Ice will break
The frozen River Wye has spilled onto the football fields nearby. This is great fun for duck and dog, although the ice is a good for neither....
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The frozen River Wye has spilled onto the football fields nearby. This is great fun for duck and dog, although the ice is a good for neither.
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Jan, 2015Views
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Winner in High Speed Animals Photo Challenge
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Behind The Lens
Location
This picture was taken in my home town of Ross on Wye, England. The River Wye that runs through the town now has an almost permanently high water level. We get a lot more rain than we used to. As a result, the river floods onto the surrounding countryside and also the local football fields. When this flood meets the cold winter weather, thats where the interesting pictures begin.Time
I walk these frozen fields early enough (6.30ish) to get this eerie blue frost fog rising up against the frozen flooded fields. Its a stunning landscape and only a handful of other people up this early would be able to witness it. I find this with most of my work, that the best pieces of work are at the start of the day and the end of the day. People often say, how can you get this shot, but its nature that gives you most the magical elements to work with.Lighting
The lighting is purely natural light. Its really important to understand what nature can provide and at what times of the day and year. I think once you have cracked that, then you can organise your diary as to when to do a shoot. I find that I have to react to the moment a lot more when your working with natural light. I find that I tend to work with cameras that can empathise with most natural lightening situations. I dont want a nasty surprise on recall when I have been trying to "capture the moment". I like consistency from my camera.Equipment
I used a Panasonic Lumix GX7 for this picture. I fact I use the Lumix GX7 cameras for nearly all my professional work too. I have two camera bodies and a wide range of lenses. I invested in this kit, purely because of the practicality of ease of use. These cameras for me are like a paintbrush in my hand compared to heavier and more cumbersome DSLR full frame kit. The truth is that these little cameras pack a punch against DSLR's simply because the sensors try so hard and are also "velvia" like in colour, tone and light quality. The Leica lenses are magical. This picture: 25mm lens, 1/500sec, F3.5Inspiration
I take lots of inspiration from nature. I am fascinated by its light, tone, warmth, mist moving, fog, shadows etc. I get excited by what variations get thrown at you, In this case the softly frozen water. How that can splash up just that bit slower than water when its not frozen? You almost have to think and study what is being thrown at you. Its all mostly luck, but if you can second guess a situation then thats half the battle. Eva, my dog in this case provided the missing element, the added extra to a simple winter landscape. Clever dog!Editing
The interesting thing about this shot, is that almost everyone asks if the blue haze was added. The answer is no. This is what the camera recorded. I confess, that at the time and on recall I was actually a tad annoyed by the amount of blue over the shot "in camera". The only post processing was in Photoshop, to quickly dodge Eva the dog out so that her white coat lifted out of the frame. The other, was the adding of my watermark.In my camera bag
On top of the Panasonic GX7 cameras and lenses I use digital medium format for my commercial food work, and some of my portraits. It might seem that I am an all or nothing kind of girl going for a heavy old Hasselblad with a leaf back on one hand and a GX7 on the other. These cameras each and in their own right provide uniqueness. In a wholly digital world I think its really important to try and strike out an edge. It really is a case of what works for you as an individual. I think its important to not be obsessed with 'THE CAMERA" and be more interested in what feels right for you as an extension of your body.Feedback
I would say, to really spend time looking and seeing how natural light works. Get up early, I know its a harsh one but your nearly always rewarded. Always have a fascinated eye for detail too, perspective, line and tone. Watch how light falls and reacts in different circumstances. Have a camera with you that can react quickly. Natural light changes to fast that you have to be sure your camera isn't going off on its own tangent. You need to be sure that what you see is what you get. I would say be ruthless about that. From concept to final print finish. Only you can take a unique shot, so be in control of everything once the situation is given to you.
