Rooftop at Brantwood
The rooftop of Brantwood, Coniston (UK Lake District) where John Ruskin, the renowned Victorian poet, artist and philosopher lived and worked. In 1871 Ruskin bo...
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The rooftop of Brantwood, Coniston (UK Lake District) where John Ruskin, the renowned Victorian poet, artist and philosopher lived and worked. In 1871 Ruskin bought Brantwood and retired there in 1884. He was buried in Coniston’s churchyard in 1900.
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Mar, 2018Views
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Awards
Contest Finalist in Rooftops Photo Contest 2018
Peer Award
Absolute Masterpiece
Top Choice
Outstanding Creativity
Magnificent Capture
Superb Composition
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Impressed
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Behind The Lens
Location
This photo was taken at Brantwood on Coniston Water in the UK Lake District. John Ruskin, the renowned Victorian poet, artist, philosopher and environmentalist bought Brantwood and lived and worked here in his latter years. The house is surrounded by many of the themed gardens that he created and this view was taken from The High Walk behind the building.Time
It had been a lovely day spent walking around the gardens taking pictures across the lake. I'd ventured to the top of the hill behind the house making the most of the summer. I don't live far from Coniston and often play across the other side of the lake but today I decided to adventure on the far side. This was actually the first time I'd been to Brantwood. I knew of it but was never exactly sure of which fell-road it was on. And the car park was half empty. Lucky me!! High summer, August 16, 2017, at 2:00 in the afternoon.Lighting
It was a very bright, cloudless day with the sun high above and slightly behind me. Perfect for this shot.Equipment
Nikon D200 with a Nikkor 35-70mm f:2.8 AF telephoto zoom lens and a circular polarising filter to take the glare off the glass skylights and small waves on the lake.Inspiration
After an afternoon taking pictures of the beautiful gardens, monuments and the Coniston Fells across the lake I was on my way back down the path to the car park and saw the rooftops through a clearing. The contrasts and angles were striking. All the inspiration I needed for a unique shot.Editing
I used free rotation in PSP until I found the sharp lines of the roof and walls at an angle I was happy with and then applied HDR Efex Pro (at the default setting) to slightly add tone-mapping.In my camera bag
My trips find me with a custom backpack containing my old but trusted Nikon D200 with my favourite lens attached which is a Nikkor 35-70mm f:2.8 AF. Extra lenses in the bag are an AF-S Nikkor 35mm 1:1.8G, a Micro-Nikkor 105mm 1:2.8 macro, and a Sigma 70-300mm f/4-5.6 DG Macro telephoto zoom. Oh, and a tripod. The weight of this kit demands a tripod at low light!Feedback
Aim for pictures that you would be happy to display and occasionally go for the fun element - as in head off for that elusive and unique shot. Whilst I still shoot film (I still own the cameras I used for my studies at college in the 1970s) digital photography is a boon as I brazenly go through 100s of frames occasionally finding a few keepers. Film is a good learning curve, teaching you how to get to grips with a camera and, of course, every shot has to count! Get your body right in, move away - don't just rely on focus. Use every angle you physically can, though I'm not quite ready to try that in the middle of a shopping street! Always take a tripod with you and if you’re on a hike take only as much equipment as you'll need. If I’m landscaping my 35mm prime is lens enough whilst the 35-70mm is a superb all-rounder. Take a look around you through the lens. You’ll soon see things that wider vision overlooks. I draw a lot of inspiration from other photographers too. Most of all have fun!!
