Images of spring/Winter time past 2011. Close-up Macro. The shots that give me inspiration to do more.

These are some of the images that I took last year while I was out, I shell be looking to repeat some of these for this course.  I shell be getting all new images for the winter shots as well as the Spring shots, as I feel that this is important to get out and get new shots.  These sort of shots give me more inspiration to do more than looking at picture's in books or magazines, as I have produced them.  I do sometimes look in magazines at images and compare them, but it is essential to get out there and take images.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/160 ISO 400 50mm Macro lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/100 ISO 100 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/200 ISO 400 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F8 Shutter Speed 1\125 ISO 200 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F8 Shutter Speed 1/125 ISO 400 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter speed 1/125 ISO 400 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/500 ISO 400 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/400 ISO 400 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter speed 1/250 ISO 400 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/30 ISO 200 50mm Macro Lens Monopod Used. 

Planning the shots for Spring time this weekend 25th Feb..

This weekend I am planning to go to Calke Abbey.  I shell be taking the new lens with me as I am itching  to have a go with it.  The new lens is 70mm Macro Sigma 2.8mm lens.  I shell be using the Sony 450 Camera body to do the Spring time shots.

This weekend is really going to be a look around weekend as the shots that I require will not be quite there yet, as spring time is not quite ready yet, but by going out and checking things out to see if things are ready for shooting, then I can just enjoy using the new lens.

The full equipment that I shell be using:  Sony 450 Camera body, 70mm Sigma Lens, filters to fit are Warm-up 81a,  Polariser,  and UV.  Monopod or Tripod are essential.  (This will stop camera shake.)

This morning I am going to dims dale to look at the snow drops and to take some photography's.  When these beautiful little flowers come out it a sure sign that spring is on its way.  I shell include one of these in the last 10 of my images.

I will put some of the photo's that I took below.

Camera Setting: F2.8 Shutter Speed 1/160 ISO 400 Sigma Macro 70mm Lens hand held. 

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/400 ISO 400 Sigma 70mm Macro Lens Hand Held.

Camera Settings: F8 Shutter Speed 1/250 ISO 400 Sigma 70m Macro Lens Hand Held.

Camera Settings: F8 Shutter Speed 1/250 ISO 400 Sigma 70mm Macro Lens Hand Held.

These are some of the images that I took on the 25th February while out looking for the signs of coming spring.

Adam Burton Photographer (Landscape)

Adam Burton is one of the UKs leading landscape photographers and author of four books. Since 2008 he has been working as a full time professional landscape photographer, regularly supplying imagery and undertaking commissions for a wide range of business clients.

He has photographed five of the seven continents and now specialises in the landscapes of the UK, particularly Southwest England.

Photographic background

Adam first began teaching himself photography in 2001, mainly from reading magazines and then putting into practice techniques while on location either in the New Forest or along the Dorset coastline. This informal training enabled Adam to develop a unique style that continue to make his photographs instantly recognisable and highly in demand. His knowledge is entirely self taught; he has never received any formal photographic training.

Professional career

Ever since Adam first began taking photography seriously, his images have been in demand commercially. Since 2004 his images have been published regularly in national newspapers and magazines, as well as in books, greeting cards and calendars. Over this time he has worked for many large and prestigious organisations, supplying imagery and undertaking commissions for companies including British Petroleum, The AA, The Times and National Geographic.

Approach to photography

Adam favours the rich colours of dawn and dusk when natural light is at its most special. He uses equipment to enable him to capture magical moments authentically at the picture taking stage, rather than relying on computer enhancements afterwards.

Although he now shoots exclusively digitally, his beginnings in film photography engendered a strong desire to record the landscape at its natural best, and nothing more. As a result Adam’s photography captures authentic and natural moments in time, free from computer manipulation.

Achievements

A brief summary of Adams major achievements to date is listed below:
Wanderlust (Landscape) Photographer of the Year 2006
Author of 4 books; The Dorset Coast (2008), A Year on Exmoor (2010) and Brecon Beacons (2011 - all published by Frances Lincoln) and A Portrait of Southampton (2009 - published by Halsgrove)
Images published on the covers of more than 100 magazines, books and calendars.
Commended entries in the Take-a-View Landscape Photographer of the Year competition for 5 years in succession, receiving 2 Highly Commended and 10 Commended awards. One of only 4 photographers to have achieved entries in every book and exhibition that has accompanied the prestigious competition since it began.

My 16 images of Spring Close-up/Macro.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/125 ISO 100 Lens Sigma 50mm Macro Mono pod used.

Was going to go out with the new lens but had a problem with the camera body so I had to have it fixed.  But pleased with this shot that I took up at Calke abbey.  This ever green leaf was lying on a wall with some rain drops on it, managed to get a nice close up of the leaf and the rain drop so really pleased with the out come can't wait to start using the new lens as it is a better and can get in closer  from distance. 

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/400 ISO 400 Lens Sigma 70mm Macro Mono pod tilt head used.

This is a sign that spring is around the corner when these beautiful little flowers are out.  Went out on the Sunday morning with the intentions of getting some shots of these. Pleased with the shot that I took.

Camera Settings: F16 Shutter Speed 1/125 ISO 400 Lens Sigma 50mm Macro Tripod used.

This shot was taken at Calke Abbey early one morning by the river edge.  These are forgetmenot's  and are a beautiful small flower. 

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/30 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 70mm Macro Mono pod Used.

This is the start of a Rose starting to open up that's in my garden.  Like the detail of the leafs that are starting open captured it well and I am pleased with the shot.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/125 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 50mm Macro Mono pod Used.

This is a good sign that spring is on its way when these beautiful little flowers are in bloom.  These are crocus's flower's and this is a sure sign that the weather should be getting warmer and the buds of flowers and trees are beginning to open up.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/160 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 50mm Macro Mono pod Used.

This shot was taken at Stapenhill Gardens, and is the blossom of a cherry tree.  These do look beautiful when they are in blossom.  Pleased with the shot as it was quite windy when I took this but love the colours of the tree.

Camera Settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/50 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 70mm Macro Mono pod Used.

This was taken at a house close to Calke Abbey.  It was in someones garden just before you get the car park.  It is the blossom coming out prior to the tree budding and looks beautiful when in blossom.

Camera Settings: F22 Shutter Speed 1/6 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 70mm Macro Beanbag Used.

This was taken on a wall that was full of moss.  The plant is only 10mm high thought this would make a nice shot.  Pleased with the out come. 

Camera Settings:  F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/100 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 50mm Macro Mono pod Used.

This shot that I took while out walking one Sunday afternoon.  I saw the colour of these leaves and took the shot with the rain drop on it.  Pleased with the shot and the colours.

Camera Settings:  F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/400 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 70mm Macro Mono pod Used.

This shot was taken at the road side near Dims dale.  I saw these small Hawthorne bushes in bloom and thought I would take the photo.  Pleased with the shot. 

Camera Settings:  F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/100 ISO 200 Lens Sigma 50mm Macro Tripod Used.

This was taken outside my House set the tripod up aft it had been raining.  Pleased with the shot.

Camera Settings:  F8 Shutter Speed 1/250 ISO 200 Lens 50mm Sigma Macro Hand held.

This was taken close to where I live.  Just walking down the road from where I live and spotted this Hawthorne bush after it had rained.  The sun was breaking through and managed to get this shot .  Pleased with the shot.

Camera Settings:  F8 Shutter Speed 1/60 ISO 200 Lens 70mm Sigma Macro Mono pod Used.

This was taken at Calke Abbey and shows the process of a Chestnut Tree starting to shot out.  I will follow the progress of these thought out the year as I will be taking more photo's as the tree develops into a full grown Conker tree

Camera Settings:  F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/500 ISO 400 50mm 1.7 Lens Hand held.

This is what the above shot should look like in a few months.

Camera settings: F5.6 Shutter Speed 1/160 ISO 200 70mm Sigma Macro Lens Mono pod Used.

This was taken early one Sunday morning, as you can see there is the morning dew forming a drop.  Pleased with this shot.  I do like the lighting at the bottom of the drop. 

Camera settings: F2.8 Shutter Speed 1/250 ISO 200 70mm Sigma Macro Lens Mono pod Used.

This was taken at about the same time and place as the shot above.  This is only 3mm high and was on the top of a wall.  This took some time to compose the shot as it was a little awkward to set the camera up and hold it but, pleased with the out come.

Planning the shots for Spring time.

Planning plays a big part in the photography that I do.   The weather plays a big part in the photography that I do, being out doors all the time.  As in the winter shots that I took, I took advantage that it had been snowing the day before and took the opportunity the following day to get the shots that were required.  

With the snow coming down so quickly I thought it best to get out there and get some quality shots in, as the weather changes so quickly.  Glad that I did as I went out with the intension of filling a 8 gig card with quality images and then downloading and sorting them out.  It looks like the snow as gone for the year along with the hard frost that I require. 

Planning for the Spring?  I have invested in a Sigma 70mm Macro lens to go with my Sony 450 Camera.  I have been using a Sigma 50mm Macro lens on the Nikon system, but have decided to get a lens for the Sony system.  

I plan to photograph buds and plants that are just beginning to open plus the blossom of certain trees.  These could taken on the way to work as there some large and lovely trees in the park and I noticed last year how the blossom looked when it started coming out.  I will also go to Calke Abbey, and if I get the opportunity I will go up to Monsal head.  


The equipment that I shell be using will be a Sony 450 body, 70mm Sigma Lens 2.8, tripod, Monopod and various filters for the camera body.

Peter Watson Photographer.

Peter Watson was born in February 1952 in a town called Wallasey, his career started in his teenage years when he photographed and produced his Black and White prints in a improvised darkroom. They went on to be sold in a local gallery and this early success encouraged him to pursue a career as a landscape photographer.

He then began to photograph in full colour, still specialising  in landscapes, and became a professional photographer in 1988 using the large format equipment.  Peter Watson his a self taught photographer and has been photographing landscape since 1970, he is based in England, UK he specialises in the creation of unique and very beautiful large format and panoramic landscape photography.


His work is acclaimed and has been widely published both in the UK and internationally.  Peter  Watson's work appears in books, magazines, travel guides and calendars , on greeting cards on records and video covers, in exhibitions and in gallery's thought out the UK.  

He now teaches lecturer's and is a photography instructor with VSP Workshops.


He is an author of several books, a field guide to landscape photography, light in the landscape, A photographer's year and reading the landscape.


Peter's first exhibition was held by the North West Arts Association in Chester back in 1992.  Although he as had been photographing for number of years he was at the time, relatively new to the large format photography.  He spent a lot of time in the Delamere Forest in Cheshire familiarising himself with the demands of shooting with (5=4 equipment. )

Photo's out of magazines that give you inspiration.

These pictures that I have chosen are all out of magazines that I some times have.  I find that magazines are far better than books as they are weekly and up to date.  They are up to date with new cameras and equipment that you require and some of the picture that are in the mags are by amateur as well as professionals which brilliant.  Some amateurs are better than some professionals its just getting that break.  I shell put some of mine in there.

Here are some examples of the quality of the photo's:

These are some of the selections out of magazines and some that I have taken.