Dharveyphotography

Take a Break

2020-12-06T08:51:00.000+00:00

Finding Time

Finding time to really practice your photography can be tricky. You may have a lot going on in your life. But it's really important to try and find time to practice, practice, practice.

As I have said before, I used to watch hours and hours of Youtube videos on photography. Following some fantastic photographers on their journeys to amazing locations and grabbing images that just blow your mind.

I still think there is a place for this. And I do still watch some videos. But as 90% of these photographers say in their videos. Get out and shoot.

Now I am talking about Landscape photography. But each genre will be the same. The more you practice, the better you become.

I have never been an over confident person, Or give myself any praise at all to be honest. But what I can say at this point, is that I am a lot more confident with a camera than I used to be. And it is 80% down to me getting out as much as possible.

I also have to say that I am not very technical when it comes to taking images. I am a person that will learn the settings in order to get my shot. And although I do not believe this is the best practice to become a better photographer. It's the way my lazy brain works.

But at the very least, be familiar with the settings on your camera that will apply to the image that you wish to take.

In fact if you ask me to put my camera on "Auto", "Aperture Priority", or "Shutter Priority" I would probably break out in a cold sweat.

Again this is not the way I would recommend you starting out.

Know your camera!

That way, when you are out photographing a stunning waterfall and you spot some wildlife. Maybe a Wagtail, or a Dipper taking a rest on a rock across the river from you, You should be able to change your settings and get that extra little image that you weren't expecting, that turns out to be the best photo of the day!

Making Time

So now comes the tricky part!

I started making time to go out and practice by getting up at 3 or 3.30 in the morning on a Saturday or Sunday. Getting to my location for Sunrise, spending a few hours snapping away, and making it back for lunch time at the latest so that I still had the afternoon to spend with my wife.

I live in West Central Scotland. And if you travel in any direction for 2hrs, you are going to reach scenery that photographers travel days to get to.

But also remember to shoot local. You will be pleasantly surprised at what's on your doorstep. And you are arriving at a time when only really stupid people, or photographers are up at. For me, on 90% of my excursions I have been totally on my own. Just me, the location, the wildlife, and if you're really lucky a nice sunrise!

Being honest again, this is probably the way I work best.

You can clear your head, relax and do things as you wish. Play about with the settings.

I would say that in the beginning there are no mistakes to be made. Just learning experiences. And if you are lucky, and have no time constraints on you, you can travel further a field, or stay longer and really explore the area.

Another way to get out and about is to book a few days away somewhere.

My Wife Claire has been amazing with this for the past 3 years. Making arrangements to stay at B&B's for long weekends, or getting deals on hotels for a weeks holiday.

And using the same principles as before. If your other half doesn't fancy getting up at 3 in the morning while on holiday, then you get up and get out, snap a few images and be back in time for breakfast.

Then during the day you can spend it with your partner with either your camera tucked away for the day. Or what happens with me is I usually try and take most of my stuff with me.....you know....just in case.

I have also been really lucky with the fact that my Dad enjoys photography. And whether it's finding a few hours one day to venture out with the camera together, or managing to get away for a few days up north. It can be beneficial to see how someone else sets about getting an image.

1st Trip away. Loch Earn with my wife

A week in the Lake District

A week in Aviemore

However you manage to do it. The more time you spend with the camera, the more confident you will become in changing the settings for the scene in front of you.

This has been the way that has worked best for me.

But again I have been so fortunate that the people around me have allowed, enabled, and inspired me to get out and shoot some amazing landscapes.

So Claire, where are you taking me next.....

Prepare to Fail!

2020-11-29T07:32:00.000+00:00

We all know the old saying

"Fail to Prepare, Prepare to Fail"

And for me , this has been a major fault of mine throughout my life.

Until photography came along I have never prepared (properly) for anything!

At school I would do the required classroom work, the minimum homework, and very little study or preparation. And hence the reason I have always worked in jobs where brains may not be the first thing they look for on a C.V.

Remember from my previous post where I had No Ambition. Well in my jobs I have always just settled at the level I'm at.

And in general I am still the same. With photography being the only exception.

It makes all the difference...

Now in Landscape photography, preparation is probably more important than most of the gear in your bag! (in my eyes).

I used to think that it was as simple as getting up, grabbing your bag, and heading to a location and snapping away. And to a certain extent, I guess it is. But if you are wanting that special image that has your stamp on it. You may need to up your game.

For example, let's say you want a moody, atmospheric image of Glencoe.

It's Saturday. You grab your bag, head out, and arrive in Glencoe.

Good luck with that moody image you were wanting!....Why??

Well for starters you have arrived at midday! on a Saturday! in Glencoe!!

Good luck getting anywhere to park!

Its the middle of Summer (and for once), there is not a cloud in the sky!!

Now you are still going to get great photographs, but they are not likely to be what you were after.

There are so many weather apps and forecasts that would allow you to have (at least) an educated guess as to what the weather is supposed to be like at a certain location at a certain time.

Glencoe is heaven for photographers, walkers, hikers, wild campers. It's going to be packed!

So knowing a bit about the location you are going to is also going to be of great help.

Although with this example, its pretty packed all year round!

But no matter where your location is, it's always a good idea to do a little research before heading off.

If you are going for sunrise. Check where the sun rises in relation to your subject. Using apps like PhotoPills, you can pretty much tell the exact time and location that the sun should be coming up over the horizon. And remember if its Sunrise, arrive at your location at least an hour before the sun comes up.

You will not believe the colours that you can get before official sunrise.

The first time I discovered this to be the case was on a very early morning trip to St Monans harbour in 2018. I left the house at 03.30 on Saturday morning, Sunrise wasn't until 06.42 and it was about a 2hr drive in the pitch black. When I was about 30 mins away (05.00) I could see a slither of deep red on the horizon. As I got closer that slither turned into the whole sky. It was a mad rush to park the car get the camera setup and take a photograph.

At 05.35 (a full 1hr 7 minutes before official sunrise), this was the image I captured!

Over 1hr before Sunrise!!

And likewise, if it's a sunset shot you are after, make sure you hang on for at least 30 minutes after official sundown!

This shot was taken 40 minutes after Sunset!

40 Minutes after Sunset!

But hold on...

Now this is all very well and good. You check the weather forecast the night before, you have the sun aligned perfectly using your fancy app. You know exactly where you are going to place your tripod. Sorted, job done! Now just off to bed.

But as every photographer knows. Weather forecasts can be wrong! Apps can be very wrong 😂.

All of these tools are there for you to get a head start. Have a little bit of knowledge of the area you are going to visit.

One bank of cloud on the horizon can ruin a stunning colourful sunrise/sunset.

But if you have prepared and know a bit about your location, the conditions that you find when you get there might be even better than stunning colour! You might even get a moody, atmospheric Glencoe!

And these are conditions that everybody knows can change.

But there are so many other reasons that can affect the way your photos turn out.

Traffic can cause you to miss that perfect sunrise.

You can plan weeks ahead, and then forget your memory card 😔.

Or you can just turn up and not be feeling it. Your work, family life can all have an effect on how or if you manage to get an image that day. Whatever it is, we have all been there!

It may not feel it at the time, but from my experience its always good to be out trying. I think you will learn more from your failures and mistakes, and if you are thinking about the settings on your camera, then you aren't concentrating (100%) on the problem that's blocking your creative side.

Don't get me wrong, I still look out the window 30 minutes before sunset and see some colour in the sky, and rush out the door. And usually find myself driving with no real direction just hoping rather than knowing I'm going to be capturing the perfect sunset. My success rate with this technique is about 1 in a 100!

My favourite images have came when I've arrived with time to spare. With time to soak in the scene in front of me. These are the times when I believe I have managed to capture more than just the scene I'm looking at.

Emotion, atmosphere, depth are all ingredients I didn't think existed in landscape photography. But sometimes when all the elements come together and I am standing with no-one else there. Just me and the landscape. That's when my emotion is captured in the image too.

So I would say to you, do your homework, prepare.

But just realise that you will probably need to....

Prepare to Fail

Welcome to Me!

2020-11-22T01:42:00.001+00:00

Hello,

My name is David Harvey and this is my Blog about my journey with photography!

I am an amateur photographer, concentrating mainly in the genre of Landscape photography.

With a particular passion for long exposure photography and Waterfalls.

I am Scottish, and I live in the town of East Kilbride in South Lanarkshire, Scotland.

I live with my long suffering wife Claire, who has been so supportive with my photography journey.

And can often be found yawning a few meters away from me and my setup.....I should probably disclose that I have been there for about 30 minutes or so figuring out my composition and settings 😂.

I have always been around photography. But never truly embraced it until late on.

My Dad has always been into photography. when I was young he built himself a darkroom under the the stairs. He would always be annoying my Mum, Sister, Me or the family dogs to stand still for just 1 minute more till he took a photo.

It was always a family joke that by the time my Dad had taken a photograph, the season would have changed, or the person aged another year!😄

If I only knew then what I know now!

At that time my Dad was using film cameras and although the theory and "exposure triangle" rules would be the same as now. To not have the ability to instantly check the back of the camera to see how the image turned out...delete...and try again, is something I just cant get my head round.

(From that last paragraph you may have found out something about me.....I'm pretty lazy!😴)

Both my Sister and I received compact point and shoot cameras as presents when younger, and it was my Sister that took the best images and got some printed and made into framed photos. For me it was always just point and shoot, no real thought. just capturing a moment. Although I still got that excited feeling waiting the 1 hour for the roll of film to get developed at the chemists.

After numerous failed attempts by my Dad to get me interested in photography, I think he just made peace with the fact that it wasn't going to happen. And he carried on with photography for himself, purchasing various cameras along the way.

Growing up my family have always been very close.

My Mum and Dad have always given my Sister and I all we could ever want. I have always been laid back in terms of Get Up And Go or Ambition. Or as my mother used to say "Horizontal" 😂

But as a young boy I used to draw designs and doodle, and I always remember my Mum really liking them. As I got older I used to write poems or limericks inside family Birthday or Christmas cards. And along with my Dad and Sister and Wife Claire, It was always my Mum that I remember enjoying reading them. I suppose this was my creative side waking up. And when your Wife makes stunning homemade cards at the drop of a hat, my creativity started to grow.

In 2013 we sadly and suddenly lost my Mum to Pancreatic Cancer. It was totally devastating. And took a huge toll on my family as you would expect. I really don't think you ever get over losing someone so special, but by pulling together and staying strong together you can make it through.

After this I found my creative side fall away. I found it more difficult to write poems for the cards, and I was just pretty low. My Wife, My Dad, and my Sister all got me through and as a result of this (and coincidently buying a new phone that had a long exposure setting), I started getting interested in photography.

My Dad suggested I start out with one of his cameras. A Nikon 1 (V1).

Start Of My Journey

So on the 1st of January 2017 I took my first steps on the road to loving photography.

I got up early, New Years Day, headed out to a road 😕. Photographs that have always caught my eye have been car or carnival light trails, or long exposure water.

I knew nothing of composition, exposure triangle, nothing really. So I basically just winged it. Changing settings and just checking the back of the camera.

It was freezing, and I was soon finding out that you really do need a tripod for long exposure photography. But when I checked the back of the camera and seen basically, a proof of concept, streak of light I was buzzing.

First morning of photography.

This first outing certainly fuelled the photography fire in me. And i started watching Youtube constantly. Trying to gain knowledge, and basically watching how these wonderful photographers were creating excellent content and some stunning images.

That being said I spent so much time watching these guys that I never went out shooting.....for months!!!

It wasn't until the September that I went back out. But from that moment I have near enough been out every weekend for just over 3 years! And it doesn't look like stopping.

Getting up when everyone is sleeping, reaching a location in the dark and waiting for the sun to rise is one of the best feelings I can imagine. And if that location is somewhere like Glencoe then it really does just take your breath away!

Photography has given me a purpose. It has shown me some stunning places that I know I would not have seen otherwise.

At heart I am slightly needy. And when my Wife, my Dad , or my Sister says they love one of my photographs, I am filled with pride.

It's something that I can see I have made progress in. I know that given the right conditions I can take a good photograph.

My Dad gave me 95% of my equipment, 100% of his time and knowledge.

My Wife Claire, has given me 100% support and the time needed even when it means sacrifices for her.

My Sister has always given me love and support that is just off the scale.

My In-laws and extended family have always been there for me.

And I thank you all 💓

But I believe my Mum gave me my Creativity and my eye for a photograph!

So this is dedicated to you Mum.

Thank You 💓

I hope you can see my photographs....and can see I now have Ambition.....