In the shade of the chine

Smugglers used them; Robert Louis Stevenson's house overlooked one, and Winston Churchill had a near-death experience by falling from a bridge that spans one: the 3 chines of Bournemouth:

The word 'chine' means 'a deep, narrow ravine cut through soft rock by water', and is peculiar to Dorset and the near-by Isle of Wight. The path that leads to Alum Chine (pictured above) features a suspension bridge, and some suggest this is the bridge that Churchill fell from when visiting the area as an 18-year-old.

© 2024

The bluebells of King's Wood

The spring bluebells are in full swing at this time of year, carpeting the floor of King's Wood, Challock. Getting the timing right for photography is important; leave it too late and the emerging foliage on the beech trees will get too dense and block sunlight.

The wood lies in the Kent Downs Stour Valley area, and is popular with walkers. Choosing a day and time - in this case early morning, and when most people are on their way to work - will find the forest largely deserted. 

 

© 2024

Spring greens

The greens of Spring are different to those of late summer; they're of a lighter tinge as they emerge on the trees and hedgerows. 

April is living up to its reputation for showers and changeable weather, and the north-westerly that has been blowing for the past few days is creating an almost endless stream of light and shade over the landscape.

© 2024

Swanage

The weather forecast for next few days shows promise for some good light, and assuming it's correct, I don't intend to waste any of it. 

Taken from the heights of Ballard Down on the Isle of Purbeck, the small seaside resort of Swanage on the Dorset coast basks in the spring sunlight.

© 2024

Three trees

It's been quite a while since I have visited Eastwell Park, but when I do I always make a point of photographing a group of three trees that stand on a ridge in a crop field.

For whatever reason, one of the set has now gone.

© 2024

How wide is too wide?

Although it's a mental adjustment I knew I would need to make, having renewed access to ultra-wide lenses is presenting more of a challenge with landscape photography than I expected. The ability to include so much of a vista is a distraction. Having dramatic light on the land - and spectacular skies all at the same time - is causing, at least to me for the time being, compositional problems.

Which to include the most of is the dilemma I'm currently faced with. Cutting the image in half along the horizon doesn't often work, but leaving out aspects of a remarkable terrain is frustrating. The landscape shooter's focal length for the 135 film format used to be 28mm, but I can go half that now should the situation demand. The temptation is clear, but trying to cram in all I see is not sitting easy with me. I need to re-educate my eye.

© 2024

Salisbury Rose

 A single rose, possibly left by an admirer at the base of a modern sculpture on the West Lawn of the cathedral.

© 2024