Rob Ferrol Photography

Classic Car for a Classic Day

2012-02-13T16:19:00.000-08:00

Wow, its been a while since i posted a blog! life is getting a little hectic at RFP HQ. There is so much going on at the minute. I have a charity photoshoot in the planning for a fantastic children's charity, the whole event seems to be growing by the day!! My back yard has been turned into a building yard for the new studio build but that's work in progress awaiting better weather - i do hope it will be finished this year, lol and I've a whole host of commercial projects on the go. More on all of these in a future blog.

For now, i'd like to step back a little to a wedding I photographed some time ago last year. While browsing through the images I became drawn to the bridal car at this particular wedding. I never realised I had so many shots of it so I felt it needed it own little blog. It was a classic S Type Jag and was the perfect choice for the day and is quickly becoming my favourite wedding car to date. Anyway, here are a few of my favorites, let me know what you think, and, if there are any other wedding photographers reading this, what's your favourite wedding care to date?

Google Front Page

2012-01-26T07:23:00.001-08:00

Well, what a start to the new year! January is just flying by its been that busy, not that I'm complaining!!! This is jus a quick post and an opportunity for some gratuitous trumpet blowing. Last night if found that my website was on the front page of Google for the search terms "Wedding photographers". To me this is fantastic, I have build my website and worked on the SEO myself. Very time consuming and some people pay a pretty penny to have all this done for them. I'm not sure how long it will stay in that position, i'm told that things can change daily, but for now I'm a happy man :-)

There has been lots happening here in the first few weeks of the New Year. I'm gearing up to photograph the North Notts Business Awards at the beautiful Hodsock Priory and just this week photographed the NNBC Networking Breakfast event where all the short-listed finalists were announced. The latest NNBC magazine, complete with some of my images, see below, can be found here, where you will find more information about the awards and the NNBC.

One other thing i am arranging is a great opportunity for other photographers and also models. I'm organising a mass TFP/CD model photoshoot at the Rufford Abbey County Park near Newark. This soot is being arranged to raise funds for the Children's charity JDRF (Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundataion) Type 1 Diabetes is a condition/disease that my son was diagnosed with at the age of just 3 and is a condition that has a huge impact on his daily life. The charity exisists to find a cure for this condition and also to improve the care of those affected.

I an hoping to have around 10-12 models, male & female, in locations around the old ruined abbey which will present a great opportunity for photographers both new and experienced to build a great portfolio of images. I have a wedding supplier bringing all manner of wedding attire for the models to use, this may appeal to any would be wedding photographers, and I'm working on a few other themes.

Prior registration will be required for the photographers as places will be limited to maintain a good model:photographer ratio so everyone gets plenty of time to capture some fantastic images. If you are a model or photographer who would like to be involved please get in touch. More info can be found on my website..

Last post from 2011

2011-12-27T10:46:00.000-08:00

Well, didn't that year fly by? Of all the years i remember this has to have been the fastest, i just cannot believe how quick it has gone!! Its been a busy year and my personal photographic exploits took a bit of a back seat while i shot a few weddings, family and model portraits and a few commercial commissions too. I have vowed to take time out this coming year and have a few photographic "holidays" throughout the year.

Work wise it been a great year, image sales were up on last year, a few of my 'Crooked Spire' images have been sold to a client in Germany and a few others even winged their way down to South Africa. Interest in my wedding photography has slowly increased over the last few months as my SEO exploits take effect and the same can be said for commercial commissions. The big commercial highlight for me was securing a commission to photograph the North Notts Business Awards 2012 and working closely with the North Notts Business Connections (NNBC) team for the coming year, I'm very much looking forward to the 'Black Tie' awards event in March which is to be held at the beautiful Hodsock Priory.

I've have a few images published in their latest magazine, see above, which has a print and web circulation of over 5000 - see the link below for the full online version.

So, as the year draws to a close i thought I'd share with you what i think are my favorite images from this year. Its not an exhaustive list but they have all come from my landscape exploits that i have shot this year, i hope you like them too!

Breakwater at Whitby Harbour, North Yorkshire

A Misty Dawn at Spurn Point

Sunrise at Runswick Bay

Pre Dawn colour at Boggle Hole, North Yorkshire

St Mary's Lighthouse, Northumberland

Solitary Poppy, Nottinghamshire

Long exposure at Ganavan Bay, Oban, Argyll

Sunset at Kimmeridge Bay, Dorset

Again, just a few of my favourites from the year. I'm hoping to start a couple of personal photography projects next year, I'll blog more about that in the new year but it will be something for me to focus on in between all the worky stuff. In the meantime if you'd like to see more of my landscape work check out my Flickr photostream where most of my latest images are posted. My website at the moment is centred around my wedding, portrait and commercial work and can be found here, I'm thinking of a way to combine all the genres on one page or maybe separate them into individual websites.

Finally, I'd just like to thank all of you who have supported me throughout this year whether you were a paying customer/client, colleague or friend or even another inspiring artist, its been a fantastic year and now I'm looking towards 2012 with eager anticipation. Best wishes to you all for a prosperous new year. Rob.....

Official Photographer for the North Notts Business Awards

2011-11-22T06:31:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago I was delighted to announce that I had been chosen as the official photographers for the NNBC North Notts Business Awards 2012. I'm still very much over the moon to have been chosen and is a significant event on our 2012 callendar.

The awards are a black tie event organised by North Notts Business Connections and is the premier event in the regions business calendar which will be hosted by the 5* venue Hodsock Priory. The event is also sponsored by Federation of Small Businesses, Wright Vigar and Oxford Innovation and supported by The Retford Times and TraxFM

The awards have been established to create a platform to celebrate successful local companies in Bassetlaw and Sherwood, and offer an excellent opportunity for all business sectors to meet, be inspired and showcase their acheivements to their peers.

The aim of the awards is to raise company awareness, increase networking opportunities and improve corporate image, brand awareness and consumer confidence. The awards reccognise the efforts of local businesses that have shown a dedication to hard work commitment and the drive to acheive excellence.

Entry to the awards is open to any local business with Bassetlaw and sherwood and those directly on its borders so please follow this link and get your business involved and reccognised.

We will be looking forward to blogging some of the images and stories from the event once they have been released.

Rob Ferrol Photography offers a whole host of photographic services covering Weddings, Portraits, Events as well as corporate and commercial photography. Please visit my website or send us an email, we'd love to hear from you.

Derbyshire Autumn Landscape Photography - Padley Gorge

2011-11-21T02:55:00.000-08:00

It seems to be an annual ritual now! Ever since I was introduced to the place by the wonderful Landscape photographer Doug Chinnery two years ago, I seem drawn back to capture the magnificent display nature puts on for us every Autumn.

Padley gorge sits at the top edge of the Derbyshire Peak District next to the National Trusts' Longshaw Estate not too far from Hatheraage. The gorge, covered with Oak and Birch, is a fine example of an ancient woodland that once covered much of the Dark Peak. The stream that runs through the gorge, Burbage Brook, used to form the border between Yorkshire and Derbyshire but now the road to Hathersage, the A625, forms this border.

Access to the gorge at the top end is via the roadside gate on the A6521. The gorge is located just a few hundred yards from this gate but it can be quite tricky underfoot in some places and often quite boggy so wear suitable footwear and take care. Because of this fairly easy access it can get a little busy, especially at the weekends and Bank holidays. There are all the usual amenities on the Longshaw Estate but National Trust Fee's will apply but I cant reccomend the cafe at Grindleford Railway station enough, its cooked breakfasts are probably the best in the area!!

This is now my third autumn visit to the gorge and each year has been very different from the last, I don't think I've taken the same image twice. The colours on display are just bewildering and when you take a closer look there is so much detail to be seen - the twisted moss/lichen covered trees and boulders, the vibrant colours in the carpet of leaves to name just a few. One thing I have learned though is that I never give myself enough time at this location. This visit was just a flying visit to meet up with fellow photographer Tim Smalley. Tim had been there all day from the early hours in the morning and he had managed to capture some stunning woodland images with the early morning mist entwining itself around the trees.

Anyway, these are just a few of my favorites from my brief visit this year. If you'd like to see more of my work please visit my website.

Gloucestershire Wedding: Victoria & Chris

2011-11-07T04:31:00.000-08:00

I was delighted to be asked to shoot the wedding of Victoria & Chris along with fellow photographer Daniel Torridon. The wedding was such a relaxed and informal affair and the day seemed to flow effortlessly and at the request of the happy couple, we just captured what came naturally, candid images were the order of the day - with a 'few' formals thrown in for good measure!!

The day started at Middle Stanley Farm, a beautiful bespoke wedding venue where all the wedding party and guests were staying for the weekend. After capturing the morning preparations the bride and her father headed off to the wedding venue in his classic Jaguar and what a place they chose - the magnificent Cheltenham Pittville Pump Room, a grade 1 listed building close to Cheltenham but set in beautiful parkland.

The park and grounds provided ample photographic opportunities and we could have quite easily spent all day there had time allowed. It was then back to the farm complex for the reception dinner and a small lakeside blessing.

I always try to be unobtrusive in my wedding photography and the bride and groom commented to my colleague Daniel that they had not seen us for most of the day - the laid back atmosphere of the day certainly Lent itself to candid photography. Below are just a sample of the images I captured during the day.

Please check out my website to see more of my work. If you'd like to discuss your own wedding photography with me then please get in touch, I'd love to hear from you.

Nottinghamshire Wedding: Mark & Victoria

2011-10-18T09:23:00.000-07:00

I had the huge pleasure of photographing the wedding of Mark & Victoria a few weeks ago. I first met this couple earlier in the year when I captured their pre-wedding/engagement images at clumber Park, Nottinghamshire and I instantly knew it was going to be a fun wedding.

Their wedding was held at Barrowby All Saints Church in Lincolnshire followed by a quick dash up the A1 to the villiage of Elkesley where they chose the beautiful Old Vicarage for the marquee reception. The marquee was ablaze with colour in a Mickey & Minnie theme to match their chosen honeymoon destination - Disneyland Florida.

Below are just a selection of images from the day. Please contact me if you would like more information about my wedding packiages.

Maternity Photoshoot - in the nick of time!

2011-10-11T03:06:00.000-07:00

Had a fantastic maternity/baby bump photoshoot on Sunday evening, the images below are just a small selection of my favorites. Mum and dad to be were great to work with. I had planned to do this photoshoot later this week but I had to reschedule due to other commitments and this proved to be a very wise decision - just hours after the photoshoot mum to be went into labour and little baby Troy was delivered not too long afterwards.

It was quite surreal seeing the baby the next day and only a matter of hours after id been photographing his baby bump. If ever there is a reason to grab the moment then this would be one of them - if we had left the photoshoot to the original date there would have been no baby bump images. I'm used to getting the timing right on landscape shoots but this is a first in the studio!!

Anyway, mum and baby are doing great and I've just took a booking for the newborn baby photoshoot. Hope you enjoy the images. If you would like to see more of my work please visit my website or get in touch. Thanks....

Lincolnshire Vintage Tea Party Wedding - Leah & Lee

2011-09-09T14:25:00.000-07:00

I had the huge pleasure of photogrphing the wedding of Leah & Lee a few weeks ago. The wedding was held at Lincoln City Registry office followed by a Vintage Tea Party themed reception at the Dog & Bone public house in Lincoln City.

Leah & Lee both looked stunning and they had planned the day to perfection with many small vintage details that just caught your eye everywhere you looked. Below are just a small selection of some of my favorites from the day.

Please see my website for more details of my wedding photography and latest offers, i'm currently offering upto 15% discount on some of my wedding packages.

Masters of vision

2011-07-30T01:51:00.000-07:00

It was a huge privilege to be asked by Pete Bridgewood to attend the private preview evening of the coveted Masters of Vision exhibition at Southwell Minster, Nottinghamshire.

The exhibition is a bi-annual event which brings together truly great landscape photographers along with several emerging British landscape photographers in the glorious setting of Southwell Minster.

The works on display are headlined by David Noton who has brought along a stunning collection of his travel and landscape images. You will also have he opportunity to attend his very popular roadshow on the evening of the 31st July.

The masters of vision who make up this great collection are David Noton, Pete Bridgewood, Chris Upton, Damien Demolder, Steve Watkins, Dav Thomas, Jonathan Horracks, Mark Gould & Chris Freil.

Damien Demolder, editor of the fantastic 'Amateur Photographer' magazine, will be holding 1-2-1 and group Sessions giving you the chance to have your images critiqued and a group session on image processing. Details can be found here.

The exhibition will be running throughout august and i can't reccomend it enough. I was in awe of the collection on display and a huge privilage to meet some fantastic artists, i will certainly be making a second visit before it ends.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Lincolnshire Pre-Wedding Photoshoot, Leah & Lee

2011-07-27T00:49:00.001-07:00

I always enjoy, and actively encourage, pre-wedding photoshoots. They are a great way to get to know the couple who have chosen you to photograph their wedding and equally Its a good opportunity for them to see how you work and what you can produce for them. These pre-wedding photoshoots also give the couple the opportunity to get used to being photographed so they will be more relaxed on their big day.

On this particular occasion I was working with fellow photographer Daniel Torridon, a very accomplished wedding and portrait photographer. The couple are Leah & Lee, a fantastically fun couple to work with who have asked us to photograph their vintage tea party wedding in Lincoln. These images are a selection of my favourites from their pre-wedding shoot taken in the arboretum on monks road and the Bishops Palace gardens near Lincoln Cathedral.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

New Photography Workshop Announced

2011-07-17T08:33:00.000-07:00

I am excited and pleased to announce that I have embarked on running a series of photographic workshops with fellow photographer Daniel Torridon. These initial workshops will be an introduction to digital photography and aimed towards DSLR and high quality compact camera users.

In time we will be putting together a series of workshops with subjects in studio and off camera flash techniques, Portraits and also Landscape techniques. It is very early days but our first basic DSLR workshop will be held on 30th September 2011. Details of this workshop can be found here, if you would like to find out more or even book a place, please get in touch.

Getting up early is sometimes worth the effort

2011-06-21T13:13:00.000-07:00

When I shoot landscape imges the summer months tend to be the least liked as it often entails a very early rise out of bed to get to a location in time for the start of the 'golden hour' (the hour before sunrise). With the sunrise on the east coast at about 04:30 the golden hour would be starting at about 03:30 and as I dont live near the coast I had to take into account the traveling time too.

On one particular morning I left the house at 1am (yawn) and headded up to Whitley Bay near Newcastle, with fellow photographer Carl Mickleburgh, to photograph St Mary's Lighthouse. Throughout the whole journey our eyes were constantly scanning the sky checking for cloud cover etc, mine sometimes checked the inside of my eyelids befre Carl braked harshly to wake me up, lol. We have had so many early outings scuppered by poor weather we wondered if this was yet to be another wasted journey. The landscape photographers game is never easy, however much planning and preparation you do, you cannot control mother nature and the weather forcasts seem increasingly unreliable, so, sometimes we have to take these chances.

We arrived on location at about 03:15 to find the light show already on, so much for the 'Golden Hour'! The light was coming up so fast it was a mad rush to get down on the beach and soon the early rise was forgotten. The light changed rapidly through the whole light spectrum from cool blues to deep burning reds. Near perfect cloud cover helped create some dramain the skies and slow down this light transition, enough time for me to quickly choose another composition.

We had just over an hours worth of workable light then it was out with the Lee Filters 'Big Stopper' to gain a few long exposures then hit the road in search of a BIG breakfast - which incidentally turned out to be a small expensive breakfast.

St Mary's Lighthouse is located just North of Whitley Bay on an island just off shore but connected to the mainland by a small tidal causeway which, incidentally, makes a great leading line for your images. While it no longer functions as a working lighthouse, being decommissioned in1984, it is easily reached at low tide and is open to visitors where they will find a small museum, visitors centre and a cafe.

Here are a selection of my favorite images from St Mary's Lighthouse.

Derbyshire Lifestyle Photography, Hardwick Hall, The Parkin Family.

2011-06-07T03:50:00.000-07:00

I had the pleasure of photographing three generations of the parkin family recently in the stunning grounds of Hardwick Hall, Derbyshire to create some memorable family portraits. A fun time was had by all and they were great to work with. The weather proved more difficult, we had wind rain, overcast skies to clear blue skies all within the 2 hour photoshoot. Check out some of my favorite images from the shoot below.

Hardwick Hall is reputed to be one of the finest Elizabethan houses in the country and with its beautiful gardens and the house as a backdrop it creates the perfect location for any photoshoot.

Nottinghamshire Pre-Wedding Photography, Clumber Park, Mark & Vic's

2011-05-20T12:23:00.000-07:00

Here are some of my favorite images from the Pre-Wedding Photoshoot of Mark & Victoria. The couple were fantastic to work with albeit a little nervous in front of the camera but a fun and laughter filled session was had by all. Clumber Park, a National Trust Property in Nottinghamshire, is a perfect location for pre-wedding, wedding & lifestyle photoshoots with its array of woodland hideaways and old buildings and follies.

I'll be photographing their Wedding in August along with Carl Mickleburgh starting of with the ceremony at Barrowby All Saints Church at Grantham followed by a reception at the beautiful Old Vicarage at Elkesly.

Pre Dawn Delight

2011-04-26T13:01:00.000-07:00

One area of photography that I'm beginning to love more and more is the art of low light pre-dawn imagery. Capturing light colour that is bearly visible to the human eye can create some dream-like images and produce some very interesting and sometimes strange results. But this genre of photography requires patience and attention to detail in your workflow.

Robin Hoods Bay
ISO100 f/11 194sec

Low light photography requires long exposures often in excess of five minutes so a sturdy well set tripod is a must, set it as low as you can for your composition and bed it in to any soft surface, you could also use a bungee cord attached to your camera bag to give extra stability. The camera needs to be set on mirror lock up as even the tiny vibrations from the mirror flipping up can last for several seconds creating a soft image and ruining your masterpiece that you waited five minutes for. A cable release is also essential to avoid any need to touch the camera during the exposure.

Spurn Point
ISO100 f/11 60sec

Metering is a little difficult in low light, most cameras only meter up to a 30 second exposure, beyond that your on your own using the 'Bulb' mode. You could use a handheld light meter if you have one or another technique is to use the camera ISO to give you a reading. A technique I learned from read the book 'Nocturn' by a master of low light photography Bruce Percy. In aperture priority mode set your required aperture then increase the ISO until the meter reading is within 30 secs. You now need to reduce the ISO back to the original setting i.e 100 ISO taking note of how many f/stops you change it by i.e if your camera said it needed 30 seconds at ISO 800, you have reduced the light sensitivity by 3 stops (800 to 400 to 200 to 100). So now you need to add 3 stops to the exposure time of 30 secs i.e 30s to 60s to 120s to 240s. Once you have this base guide take a test shot and use the camera histogram to fine tune your exposure. Remember to use graduated filters as required to balance the exposure.

Bamburgh Castle
ISO100 f/11 301sec

Focus and composition is sometimes difficult in low light situations, often it can be hard to see anything through the viewfinder so careful consideration of the scene is needed and sometimes a trial and error approach is needed. If there is an object in the near foreground you specifically wand sharp you could use a bright torch to illuminate it to allow for manual focusing but I generally find that the infinity setting on the lens yields reliable results and 'live-view' is fairly useless in low light

Spurn Point
ISO100 f/11 244sec

Getting out there and shooting well before dawn and testing a few different techniques can often give some very pleasing results just remember the flask and warm coat while waiting for those seconds to tick by.

Runswick Bay 1hour before sunrise
ISO100 f/11 275sec

The image gallery

2011-04-25T08:28:00.000-07:00

Ever considered holding your own exhibition of your work? It can be a somewhat daunting prospect having your work on public display for the first time, thoughts of whether your work will be liked or ridiculed, will your images sell to meet the costs, even finding a suitable venue to host your exhibition can be a daunting task.

Well, a few days ago I was delighted to be able to attend the opening of a brand new gallery and exhibition area at the Patchings Art Centre near Calverton, Nottinghamshire that may make this decision a little easier. Titled 'The Image Gallery' it is the brainchild of two award winning photographers Pete Bridgewood and Chris Upton who have both held their own exhibitions in one of the other gallery areas at the Patchings but have now created a more permanent presence with a twist.

Dedicated to the art of photography the image gallery will display the work of Pete and Chris but they are setting aside an area to allow guest photographers to exhibit their work alongside their work too. Pete and Chris are two very accomplished award winning photographers.

Pete has many examples of his work alongside his monthly column in Outdoor Photography magazize. He has exhibited his work nationally in venues such as the National Theatre and at Kew Gardens. One of Pete's major successes was a first-prize win in LANDSCAPE PHOTOGRAPHER OF THE YEAR, these successes have established him as one of the UK's leading fine-art landscape photographers.

Chris specialises in Travel and Landscape photography which has brought him many rewards. He was Highly Commended in the 2007 Wanderlust Travel Photographer of the Year competition and was commissioned to photograph in Thailand on behalf of the Tourism Authority of Thailand in 2008 and 2010. He is also represented by many stock agencies.

So, with these two artists at your side, and a purpose build venue, maybe that decision to hold your first exhibition will made a little easier and a little less daunting.

First up on their list of guest photographers is another award winning photographer, Doug Chinnery, who is embarking on holding his very first solo exhibition. Entitled 'Time Passing' his work will be on display from 7th May 2011, I highly reccomend paying a visit.

The Patchings complex is a wonderful venue in itself, with various art and craft exhibitions, an image framer and a fantastic cafe, so, its well worth a visit to be immersed and maybe inspired by the wonderful work on display.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Corrupt Data

2011-04-23T08:36:00.000-07:00

I experienced a photographers worst nightmare the other evening and learned two very valuable lessons. I'd had a lovely evening in a local Bluebell wood and was eager to see what i had captured on the comupter, I hurried home and popped my memory card into the card reader ready to import images into Lightroom only to be confronted with a message saying 'Cannot create folder - Card must be formatted before it can be used'. I checked the file explorer to see if there was any data only to be confronted with another message saying 'This dive is not readable or contains corrupt data', I then got a deep sinking feeling.

When i'm out I 'normally' backup my images onto my ipad but on this occasion the shoot was very local so I left it at home. That was my first mistake, from now on my ipad will accompany me on every shoot and the images backed up before they get close to the computer. The second mistake was discovered after a bit of detective work. I loaded a new formatted memory card into the camera, took a few test shots and then uploaded these to the computer via the camera USB connection - all the images appeared as normal. I then placed the memory card into the reader and guess what? that unwelcome little message appeared again 'Cannot create folder - Card must be formatted before it can be used'. This brought all my suspicions to the memory card reader. I followed this process a second time with the exact same results. Thats where I learned my second valuable lesson - don't use sub standatd equipment. The card reader had worked fine over the last year but I remember buying it and elected to go for cheaper Jessops brand than the more expensive Sandisk readers with the thought that its only a card reader. I now realaise that this is a very important link in the image processing chain and that chain is only as strong as it weakest link. You could argue that I was the weakest link on this occasion for buying the said cheap card reader, lol.

Anyway, back to the corrupt data. There are many choices of software out there that claim to recover data of which I have tried a few. Some failled straight away but one I tried had recovered the files in their CR2 format (canon's RAW image format) with the appropriate file sizes but when I try to load these into Lightroom or Photoshop ACR I get the message 'Cannot open - this image is the wrong format' I have searched at length on the internet for a solution but to no avail. The images on the card were of no particular value but this whole episode sent a shiver down my spine and left me thinking 'What if this had been a paying clients images?'

I'm now the owner of a high quality card reader the iPad will definately be my primary backup device before the images reach the computer... Oh, and if anyone has any thoughs or suggestions on data recovery i'd be more than happy to hear them.

A Flickr Milestone

2011-04-19T13:49:00.000-07:00

well, for me anyway! Just a bit of minor personal trumpet blowing, I've just had my first image reach a 'grand' total of 1000 views on Flickr and its still climbing. Here is a link to the image in my Flickr Photostream http://flic.kr/p/8cSwzq

It's an image that was taken on an inpromptu outing to a local spot with fellow photographer Carl Mickleburgh. I'd spotted this field while out scouting the local area and just had to return that very same evening. It was a fantastic field of poppies so dense it was a sea of red and it was nice to have such a location on my doorstep for a change. To top it off we were blessed with a stunning evening sky too.

It was uploaded to Flickr that same evening and soon afterwards made it into Flickr Explore and since its upload it has steadily increased in views and i was over the moon to see it reach 1000 views a few days ago.

I'm hoping to pay the very same location a repeat visit this summer in the hope that that this sea or red returns. I've sold the image below quite a few times and even had enquiries about turning it into a gift card. I'm hoping i can add a few more to my poppy collection so it will make a nice card set.

If you would like to see more of my work why not check out my Flickr Photostream at http://www.flickr.com/photos/robferrol-phtotography/ Most of my work is a vailable for purchase too, see my website for more details at http://www.robferrolphotography.co.uk/

Spurn Point Location Guide

2011-04-04T13:01:00.000-07:00

Pre Dawn at Spurn Point
(c) Rob Ferrol

Spurn Point is a unique narrow spit of land jutting out into the North Sea creating a natural breakwater forming the Northern edge of the Humber estuary. An aerial view shows just how unique this land mass is, it stretches for just over three miles but is as narrow as 46 meters in places.

The Spurn is reached by heading east from Hull along the A1033 towards Withernsea. At Partington take the B1445 towards Easington village. Vehicles are allowed to drive down the Spurn Point road but there is a £3 charge during daylight hours.

The site is currently owned by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is designated a Natural Nature Reserve, Heritage Coast owing to its rich and diverse eco system. The area attracts many wading birds to its mud flats and is a stop off point for many migratory birds too. On my last visit I was even privileged to see two deer running past – I didn’t even know there were any on Spurn!

The Spurn is made up of sand and shingle and is formed from material washed down the coast and settling in the sheltered waters of the Humber estuary. This cycle is continually happening and it is estimated that the spun is moving westwards at a rate of 2 meters per year. On the seaward side of the Spurn there are many rows of groynes in various stated of decay that was placed there in Victorian times in the hope of reducing the erosion. This in theory worked well but the land north of the Spurn was unprotected and has eroded some 100+ meters since the defences were put in place leaving the Spurn more exposed.

Photographically the Spurn Point is a wonderful place offering easy access, close car parking and at the risk of annoying some, you can even get some shots from the car park, lol. The dunes can be a little steep in places but nothing too taxing. It has two old lighthouses, one on the Spurn and the other on the landward side just off the shoreline. The dunes and old groynes make great foreground interest and an endless supply of compositional opportunities, the groynes can make some quite attractive abstract images too. For me, the best time to visit is at sunrise with a falling tide, the shallow sloping sand shelf can help create some interesting patterns with the water and the receding high tide will have erased most footprints from the previous day’s visitors. It is worth pointing out that the Humber estuary is a busy shipping lane, some large ship pass quite close to shore, and there is often quite a lot of flotsam/jetsam on the shoreline. I have never as yet visited at sunset but I can see it has great potential for this time of day also, especially on the landward side.

I have found accurate weather forecasts for the Spurn difficult to find. Most forecasts are for the major towns nearby but on the exposed Spurn things can be very different. And change at a moments notice, so plan for this in advance.

For tidal information I use the following link for tide times at the port of Immingham. http://www.pol.ac.uk/ntslf/tides/?port=0026 Its worth noting that at high tide in stormy conditions the sea can breach the Spurn in places so do take care and plan ahead.

Whatever your ability Spurn has something to offer and you’ll not be disappointed. Finally a fellow photographer, Doug Chinnery, is holding a photography workshop at this very location, so why not pay this place a visit and get some expert tuition at the same time.

Crashing waves at Spurn Point
(c) Rob Ferrol

The old 'Light Tower' Spurn Point
(c) Rob Ferrol

Abstract composition using the old groynes, Spurn Point
(c) Rob Ferrol

Sunrise at Spurn Point
(c) Rob Ferrol

Unforecast Mist at Spurn Point
(c) Rob Ferrol

Lowepro Pro Trekker 300 AW Review

2011-04-01T14:04:00.000-07:00

When it comes to choosing a camera backpack it can be a little daunting with the choice on offer, but, choose the wrong one and you will pay the price – not only in reliability but also the higher price of a bad back.

I’ve spent many days in my youthful years hiking across hills and mountains and know only too well how much difference a reliable and comfortable backpack can make to your time spent outdoors. Camera backpacks are somewhat different though, they have to provide comfort to the wearer and also provide effective protection for your valuable camera gear.

When I started photography a few years ago I had a budget DSLR and a couple of lenses. The weight was minimal and it was fairly easy to lug around and at the time I had a Tamrac Expedition 5 backpack. But the photography bug soon grew along with my collection of gear – bigger camera, bigger lens’ and all the assemblage of the average landscapers needs i.e. filters, cable release, tripod, and a few extra lenses etc. Add to that a few items for personal comfort while out on the hills i.e. flask/fluids, rain coat when not in use (which is rare in the UK hills) you’ll soon need more space and a more functional bag.

Over the years I was quite happy with my Tamrac bag and could have just upgraded to the Expedition 8 but as it filled up I found it increasingly uncomfortable on my back. I found it was lacking in padding on the shoulder straps and the back wasn’t very ergonomically shaped, I was also frustrated with the lack of external pockets for personal items. Carrying a flask and packed lunch with a Tamrac bag was a ‘no go’ unless you were brave enough to put them in with your much loved camera and lenses, so, I ensued on long search for an alternative.

I’d looked at many different types and the choice was bewildering to say the least. There were many reviews on the internet to help my decision but there is a huge element of personal choice. Top of the priority list for me had to be comfort, my back is not getting any younger, and this was closely followed by versatility and reliability.

Of the many I looked at the Lowepro Pro Trekker 300 AW seemed to fit the bill. First off I noticed an immediate difference in the appearance, it looked more like a traditional backpack which appealed to me. Too many camera bags look like, well don’t laugh, but ‘camera bags’ and can attract unwanted attention especially when travelling overseas. The comfort level, both on the back and the shoulders, was miles ahead of the bags I had previously owned and tried. The harness has a whopping ten point adjustment system so you can alter the height of the load on your back and anybody who has done any amount of hiking will tell you that this simple adjustment can have a huge effect. It also has a well padded ‘removable’ waist belt.

The back itself offers ample load carrying capacity with internal space for a pro range DLSR with an attached lens, spare camera body, up to 5 additional lenses and ample storage space for filters and additional kit etc. 3 options for carrying a tripod – it easily accommodates my Manfrotto 190 x ProB, an external removable laptop pouch suitable for a 15.4” widescreen laptop. There are two side pockets, one of which is set up to take a hydration reservoir. The other has internal pockets for storage and memory card slots. The removable bag hood has two pockets and with the hidden attached straps can be turned into a bum bag/waist pouch. The bag also conforms to many airline ‘carry on’ baggage requirements.

Protection for the camera gear is impressive too with Velcro adjustable padded dividers not unlike many camera bags and the main compartment is sealed with YKK spashguard zippers and when you’re in the thick of it in the elements there is also an attached ‘all weather’ cover for extra protection.

Out and about the bag performed well, it felt very comfortable while walking and all the contents were held securely in place. I’ve not been out in a torrential down pour as yet to test its all weather capability but if the level of quality I’ve found in the bag continues I’m sure it will perform well. There is plenty of space for all my gear and it’s a welcome relief to have space for my packed lunch rather than have it stuffed in my coat pocket. On the whole. A very versatile backpack which I highly recommend.

There was only one issue I had with the bag and that was finding a supplier with stock, even the UK Lowepro distributor had them on backorder, but, after a long search and many phone calls, I found one and got my hands on it the next day - maybe its testament to it popularity, who knows. One final word of caution though, prices varied widely between stores from £198 to £267 so shop around but keep your fingers crossed for some stock.

Caroline & Gordon

2011-02-07T15:28:00.000-08:00

Had the huge privilage of photographing Caroline & Gordon on their special Day in the beautiful surroundings of Medbourne in Leicestershire. A picturesque location with medeval buildings and bridges and stunning little church.

The couple were both naturals in front of the camera and it was a pleasure being part of their special day. We evan managed to squeeze in some studio style images. Thank you both so much!!

New Website

2011-01-26T13:25:00.000-08:00

Just a quick blog to let you know I have a new website. I'd been having a few technical issues with my old one whereby a simple adjustment changed the whole layout and reverted my header images to much older versions. Well, I decided to bite the bullet and revamp the whole thing and produce a much brighter and fresher page.

The page is now up and running and there is even more content and information, especially about my wedding and portrait photography. The client galleries are still available to past customers and I'm hoping to incorporate this blog page into the site too, but that's another story, lol.

The site can be found at the same address as before www.robferrolphotography.co.uk if you can spare a few minutes please take a look and maybe leave some feedback, I'd like to hear what you think.

On a different note, I've just announced a fantastic deal on my wedding photography. For any wedding booked before the end of February you will receive a 10% discount on the package price. See my website or contact me for more details.

My guide to Saltwick Bay

2011-01-08T18:03:00.000-08:00

[caption id="attachment_368" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The three Icons of Saltwick Bay"][/caption]

Saltwick bay is a little gem of a location on the North Yorkshire coast, situated just south of the fishing port of Whitby. It offers an abundance of photographic opportunities that are all compacted into a relatively small area.

The bay consists of a small sandy beach surrounded by high cliffs and flanked on either side by flat shale shelves. These shelves hold two local icons, 'Saltwick Nab' and the probably more well known, 'Black Nab'.

[caption id="attachment_365" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="Black Nab viewed from the beach"][/caption]

The 'Black Nab' is situated on the southern shelf. It has a distinctive shape similar to that of a submarine coning tower and close to the base of this can be found the remains of the 'Admiral Von Tromp', a Scarborough based fishing trawler that ran aground in 1976 with the sad loss of two lives. There is an abundance of rocks in this area that offer interesting abstract compositions and you may also find ammonite fossils which this area is also famous for.

[caption id="attachment_366" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="The 'Whale shaped' Saltwick Nab"][/caption]

On the northern shelf you will find 'Saltwick Nab', a somewhat 'breeching whale' shaped rock prominence again surrounded by a shale shelf offering similar textured rocks, some of which have very bizarre patterns and deep grooves that seem almost unreal.

[caption id="attachment_364" align="aligncenter" width="300" caption="One of many abstract composition opportunities"][/caption]

The Bay has another trump card up its sleeve though. The fact that it is North East facing makes it a very unique location because in the height of summer you can capture the sun rising and setting over the sea, quite novel considering you are on the east coast.

So, you could literaly spend all day here from dawn to dusk, tide permitting. Talking of which the location really need to be photographed with a falling tide, there is little beach available at high tide, and to get close to the 'Back Nab' and wreck site you need the tide to be almost at low water. Do not photograph the shelves or nabs on a rising tide, there is a real danger of being cut off by the tide. I use the tide tables here http://www.pol.ac.uk/ntslf/tides/?port=0174 but always consult your usual reliable tidal references.

Now, how to get there. The bay is located from Hawksker Lane which is the road that takes you to Whitby Abbey. From there turn left up the lane to Whitby Holiday Park and then park in the layby by the park entrance. To get down to the bay walk along the cliff top towards the holiday park and you will come across the path that leads down to the bay. This path can be quite muddy and slippery in places especially after wet weather so take care and wear good suitable footware.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

2010 in review

2011-01-06T16:27:00.000-08:00

The stats helper monkeys at WordPress.com mulled over how this blog did in 2010, and here's a high level summary of its overall blog health:

The Blog-Health-o-Meter™ reads Fresher than ever.

Crunchy numbers

The Leaning Tower of Pisa has 296 steps to reach the top. This blog was viewed about 1,200 times in 2010. If those were steps, it would have climbed the Leaning Tower of Pisa 4 times

In 2010, there were 35 new posts, growing the total archive of this blog to 39 posts. There were 191 pictures uploaded, taking up a total of 102mb. That's about 4 pictures per week.

The busiest day of the year was July 21st with 44 views. The most popular post that day was Studio Photoshoot.

Where did they come from?

The top referring sites in 2010 were robferrol-photography.weebly.com, facebook.com, flickr.com, dougchinnery.blogspot.com, and dougchinnery.wordpress.com.

Some visitors came searching, mostly for lpoty 2010, lpoty, "my entry lpoty competition", joanna and liam's wedding almondbury, and jodie ferrol.

Attractions in 2010

These are the posts and pages that got the most views in 2010.

Studio Photoshoot January 2010
1 comment

Seascapes and Long Exposures April 2010
8 comments

LPOTY 2010 Entries June 2010

Preview of Chris & Sophia's Wedding August 2010
2 comments

Tides & Photography June 2010
4 comments

The year ahead

2011-01-04T03:52:00.000-08:00

Happy new everyone. Hope you all enjoyed the celebrations and without

too many hangovers the next day. I have to say 2010 was a very eventful year, both personally and with my photography.

I feel that my photography has improved greatly over this last year, this is due to a number of factors. Joining photo sharing sites like Flickr have allowed me to receive much needed critique on my work and i am always open to critique, both good and not so good. Exploring new techniques has moved me up a notch or two and becoming more adept at using Lightroom and Photoshop.

But one of the biggest and most significant reasons I feel I've improved was attending some photographic workshops. For these I have to thank Doug Chinnery, an award winning fine art landscape who runs workshops covering all aspects of landscape photography. He will be running two workshops this year in conjunction with the winner of the prestigious LPOTY award Anthony Spencer, so, check out his web site for more details about these.

I have attended a few of Doug's workshops and he has passed on a wealth of knowledge and information but by attending workshops you are also in a group of likeminded individuals of varying degrees of expertise and you can learn even more from each other, Doug always says he learns something too from his students on his workshops. I have made some good friends from the workshops and have made subsequent photography outings with them.

So, what now for the year ahead? Well, I have a few things up my sleeve. Some wedding bookings will be keeping me busy and I've got my first maternity photoshoot in a few weeks. I'm also planning a few trips, one on the west coast of Scotland, one in Cotswolds and later in the year down to Dorset. These will be family trips but I'm sure I'll be able to squeeze in a few 'excursions'!!

I've also had quite a few enquiries for lifestyle photoshoots, all from 'word of mouth' recommendations, it's certainly nice to know your previous clients are talking about you in a nice way, lol. I've now got to turn these into bookings.

On a final note, i sell gift vouchers that can be redeemed against a print purchase from my gallery or used towards a photoshoot, they make an ideal and unique gift/present and are available to any value.

I'm looking forward to the year ahead and sharing my work with you all. Thanks for your continued support.

www.robferrolphotography.co.uk

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPad

Blurred vision

2010-12-28T00:26:00.000-08:00

As photographers we are constantly striving for tack sharp images and go to many lengths and great expense to achieve this. Using time tested techniques such as mirror lock-up, cable releases and a good sturdy tripod can all go along way to achieve this but I'm now seeing an increase in the use of purposefully blurred images.

Don't get me wrong, this is nothing new, and it's certainly not to everyones taste, but, if you trawl throughout the pages on Flickr there is definitely an increase in this style. I've gone to great lengths myself to get those super sharp images but now im also finding these blurred images more intriguing. I'm not sure why, maybe it's the sense of leaving something for the imagination - allowing the minds eye to sharpen the image. These images can certainly be perceived differently from person to person but I also ask myself 'what has the photographer seen in this image?' because the composition and content is not always immediately clear.

There are many diffent methods to achieve this blurred effect - long exposure handheld, camera panning, tilt and shift lens' or by using the powerful tools within software such as Photoshop and each give their own unique results. I have so far tried panning and the Photoshop method and examples of each of these can be seen here.

I mistakenly thought that this technique would be easy to emulate hand held - how wrong could I be? You need to think just has hard about composition and the elements within you scene. I had far more images go in the recycle bin using the panning technique than I would have taking traditional landscape images. You also have to think hard about the amount of movement your going to use - too much and it's just a streaky mess and too little looks as if you've just poorly focused the image. I found my best results came from focusing on a key point in the image, such as a tree trunk etc, as this gave the image an anchor, then used various shutter speeds from about 2 to 4 seconds while experimenting with different ways of panning the camera. Very hit and miss but very rewarding when you get a worthwhile result.

I think it will be a while before I could invest and try the tilt and shift lenses but in the meantime, for some blurry inspiration, please take a look at Chris Friel's website. I was introduced to his stunning work by another equally accomplished photographer and friend, Doug Chinnery. Chris is a master that the artistic blurred images and used many different techniques to achieve the effect but also confesses to having an appalling shot ratio.

Great British Landscapes, the new online photography magazine produced by Tim Parkin and Joe Cornish, have just featured an interview with Chris so why not check that out too along with some other very useful and interesting articles.

If you'd like to see more of my work please check out any of the links below.

Thanks

www.robferrolphotography.co.uk

www.flickr.com/photos/robferrol-photography/

www.facebook.com/robferrolphotography

Inspiration

2010-12-20T16:15:00.000-08:00

I often trawl the net in search of inspiration and browsing the photo streams of my Flickr contacts is a fantastic starting place, but, inspiration not only comes in a visual sense but also a written one too. To get this double pronged boost you have to see an individuals website, blog or book and there are many fantastic examples to be found on the Internet. There are a few thought that I'm constantly drawn back to, one of which exhibits the stunningly fantastic work of bruce Percy. http://www.brucepercy.co.uk/index.html

As a photographer based in Scotland he is perfectly placed with an abundance of stunning scenery on his 'doorstep' and he shows it at his best, but he doesn't stop there, his adventures around the globe prove that he is a photographer who is just a capable out of his comfort zone.

His images have a sublime mesmerising dreamlike feel to them, the sort of image you can just look at for ages but if you download his free video podcasts from iTunes you'll be in inspiration heaven. Be inspired at http://www.brucepercy.co.uk/index.html

Friends in distant places

2010-11-30T15:11:00.000-08:00

Friends in distant places, originally uploaded by Rob Ferrol.

I was cajoled into gettting out in the snow this morning while tweeting on my iphone by two fine photographers - Doug Chinnery (thefatcat44) and Jason Theaker - they both said it would be worthwhile.

Well, after peeling my head off the pillow I ventured out into the frozen tundra to be greeted by whiteout blizzard conditions - Pffff "worth while" i muttered under my breath!! Then all of a sudden it cleared. So I hurriedly composed a few shots of this tree, avoiding Dougs (and Stan the dogs) footprints/pawprints - Doug always gets up at stupid-O-clock and gets there first, lol.

Anyway, the snow has continued all day and there is more to come apparrently, so, if you hav'nt heard from me by tomorrow send out a search party coz i'll be up and out again - if I can just get my head off the pillow again.

Winter lifestyle photoshoot

2010-11-30T06:14:00.000-08:00

Had a lovely Wintery lifestyle photoshoot in Clumber Park last weekend with Karina & Shaun and their fantastic family. It was a very cold morning, in fact my car registered -6 deg C when i set off, and most of us were feeling the chill before the photoshoot started.

I soon had them warmed up though yomping around the park trying to find some scenic spots avoiding the harsh brigh light. The sun was blazing and there was not a cloud in the sky so i found the metering a bit of a challenge.

Clumber park is a perfect location for outdoor lifestyle portraits with an abundance of different areas but this makes it very popular, even quite early in the moring, so carefull planning and patience is needed to avoid the populated hotspots.

Anyway, they all seemed to be having a fun time and we even managed to finish with a walk down the famous Lime Tree Avenue, which ended in snow ball fight which the parents lost.

Clumber Parks Lime Tree Avenue is the longest of its kind in Europe, almost 2 miles long. It was planted around 1840 an consists of 1296 common Limes planted in two double rows. It makes a fantastic photo location year round.

There were plenty images taken and this is just a small collection from the day.

2010-11-12T14:39:00.000-08:00

Padley gorge is a scenic area in the Derbyshire Peak district that has a bountiful supply of photographic opportunities but this area comes alive and into it's own in the autumn period. I always love paying this place a visit at this time of year, it offers many woodland compositions and down at Burbage Brook the are many small waterfalls. The area is very easily accessed from the B6521 next to the National Trust's Longshaw Estate. Go early to avoid the crowds though, especially at weekends and public holidays

[gallery columns="5" orderby="rand"]

Preview of Chris & Sophia's Wedding

2010-08-18T03:20:00.000-07:00

I was delighted to be asked to photograph the
wedding of Chris & Sophia. Here is a preview of
some of the images. The ceremony was held a Wingerworth
Parish Church followed by a fantastic reception at Ringwood Hall
near Chesterfield, Derbyshire. The couple both looked
stunning and I wish them all the best for their future.

Please see my website for details about my Wedding
Photography at www.robferrolphotography.co.uk

New born baby photoshoot

2010-08-09T12:14:00.000-07:00

Just completed a fantastic photoshoot for Rachel & Richard of their beautiful newborn baby son, Rupert (Roo)! They say newborn babies sleep all the time, but, baby Roo was the exception to the rule. All bar fleeting moments of having both eyes closed he stayed awake for the full three hours. Yes, I know he looks peaceful and asleep in some of these images but don't be fooled like we were, lol.

I had loads of different ideas for images but most involved a sleeping baby, so, as our little model had other ideas, I had to ‘wing it’. We all had a great afternoon and Roo’s mum was more than delighted with the images.

If you would like a similar photosoot yourself then why not visit my website for details at www.robferrolphotography.co.uk

Big Moor Moody Mono-6433

2010-07-29T06:08:00.000-07:00

Big Moor Moody Mono-6433, originally uploaded by Rob Ferrol.

A trip out this evening to a relatively local spot on Big Moor at the edge of the Derbyshire Peak District.

This tree is something else, it has so many angles you can compose it from any position. Beware, I have a few more to come.

It was very changeable up there this evening but the light and cloud detail was fantastic. It was windy too so this is the only shot that i manged to get using my Lee 10 stop filter, the rest were blurred.

Here is a colour pano of the same location.

Saltwick Moods-6346

2010-07-26T01:13:00.000-07:00

Saltwick Moods-6346, originally uploaded by Rob Ferrol.

A moody sky greeted us at Saltwick Bay near Whitby. It was an early start from home for a sunrise photoshoot and It looked promising to start with but the cloud built up as we approached our location raising some doubts about any successes today.

The lack of a spectacular sunrise forced me to try different shots and to be more creative which I found hard work at first but really enjoyed in the end and it certainly makes you see things differently.

Watch out for more 'arty' images from Rob Ferrol Photography.

LPOTY 2010 Entries

2010-06-26T13:10:00.000-07:00

Well, after much thought and deliberation I finally decided to place some images in this years Landscape Photographer of the Year competition. It's very difficult to know, or preempt, what the judges will be looking for and looking at the previous years winners it seems there is a mixed bag.

So, I sat with my wife and agonised for some time which to enter and came up with a group of 5 images. Yes, I like them and so do many other people judging by the comments I have received on them, but what will the judges make of them?

Well, it's my first ever photographic competition entry so I'm hoping for some beginners luck for starters. Now I've submitted them though I kind of feel that I'm way short of the mark, in a self doubting kind of way. Have I applied enough thought into which images to upload? Are they exposed and processed correctly? Do they stand out from the others? Are they just run-of-the-mill images? These are very difficult questions to answer. Anyway, it's out of my hands now and into those of the judges. For now though, I'm treating this as a learning experience. If I get some recognition of my efforts then BONUS!! For me that's a win!! Yes, it would be nice to be crowned 'Landscape Photographer of the Year 2010' but I know for sure that's well our of my reach - maybe one day!!

[gallery columns="2" orderby="rand"]

Lifestyle photoshoot at Rufford Abbey

2010-06-22T05:05:00.000-07:00

Took the wee ones out to Rufford Abbey in the hope of getting some lifestyle images of them both. It was a lovely evening, unfortunately the Abbey was closed but the grounds offered plenty of locations to take some images.

If you would like a lifestyle photoshoot why not get in touch. Thanks for looking.

[slideshow]

Studio Portrait Photography

2010-06-15T15:48:00.000-07:00

This is my handsome wee son Andrew. He has always been a little camera shy but today some some unexplained reason he was quite happy having his photos taken. Maybe it was the supply of jelly sweets I was bribing him with after each shot, he was certainly full of energy though!!

Tides & Photography

2010-06-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

Spurn Point, Yorkshire

Britain's coastline is steeped in history and natural beauty making it possibly the most photographed coastline in the world. Castles, Coves and Cliffs all make great photographic subjects that can give instantly pleasing results but if you want to perfect your images you need to plan ahead to get the tides right and for your own safety, so this is my little guide to just that.

Generally speaking costal images are best made on a falling tide a) it’s generally a safer option and b) you get nice wet rocks & sand etc for added impact and detail in your images. But certain locations require pinpoint accuracy, some secluded coves, for example, are inaccessible at high water.

Having lived by the coast for a good part of my life, and 15 years of Scuba Diving to my name, I feel quite confident around water but I never get complacent about it. It’s all too easy to go out on a beach at low tide, be captivated by your photography, then find your exit is now awash with water. Only on a recent trip to the Northumberland coast I was stood on some boulders while taking a series of images and you could see the tide moving in fairly quick and had I not been aware I would have soon been in water too deep for my welly boots to contend with. These images were taken just 4 minutes apart and clearly show the rising tide. The image on the right was taken with a 10 Stop filter to blur what little motion in the water there was.

The tides are governed by the gravitational pull of the sun, the moon and the rotation of the earth. The Moon, being closer to us, is the more dominant factor. We have roughly, there are exceptions, two high tides and two low tides in a 24 hour period. Now, I'll attempt to explain tides in simple terms for us photographers.

These gravitational forces cause the water on the surface of the earth to bulge and thus create our high and low tides. When the sun and moon are at 90 deg to each other in relation to the earth these gravitational forces work against each other and this reduces the tidal range (a small bulge) – this is known a Neap Tides. Whereas when the Sun and Moon are in line with the earth they work together increasing the gravitational forces producing a greater tidal range (a large bulge) – known a Spring tides.

Image courtesy of “Curious About Astronomy”

You may be asking what is the relevance of all this, well, during spring tides the tides are higher and lower than those of neap tides and thus produce a larger range of water movement. So, if you want to photograph those old decaying Groynes on the beach you may want to avoid high water spring tides because they will probably be under water and conversely a low water spring tide will probably leave them high and dry.

Another variable to maybe consider is the movement of the water itself. Photography has it’s rule of 3rd’s and tidal prediction has it’s rule of 12th’s. At high or low tide there is very little movement of water, this is known as “Slack Water”, but as the water falls (an ebbing tide) or rises (a flood tide) its rate of change speeds up at roughly the mid-point of the tidal change. The following table may help explain this;

1st Hour	1/12th of the total tidal movement
2nd Hour	2/12th of the total tidal movement
3rd Hour	3/12th of the total tidal movement
4th Hour	3/12th of the total tidal movement
5th Hour	2/12th of the total tidal movement
6th Hour	1/12th of the total tidal movement

You may again be asking what is the significance of this. Well, lets say your down on the beach at low water, you’ve been there a couple of hours exposing images, your now at that point of a rising tide where there is the greatest amount of water movement. In places this movement can be rapid enough to out pace your retreat up the beach or in other places, if you are on a higher sand bank for example, cut you off completely from the shore line.

So, how do you avoid these mishaps and plan your shoot to have the optimum tide for your location? You need to consult tide tables. The are produced by a number of sources.

Example Tide Chart

The UK hydrographic office produce tidal information that is published on the Admiralty web site, see below. They are free for a seven day period but you can register and for a small fee and get tide times for any day of the year. Most harbour offices sell locally produced tables and there is a whole host if sources on the web. My favourite though is the National Oceanography Centre website which give free 28 day tidal predictions for most UK ports, have a look at their website here. If your photography is away from a listed port then an element of guesswork and calculated judgement is needed. Using admiralty charts it’s possible to plot the tide for any given point, but, must of us dont have these nautical charts so you need to look at the port tide times either side of your location then you have a range from which to estimate your tide times.

Tidal charts are fairly easy to read and understand. They give the times of high and low water but most times are in GMT so make sure during British Summer Time (BST) that you add 1 hour to the published times unless already corrected for BST, don't get caught out by a simple error. The other figures are the tide heights above chart datum, the lowest depth that the tide should ever reach.

So, there's my guide to tides which I hope will take some of the confusion out of tidal prediction and give you a little confidence when using tide tables to enhance your costal photography. Remember, do you homework and you will have a safe and enjoyable day at the coast.

Here is a few resources that you may find useful;

National Oceanographic Centre	Free 28 day tidal predictions
UK Hydrographic office	Admiralty 7 day tidal prediction service
WXTide32	Freeware windows based tidal prediction software
BBC Weather Tide Tables	7 Day predictions from the BBC
Maritime & Coastguard Agency	A website full of useful information about coast safety and related issues.

2010-05-29T09:17:00.000-07:00

A weekend Castles & Coastlines workshop in Northumberland proved to be a tougher photoshoot than I had expected. You'd think that visiting iconic locations such as Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh Castles the images would be in the bag before setting off. Well, I had to think again! Thankfully I was on one of Doug Chinnery's workshops again and he was there ready to offer guidance when the going got tough.

The weather proved to be a very mixed bag starting with nice cloud cover and the odd light shower which slowly dissipated into clear blue skies for sunset - not ideal at all. Anyway, i pressed on regardless but feeling a little deflated by the conditions. I had to be more creative and make images from what I had, using the Lee filters 10 stop "Big Stopper" filter proved helpful in some situations but even this had its limitations in these condition.

Using the "Big Stopper" while contending with a rising tide can be a hazardous combination too! I was shooting a series of images of Dunstanburgh Castle while balancing on some large boulders with water already lapping around my feet. Engrossed in the setup and waiting for the exposures, some over 100 secs, I soon discovered that my route back to dry land was now awash, thank goodness for welly boots! It certainly shows how easy and quickly you could be caught out by a rising tide so always be aware of your surroundings. Those rocks were "Slippery When Wet" too - Bon Jovi song in my head now!!

There was a beautiful sunset looking over the boulders to the West but so little cloud to give the sky some drama. Never mind there was always tomorrow i thought. Well, after just 3 hours sleep, tomorrow was here and so was a sky full of cloud, a thick blanket of the stuff, damn, more difficult conditions.

Down on the beach at Bamburgh Castle it was drizzle, still cloudy and misty. Sunrise never happened, well, it happened but I never saw it! This morning marvel was happening somewhere else behind all that cloud. I managed to get a few images in the diffused lighting but the drizzle was getting heavier and it became a constant battle to keep my lens and filter clean. I lost the battle!

Beaten by the rain we all headed back to the B&B to dry off and then get a welcome full cooked breakfast. The B&B, by-the-way, was fantastic, very comfortable, clean and run by a very helpful friendly couple. Here's a link, I thoroughly recommend it if you are planning a stay at Seahouses.

On the way home we stopped off at a few locations taking in views at West Burton Falls, where Doug introduced me to shooting panoramas, and other locations in the Yorkshire Dales. Another stunning area that I must visit again sometime.

Well, that was my third workshop with Doug and it proved to be the hardest. Blessed with fantastic light and conditions on the other two I suppose I got a little complacent thinking that the images would be in the bag. Doug passed on many tips and techniques again but my biggest lesson learned was not to rely on the weather. Knowing how to be creative when the conditions are not at their best certainly takes a lot of practice, so, I'll be out in all conditions now trying to hone those skills.

[slideshow]

2010-05-25T12:56:00.000-07:00

Well, my Spurn images proved to be very popular on Flickr! Being fairly new to Flickr I often wondered, with the thousands of daily image uploads, how ones own images would fair in the recognition stakes, After all It doesn't take long for your image to be lost and relegated to the bottom of the cyber pile after all these uploads.

On my return from a photoshoot in Northumberland I had a nice welcome surprise! One of my images had made the front page on Flickr Explore and got to number 44 out of the top 500 selected images uploaded on that day.

I am over the moon at having one of my images recognized and selected but looking at the explore selection at any point in time it shows a very 'varied' range in taste and ability, but, at the end of the day, that's photography, very subjective. To me though, it's a mile stone in my photographic career to date so I'll take it as a compliment.

The image in question was, to be honest, a quick grab shot. I was down on the beach taking images of the old groynes and concentrating on the stunning scene before me during a spectacular sunrise when something made me look behind me, I gasped in amazement at what I saw - the dunes were ablaze in a golden glow that just had to be photographed.

I quickly grabbed my gear and shot off up into the dunes before the light changed and scurrying around like an excited child I found a quick composition. I fired off a few exposures and that was it, the light had changed. A little exhausted I headed back down to the beach, elated that I had seen this spectacular scene but somewhat wishing I had spotted it earlier to get a more pleasing composition. So, here comes my first little tip - while working on that stunning scene before you always keep a watchful eye on what's happening behind, I wonder now how many missed opportunities there have been.

I got many pleasing images from Spurn Point and uploaded them to Flickr and got some equally pleasing responses but they were all surpassed by an image that I hurriedly uploaded before heading to Northumberland, an image that I wasn't initially pleased with and an image that was a grab shot. So, here it is:

I still feel that my image does not do this scene the justice it deserves and I'm not entirely happy with the composition, but, it was certainly appreciated on Flickr and I am very grateful for all the comments received. So, here comes my second little tip - if a photographic opportunity presents itself - grab it!

Now, I'm off to look at those Northumberland images with a fresh pair of eyes.

Spurn Point

2010-05-12T15:51:00.000-07:00

Spurn Point, also known as Spurn Head, is a narrow 3 mile long land spit that stretches into the North Sea from the coast of East Riding, Yorkshire. It forms the north bank mouth of the Humber estuary and in places is as little as 50 yards wide.

It has been owned since 1960 by the Yorkshire Wildlife Trust and is a designated National Nature Reserve, Heritage Coast and is part of the Humber Flats, Marshes and Coast Special Protection Area. Because this is a nature reserve dogs are not allowed.

There is a £3 entry fee if you wish to drive down the single track road along the spit but free if you wish to walk. The car park is situated near the foot of the old disused lighthouse. This lighthouse has not been used since 1986 and is now showing signs of neglect.

From the car park there are various short tracks leading over the dunes to the beach on the east side where you will find rows of old sea defences, or gorynes, which make fantastic foreground interest. There is also pebbled/shingle areas, old bits of driftwood and plenty flotsam and jetsam giving endless photographic possibilities. The dunes themselves can also make a good image taking in the lighthouse too.

The gorynes are visible at high water but photographically i feel this location would best suit a falling tide as the beach can be quite narrow in places. At low water you will have large expanses of beach due to the large tidal movement. Stay safe though and check the tide times before you leave.

On the west side there are large mud flats and photographers can make use of the hides to view migratory wildlife and the large number of waders and wildfowl that gather here.

So, in all, it's well worth a visit and ill definately be back again soon.

[slideshow]

2010-05-06T04:07:00.000-07:00

apologies for not posting for sometime. Its been a hectic few weeks in my home and unfortunately not in the photographic sense. Last week some unscrupulous members of society decided they would like to break into my garage and steal my Motorbike and my new mountain bike. Now, I could vent my anger with a few expletives but i'm not gonna let these scoundrels get the better of me.

So, after taking care of sorting new security measures, lights, locks and booby traps, lol, I headed out for a photoshoot to lift my spirits. The location was an unsuspecting wood right next to the A614 near Clumber Park, Nottinghamshire. Hundreds of vehicles must pass this location every day but I wonder how few take the time to look into the woods at this special time of year.

It's that time when the Bluebells come out and I for one did not know that there was a wonderful Bluebell wood right on my doorstep. It's only after viewing a local photographers Blog that I came across this location. Thanks to Mark Tierney for the directions and inspiration.

It's only a small wood but has easy access from the layby, but, try to avoid entering the wood by the layby, unfortunately its strewn with litter. It's better to walk along the edge of the wood 100ft or so by the road, being carefull of traffic obviously, then enter the wood there.

The compositions it offers are endless, indeed, the images below were taken with a variety of lenses from a Sigma 10-20m, Canon 17-40mm L, and a Sigma 70-200mm. The first few images were taken in the harsh midday light on one visit and after much excitement I arranged another visit with some fellow photographers Doug Chinnery, Carl Mickleburgh and James Davies. A fun evening rewarded with fantastic light and good humour. Please follow the links and view their work from this location on Flickr, they are great photographers and have fantastic portfolios which i'm sure you will enjoy viewing.

This spectacle only lasts for a few weeks each year so ill certainly be heading out there again over the next week or so, otherwise its a long wait till next year.

Now, I'm off to arrange collection of my wrecked motorcycle, oh the joys!!

[slideshow]

Seascapes and Long Exposures

2010-04-14T13:30:00.000-07:00

Had a wee trip to Robin Hood's Bay and Whitby for a seascape and long exposure photoshoot. Having left home at 2:30AM all bleary eyed to get to the location on time I was rewarded with possibly the best sunrise of the year so far.

Working like an excited child setting up my gear, while keeping one eye on the quickly developing light, the tiredness was soon forgotten. After a brief pause at the cliff top view-point we quickly headed down the winding street to the village sea front. From there I embarked on a most memorable photographic session.

I was one member of a small group of photographers who has signed up for a days tuition by Doug Chinnery. A professional photographer who enjoys passing on his wealth of knowledge and who I thoroughly recommend to anyone who wishes to improve their photography.

Ever mindful of the other photographers, we were all using wide angled lenses, we endeavoured to find worthy compositions to make the most of the stunning light that was developing at a rapid pace. The location provided a wealth of compositional opportunities from rock and rock pools to sand ripples and outflowing streams. The sun eventually broke the horizon and I almost found myself fixated by it instead of taking images. Quickly coming to my senses I rattles off quite a few shots of various compositions and hopefully making the most of them. I was also using my newly acquired Lee filters.

In the past I have had issues with my focusing and getting sharp shots but Doug introduced his method of using the live view facility to focus. I tried this method myself and found it most rewarding and very reliable so will utilise it as a matter of course in the future.

The sun rose so quick that it all seemed over too soon, so, I turned my attention to other areas and managed to get some interesting abstract shots of the rippled beach before heading back up through the small fishing village. This also offered the opportunity get some detail/abstract shots, an area which I have found difficult in the past but Doug offered further guidance.

After a hearty breakfast, included in the workshop fee, and a few cups of coffee we were given a brief tutorial on importing and post processing Raw images in Lightroom and Photoshop, an area which I learned a great deal, and found out I was wasting much valuable drive space by exporting images unnecessarily.

It was then off to Whitby, a change of location and a change of tactic. Doug gave a thorough and in-depth tutorial on long exposure images. Although in-depth he explained things in a manner that was within the grasp of us all. He then introduced a piece of kit called the 'Big Stopper' a Lee 10 stop filter. A fantastic bit of kit that opened my eyes to a whole new dimension of photography. I never thought it was possible to make exposures of 100 seconds + in bright midday sunlight but the proof is in the images below.

Being totally exhausted and having learned so much we wrapped up the day with another coffee and in my case a cream scone and headed home with memory cards full to capacity.

If you get the chance, book yourself on to one of Doug's workshops, he caters for all levels and he may transform your photography, the only problem is that you have to spend money on new kit afterwards. In my case a 'Big Stopper'.

Flowers Anyone?

2010-04-08T14:07:00.000-07:00

Just thought i'd try something different - flower photography.

Inspired by Doug Chinnery's images I got all arty and perched myself in the kitchen and using the large window I was able to light these images naturally.

The flowers were supplied by friends that we had staying over for the Easter weekend so thanks to them, they know who they are..

I actually found it quite a challenge, paying attention to the composition of the flower and trying to get it to sit where I wanted it took quite a bit of effort, but, I eventually learned the art of flower taming.

The exposure was a little challenging too. Outside was grey and overcast but I used bursts of bright but diffused sunlight that came through the clouds to backlight the flowers. This helped reveal the textures in the leaves, more evident in the Tulip shots.

Very little post processing was done, very slight exposure adjustments in a couple of them and that was about it.

Overall i'm very pleased with the outcomes, the only downside, the wife says I have to buy here more flowers now I seem to appreciate their finer details.

[slideshow]

Second attempt at Gymnastics photography

2010-03-31T14:23:00.000-07:00

Well, I was there again stood on the side lines of the competition area, this time at New College Leicester, trying to get some shots of my daughter. She was competing for her grade 13.

I was the only one there with a ‘big’ lens apart from the event photographer. Whilst loitering in between shots I got talking to the centre manager, who, as it happens is involved with photographic liaison/organisation at the big national and international gymnastics events, and she was passing on some very helpful hints/tips. So thanks to her i feel i have some improved shots. Her website can be seen here www.lindagore.co.uk

The lighting wasn't great again so the ISO was up at 1600 and i worked on the static shots as opposed to the moving action shots. Post production of these images involved slight some slight exposure increased and then some noise reduction and sharpening. The white balance was custom set in camera.

Overall i am very pleased with these images. But, what really topped the day was my daughters stunning performance and winning a Bronze medal for third place.

View Full Album

Indoor Sports Photography

2010-03-24T15:55:00.000-07:00

Well, I had another go at shooting indoor sports shots last weekend. It was my Daughters gymnastics competition at Rushclifffe in Nottingham. The event went fantastic for her and resulted in her qualifying to represent Nottinghamshire in the East Midland regional Finals next month. A proud dad to say the least!!!!

The photography was a different matter though. The arena at Rushcliffe is a large windowless expanse of a building building lit by high flood lighting with a few skylights in the roof. Not ideal lighting as I’m sure you can imagine. This meant I has to use my Sigma 70-200mm wide open at f2.8 and only by ramping up the ISO to 800 was I able to get shutter speeds fast enough to capture some of the action. Flash photography is not allowed at these events so as not to distract the gymnast. I obtained some nice images but was somewhat disappointed with the noise levels which I though my 40d was able to handle a little better. I’m now researching as to my choice of camera setting to see if I can reduce the noise but I feel its something ill have to accept while shooing at high ISO’s (Need to upgrade to the 5D MKII - hint to wife!!!).

Below are a few examples of what I achieved on the day, I’ve just adjusted the exposure in Lightroom slightly. I know Lightroom has a noise reduction tool but I’ve no played with this tool as yet, that something I need to explore. Ill have another opportunity to take some more shots at her finals in a few weeks down in Leicester. Ill let you see the results of that day, and who knows, it may have better lighting at this venue. Any advice then please drop me a line.

Thanks for looking..

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Bert Stephani Lighting DVD

2010-03-15T10:17:00.000-07:00

Professional photographer Bert Stephani (www.bertstephani.com) is working on an instructional DVD about lighting. He has released two little snippets to tease us. Cant wait to see the DVD. Bert has lots of instructional short films on Youtube and his style of photography is an inspiration. The DVD will be released soon.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVky3bpkzc4

First Exhibition

2010-03-09T07:01:00.000-08:00

Well, i have finally gone ahead and put up a small exhibition of some of my images. They are on display in Staveley Library until the end of March.

I have 10 images on display up along side some images by my colleague Bryn Graves. If you have the opportunity please take a look.

Dreaming

2010-02-26T15:39:00.000-08:00

Well, the David Noton Roadshow is over. I have now just spent the last 24 hours dreaming of distant travels to tropical locations searching for the mesmerising vista and waiting for the right light.

What a stunning evening it was! His images looked fantastic on my screen and in the pages of the book I purchased, and got signed by the way, but to see them projected on a large screen was something else. An awe inspiring evening that gave most people in there itchy feet, me included. I dream of visiting the places he has been, let alone returning with an awsome set if images. He gave a facinating insight to his life as a Travel & Landscape photographer backed up with some behind the scenes stories, anecdotes and some amusing un-published images.

It was a pleasure to meet the man, and his team, behind the images that give me so much inspiration.

Well, who knows, one day eh?? Looks like the dreaming will continue for a little while longer though!!

David Noton Roadshow

2010-02-25T07:42:00.000-08:00

Off to see the David Noton Landscape Photography roadshow tonight at Sheffield Hallam University. He is a fantastic photographer and I urge anyone to have a look at his website, his images are truely outstanding and inspire me so much. Who knows, one day I may be able to emulate his work - I WISH!!!

Competition entry

2010-02-19T23:57:00.000-08:00

I've not posted for a little while, my day job has been keeping me very busy this last few weeks.

Anyway, I had an exciting email this week! An image I submitted to a photography competition had been shortlisted to the final 12. Well, shocked and somewhat excited I was frantically checking my emails for the rest of the week. It proved to be Thursday that would be jugement day, the top three were named and mine wasn't one of them, booo!

So, I didn't win one of the top three prizes but I still felt like I'd won something, it was the pure pleasure of having one of my images shortlisted in the first place. Having one of my images shortlisted in a competition was a prize in itself. The appreciation of my work has fuelled my own dogged determination to continue and try and improve my landscape shots.

Now, where is the next competition??

Book Launch

2010-02-05T14:42:00.000-08:00

I'd just like to publicise a book launch by a fellow photographer Fran Halsall. Her book launch titled 'Light & Shadow' will be taking place at Waterstone's Orchard Sqaure, Sheffield on 23rd February at 6.30pm.

There will be a slideshow and talk discussing the creation of some of the images in the book.

Tickets are £2 (available from the shop) and are redeemable against the book cost.

Check out her work at http://www.fran-halsall.co.uk/

New iPhone App

2010-02-05T10:51:00.000-08:00

I've just discovered a new app that may be of use to phptographers, it the MetOffice weather App. After a quick glance it looks like a fantastic app with weather maps, rainfall data, detailled 24hr forcasts and also has sunrise and sunset times for the location that you choose.

There remains one big question though! How accurate is it, lol. Well, I'll keep my eye on it and compare it to the other weather apps I use and update you in due course.

On another note, I have received my ticket for the David Noton roadshow in Sheffield, looking forward to meeting the man behind those stunning images.

Thanks for stopping by.

Rob

David Noton Roadshow

2010-01-27T02:13:00.000-08:00

I have just purchased my ticket to see the David Noton Roadshow at Sheffield Hallam University on the 25th Feb.

David, in my opinion, is one of the finest landscsape photographers there is. He produces stunning mesmerising works of art, the kind you can just sit and look at for ages, that shows a scene at its best, waiting for the right light to develop which sometimes has taken him weeks on location.

If you have never seen his work I can only recomend that you take a look at his extensive gallery on his website at www.DavidNoton.com or maybe come and see one of his roadshows.

His images and the stories behind them are full if inspiration.

Video Tutorials

2010-01-21T10:58:00.000-08:00

Here is a blog I thought I would share with you all. It's by Gavin Hoey, he has made loads if video tutorial that come with some of the Photography magazines out there.

His blog is full of tutorials in both photography and post shoot editing using photoshop etc and he does a 15 minute photo challenge where he visits a new location and has 15 minutes to get some images. Its quite supprising what can be acheived in this short space of time.

http://gavtrain.blogspot.com/

Studio Photoshoot

2010-01-20T11:21:00.000-08:00

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I completed a small photoshoot for some friends last weekend and it included my first animal/pet photos and i must say that their dog "Tilly" was the best behaved of them all. It was a fun filled session with lots of laughts, i cant wait to see the printed images.

If you like what you see and would like some studio shots then please contact me using the contact page on my main website.

First public exhibition

2010-01-11T12:10:00.000-08:00

I'll be holding a small exhibition of my work throughout March at Staveley Library. This will be in association with Bryn Graves at www.brynphotography.co.uk. It wil be just a small selection of our work to hopefully promote our services and hopefully get some feedback from the local visitors.

First Wedding booking - yikes!!

2010-01-08T12:08:00.000-08:00

I have been asked to photograph a friends wedding and, although a daunting task, i'm quite excited about the challenge. No doubt stress levels will increase, i have until September to prepare. Ill also be doing the shoot in association with my old friend Bryn at BrynPhotography.co.uk.

Ill look forward to posting some results of the day on here and in the meantime ill keep you posted with all my trials and tribulations preparing for this event.

Images now available on Redbubble.com

2010-01-04T12:07:00.000-08:00

My work is now available for sale on the Redbubble stock website at http://www.redbubble.com/people/rob-ferrol I hope you like what you see there, it offers many different products at very competetive prices.

Image publication shortlisting

2010-01-04T12:03:00.000-08:00

I've just had one of my images shortlisted for inclusion in an online travel guide for the Sheffield area. Its the image of Bolsover castle. Ill keep you posted on the outcome and if successfull ill include a link to the travel guide.

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Landscape photography workshop

2010-01-02T11:56:00.000-08:00

Been out on a Landscape Photography Workshop with Doug Chinnery this week. It was a fantastic day with first class tuition. WWW.dougchinnery.co.uk A day worth every penny. It clarified many question I had regarding this avenue of photography and will hopefully improve my work.

The day started early on Owler tor followed by an afternoon in Padley gorge and ended with a sunset shoot on Stannage edge. The day and the weather conditions were fantastic.

Images from the day will soon be added to my gallery when they are processed but for now here is one from Stannage Edge.

[gallery]

Commercial images on website

2009-12-05T11:53:00.000-08:00

The images from my commercial product photoshoot can now be seen on their webpage at www.scsengineering.co.uk.

Commercial product photoshot

2009-10-25T10:44:00.000-07:00

Just completed my first commercial photoshoot for an agricultural engineering firm who needed their products photographing for the development of their web site. I got very pleasing results for my first attempt at this line of photography.

[gallery]

My first Christening shoot

2009-06-22T12:38:00.000-07:00

Completed my first Christening photoshoot 21/06/09. A very busy day and lots of images were taken both indoor and out. The parents were very happy with the results, lets hope the little baby appreciates them when she grows up.

Hello world!

2009-06-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hello and Welcome to my photography blog. I aim to use this blog to display my latest work, inform you of my latest happenings and news, highlight my web page www.robferrol-photography.weebly.com and hopefully gain some feedback from my blog visitors.

I do hope you like what you see, please feel free to leave any feedback good or bad.

Thanks for visiting, I hope you come back soon.