have time to stop and take photos, plus I was wearing running trainers on mud and polished rock which wasn't the best choice so I was constantly playing catch up anyway. I was taking the odd snap but I didn't think they were coming out well - it was a little dark in the valley and the shutter speed was too slow for a hand-held camera, but more importantly I didn't find a composition I liked so didn't stop to fix the technical issues. However, when I looked at the on the computer I quite liked a few, and with a bit more time and effort I could have made something nice out of them. I'll have to make do with this one! I like the dominance of the gunnera plant, and the matching colour of the lichen on the side of the stepping stones.

18mm, 1/15s (auto from aperture priority), f/7.1, ISO 200

Saturday 23rd July 2011

I was invited down the Roaches this evening so I planned my bike ride to finish nearby, then dragged my weary body to the Upper Tier. It was a pleasure to be able to take photos of this photogenic route - Neb Buttress. The light was amazing, and the photo looks great on my screen, shame the colours look washed out and noisy as soon as I upload it to flickr! The rocks in the centre are the Lower Tier of the Roaches, and in the background on the left is Hen Cloud.

18mm, 1/160s (auto from aperture priority), f/5.6, ISO 400

Monday 20th June 2011

At the Kilt Rock viewpoint on Skye, looking South. The high ISO was a mistake, I forgot to change it back after snapping a quick picture of a twite.

35mm, 1/60s (auto from aperture priority), f/11, ISO 1600

Thursday 16th June 2011

Hen Cloud in the evening light.

77mm, 0.4s, f/11, ISO 100

Friday 27th May 2011

Bosigran cliff, Cornwall.

21mm, 1/60s (auto from aperture priority), f/11, ISO 200

Tuesday 26th April 2011

I went to Edinburgh for the first time today to do a bit of sightseeing, and to rest my weary muscles after trekking round the Cairngorms, although we still managed to walk 6 miles round the city. This is a view of Salisbury Crags from the edge of Holyrood Park.

35mm, 1/80s (auto from aperture priority), f/10, ISO 200

Tuesday 19th April 2011

Climbing at the Roaches.

50mm, 1/250s (auto from aperture priority), f/4.5, ISO 400

Sunday 27th March 2011

An unknown climber on Shepherds Crag in Borrowdale, Lake District.

129mm, 1/200s (auto from aperture priority), f/5.6, ISO 800

Sunday 13th March 2011

I used to do a lot of rock climbing, but a couple of years ago my interest waned and I no longer enjoyed it. Now my trips out are very occasional but due to the novelty value and the company of good friends I no longer see as often, I do really enjoy them again. Especially when the sun shines like this! I like this photo as it captured everything that was good about the day and hopefully will give the same impression to other people looking it at that don't have a personal attachment to it.

180mm, 1/250s, f/8, ISO 200

Sunday 27th February 2011

This is Mousetrap Zawn at Gogarth on Holyhead, Wales. Such amazing textures and colours of rock on such a grand scale, it's really eye-catching and I hope I've managed to show some of that here.

27mm, 1/80s, f/11, ISO 100

Saturday 26th February 2011

I spent the weekend in Wales for a friend's birthday and we all had a stonking time. There were two places I hoped to get to for pictures and I was fortuitous to get to both and to also have sun and blue skies for once. This photo was taken in the Dinorwig Slate quarries in Llanberis, one of my favourite places. The turquoise blue flooded quarry pit is called Dali's Hole because of the eerie dead trees that become visible when the water level is low (you can just see a submerged slate hut), and the photo was taken from 'The Stairs Of Cirith Ungol'.

18mm, 1/25s, f/11, ISO 400

Sunday 2nd January 2011

Day two - working off the winter excess with a trot along Stanage.

46mm, 1/60s (auto from aperture priority), f/8.0, ISO 500 (auto)