Rallying

We got invited for a day out last Wednesday  to watch "M Sport"testing out one of there rally cars by one of the marshals (Thank you Ray). Exciting stuff in real life much better than watching on the telly.
It was an early start getting to the forest for 7.30 so we could be in position before the forest track was closed and the testing could begin. A 6 mile long track and we were about at the halfway point but there was no mistaking when the car had started its run you could hear it miles away.

We wanted to try and show the car in action and to give a feeling of the speed it was travelling at and one way is to use a panning action at a slow shutter speed to have the background blurred but keep the car in focus






Another way we tried out, catching the car on a corner with the lose gravel spraying from the back wheels.
(It is a white car under the golden sheen of mud)

Or close up action?
We soon got into the habit of taking the shot and turning our backs to the spray of gravel (my jacket needed a wash when I got home)

Or even closer?

Even XOX got a bit muddy and that was just driving to the spot we where given. But as always it was lovely to be able to make tea and have somewhere warm to sit between runs.

Click the photo for a bigger image.

Thank you for looking

Richard

Let's stay local this time

I decided that the first run out to try the new lockers out would be local, so I had a long weekend around Coniston. I also needed some more local photos for our 2014 collection of prints/cards so an ideal opportunity. I have not spent much time in the southern Lake District so I went exploring.

The new lockers worked a treat with everything fitting in nicely and room to hold more when I am on a longer trip.

The board and edging came from Dormobile so is an exact match for the galley and I followed the same sort of styling so they make a matching set.

  

Working with this type of material is a far cry from my normal work so a big learning curve for me and if I was to use this material again I would change a few things but on the whole I am very pleased with the end result.

The dining table sits nicely on top of the drawer and the runners are rated at 40 kilos so they will take me leaning on them a bit and they have a locking mechanism when pushed shut, plus the top stows away nicely against the window when not in use.


A nice welcome to the campsite in Trover when I got there Friday lunch time  (not going wild yet I still want power this time of year) so after getting settled in I took Ash for a walk. That turned out to be a lot longer than expected. I had to gave myself a crash course on using Google maps on my phone, panicking as the battery was running low and I was just a little lost. But I only walked an extra 3 miles to get back to the campsite. (Naughty boy don't go to strange places without a map you know how to use, smack wrist). I enjoyed my tea when I got back, Phew I was tired, but the wind dropped down so I was in my bunk for the night with the lid up and the vents open. very little condensation, what a  big change from my last trip out.

Saturday morning it was off to see what Coniston Water looked like. A bit windy for nice photos so it was an exploratory day to be ready for a proper photo shoot later on in the year, but I enjoyed the run around Coniston Water.

Although I have a lot of "not very good photos" of Coniston Water from my run around I liked this one the best. This couple where making water colour pictures sitting on the end of this jetty sketching and having great fun.

Another good nights sleep in my bunk and I was ready to wake up as it got light,



Sunday and I was up early as it was the day the clocks changed (at one point I had 4 clocks in XOX all telling different times most confusing) I was on my way home, but me being me, yes it was the scenic route that I chose.

First stop was a lovely little spot called Yew tree tarn. right next to the road and at silly o'clock there was nobody else there but Ash XOX and I..







Then it was off to try XOX out on probably the most difficult road in the UK

This is the start of the road to Wrynose Pass. Not for the faint hearted and definitely not to be done in bad weather. even in a very capable 4X4 it was something of a challenge. but we managed and look what I found at the top.

I bet this guy must have had great fun bringing a Lotus up here. Yes!!! boys toys I know.and  XOX in the background.

Cracking view from up here.






So over the top through Hardknott pass where I was wishing I was in low box for some of the descents and then on to Wastwater.

What a lovely place Wastwater is. The deepest lake/water/mere in the Lake District that attracts divers to have a look at it from the bottom side up so to speak, but I enjoyed the look of the top side down thank you very much. With its steep sides to the East and to the West accessible places where you can get down to the waters edge and enjoy the view of the surrounding fells and Ash can get a drink.

So it was time now to tell my satnav to take me home but TomTom decided that we would have to pass Ennerdale to get home and I could not resist a one mile detour just to have a look.

 Nice place again, just a bit windy for nice reflections even with a 20 stop ND filter on, not much you can do about smoothing out the water in these conditions
but I will be back on a better day.




I had a very nice long weekend all in all. I need more clips and S hooks for XOX to sort things out and I missed being able to listen to my audio books when I am parked up so that is something to look at before my next trip

If you have been following along you will know by now all the photos are click-able and if you would like to buy prints or greetings cards of any of the photos, just email me by putting richard@ in front of artbycamera.co.uk and I will get in touch with you.

Thank you for looking

Richard