It’s not been the best week that I’ve had this past one. I’ve split up from my girlfriend as we couldn’t agree on how our relationship should progress in the future. I have to say I was gutted, but as always you find out who your friends are when these things happen. I have some good friends. I guess its best to move on if you can’t find common ground, I am sad for sure.
I’ve found solace in photography over recent years and I decided that I would dive back into my project work this weekend rather than brood even further. Whilst I know I need to get out into the landscapes at the times when the light is a little more interesting (sunrise or sunset) I made the decision that I’d go out during the day. The real question was where should I go. Have images from all 12 of my significant locations, but felt like I want to be out and about without there being to many folk around. So it was decided a trip to Tegs Nose. This is near Macclesfield, so not a long journey, but I knew there wouldn’t be lots of folk around.
Main Location
A quick look at the 12 Significant Images page on my website will show you that I have narrowed down the location to a great spot just at the edge of the reservoir. So my first task was to capture another image of that location. Overcast and dull conditions this time.
I really like the orangey poles that stick out in this image, they make for perfect foreground interest and the glow that can be seen from them in this image really adds some nice contrast to the rest of the colours in the image. Given my first image from this spot was with my walk around Sony A6600 I decided that today needed to be with my full kit. This image was shot on my Sony A7iii, with my 16 to 35, f4 G lens. There is a polariser on this shot.
Alternative Compositions
This location is in the corner of the reservoir and there are some other interesting elements that could be combined within an image from this location. So I decided to spend a little more time looking in close proximity to see if I could get a composition that uses essentially this same main foreground but blends in the other elements that are just around it.
Just so you can orientate yourself, the previous image was taken from a split that is almost on the wall at the left edge of this image. I moved over the overflow, and tried to get tripod set up to allow me to combined elements of the stone walls, the tree, the poles and the reservoir. My big benro tripod just wouldn’t fit in a spot that I was happy with, so off came the camera and I shot this image hand held. I even experimented by placing the camera on the gaps in the main reservoir wall but I wasn’t happy with any of those images. I do think there is a visual flow with this composition, but the tree makes the right side have a greater visual weight. My take home message from this was that there are indeed alternative compositions to be had around this spot and if I get here with some nice light, I think I could be onto a winner.
Bottoms Reservoir
This shouldn’t be confused with the Bottoms Reservoir that’s also within this project, which is near Glossop. I had parked my car along a road running parallel with this reservoir and as I headed back to the car, I spotted the assorted Lilly pads and weeds etc that were in the bottom corner of the reservoir.
This image is actually a practise for a long exposure image. There is only a polariser on this image as this was a test to get the base shutter speed for when I added the Lee Big Stopper filter. Adding the filter meant a shutter speed of 55 seconds. I wasn’t very happy with the results of these images, so I think more practise is required.
I know that I’m going to have to get up early to get a sunrise shot for each of my locations, but this weekend I wasn’t in the right frame of mind to do that. The photography was good though and I’m pleased with results.