Last night I was stood on Portland Bill with the sky in the west exploding with colour. Yet my camera was pointing in the opposite direction, focused on the Trinity Obelisk, square format and in mono – How did this happen?
I feel my photography has taken a few steps forward over the past 18 months. Influenced by the Bridport Camera Club (BCC) stylee, along with their excellent range of guest speakers. Also by Craig Roberts with his skill of embracing eyesores within his landscape photography (check out his e6 subscription service) Plus the pandemic which has given me plenty of free time to read and develop my photography.
Joining the BCC was a huge step for me, it has really opened my eyes to taking images that I like and not to worry what others ‘social media’ like.
At the start of 2nd/3rd lockdown in January I looked for an online photography course, but didn’t find any that I fancied. So I joined Craig’s e6 subscription, you get a weekly vlog, e-guide or a podcast, plus all the back catalogue. This has kept me entertained for most of the first part of the year and still have the weekly updates to look forward to. He was stuck, like all of us, with having just our local area to explore and he did with relish. He took photos of chimneys, windows, doors, lamps, roads, pylons etc. etc. the last few are looked upon as eyesores, but he turned them into art. Craig’s main influencers are Charlie Waite and Michael Kenna.
Michael Kenna an English landscape photography, square format, film and mono images. I find them a little too dark, but love his compositions. I was browsing Michael’s website and spotted a bunch that he took around Dorset in 1990. One that caught my eye was of the cross at the end of the pipe in Bincleaves Cove! How he ever came to discover this spot I don’t know, but I decided to see if I could replicate his shot. I headed down in bright sunshine, strong easterly blowing and when I got there the tide was slightly too high. I took the the image (below). It is similar to Michael’s, but his was taken at first light and strongly backlight. I may revisit, but I’m happy with this result.
Last night I went to Portland to photo another one of Michael’s images, taken from down at Grove Point looking towards White Nothe. I really like my version, I think Michael’s was taken at a lower tide than mine and he didn’t have the problem of a flotilla of cruise ships in the bay.
As I headed back up the cliff I turned round and spotted the rising moon in the south east, could I get a photo of the Trinity Obelisk and the moon (another one of Michael’s). I sped up and at the top I was huffing & puffing some! Headed to the Bill and the sky was exploding with reds and violent oranges, but I was concentrating on the moon.
The obelisk it no longer the brilliant white as when Michael took his image, now it just has a hint of white. I didn’t flinch and continued looking for a composition. Again I’m really pleased with the result, unlike the number of likes on Instagram and 500px – success! 🙂
Where to next? Well here is my last Michael Kenna ‘copy’ – got to find my own way now!
