The Devil's Pulpit
A long exposure close-up of the Devil's Pulpit. I had to don the chest waders and venture into a deep pool to get this shot!...
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A long exposure close-up of the Devil's Pulpit. I had to don the chest waders and venture into a deep pool to get this shot!
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Mar, 2016Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken in Finnich Glen, which is a deep ravine with a small stream flowing through it just north of Glasgow, Scotland. At the bottom of the ravine, the Devil's Pulpit is a mound of rock that has been carved out over the centuries by the water flow and is reputedly where ancient druids used to meet for secret meetings. The orange clay bedrock and brown, peaty water make the water look blood-red, which is quite unique.Time
I had been waiting for a day without rain for months, so when we finally had a sunny day in March, I took the afternoon off work and headed down to Finnich Glen. I took this shot late in the afternoon as the sun was starting to drop in the sky.Lighting
As it was late in the afternoon, the sun was low and shining directly down the glen towards me, producing a wonderful beam of light shining through the ravine and illuminating the waterfall.Equipment
I used my trusty Canon 600D with my old 18-55mm kit lens as it's the widest lens I currently own. I also used a tripod for the long exposure. Chest waders were essential for exploring the glen and this shot was only possible from a deep pool.Inspiration
I'd seen a few photos of this location online and it seemed like a fascinating place to visit. I love exploring new places and finding hidden gems and Finnich Glen is not a recognised tourist spot, nor is it visible from the road, so it was an ideal place to explore and discover for myself. There is an old stairway down into the glen, but it's very slippery and narrow and is badly damaged in places, but once at the bottom, it's like being in another world!Editing
I used basic Lightroom processing to restore the image to its original colours, and then used a luminosity mask to make the pulpit pop from the background.In my camera bag
I'm still a relative newcomer to photography, so I'm still building up my kit to take the photos I have in my head. I always have my Canon 600D and 24-105mm f4 L for everyday shooting. I'll usually have a zoom lens, either a Sigma 120-400mm f4.5-5.6 or Canon 75-300mm f4-5.6 if I'm travelling light, as I always look for opportunities to shoot wildlife. Other than that, I might carry a Canon 50mm prime f1.8 with close-up filters for macro work and Canon 18-55mm for landscapes.Feedback
Take waders or be prepared to get wet if you want a decent shot! Waterfalls always benefit from a long exposure, so make sure you take a tripod. Locations such as this with limited direct sunlight are often best at particular times of day, so it's worth visiting first to find out when this is. Although I took this shot on my first visit to the glen, I have a feeling the light will be better in the morning, so I'm planning another trip there soon.
