The drive to Bow Fiddle Rock was an arduous journey, spanning a gruelling 13 hours. As the rain poured relentlessly down, my spirit began to dampen.
The long hours behind the wheel took their toll, leaving me tired and yearning for respite. Hunger gnawed at my stomach, but there was no time to stop and eat as the final destination called me forward.
A lot of Tea and Coffee consumed
Breaks in this arduous journey were for stops of nature and to grab a cup of tea or Coffee to sip at whilst undertaking this epic drive to a place I have wanted to be for a very long time.
Darkness descended swiftly, making the journey even more challenging. Finally, when I arrived at my destination, the cold enveloped me, adding another layer of discomfort to my weary and tired body.
Nonetheless, the sight of Bow Fiddle Rock in all its majestic splendor made it all worthwhile. The breathtaking view , even though just a silhouette against the darkened sky was a testament to nature’s resilience, reminding us that perseverance through any storm leads to moments of extraordinary beauty. And god was Bow Fiddle Rock beautiful!!
I did capture some wonderful photographs making those long hours behind the wheel very worthwhile and I am looking forward to sharing them with you in the coming days/weeks.
As photographers, we often find ourselves caught up in the excitement of a shoot, eagerly anticipating the unforgettable shots we’ll be able to capture. However, even seasoned professionals aren’t immune to making mistakes. On this particular day, I found myself stumbling through a series of blunders as I set up my equipment, leaving me with valuable lessons learned and a renewed appreciation for attention to detail.
Not connecting the Mic
First on the list of my unforgivable mistakes was not properly connecting the microphone to the camera. The audio is just as crucial as the visuals, conveying a comprehensive narrative that immerses the audience into the heart of the story. Unfortunately, this meant no sound on the vlog video rendering the vlog unusable on this particular episode. This careless error reminded me of the importance of double-checking every connection before diving into a shoot, as even the slightest oversight can have significant consequences.
Wet feet because I failed in the basics
A photographer’s gear is an extension of themselves, aiding in capturing those magical moments while ensuring their own safety. However, another gaffe of mine was forgetting to put on my trusty wellington boots. I was engulfed in the excitement of the moment, overlooking the sea front that lay before me. As I trudged through the damp ground, feeling the cold seeping into my shoes, I silently gave myself a stern word for neglecting an essential part of my protective gear. The discomfort turned out to be a constant reminder of the importance of being fully prepared and equipped for any kind of shooting conditions.
I keep saying ‘Don’t rush’ but I do it again and again
Lastly, the absence of the two-second delay setting on my camera was a blunder I simply couldn’t overlook. The lack of this feature meant I was unable to capture the perfect long exposures that I had envisioned, with some images having a shudder effect due to movement from the slightest of knocks. It was a missed opportunity to create stunning visuals and showcase the depth of the scene I was documenting. This error reminded me of the importance of being intimately familiar with my equipment before embarking on any shoot and ensuring that all necessary settings are in place to bring my creative vision to life.
Learning …. an ongoing process
While these errors were undoubtedly frustrating at the time, they served as valuable reminders of the importance of meticulous planning and attention to detail within the realm of professional photography. Every shoot, no matter how routine or mundane it may seem, demands our utmost focus and diligence. From meticulously connecting the gear to embracing the appropriate attire, to configuring our cameras for optimal results, every small step can make a monumental difference in the final outcome.
As I reflect on this mishap-filled day, I’m reminded that even the most seasoned professionals are not immune to mistakes. However, it’s how we learn and grow from these hiccups that truly sets us apart. With every error, we gain wisdom, sharpen our skills, and become better equipped for future challenges.
So, the next time you find yourself faced with a series of unexpected blunders, remember that even professionals stumble. Embrace these moments as opportunities for growth and improvement, for it is through these experiences that we evolve into the best versions of ourselves as photographers.
It was just beautiful, it has to be one of the most stunning places I have been to in the United Kingdom, just so beautiful.
Bow Fiddle Rock
I kept saying it during the vlogging process and I will not apologise for doing so, it is so peaceful, restful and yes beautiful to look at.
I did get very lucky with the elements as you will see in the photographs later this month, but here is one for you to enjoy in the meantime.
It was so overwhelming I forget what day I eventually arrived, well the drive was a total of about 16 hours or so?
I met the F7.1 team of jolly men on Friday I think in the Peak District and left them the following day after photographing a cloud inversion, my first by the way, now that was stunning!
The bright moon lit the way
I then set off on the final section of the trip North, another 8+ hours drive from the Peak District to Bow Fiddle Rock, and yes I did nearly give up on more than one occasion, especially when the skies opened up and the rain just poured down.
But I got there about 11pm, I went and had a little look, not venturing down as it was just far too dark and far too dangerous, after which I returned to the van, made my bed, set the alarm for 5am and went to bed and slept.
I awoke at 5, put on the kettle and made a nice hot cup of tea, it was cold and so needed. I then got my camera bag, tripods and wooly hat and walked down the slope that was now brightly illuminated by the very bright moon.
I set up and took a photo immediately, and the first image is that which I have added to this Blog.
I was so lucky, during my visit I had no clouds when I was taking photographs, no rain, red skies AND to top it off I had the moon rise behind Bow Fiddle Rock and within the fiddle gap itself, but that you will have to see on the Vlog once it is released.
So some idiot decided he wanted to get his name in the paper, become vilified by the majority of people that live in this country and hopefully spend some of his remaining days on this beautiful planet we call home behind bars.
My thoughts – I can not really express them because I too would get summoned to court but I hope this vandal feels the full force of the law and gets to spend time behind bars and then gets to do a lot of community service in the very pastures he decided to destroy.
Some of you may know that a location I have always wanted to go and photograph is Bow Fiddle Rock in Scotland. I wanted to go and photograph it last week after I had photographed the New Brighton Lighthouse, but sadly I had an error on my heater and had to return home to have that fitted.
Well, that trip is now back on. I am meeting up with the F7.1 group on Friday night Saturday after which I will be heading North with my trusted friend Nikon, I just hope I/we can do it some justice and the gods are kind to me weather wise.
So the trip actually got off to a good start, I set off for Liverpool and the New Brighton Lighthouse about 10am and got there about 3.30pm plenty of Queen and Metallica to listen and of course sing along too.
On arrival I parked up and I went to the cafe about 100 yards from the car park to get the lay of the land – can I sleep in my van on the car park, high tide times, fuel and a coffee and snack too. Yes, I could park there and it was free to do so, they were unsure of high tide time but I got that offline easily.
The entrance to the Cafe is somewhat noticable
After having a coffee (and a ‘small’ cake shhhh) I went to have a look at the Lighthouse and see where I wanted to be when it was time to take the photographs. I took the Nikon Z30 with the 16 – 50mm lens with me to get some ‘B’ Roll and some images, here are a couple of those images.
All seemed to be well at this point, clear sky with some cloud, but there was a weather warning in place for a storm later in the day, so the sky changed from what you see on these images to those taken later in the day (you’ll need to watch the Vlog for those later).
Beautiful sandy beach
A rather rough route to the Lighthouse
I eventually returned to the van, did an intro for my vlog and headed straight to the beach with all my normal gear and started to do some of the vlog and take some photographs. I suppose this is where things started to go wrong?
I went from the van to the sea defences then to the lighthouse and took nearly 200 photographs with lots of vlogging and ‘B’ roll.
Once I was finished some hours later I got to the van I found I had forgotten to do several things which included, checking the mic, correct I did not check it so there was no sound on the Z30 from all that vlogging.
Turn on the ‘2 second delay’, important for those long exposure photographs to eradicate any shake, so some of the photographs are not going to be usable.
Change to my wellies, simple right? Obviously not, I went in haste to the Sea Defences and did so wearing shoes, that was a big mistake.
Beautiful green pathway
Find my trips on TikToc @paulwbaker
On the way back to the van, some hours after I started, I managed to fall over landing on my already painful knee which had given way (yet again) and once again I fell on the hard ground losing control of the camera and which left my hand and hit the hard surface.
Yes, I was surrounded by sandy beach and my camera hits the road of all places. Luckily nothing wrong with the camera however the KF Concept ring took the brunt of the fall and got damaged – not their fault for a change (if you know you know as they say).
When I got back to the van, eventually after a good old whinge to myself, I tried to turn on the vans diesel heater to warm up the inside of the van for the evening and an ‘Error 3 code’ appeared (see the pic) on the display.
No heating for the night it is then . . .
So I had to abandon the long anticipated Bow Fiddle Rock element of the trip and return home, book the van in with The Road Viking to be repaired and order a spare part for the repair.
That has all been done, repair being done tomorrow (Friday 28 Sept 23) and thankfully I do have some good images which I will share on the Vlog next week :)
I decided tonight to send out my first newsletter from this website. I was in a bit of a rush, which as we all know is always a huge mistake.
Having just read the email I am now having to take my time writing this apology as there were so many errors as I failed to proof read it before pressing send. My apologies, it will be better next time!
F7.1 is a leading group of photographers that curate content that celebrates the art of photography, explores the journeys of exceptional photographers. Through captivating stories, we aim to inspire, educate, and entertain photography enthusiasts around the world.
Join us on our mission to capture the world, one frame at a time. (READ MORE)
As I have now been named and shamed as a member of this ‘elite club’ of photographers I would like to share the link to my introduction written by Mr Ginger Captures himself.
A new lens added to the collection but it mean one of the others will be leaving us.
I recently purchased the NIKKOR 100-400mm f4.5 – 5.6 S lens as it seems to me to be a better option than carrying the 70 – 200mm F2.8 S lens and the adaptor.
Thats means the 70 – 200mm F2.8 S lens and the adaptor will soon be leaving us, well i am thinking about the adaptor but the lens will be sold at some point. I simply can not carry all these lenses so why would I keep them?
Paul W. Baker Photography 
You must be logged in to post a comment.