Re-visit to Haworth - Unfamiliar Place

Although on my re-visit to Haworth I did intend to take some moody black and white images on film with my SLR I changed my mind due to the beautiful weather and therefore captured bright and colourful images to portray the glorious views. I had hoped to use a high majority of my final images in the form of a log book however time being at a disadvantage I have now decided to choose two photographs as part of my alien or foreign environment which will hopefully give the viewer a clear understanding to exactly what Haworth is all about. My chosen photographs to depict my thoughts behind my 'alien' or 'foreign' environment (Haworth) will be posted within my places brief evaluation . . . to follow on a later post.

Below are my contact prints of all my photographs on my re-visit to Haworth and also the images I would have chosen to add within a diary journal of my trip accompanied with explanations behind my thoughts and feelings whilst I was taking the photographs.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 47mm, F6.3 @ 1/60 - White balance (AWB)

I captured this image whilst thinking about an 'alien' or 'foreign' environment, reason being as the sign indicates that no one without authority can go any further than that point. This promotes curiosity as due to human nature most people have the urge to explore areas which have been highlighted as out of bounds. Like a sign on a door stating 'Private' it intrigues the viewer and keeps them wondering what lies beyond that door, or in my picture, what lies around the bend?

I purposely composed my photograph to show the sign at the left hand side of the frame so there would be more emphasis on the bend leading to the area not allowed to be explored due to the advised restrictions. I also considered the background, patterns and colours of the fields, to compliment the foreground, this in effect I feel leads the viewers eye to wander around the whole of the image whilst also lures a sense of curiosity.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 70mm, F10 @ 1/125 - White balance (AWB)

This is a view along the roads approaching Haworth. Due to the sheer beauty I couldn't resist to stop on my tracks and capture this scenic landscape. I used a large depth of field to display the whole tranquil scene. I was also bearing in mind that this image could have been considered to be added as one of my countryside images.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 320, 100mm, F5.6 @ 1/80 - White balance (AWB)

The Cows . . . still makes me chuckle looking back at this photograph as every cow seems amazed to see me pointing my camera in their direction, giving me the sense that they are saying why are you here and what are you doing?

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 320, 135mm, F14 @ 1/125 - White balance (AWB)

The three ducks waddling along . . . I composed this photograph to capture a moment in time when I knew that they would add to the overall image. I also wanted to convey a message of what the countryside is all about, the tractor and ducks to symbolize that the foreground is a part of a farm and the view behind detailing the fields and little built up areas found within the realm of any countryside location.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 41mm, F4.5 @ 1/200 - White balance (AWB)

Further along the road into Haworth I captured this image. I concentrated on capturing the very subtle reflection captured within the water beneath the bridge and also to evident the differences in the types of houses built of stone within the countryside to that of a built up area within a town usually made of brick.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 127mm, F8 @ 1/125 - White balance (AWB)

To capture this photograph I did take the option of trespassing on farm land, obvious to that of the owners of the farm to the right not evident on my image. Luckily they didn't seem to mind as no one came over to remove my presence, although knowing that realistically I had no right to be there, I quickly composed a few shots of the view above. I crouched down low so to capture the grass land in the foreground which adds as a section of three areas to the photograph complimenting the composition relating to the rule of thirds.

A better understanding in regards to the rule of thirds I found most informative in regards to landscape photography was on this website http://photoinf.com/Golden_Mean/L_Diane_Johnson/The_Basics_of_Landscape_Composition.htm

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 50mm, F6.3 @ 1/100 - White balance (AWB)

This photograph was taken in Haworth not long before the sun was setting, within magic hour lighting. I particularly liked how the light was falling on the houses and also the beautiful reflections created within the foreground. I again was thinking in regards to the urban sprawl evident of the surrounding countryside.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 33mm, F4 @ 1/160 - White balance (AWB)

This photograph was captured again within magic hour lighting. I liked how the light was falling on the building and composed again with the rational of allowing the viewer to wonder what lies beyond the train tracks around the corner.

It was my intention to go back to the main train station and take more pictures of the steam trains however due to my arrival time into Haworth unfortunately it was closed. I wanted to achieve a better image of the steam train from the one I originally captured on my first visit but after a second attempt of manipulating my raw image I then felt a little more satisfied with the outcome as shown below.

I was going to add this to my images which I would have considered to depict exactly what Haworth was all about in regards to my 'alien' or 'foreign' environment, however I still wasn't completely satisfied with the lines running across the image. I did attempt to use the spot removal tool to hide the lines but unfortunately this did not go according to plan. Hopefully once I become more familiar with Adobe Photoshop I may find a way finally to achieve the picture I desire.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 85mm, F5.6 @ 1/100 - White balance (AWB)

This was my third to last final image I took before I decided to leave Haworth, knowing that there was not much time left with the required lighting I would need to achieve some interesting and aesthetical images. I composed this photograph whilst considering the urban sprawl allowing my concept to be seen within the image in regards to the build up of the urban landscape from the pivotal main location . . . the train station.

The City or Urban Sprawl

Although I have not explored this area of landscape photography to its full potential as I would have liked to have done I did whilst on both of my main locations, Haworth and Blackpool, ensure that I did capture images to reflect how the urban landscape has grown due to the continual expansion of the human population.

We did take a group trip to Salford Keys in February where I did capture some urban photographs, as shown below, however I feel that they are not strong enough to convey my concept above.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 400, 28mm, F11 @ 1/160 - White balance (AWB)

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 400, 105mm, F10 @ 1/160 - White balance (AWB)

The above photographs were taken from the top of the War Museum in Salford Keys. I liked the fact that I was able to capture an aerial view point which is not always possible to do so.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 400, 38mm, F10 @ 1/160 - White balance (AWB)

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 400, 28mm, F11 @ 1/160 - White balance (AWB)

In Blackpool

RAW Image
DSLR settings - ISO 100, 28mm, F11 @ 1/160 - White balance (AWB)

I captured this image whilst on the Big Wheel on the central pier in Blackpool, again taking advantage of being able to capture an aerial viewpoint. Due to being on the ride I wasn't able to compose my images therefore I took one light metering and just continually clicked away in the hope of capturing a successful urban landscape photograph.I feel that this image greatly suggests the build up of the urban area, from the slight area of the sea captured in the little corner of the right hand side of the image, the beach to the road, the buildings and slight detail of the surrounding countryside.

Again this is one of my photographs I think I should consider to use to dipict the urban sprawl.

In Haworth

Another photograph I will be considering to use is one of my images from my return visit to Haworth as shown below.

RAW Image

DSLR settings - ISO 100, 85mm, F5.6 @ 1/100 - White balance (AWB)

A full in depth description as to why and how the photograph was taken is detailed within my post titled 'Re-visit to Haworth'.

The 'Alien' or 'Foreign' Environment

An amazing adventure for this area of the 'places' project would be to go to exotic cities and landscapes across the world and photograph a completely foreign environment where socially the ways of life would be completely different to that of my own. In the future I will make this dream come true, being able to explore strange new lands (omg how 'Star Trek' did that sound - lol) and document the entire journey through my eyes behind the camera lens.

Unfortunately as it so happens at this time of my life I am having to juggle looking after my daughter, running a house and working a full time position as a customer care team manager therefore I am having to keep my feet firmly on the grounds of England. I have decided however to go and photograph a part of Yorkshire as my 'alien' or 'foreign' environment. I plan to take a day out with my family to a place which we have never visited before and hearing through the grapevine that 'Haworth' near Gibson is a very beautiful and interesting village, due to its historical 'still running' steam trains and cobbled roads, we headed off on a beautiful Sunday blue sky day.

http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/visitors/visitors.asp

http://www.haworth-village.org.uk/360/places/places.asp

Unfortunately whilst I was in Haworth I had technical camera problems with my old school film SLR camera as it was my intention to take some moody black and white images of the steam trains and cobbled roads however below are my contact sheets of the images I captured with my DSLR Cannon D50.

Below are my chosen photographs from my journey exploring Haworth which I feel I should consider to use as part of my submission for 'The Alien or Foreign' Environment; they are accompanied with their original raw file and camera information. All manipulation was done via Lightroom 2.0 working in my usual way of firstly checking correct exposure for the whole of the photograph, cropping where necessary then adding detail to colour and tones to bring out the best features of the final image.

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 135mm, F6.3 @ 1/125 - White balance (AWB)

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 47mm, F4 @ 1/80 - White balance (AWB)

Although these two images are very similar it was my intention to photograph the scene with both a landscape and portrait viewpoint to see if as a viewer you would interpret each photograph differently. I believe that the landscape approach gives you a theatrical sense that you are looking out to the world as a stage whilst quietly sitting back enjoying a nice cold beer at the bar. I used a combination of both shallow and deep depth of field to enlighten my required effect to the onlooker, that the audience is actually there watching the world go by whilst perched at the bar.

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 65mm, F5 @ 1/125 - White balance (AWB)

Using a portrait approach I feel that this is not as evident, especially having zoomed into the station in the background making this the main area of the overall image.

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 33mm, F5.6 @ 1/200 - White balance (AWB)

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 35mm, F5.6 @ 1/100 - White balance (AWB)

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 38mm, F4 @ 1/30 - White balance (AWB)

RAW image

DSLR settings - ISO 200, 75mm, F8 @ 1/125 - White balance (AWB)

It is my intention to go back to Haworth very soon to do a re-shoot and possibly incorporate both sets of images I obtain into a sequence which will bring together both journeys as one narrative. I hope to do this in the form of a sketchbook, documenting the history of Haworth and showing the vast changes to the landscape over the many years which have past from the early days of Haworth becoming a built up area within the countryside.