Low tide on Exmouth beach over the weekend. The water was low enough to reveal this concrete jetty, covered in very green seaweed. A long exposure blurred the sky and left the water a milky, glassy texture. You can just make out a seagull at the end of the jetty. It stood there almost motionless for the 260 second exposure.
Last couple of shots from Iceland. On the day I finally completed my circumnavigation of the island on my trusty cycle, I went for a wonder around the shoreline of Reykjavik. I was treated to the most glorious light across the bay. The yellow light house a beacon at twilight just as it was at night.
Prior to arriving in the capital, I had camped on the shoreline of Jökulsárlón. This image was taken close to midnight. As Iceland is just south of the Arctic Circle, it has little darkness in the summer. However, even though it was meant to be the hottest time of the year, it was chilly, with temperatures still very much in single figures that evening.
A few years ago, I was in the Canadian Rockies, travelling around Banff and Jasper National Parks. The shot for today was taken from an observation platform above Peyto Lake. It was not a great time of day to be shooting as it was close to midday but this really made the turquoise colour of the lake stand out all the more against the lush green of the surround forest, greyness of the mountain face and deep blue of the sky.
This was taken a few miles away, along the river bank above a raging torrent below. You can make out a young girl relaxing by the river, wearing red, to give you a size perspective of the scene.
Walking between Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton over the weekend, in south Devon, I spotted this interesting rocky outcrop. The sun was beginning to drop to my right and threw an captivating shaft of light across the scene. The tide was washing close to the top of my Wellington boots and I had a camera bag full of kit precariously balanced on the rocks next to me. I had just enough time to grab a couple of shots before having to clamber up the rocks. Definitely worth it.
This afternoon, I went for a walk on the wilder side of Singapore. In the centre of the island, there is a slither of nature called MacRitchie Reservoir Park. Just south of Upper Pierce Reservoir, there is a tree top walk, which in effect is a narrow suspension bridge, just wide enough for someone to traverse across the rooftop of the jungle below.
Lining the side of the bridge were many monkeys. They were generally quite skittish but the character in the image above was more than a little bold. I had a wide angle lens on my camera, meaning he was sat within an arm’s length from me when I took this shot.
Nature is often endowed with beautiful patterns that can only be witnessed from certain angles, making them all the more delightful you finally see them. A river running through a forest in Berkshire created a scare line in the dense, evergreen forest. The view is more akin to Scandinavia than Berkshire. I can almost smell the pine trees.
Recently, after many failed attempts, I was fortunate enough to go on a balloon flight over Berkshire. The evening weather as perfect as the breeze pushed us eastwards, towards Henley. On the way, we flew over a verdant forest, where a horse and rider momentarily materialised from between the trees as they crossed the bisecting path beneath us.
Hard to imagine that you are only 25 miles from London at moments like this.
Total mileage: 56
Terrain: Hills – Comfortable with a few hills
After the previous day’s ride, all three of us were pretty tired. We had decided to make it a short cycle day an to have the afternoon to relax, wherever we ended up.
The weather was fantastic as we retraced a few miles back on the previous day’s journey along the busy A road. Once back on the small country roads, the traffic disappeared and the cycling was good.
We stopped for a bite to eat at a small grocery in a tiny village, which I have forgotten the name of. From here, we headed past a field with a satellite dish plonked in the middle of it, very surreal.
Overall, the cycling was enjoyable but nothing spectacular. The camping site was fully and we ended up having to pitch at the bottom of a slope. However, the locals were extremely friendly and offered us from bangers and a drink!
The only ol in the ointment was that I felt terrible (probably too much sun) and Pete had a nightmare trying to organise our return journeys from John O’Groats
Last Thursday I journeyed over to Guernsey to collect my new Thorn touring bike. The first thing I was struck by was the sheer size and weight of the bike. My Specialized road bike is a lightweight speed machine. I can lift it with two fingers and have hit 50mph on it. Although I may have a backpack on most of the time I am cycling in London, the bike is awesome out on the open road. 50 miles in 2 hours is well within the realm of possibility.
The Thorn on the other hand, laden with two rear panniers full of my possessions and a bar-bag is a completely different proposition. The steel frame is so much heavier and less responsive than my carbon / aluminium Specialized. Tackling hills is all together a completely different affair.
Pete and I took the bikes out for a spin on Friday night. Although we only clocked up about 7 miles, I was impressed by the sheer workmanship of the Thorn. Everything felt just so, mechanically pleasing. Although much lower geared than my Specialized, it was very comfortable on the winding Guernsey roads.
We spent most of the rest of Thursday customising the bike, adding all the additional kit I had brought over and testing the brakes, which are incredibly squeaky!
All Terrain Photography 