October 3, 2023March 29, 2024 Paul W. Baker

What a Joy

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.

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!

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.

Thank you for reading . . . . .

September 28, 2023March 29, 2024 Paul W. Baker

I can only ask WHY?

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.

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as it stood before and as it lies today . . . .

Read the BBC story . . . .

September 28, 2023 Paul W. Baker

Bow Fiddle Rock

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.

Bow Fiddle Rock (Below)

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.

September 28, 2023March 29, 2024 Paul W. Baker

A failedish trip

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).

*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.

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 :)

Thank you for reading.

September 24, 2023 Paul W. Baker

Never Rush

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!

September 23, 2023 Paul W. Baker

F7.1

About F7.1

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.

My Introduction Page

September 21, 2023 Paul W. Baker

The Prince of Wales Bridge

Have you seen them? Would you like to comment? Please leave your thoughts and comments here . . . . . . Thank you.

The photographs are NOW available on the website, go the the Photo gallery section.

September 20, 2023 Paul W. Baker

NIKKOR 100mm – 400mm

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?