Castlerigg Stone Circle, Cumbria
Oct, 2015Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This is a shot of part of the Castlerigg Stone Circle near Keswick, Cumbria. In the background is St John in the Vale and Helvellyn.Time
I can't remember the exact time of day. It must be in the afternoon as I usually visit this place as I arrive into Cumbria from Derbyshire, where I live. It is a sort of tradition with me now.Lighting
Natural lighting. As can be seen it was a very overcast day, probably raining at times. As it is an opportunist shot I had to take it despite the conditions. I like sky detail and this has it in spades.Equipment
Hand held Olympus E-410 with standard lens, no filters.Inspiration
As I mentioned above this has become a tradition. I first visited this place over twenty years ago. It is so atmospheric. Set on a slight rise in the surrounding fields it has a breathtaking backdrop. I was facing St John in the Vale and Helvellyn in this instance. 180 degrees turn and you get a view of Blencathra, one of my favourite views in the Lake District. It has religious significance for the people of the Early Bronze Age. It is visited by thousands every year, sometimes posing difficulties for photographers. It is the first place I go to before heading to my accommodation.Editing
Processed in Photomatix. I like HDR as is brings out incredible detail. A dull sky can be significantly improved with HDR. At first I over-processed images, I am learning to rein in and produce more realistic images. Cleaned up in Lightroom.In my camera bag
I'm on my third camera since this pic was taken. I now have a Canon 700D, EFS10-18mm, EFS18-55mm, Sigma 70-300mm and a new purchase, EF 100-400. I carry ND filters and a tripod. I also have two pairs of binoculars. My camera bag is actually a rucksack. When I go birdwatching I have lens envy, I would love a real telephoto with power and a massive object lens. I can dream.Feedback
As in all public places visitors are a major difficulty. I have airbrushed people out of my pics with some success. Although I have never managed it myself, early morning would be a great time to go. The light would be excellent. It is hard to get the whole circle in a single shot so a pano would be best. A couple of images stitched together. The backdrop is so dramatic all around so the choice of POV is wide, depending on the position of the sun. As always in Cumbria the weather can change so quickly so for preference be staying close by. All my shots have been opportunist and so to get a good one is a matter of luck. I have seen many pics of the circle in the winter, snow on the mountains and the clear air make for a cracking capture.
