Blog | 74 - Resolution(s)
| bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Freelance Photographer Cambridge & Freelance Photography Cambridge. | |||
 
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Alistair Grant Freelance Photographer Cambridge & London |
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bokeh photographic: Blog No: 74 → TIP: Click any image to view in LightBox |
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Resolution(s) I don’t normally go in for New Year’s resolutions but there are a couple of personal photography ‘projects’ that I am keen to tick off in 2020. These are: nailing landscape photography of the local flatlands and shooting some great pictures of otters, which might be local but probably won’t be. To take landscape photography first, or more specifically landscape photography of Fenland: athough I do work as a landscape photographer it isn’t one of my main work streams unlike perhaps when I first started out as a full-time photographer. Typically the views I now shoot tend to be coastal panoramas or scenes up in the mountains mostly (it seems on consulting my landscape photography portfolio) in bad although highly atmospheric weather as per this shot of a storm in the fells above Grasmere. The Fens to the North/North East of Cambridge are low-lying. It is hard to describe to anyone not familiar with the area just how extreme the flatness is. I was excited to spot the Gog Magog Hills (which lie the other side of Cambridge) on the map when I first moved down to Cambridgeshire. Having grown up in an area with great access to the Lakeland, Northumberland & North Yorkshire/Cleveland hills you can imagine how disappointed I felt when ‘topping-out’ at 75 metres above sea level on Telegraph Clump - the highest point of the Magogs. On the other hand the fact that most of the Fens lies at, or below, the 5 metre contour means it is an area that presents unparalleled vistas. For example, Ely cathedral is visible from as far away as 16 miles. The lack of opportunity to gain elevation in the Fens poses a considerable challenge to landscape photography. The nature of this challenge is capturing topography (i.e. land features) as opposed to just the ‘big skies’ that the Fens are famous for. When not incorporating the ubiquitous wind turbines I’ve tended to incorporate equally artificial features such as the drainage dykes (aka drains or ditches many of which date from Vermuyden’s draining of the Fens in the 1600s) which criss-cross Fenland. Whilst such features at least convey a sense of perspective in the absence of anything high my aim in 2020 is to figure out how to shoot ‘conventional’ landscape photography of the Fens. By this I mean more land, less sky, less dykes and all without a drone. Watch this space! Secondly, whilst I maintain I’m not a Wildlife Photographer I do regularly photograph wildlife often whilst working on local conservation and ecological monitoring schemes. In terms of wildlife one of my top objectives in 2020 is to photograph otters. Whilst the species has returned to both the Cam and Great Ouse rivers (I have been involved in monitoring parts of the Ouse as well as the some of the drainage dykes mentioned above for signs of their return) I haven’t even come close to capturing a decent shot of otters in Cambridgeshire. Depending on your point of view you could either say I have cheated or that I have maximised my opportunities by booking a trip to the West coast of Scotland with the main aim of seeing otters. To say we’re looking forward to this is an understatement. However, the classic photographer’s dilemma applies in terms of just what kit to pack. I’ve been told to expect close views but does that mean 200mm, 300mm, 400mm or 600mm glass and of course it would be disingenuous to ignore the spectacular scenery and so I also need to allow space for landscape lenses. Again, watch this space! As for the commercial photography side of things I look forward to working with both existing and new clients so if you require Food & Drink Photography; Commercial & Product Photography; Corporate & PR Photography; Event Photography; Portrait Photography (including Active Portraiture and Naturally You Makeovers) or Wedding Photography this year or if you are looking to undertake Photography Training in 2020 do get in touch. |
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Call Alistair Grant on 07775 365507, Email [email protected] or click Booking Enquiries if you have any questions or would like to make a booking. |
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bokeh: "the aesthetic quality of the blur produced in the out-of-focus parts of an image produced by a lens" bokeh photographic (Alistair Grant): Food & Drink Photographer; Food Photographer; Drink Photographer; Commercial Photographer; Product Photographer; Corporate Photographer; PR Photographer; Wedding Photographer; Portrait Photographer; Event Photographer and Photography Training Courses in Cambridge and Cambridgeshire. |
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bokeh photographic - Alistair Grant | Freelance Photographer | Cambridge, London, UK - Creative Natural Photography And Outstanding Customer Service At Competitive Prices - Food & Drink Photography | Commercial Photography & Product Photography | Corporate Photography & PR Photography | Portrait Photography (inc. 'Active Portraiture', 'Naturally You' & 'Poptraits') | Event Photography | Engagement & Wedding Photography | Photography Training Courses & Camera Tuition | Videography & Film Production Tel: 07775 365507 | Email: [email protected] |
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