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Burning Bonfire Details

Burning Bonfire Details

This is a simple photograph, of a large fire we had down at my Uncle’s farm in Lincolnshire. It is the different colours and textures that really attracted me to this photo and made me what to put it online. I’m still struggling with the getting the quality I want and not making the website take a long time to load. As it is the small version above doesn’t look very good but the larger preview (when you click the above image) has a lot more detail.

The top half of this image has many interesting areas for me, the top left, lighter area with the thin twigs is lovely and sharp on the original and is a nice contrast to the large log on the right with the texture on the bark. This certainly isn’t a favourite photograph of mine but I love looking at open fires and feel like I rarely get a chance to just sit and watch one.

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Iron Gates in Pula, Sardinia

Iron Gates in Pula, Sardinia

Small towns on Mediterranean islands such as Sardinia are perfect for finding both beautiful photographs and interesting details. The above photograph features the latter. It was found in the central square of the town and the gates were big enough to drive a car through (when opened – obviously). The building these gates belong to is extremely run-down and looks as if it might collapse given half the chance. Despite that, the iron gates were extremely ornate and interesting for me as a photographer. The very dark alley behind the gates made it easier to take the picture and make sure that the iron details were “pin sharp”. It is a slight shame about the modern key hole below the handle but now I’m just being picky!

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Sparkler Pattern

Sparkler Pattern

It has been easily five years or more since I last held a sparkler in my hand. Last Saturday I had a couple of packs of them with me and so tried experimenting with long exposures and painting with light experiments. The above photograph is a self portrait. It is very blurred, but that is due to waving the sparkler around to make the pattern. The images were captured with the camera on the tripod and with a remote shutter release. In this particular shot I tried really hard to keep still, I think it is almost impossible to take an image like this and make the face sharp. The exposure was five seconds on this picture. If you do have a digital camera and have sparklers this type of picture is very easily achieved, even on basic compact cameras. Simply make sure that the camera is supported, on a tripod or table etc. Make sure that you have the flash turned off (in auto or programme modes the shutter speed will then compensate for this). Another setting is to use the self timer to reduce camera shake. Light a sparkler, press the shutter and start drawing crazy shapes in front of the lens. You can even try writing your name (backwards of course).

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Reflections of Detroit Bridge, Salford Quays

Reflections of Detroit Bridge, Salford Quays

Now the blog is driving more traffic and gaining more readers I wanted to do a little experiment. I hope to do more things like this and work out new techniques based on the feedback I receive. Can you work out where this photograph was taken? Or simply what it was taken of? The reflections seemed to make a photograph on its own so here it is. The non reflected subject of the above photo has been published previously on the blog. If you have any ideas then please comment in the comments section below. Tomorrow I will publish a photo of what we are looking at clearly but for now, it is you to you to guess. There are no prizes for commenting, only my thanks but in future I hope to be able to give away prizes to my readers. Looking forward to reading what you think this photo shows?!