Preface:
It’s been a while, but it’s about time to get some images up. There are a lot of photo projects in the works for the site, so in the meantime, I have to get up a few shots, and what with having been in Corsica and having work and such, that hasn’t been so easy. But enough of the excuses, it’s about time I got up some images.
This is really going to be more of a work in progress than anything else. People who have been following the blog for a long time will realise that this is an area of photography in which I have little or no expertise, so this is a learning experience for me. That’s no excuse of course – I try to keep an extremely high standard for all of the photos I put up on the blog, and all of these shots are available as prints.
Corsica
Corsica is a fantastically gorgeous island. Full of mountains, devoid of the crazy tourists of so much of the rest of southern France, it is like a miniature Africa. In many respects, especailly its flora and fauna, it reminded me strongly of Greece and western Italy, yet it has its own air of rustic beauty.
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/200s f/16
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/400s f/9
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/5000s f/2.8
It is not a country for those of weak constitution – the roads wind madly around the mountains, and the sun beats down relentlessly.
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/500s f/10
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/160s f/16
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/320s f/2.8
As I say, this is not an area of photography that I am particularly comfortable with. But that’s really something that I quite enjoy – a great challenge, and a way of re-inventing what you do. Not only the black and white (which I’m liking by the way, you? This, by the way, is inspired by the amazing black and white landscape work of Moose Peterson) but also just working with a wide angle, learning to align the elements, compose, and get the exposure just right. And to be honest, I’m pretty bad at it right now. But I’m learning quickly.
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/250s f/11
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/1250s f/5.6
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/8000s f/3.5
The 14-24mm f/2.8 is spectacularly great lens – one that I have not gotten even a fraction of the possibilities out of. But the best thing about it? It’s so easy. Focus range is just a fraction of a turn, and everything is just so conveneintly placed. One switch gives auto to manual focus. that’s it. Beyond that, it’s just you, and your ability to read and judge the situation. Fortunately, opportunities to practice are easy to come by on Corsica.
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/250s f/8
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/320s f/8
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/2500s f/2.8
With bald skies like we had every day in Corsica, shooting the landscape could be difficult, and I wasn’t sure that things would work in black and white, but I was pleasantly suprised with how most of the shots turned out.
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/4000s f/2.8
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/5000s f/2.8
D300 + 14-24mm @ 1/1000s f/9
That’s not the last of the landscapes though. There are more to come. More things outside my comfort zone, but hopefully a bit fresh.
Keep your eyes on the blog for the new projects though! Mostly aimed at other photographers, but hopefully, other people will find these things interesting too.
Was the color function on your camera not working? 😉
Amazing photos of Corisca!