fordy's photo blog

Shag Rock

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/250 sec, 15mm efl, PSE8+Topaz

This was Shag Rock a month ago; now reduced to a pile of rubble after the Feb 22 quake.

Epicentre

These two pictures were taken today near the epicentre of Saturday's 7.1 earthquake. The first shows the latteral offset on what was previously the 'straight as an arrow' "Telegraph Road" not far from the "Charring Cross" near Darfield. As you can see the shift is about half the carriageway width. The second picture was taken on "Highfield Road" about 2km East from the first picture and not only shows the latteral displacement but also a drop of about 1.5m in what was previously a flat road.

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/180-1/90 sec, 125mm and 50mm, Capture NX2

Nor'west Eyre

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/125 sec, 87mm efl, Capture NX2

The Eyre river flows underground for most of the year, except when there is heavy rain in the catchment. Then the river fills its shingle bed, carries debris down stream and wipes out the numerous fords (not me!) that cross the river. Here, a few days after such an occurrence the water has subsided and trickles placidly beneath a Nor'west cloud arch. Tomorrow it will snow.

New Brighton pier, dawn

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f22, 6 secs (ND10), 150mm efl, Capture NX2, The Gimp.

One good thing about winter is that dawn comes at a more sociable hour - 8am in this case. As we left, a photographer standing nearby commented, "not such a good dawn this morning". Maybe, maybe not.

Willows, Lake Pearson

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/125 sec, 27mm efl, Capture NX2

This picture has an infrared quality to it, but it isn't. A yellow filter has turned the deep blue sky almost black while making the yellow grass and red tinged trees, almost white, like the snow on Mt. Manson.

Fire and brimstone

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/250 sec, 42 mm efl, Capture NX2

A dramatic evening sky over Oxford (no Photoshop tricks). I've never seen fire and brimstone, but I imagine that it might look a little like this :-)

Morning mist on the first hole

Canon PowerShot A590 IS, ISO 80, f5.5, 1/400 sec, 140mm efl, Capture NX2

I was doing a recon' for a job at the local golf course - that's why I was early, thats why I was only carrying the little Canon. But even a little point and shoot can do pretty well - in the full size picture, you can see the sunlight catching the dew-drops on the grass by the first tree! As someone else has said, "the best camera is the one you have with you".

All Red and Yellow

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/1,000 sec, 66 mm efl, Capture NX 2

Taken this afternoon at a rather overcast Woodend Beach - the bright colours made up for the lack of sun. There is another picture; "One life to guard" in the "Phoxford Gallery"

Castle Hill

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/125 sec, 90 mm efl, Capture NX 2

Yesterday we escaped the drizzly dreariness of the plains to find a few moments of sun up at Castle Hill where we wandered among the limestone rocks and took some pictures.

Mt. Oxford

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f11, 1/500 sec, 42 mm efl, Capture NX2

To buy this picture at redbubble, click on the banner below. Prices start at AU$ 15.00

Dawn over Canterbury

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f8, 1/1500 sec, 36 mm efl, Capture NX2

Taken yesterday morning shortly after lift off from Cust - the only good morning in a week of cloud and rain.

To buy this picture through redbubble, click on the banner below. Prices start at AU$15.00

Bedding out

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/45 sec, +1EV, 187mm efl, Capture NX2

They were bedding out the plants down at the Botanic Gardens today when the lighting caught my eye ... +1 stop to capture the highlights.

Fording the Eyre

Nikon D80, ISO 400, f8, 1/350 sec, 250mm efl, Capture NX2

Waiting for birds; got horses.

Highway 72

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f16, 1/90 sec, 105mm efl, Photomatix Pro 3, Capture NX2

I love to see the clouds elbowing their way between the mountains. Caught on the way to Methven for lunch.

Corsair Bay

Nikin D80, ISO 200, f11, 1/125 sec, 15 mm efl, Photomatix Pro 3, Capture NX2

Sunrise, Govenors Bay

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f5 1/4000 sec (-1.5 EV), 93mm efl, Capture NX2

Yes, I know, I've gon all 'boaty' - but it was a very productive morning at Governors Bay and I've been gradually working
thorough the RAWs seeing what can be made of them. This one particularly appealed to me with its glowing sunrise.

Morning walk

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f11, 1/750 sec, 60mm efl, Capture NX2, Color Efex Pro 3

It makes me smile to select a 'filter' during digital post processing called, in this case, "bleach bypass". Especially as I
can remember bypassing the bleach process when we still used chemicals in a darkroom. Then it was a bit of a hit or
miss afair; would you get the effect you were after, and if not what could you do about it? Now I can tweak the
settings in software until its just the way I want it and there's no bleach to bypass at all! That's progress, I guess.

Toned in Governors Bay

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f11, [1/500 & 1/350 sec], [135mm & 150mm efl], Capture NX2, Toned with Color Efex Pro3

Dawn, Governors Bay

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f11, 1/500 sec, 25mm efl, Photomatix Pro 3, Capture NX2.

Dawn is my favourite time of day for making pictures. Unlike sunset, there is a freshness to dawn; an expectation of things to come.

Ice, grass & sun

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/250 sec, 15mm efl, Capture NX2

Windswept on Lake Coleridge

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/125 sec, 20mm efl, Photomatix Pro 3, Capture NX2

Between the passes

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/90 sec, 33mm efl, Photomatix Pro3, Capture NX2

On the road between Porters Pass and Arthur's Pass in the Canterbury High Country.

Lake Pearson

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/30 sec, 36mm efl, Photomatix Pro3, Capture NX2

Midwinter reflections

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/750 sec, -2EV, 16mm efl, Capture NX2

Nearly a week without my lappy while it was being repaired, but back in business now ... sighs of relief :-)

Midday-midwinter-Sunmer

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/90sec, 15mm efl, Capture NX2

... and I deliberately started out with my standard lens in place so that I wouldn't be tempted to see every scene as an opportunity for some 10mm action. Oh, wel ...

Grass, rock, snow

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/60 sec, 42mm efl, 3 frames, AutoPano Pro 2, Capture NX2

Rage in the gorge

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/60 sec, 42mm efl, Autopano Pro 2, Photomatix Pro 3, Capture NX2

What a difference a day makes ... this was taken less than 24 hours after "Waimakariri River Gorge" (below, 16 May) and was a result of "Storm in the catchment" (below, 17 May). Standing on the bank while metre high waves thunder past was an awesome experience that helps one appreciate the power of water in motion.

Gold band

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/60 sec, 42mm efl, Autopano Pro, Photomatix Pro, Capture NX2

Storm in the catchment

Nikon D80, ISO 400, f16, 1/500 sec, -1EV, 52mm efl, Capture NX2

When the rain falls in the mountains, the gently winding river turns into a torrent.

Waimakariri River Gorge

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, AutoPano Pro, Photomatix Pro

The lighting was just beautiful at this time of day but an hour earlier may have been better. Perhaps another day.

First snow

Canon PowerShot A590 IS, ISO 80, f5.6, 1/400 sec, 140 mm efl, Capture NX2

The first snow of the year fell on Mt Oxford on Sunday night - grabbed through the bedroom window, mid morning, Monday.

Plays with clouds

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/750 sec, 150mm efl, Capture NX2, Photomatix Pro 3

Waikari evening

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/90 sec, 60mm efl, Capture NX2, Photomatix Pro 3

The fallen

Canon PowerShot A590 IS, ISO 100, f6.3, 1/250 sec, 35mm efl, Capture NX2

Where sun briefly shines

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/4 sec (-2EV), 90mm efl, Capture NX2, Photomatix Pro 3

Recently I have been finding some smaller, more intimate places. Places where few feet have been, where the sun reaches only briefly and the ever-damp air makes foggy breath on a summer's day. I would like to capture the esence of these places.

Secret place

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/2 sec, 42mm efl, -2EV, Capture NX2, Photomatix Pro 3

Autumn reflections

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/125 sec, 42mm efl, Hand-held, Capture NX2

The cloud and the blue sky reflected in the water caught my eye and the random flecks of autumn leaves amongst the rocks made a random abstract pattern. Printed up large, there is plenty of detail to keep the viewer involved in the picture - eyes hopping from rock to rock, just as my feet did.

Path to ...

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/45 sec, 66mm efl, Capture NX2

Printed up large, this picture is full of detail that has my eyes running back and forth but there seems to be an eeriness; the path leads up but the tree roots seem to be creeping down. Or perhaps it's just me.

All Trees

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f8, 1/60 sec, 105mm efl, Capture NX2

The afternoon sun was catching the tops of these trees on the side of the Ashley Gorge, bringing out so many shades of green, yellow, brown and orange. Sometimes this sort of scene doesn't translate to a photograph, but this looks wonderful as an A3+ print with a beautifully 'layered' three dimensional effect.

Chess in the Square

Canon PowerShot A590 IS, ISO 80, f5, 1/200 sec, 40 mm efl, Capture NX2

Lake Lyndon

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f11, 1/180 sec, 120 mm efl, Capture NX2

Listening for dawn

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/2 sec, 42mm, Capture NX2

River of flowers

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f13, 1/125 sec, 42mm, Capture NX2

Alien dawn

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f11, 1/60 sec, 150mm, Autopano Pro, Capture NX2, Paint Shop Pro X2

Oxford Trees

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/250 sec, 150 mm, Capture NX2

Mounted and framed 52 cm x 31 cm

Solarisation

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f9.5, 1/125 sec, 100 mm, Capture NX2

Oxford sunset

Nikon D80, ISO 320, f4.8, 1/60 sec, 75 mm, Capture NX2

New Brighton Pier

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/125 sec, 150 mm, Capture NX2

Mounted and framed as a polyptych; 68 cm x 31 cm

Up, up and away

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f6.7, 1/180 sec, 42 mm, Capture NX2

Rule of thirds

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f11, 1/180 sec, 150 mm, Capture NX2

At The Beach

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/125 sec, 66 mm, Capture NX2

Shed

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f9.5, 1/180 sec, 51mm, Capture NX2

----------------------------------------

29/11/09

Hey, that's 'my' shed, actually a neighbour's. Beautiful photos!!!!!

Celia Wilson

-----------------------------------------

30/11/09

Thanks Celia, The red door caught my eye - it's faded a bit more now.

fordy

-----------------------------------------

Suns set

Kodak DC3800, (No EXIF data).

Mist of time

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f5.6, 1/60 sec, 72mm, Capture NX 2

Waimakariri

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f16, 1/250 sec, 150mm, Autopano Pro (8 images, 7596 x 6068 = 46 MP)

Tekapo (2)

Sony DSC-H2, ISO 100, f8, 1/200 sec, Autopano Pro (11 images, 10577 x 3097 = 32 MP)

Mounted and framed as an overlapping triptych; 77cm x 28cm

Tekapo

Sony DSC-H2, ISO 100, f8, 1/400 sec, 72mm, Capture NX 2

Highlights

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f7, 1/320 sec, 66mm, Capture NX 2

Mainly grey

Nikon D80, ISO 100, f9, 1/125 sec, 150mm, Capture NX 2

Spring reflections

Nikon D80, ISO 200, f6.7, 1/180 sec, 42mm, Capture NX

Tram Road Triptych

Sony DSC-H2, ISO 100, f2.8, 1/40 sec, Autopano Pro (2 images 3,156 x 1606 = 5 MP)

Mounted and framed as a triptych (55cm x 25cm):