Duddo Standing stones
Jan, 2019Views
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Behind The Lens
Location
i took this photo just outside the village of Duddo in Northumberland in the UK, about 4 miles south of the Scottish Border. Known either as the 'Duddo Five Stones' or or 'The Women or 'The Singing Stones' this Neolithic/Bronze age circle of stones are about 4000 years old and stand on a low hill in the middle of a wheat field. The grooves in the rocks channel the wind ,hence 'The Singing Stones'Time
This photo was taken on the 12th July 2013 at 19:50 hrs, just as the setting Sun was being swallowed by evening clouds. It was a very peaceful evening and I'm glad I made it just in time!Lighting
Lighting was very flat but shooting into the setting sun caused the stones to lose their detail. I used flash to bring the detail out but it only worked for the nearest Stone!Equipment
I took the photo hand held with a Nikon D5100 fitted with a Nikon 18-55mm kit lens. The flash used was the camera flash. The image was shot as a JPEG file (Back before I discovered RAW!)Inspiration
I was inspired by the utter tranquillity of the scene around me. The panoramic view from the hill is incredible and the place has its own haunting atmosphere, knowing that these stones had been placed there over 4000 years ago and had attracted people over the ages, I was quite literally standing in history.Editing
Post processing involved raising the shadows to bring out the detail on the stones and I lowered the highlights to bring detail out in the sky. I also dodged the grass to bring out the detail and give some depth to it.In my camera bag
These days I carry a Nikon D500 about with me, usually fitted with my Tamron 16-300mm lens (this is my go everywhere lens). Depending on where I'm going and what I'm looking to shoot dictates other equipment but I like to carry my Nikon 10-20mm lens as a second lens along with a few filters. I've found it a great lens for both landscapes and for capturing interiors of buildings. If I'm going on a nature walk sometimes I'll add my Sigma 105mm Macro to my bag as well, especially in Summer when the flowers are out! For Urban photography I would take my Nikon 35mm along instead.Feedback
If you are looking to capture a similar image I would choose either early morning or dusk for a more atmospheric shot, if there is a dramatic sky so much the better. Flash can be useful to capture immediate detail in low lighting conditions(if you're close enough) and nowadays I would shoot the image in RAW and use a tripod! I would also recommend taking several shots, changing your camera setting to capture both the highlights and the shadows to blend together later or use an ND grad filter if you have one. Plan ahead if possible and be prepared, stone circles and similar monuments are usually in remote places. Make sure you can park safely nearby and that the place you want to shoot is accessible. You may have to walk quite a way so good footwear and gear are essential. The Duddo stones are accessible via a permissive path across private land, and the path is about a 3/4 mile long, crossing rough farmland. Its worth doing some research beforehand as to how long it takes to reach your subject!
