Saint Mathieu Lighthouse,Brittany
Aug, 2014Views
50
Likes
Awards
Staff Winter Selection 2015
Same photographer See allBehind The Lens
![Melting silver in a crucible, temperature 980+celsius [1800 fahrenheit]. Didn`t melt the lens !](https://cdnpt01.viewbug.com/media/mediafiles/2019/01/01/82675667_widepreview400.webp)
![Low tide at Priest Cove [Cape Cornwall] Crab fisherman readying for unloading and hauling boat up the slip.](https://cdnpt01.viewbug.com/media/mediafiles/2020/07/21/90217805_widepreview400.webp)
Behind The Lens
Location
This was taken at Saint-Mathieu,Plougonvelin,Brittany,France.We stopped here to break the journey and wandered around the lighthouse and surrounding buildings,there is a wonderful collage of old and modern from the ruins of the abbey and original lighthouse to the modern tower.Time
Around 11am,the morning mist was lifting as the day warmed up.Lighting
I was trying to catch the contrast between the sunlit foreground and the mist shrouded lighthouse. The sun was burning the cloud cover off and 5 minutes later all was bright sunshine. It doesn`t always pay to hang around,the mist makes this shot!Equipment
Pentax K10 on Av with Tamron 18-200mm lens.Inspiration
The combination and juxtaposition of old and new,the arched windows and the looming lighthouse.Editing
I only use very basic post-processing ,ie Picassa, for simple cropping and colour/intensity balance where necessary. I don`t get on with photoshop and similar,partly lack of patience and/or imagination! I admire the effects/enhancements that are achieved by other photographers but for myself I prefer to catch an image rather than create one!In my camera bag
I`ve upgraded slightly since this was taken,so here goes; my all purpose choice is a Pentax K20 with battery pack and Pentax 18-250mm lens,I also,when properly organised,carry my old K10,Sigma 400mm [on loan from better half since she switched to Canon] and Sigma 50mm macro which I`m starting to play with.Uesd to have pentax 50mm macro about 35yrs ago so just getting back into it! Also polarising filters,batteries,sd cards,cloths and chocolate!Feedback
Always look around,wander a bit off the track,[not so far as to require rescuing !],look for contrasts and be ready to catch the image.Sometimes careful planning and surveying of an area will pay dividends,other times a fortuitous rainbow,cloud or wave will provide the ideal shot. No advice really,just enjoy.
