The Night Photography Curse

I’m not sure if the night photography curse actually exists, but I haven’t taken any photographs past sunset since I took these.

Light painting an Orb at Llanthony Priory, Monmouthshire.

Getting in at 2am after being alone in the wilderness with little more than the night sky and my camera for company would never bother me previously. I might just be getting old, but I was looking forward to

Catastrophic Creativity Calamity

Wow. It seems like ages since I’ve done anything with the camera! And been even longer since I’ve written anything. February. My North Wales trip to the Mach Loop. I’m upset with myself. Sorry guys! I’ve been in a bit of a slump.

If you’re following me over on Instagram (danwoosnam), you might have seen that I’ve uploaded some older photos. As well as reliving the memories, I think that’s really been me trying to rejuvenate my creative juices. My mojo has needed a real kick. I’d like to give you some believable, sob story excuse. But I can’t. I’ve become lazy.

I’ve made changes to my lifestyle that has rendered my usual shooting habits a distant memory.

Instead of visiting the gym after work, I’ve been getting there for 6 am (ish). Crazy right? It gives me a boost for the working day, and I really notice a difference when I miss a day, but as I’m training without any food in me, I don’t feel that I’m benefiting from it; because I’m trying to gain some muscle. But by the time I get home and spend some time with my daughter before she goes to bed, I’m lucky if I’m up past 10pm (tonight is the exception, I’ll feel this tomorrow!) – just when the sun has gone down and exposures are longer.

A few weeks ago, I was asked by my girlfriend’s dad if I’d pick him up from the airport… at half past midnight! I foolishly accepted. This would be a challenge for me to stay awake and alert enough to complete this mammoth task, but to help me in doing so, I threw my camera bag and tripod into the car and set off a little early in the hope of capturing some scenery.

Prior Planning Prevents Poor Performance

With thoughts of a late sunset in mind, I wasn’t really thinking ahead when I headed to the South Wales coast. The sun wasn’t out on the watery horizon. It was behind me, sliding slowly down behind the mountains in the distance. Failure number one.

Failure number two was not really thinking of a suitable location for the Thursday evening photoshoot. As I drove aimlessly around vaguely familiar roads, I found myself at one of Wales’ most famous sea side towns. Barry Island, affectionately known as Barrybados by some. The neon lights of the re-opened fun fair shone bright into the fading night sky. Taking advantage of the free parking and the lack of Gavin and Stacey fans, I stopped for a breath of fresh cool summer air and walked along the seafront.

I stopped to setup the camera. Aiming roughly in the direction of the sea, I fired off a few long exposures. The anticipation of what the results may be bubbled inside me and shortly fizzed away as the shutter clicked closed after 25 long seconds and the uninspiring images appeared on screen.

Without wanting to venture closer to the sea, or get any sand in my shoes, I packed up and headed back to the car. Slightly disappointed and feeling sorry for myself, I continued my journey to the airport to complete the task ahead.

With ample alliteration for all, thanks for reading. Let me know in the comments if you’ve ever gone through a slump like this and what you’ve done to get out of it.

 

The Mach Loop – North Wales

Last week I managed to escape for a few days to North Wales. You may not think that Wales is an especially large place, seeing as there are American states that are bigger than it, but there are vast differences between the four hour drive between the industrial south and the mountainous, scenic north and it’s perfect for escaping every day chaos… almost, that is unless you’re travelling with a toddler!

One of the main reasons I wanted to visit North Wales again, other than to spend quality time bonding with my daughter and girlfriend was to visit the Mach Loop to see some fighter jets up close and personal and get a bit of an after-burner tan.

Situated north of Machynlleth (from where the Mach Loop gets it’s name) and south of Dolgellau in Gwynedd are a series of intricate valleys that the Royal Air Force use as their playground to train their fast jet crews in low altitude maneuvers. Unlike a commercial airshow, there’s no bustling crowds, no entrance fee and unfortunately nowhere serving food. There are however a few hidden spots on the hillsides that offer spectacular viewpoints to see some the RAF’s finest flying some really expensive metal and machinery, really fast, really low. Dependant on how high you’re willing to venture up the steep and muddy inclines, the aircraft might even be below you.

I’m not really an aviation geek, but the roar as these aircraft thunder past at what seems like inches away from you put a massive grin on my face and gave me goosebumps. I was like a kid. Though the actual kid that was with me who’s nearly 15 months old screamed the mountain down, more due to the unescapable cold, hard wind that was blowing in her face rather than being in the middle of the flight path. Luckily I have a wondrous, understanding girlfriend who escorted the little one back down the muddy trail to the car. There was only so much understanding when she realised I still had the car keys. Oops.

The Ministry of Defence (MoD) publish timetables for the Low Fly Areas around the UK to make timing your visit even easier. These timetables are not set in stone though. As we arrived early for the 1100-1200 showing at around 1030, two F-15’s decided to take a fly past. But the show was just getting started.

It’s easy enough to find the car park for Cad East and Cad West (which I visited) by just searching on Google maps, but the other locations I’ll leave a secret for you to investigate – Mainly because I’m not sure where they are exactly.

All in all, it was a great experience and a free one at that. It can’t be sniffed at! As an amateur photographer, I’d highly recommend it just to challenge yourself to produce high quality images in a new, difficult environment. If you’re into your flying things, you’ve probably already been, or it’s on your to-do list.

Top Tips:

• Dress warm – Those hillsides are wide open to the elements.
• Plan ahead – Check the weather and the flight timetables
• Take a snack – There could be some waiting around, and everyone loves to eat!
• Enjoy!

How To Avoid the Stresses of Wedding Photography

I have been asked a few times recently to photograph the weddings of friends. Immediately, my heart started racing.

Firstly, what an honour. These people have seen my work, and genuinely believe that I can capture their special days to an acceptable standard. Wow. That’s an uplifting thought. I will thank them again now for that!

Secondly, what do I actually do?! How do take on this challenge and avoid the stresses of Wedding Photography?

Beg, Borrow or Steal

My mum was a Pentax girl back in the day when Canon Film SLR’s “actually sounded like cannons”. I’m sure she’d happily still use her Pentax now with a 50mm prime lens on, just because she “can’t get the hang of digital”. She lies.

Me and my Dad. Porthleven, Cornwall – Taken by my mum some years ago. No comments on the pure awesomeness of our shorts please!

Growing up on days out and family holidays my mum would always be around with her camera. Little did she know that seeing her taking all these photos would create some circuits in my brain that would encourage me to follow in her footsteps, sort of. I’ve taught myself, in some ways while she studied photography in college and managed to earn a few pounds from it in the days when you had to take the photo, not let the camera do all the work.

I had already purchased my first Canon EOS 400D (Rebel xti, I think?) by the time my mum decided she would step into the digital world. It’s then that she asked me for advice in what she should buy. I didn’t know, I barely knew if I’d made the right decision, but because it’s what I’d bought, I recommended a Canon. She bought another Pentax, or it might have been an Olympus, I cant quite recall. Because what do I know?

A few months, or possibly a year or so later, she decided that enough was enough and she didn’t like the camera. The controls were clunky, and the images she produced with it lacked something. She sold up and bought a Canon. Was it the right choice? Of course it was!

That last statement might lead you to believe that Canon produce the best equipment, but then I have no real comparison. I haven’t used anything else. Why it was the right decision is because I shoot Canon. You can’t choose your family, but you can help your family choose to use the same equipment as you to share it.

The most recent, temporary acquisition from her is a Canon 100mm F2.8L Macro lens. What a beautiful lens. Not only is it brilliant for getting in and focusing close on the tiny features of my four month old daughter, but it’s also opened my eyes to a whole new genre of photography that I’ve never really had much of an interest in before. Close up stuff is weird, but great.

I’m far from winning Macro Photographer of the Year, but it was interesting to do. Getting so close to  subjects and seeing it magnified way beyond it’s natural scale. If I can eek out the possession of this lens a little longer, I have a few ideas up my sleeve that I’d like to try in the little time I get free for photography now. I’ll try not to bore you all with the sleeping baby eyes, fingers, nose, ears and toes.

But, on the day after my 30th Birthday, I don’t only want to thank my mum for being the main photographic influence in my life and lending me her lenses, willingly or not, but just to thank her for putting up with me for 30 years and being amazing. It makes me feel old actually seeing that in text too.