Don Bishop Photography blog

A rather breezy evening in Burnham-on-sea (when isn’t it!) has produced some attractive patterns in the sand dunes on an otherwise pleasant summers evening.
I’d seen the possibility of this shot a couple of days before and went back on this breezy evening to record the sand patterns and warm evening light across the beach and onto the well known lower lighthouse. The wavy lines in the sand providing plenty of foreground interest and leading the eye deeper into the shot past the large piece of driftwood half buried in the sand on the main beach. The grasses blowing in the wind bringing the picture to life as a moment in time passes by. The high clouds provide a further lead towards the distant Hinckley Point nuclear power station and the Quantock Hills.
The fairly low evening light has resulted in an exposure of 1/15th second at f.16, I didn’t want to slow down much more to prevent there being too much movement in the grasses so had to abandon my usual ISO100 setting in favour of ISO400, f.16 being retained to ensure good depth of field. The lens was my Sigma 17-35mm wide angle set at 21mm to avoid vignetting on the widest setting due to the presence of my Lee Poloriser and 0.6 ND grad.

The interesting sand patterns caused by the frequent stiff westerly wind on Burnham sands

All in all a pleasant image of which I’m quite pleased and which conveys some of the feeling of windswept Burnham sands on a late spring evening.

Pannier No. 6435 & matching auto coach pass Charlies Gate, Bodmin Railway, on 10th May 2011.

It is incredible that we are still able to savour such bucolic scenes as a Pannier tank heading a short branch line train through the meadows in the 21st century. But the Bodmin & Wenford Railway are well able to provide such wonderful experiences and on 9th & 10th May I ran two days of photographic charters on the line to capture such timeless scenes. On the Monday we had the use of 57xx Pannier No. 4666, actually No. 4612 in disguise as a former local engine, on a short mixed goods train. The engine is due to go out of service for its compulsory 10 yearly overhaul on 18th May so this was the last time to see it in BR Black livery with a 1950′s/60′s goods for some time. On Tuesday 10th we used smaller 64xx Pannier No. 6435 and the railways newly restored autocoach in lined Maroon livery, a pairing once common in parts of Devon & Cornwall.

No. 4666 passing the adundance of clour at Westheath Rd on 9th May

This year seems to have seen a real abundance of wild flowers, Bluebells have been at their best it seems, and the lineside around Westheath in particular was full of colour to provide a wonderful foreground to our shots.

Bluebells were also present near Boscarne Junc, I’m pretty sure the Bluebell Railway in Sussex hasn’t got this many Bluebells!

Both days of the charters were greeted with breezy and cloudy conditions but some sunny intervals, which in fact is good for charters as I have the train under my own control for the day and can call it up on the radios to do a runpast when the sun breaks through – although the speed of the clouds above did make this tricky at times! This resulted in some nice images with good, often dark, skies behind so I’m well pleased with a number of these.

4666 getting away from Boscarne Junc past the Bluebells on 9th May

The Bodmin Railway again provided their usual excellent hospitality with mugs of tea available each time we returned to Bodmin General and the popular real Cornish Pasties at lunch time.

Its perhaps worth mentioning that I have recently completed my next book, which is about the Bodmin & Wenford line and this should be published later in the summer season.

Weather rating for the charters 7/10.

6435 passing under the occupation bridge at Cutmadoc on the morning of 10th April.

6435 & Autocoach passing by the Bluebells at Westheath on 10th May

Standing proud on the tip of Portland Bill, Dorset the 41 metre high lighthouse is clearly visable for many miles around, as it should be of course, and guides craft into Portland & Weymouth through the tricky waters caused by the Bill and The Shambles sandbank. It is a popular photographic subject and well worth a visit, particularly early in the morning to catch the light on its east side with the waters and cliffs in the foreground.
This shot was taken whilst leading a photo workshop recently and finding the coastal thrift in flower and making a good foreground to the shot with blue skies and scattered clouds I couldn’t resist taking one myself along with my students for the day.

I took the opportunity to travel down to Cornwall in mid April to make some images of the coast with the spring  sunrises and sunsets in mind. A successful trip overall with several worthwhile images obtained.
I started at Holywell Bay, near Perranporth, on Sunday evening (10th April) looking to make an image of the dunes there with the headland beyond. However the light just never really got strong enough to highlight the grasses in the dunes sufficiently so I changed tack and walked down onto the beach as the sun dipped below the nearby islands and recorded the stunning sunset with the wonderful tones of reds and blues on the water and in the sky.

The wonderful hues of sunset at Holywell Bay, Perranporth.

The camera was stopped down to f.22 and a slow exposure used to capture some movement in the foreground water.

The forecast for Monday morning was poor so after a meal we headed out to a lay-by on the A39 to spend the night. Indeed the following morning was wet, windy and cold! It was not until later in the afternoon that the skies began to clear for our planned location of Botallick to photograph the old tin mines nestling under the cliffs. The biggest problem I had to face here was the very strong and gusty wind which was deceivingly cold and threatened to blow the tripod over. Although I made a few images I think this location will continue on the list for a revisit. It does really need dramatic lighting conditions to really work rather than just sunny. Abandoning this location we headed off to Porth Nanven where we had done a “reckie” a few hours before to capture the sunset with the large round boulders on the beach – often referred to as “dinasour eggs”!

The rounded rocks on the beach at Porth Nanven.

The wind again caused me problems here with fine spray off the incoming tide getting on my filters. I did however make a couple of reasonably successful images but I feel I want to visit again sometime in much less windy conditions that are easier to work in. 
We headed off to Porthcurno to spend the night arriving well after dark and immediately retired for the night ready for an early wake up call at 5.30 am and a quick rise to head out along the coast path to record the sunrise over the very pretty bay here. I couldn’t have asked for better skies with light clouds scattered around a largely clear sky. The rising sun causing some colourful effects in the sky and the use of a slow exposure softening the waves and allowing the colour of the water to show up better. Stopping down the lens as the sun appeared over the horizon creating the starburst effect over the tops of the cliffs.

Porthcurno sunrise

A leisurely breakfast followed in the camper van before heading off up the north Cornwall coast steadily through the day to our intended destination of The Rumps near Polzeath. I had photographed this location before and although a quite respectable result I’ve always thought I could make a better one in clearer conditions such as those available on this day. Arriving in plenty of time we parked up and then headed off on what is a rather steep up and down path along the coast out to The Rumps which takes about 1/2 hour. Unfortunately the first cloud ahead of the approaching weather front for Wednesday appeared over the sun very quickly, seemingly from nowhere, whilst I was making the walk so when I got to my chosen vantage point the light was already deteriorating. UndeterredI set up the camera and tripod and with the use of Lee 0.6 ND, 0.6 NG Grad’ and Polariser filters I was able to make some images that included the softening of the waves and created some interesting patterns in the sea. It is rather difficult to fit all of The Rumps in one shot and allowing for some perspective of the location so I decided to take a series of vertical format shots with the intention of making a stitched Panorama back home. This has worked quite well and the result can be seen below. Again I’m quite content with the image I have made, but feel another visit will be required in the future to try again at getting the shot I desire of this amazing landscape.

A stitched Panoramic image made from 5 separate images of The Rumps near Polzeath, Cornwall.

The long awaited charters with Bluebell Railway based Dukedog 4-4-0 No. 9017 at the South Devon Railway finally took place in the week commencing 4th April 2011, having being postponed from last autumn due to the unavailability of the engine. As usual the SDR were very welcoming and accommodated our requests with great enthusiasm and the cafe at Buckfastleigh kept us fed and refreshed in between photographic sessions.

No. 9017 running alongside the River Dart at Stretchford on 4th April.

The first charter on Monday 4thApril was greeted with bright but largely cloudy weather and good quality shots were hard to come by, but due to some careful planning andcalling the train forward on the two way radios we achieved 5 shots in sunshine through the day. Our train formation on this day was No. 9017 with 3 Red/Cream ex GWR Collett coaches, a real gem of a combination and rather different from the usual Mk.1′s at most heritage lines. Weather rating 4/10.

Day 2 saw the Dukedog matched up with a BR pick-up goods rake, unfortunately the weather was poor all day with rain in the morning, although it brightened up later there was no prolonged sunshine and no meaningful shots were obtained all day, except a few posed shots around Buckfastleigh station during the afternoon. Weather rating 0/10.
The Wednesday and Thursday charter were run by Russ Hillier and Geoff Silcock (Sentimental Journeys) and offered two further train formations, Wednesday with two milk tanks and a red/cream coach and full brake (BG) vehicle and Thursday the 3 coach passenger set. The weather was much brighter with sunshine all day, but rather too warm for any steam effects after mid morning – we photographers are never happy with the weather! The SDR crews did their very best to get some noticeable exhaust with some success during the evening session on the Weds.  Personally I took the “day off” on Thursday (my birthday!) to attend to other pressing issues, I believe however that the weather was again fine and warm.

No. 9017 running through Stretchford woods with the milk train on Friday 8th April.

The third day under my Steam Recreations banner was on Friday 8th April when I paired No. 9017 up with the two 6 wheel milk tanks and the Collett BG - meaning no seats for the photographers all day! The day was fine and sunny throughout with some decent shots obtained during the morning session when the cooler air allowed some white exhaust to be visible. It warmed up considerably and during the mid day session and it was very difficult to get any visible exhaust. As a result a wip round was held between the photographers which collected £47 which was duly taken to the local garage to buy some cheap oil which was then divided up into small plastic drinks bottles and given to the crew on the evening session to “assist” in creating some good exhaust effects in the warm air – it worked and the crews enthusiasm was excellent and a joy to behold, even after the oil bottles ran out they improvised with other materials and produced some excellent run pasts for our cameras. Its worth mentioning that the effects only last a few seconds so no real damage is done to the environment. Weather rating 8/10.
If you want to sample the Dukedog on the South Devon line yourself, it will be running again over the Easter weekend at the railways “Cambrian Gala” event on 22nd – 25th April. Full details available on the railways website at; http://www.southdevonrailway.co.uk/ 

Superb exhaust effects from No. 9017 at Riverford bridge on Friday 8th April.

The completion of the 25 year long restoration of GWR King No. 6023 King Edward 11 has been completed with the engine turned out at Didcot in early BR Blue livery, as it was in 1950.
The engine had survived by twist of fate in the 1960′s as it (and sister 6024) were used on weight tests as dead load and moved from the scrap line at Swindon works. Once this task was finished it was decided that it would be easier to sell the locos to a South Wales scrap yard rather tow them back to Swindon, and they were duly sold to a yard in Briton Ferry. However it was then realised that they were too heavy, over the axle load for the line, to make that journey so were resold to Woodhams Bros at Barry. As is well known Di Woodham kept over 200 engines back as reserve for when wagon cutting work slowed down. In time preservationists started rescuing the engines, but for 6023 fate took another turn when it was derailed whilst being moved to release other engines from the yard. Rather than re-rail the engine the rear driving wheels were simply cut through, effectively ending any chance of this engine ever being restored it seemed.
However in 1985, the year of GWR 150, Bristol Wine Merchants Harvey’s bought the loco with a view to it being restored as part of a Government backed job scheme. This did not materialise and after several years stored at Bristol Temple Meads the engine was moved as a kit of parts to Didcot where the long task of rebuilding commenced – including the first attempt in preservation at making new driving wheels for mainline locomotive to replace those cut through at Barry.

BR Blue King No. 6023 King Edward 11 standing on Didcot shed on 1st April 2011 - the day before its public launch.

Now after 25 years of hard graft and much fund raising the Great Western Society has something to be very proud of in a fully restored King Edward 11 which will now be run on several heritage lines over the coming year before venturing out onto the mainline network.

I was fortunate enough to be invited to attend a nightshoot at Didcot on the evening of 1st April and a number of good images were created of the engine being prepared for duty and its public launch the next day.

BR Blue King No. 6023 King Edward 11 waiting for the off at Didcot shed on 1st April 2011

7812 passing Water Lane, Nr Stogumber

After a break of 4 years we were finally able to stage a photographic charter on the West Somerset Railway. Our engine for the day was Severn Valley based (so thanks to them and the owning group) Manor 4-6-0 No. 7812 Erlestoke Manor visitng the WSR for the Spring Gala, hauling a short 4 coach passenger set. The day was greeted with a mix of sunshine and clouds with a brisk westerly wind, the later meaning it was a tad tricky to get good results in the morning with the light on the east side of the line.
However blessed with some success and after a water stop back at Bishops Lydeard we headed off for some locations where the light is on the “west/south” side of the line – even in the mornings. After a patient wait we were duly awarded for some runpasts at Water Lane at near Stogumber and then again at Bicknoller. These locations, being on a downhill section of line require some skill from the loco crew to provide steam effects but be able to saftely control the trains speed – thanks guys.
The ensembled “Gricers” then rejoined the train for our next stop at Kentsford near Watchet, a well know and popular spot for photographers during the gala weekends. It was here that we realised just how cold the brisk westerly wind was on the day!
Arrival in Minehead was around 2pm for the engine to be turned on the turntable and coaled and watered whilst lunch was taken and the crew changed. Unfortunately a problem with the water tower at Minehead resulted a significant delay whilst the tender was filled by fire hoses and departure from Minehead was around 4pm. We managed to get some runpasts in at Castle Hill in the very pleasant end of day side lighting before setting off towards Bishops Lydeard for a final stop just outside for some sillohuette shots to be attempted before the day ended around 6.30pm.
I think the day will be considered a success despite the problems in the afternoon and with reasonable weather some decent shots were obtained by all present. My weather rating for the day is 6/10.
A full gallery of my images will appear on the website in due course.

Those three ‘s’ words don’t often go together….. but for a full week in late February and early March we enjoyed a weeks photography in Snowdonia in wonderful sunny weather. Jane and I set off on Sat 26th Feb and passed through some forecast rain in the Brecon area, after which the sun appeared and stayed all week.
The aim was to obtain some landscape images of Snowdonia in late winter/early spring as most of our previous visits have been in the summer months, plus attend a two day photo charter event on the Welsh Highland Railway hosted by David Williams. Our rented cottage right in the middle of the National Park in Beddgelert was an ideal location, up a long steep winding track so a good job we decided to take the 4×4 on this trip. Sunday was largely cloudy but we did get some pleasant sunny breaks and some succesfull shots in the bag.
Monday was the first day of the two day charter, which was due to commence at 08.30 hrs from Rhyd Ddu station using the Tasmanian Garratt K1 and a rake of ex South African wagons. The start from Rhyd Ddu was ideal in allowing me to get some shots of Llyn-y-Gader as the sun rose over the nearby mountains. That duly completed the train arrived and we spent the next few hours obtaining shots either side of Rhyd Ddu in the “shadow” of Snowdon itself before heading south towards Beddgelert and the Aberglaslyn Pass and finishing the day near to Pont Croesor.
Tuesday the train started from Porthmadog and gave us the opportunity to try some shots of it crossing the Cobb against some quite harsh backlighting, a challenge in itself. The train on this day was formed of the Ffestiniog Railways vintage train hauled by Double Fairlie “Merddin Emrys” running along the newest section of the Welsh Highland towards Beddgelert with run pasts at a number of locations including the dubious sight of 40 photographers clinging to the sides of the cliffs in the Aberglaslyn Pass to get a shot of the train leaving the tunnels! The train was run north of Beddgelert for some shots on the sharp reverse curves before running round for the return to Porthmadog. The clear blue skies on this day were certainly unusual for Snowdonia on St Davids Day.
A regular client of ours joined us in Snowdonia for the week, and the day after the steam charters we met up in Beddgelert for a couple of days landscape workshop. Our first location was planned to be Llynnau Mymbyr, but were to be thwarted by the low cloud that the weather forecasters said was covering most of the UK so we opted for Llyn Dinas and got some very pleasant shots as the sun rose over Moel Meirch behind us. After a late breakfast we headed out to the Cadir Idris range and spent the afternoon making images of Llynnau Cregennen until the sun disappeared over the horizon.
Thursday dawned cold/clear and frosty so we headed off again towards Llynnau Mymbyr, but couldn’t resist the opportunity to photograph Pen-y-Gwryd and the end of the Snowdon Horseshoe with the frosted grasses providing good lead in lines to our images. We spent sometime here before continuing to Ogwen and the walk upto Llyn Idwal which by now was getting some, although backlit, light into the famous “Devils Kitchen” basin.
After all of this we headed back to base for what could no longer be called breakfast! Unfortunately it did turn rather hazy in the afternoon, pleasant weather but of little use for serious landscape photography of the surrounding mountains etc. so we headed for Llyn Cwm Bychan, which did involve driving down a long steep lane with no less than a dozen gates to be opened to allow our passage and two hairpin bends that required the 4×4 to do a 3 point turn to get round! Arrival in the valley of the Afon Artro allowed us to get some closer in shots where the hazy light didn’t really matter. The haze did however defeat our efforts to get a shot looking along Harlech beach towards the distant Snowdon mountains.
Friday was again rather hazy to start, but perhaps a little less, so after a more leisurely start we obtained some shots of Llyn Gwynant and Llynnau Mymbyr before heading off to Betws-y-Coed for some more restful time looking round the numerous outdoor shops etc.  We were to be thwarted by the haze in any further photography of the type I intended to do, despite the pleasant spring sunshine – but hey who could complain after a week like that in what is often referred to as the wettest spot of the UK!
Now back and putting the exhibition together plus finishing my Bodmin Railway book and getting ready for the West Somerset gala, not enough hours in the day again! Roll on our next trip to Yorkshire….