Edinburgh 1. Christmas Market

I am in Edinburgh prior to lecturing to the Photographic Society on Wednesday evening  and today spent the afternoon photographing the enormous Chrismas Market in Princes Gardens. The last image is looking towards Waverley Station as the moon rose.

Morning and Evening Walks

There have been some great 'weather' on my morning and afternoon walks with our dog from fiery sunsets to foggy morning. Sunsets are from my phone camera so not a lot of control on highlights. So glad I chose Toft to live with its great walks on the doorstep and the wide open views. Still as satisfying to live in as 53 years ago!

CCC Evening of Table Top Set Ups

Thanks Barry, Charles and Shelagh for a fantastic range of activities last night at Wednesday Workshop. I stole a few minutes from my 'set up' to photograph the soap bubbles, polarised spoons, splashed pepper and moon in the hand. The soap bubbles are a perpetual challenge not yet overcome to get sufficient depth of field and shutterspeed (the surface swirls continuously) in dark conditions.

Rockscape Portfolio

I always enjoy taking and preparing images for the CCC Print portfolio competition where we have to present 5 images arranged in a panel. This year, as almost always, I struggled to get the fifth image. On the night, I am told the judge actually thought a different one didn't fit too well. One and two are my favourites  and set me on the quest for another three!

Cambridge Getting to Know Camera

We had a day in Cambridge yesterday with CCC getting to know our cameras. I certainly discovered that I can't handhold the 50-140 lens at 140mm at 1/60th second (last image) but can hold the 10-24mm down to 1/8th second. Otherwise played with multiple exposures including panoramas at the Judge Institute and later at the Fair.

 

  

Wood Carving in King's College Chapel

The bright low winter sunshine lit the choir stalls and choirscreen with coloured  light through the stained glass windows and allowed detail to be recorded that is impossible in dull light.
A few notes here from English Heritage on dates etc. The Chapel was built between 1446 and 1515, and the glass was added between 1515 and 1531.  The building is an outstanding example of the craftsmanship of the period. The fan-vault of the roof was designed and built by John Wastell, master-mason 1512-15. The timber roof was built by Martin Prentice and Richard Russel 1508-15; it is of 24 bays.  The windows form one of the finest and most complete sets of late medieval stained glass in Europe. The Organ is by Renee Harris, 1688. Screen of magnificent oak carving, 1533-36 with the central doors of 1636. Choir stalls of oak, 1533-6. The Chapel was paved with marble 1702 and Portland stone 1775.

 

Epping Infrared Trees

With the very dull conditions on Sunday, getting good contrast in the Canon infrared images (b/w) proved a challenge but I do like the colour images from the converted Sony RX100.