Spectacular Sunrise at the Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort

Earlier this week, my wife and I awoke at 0430 to make the trip over to the Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort in Hampshire, England. I read the weather forecasts the night before and was excited for the prospect of a nice sunrise after weeks of grey and overcast skies. The winds were to be calm, the temperatures mild, rain unlikely, and cloud cover was predicted at around 35%…perfect.

I’m not going to lie. When the alarm went off at 0430, I was extremely tempted to remain in bed next to my beautiful wife and enjoy the last few hours of sleep. However, as I lay there in the seconds after the alarm, pondering that choice, a different thought emerged. How would I feel if I woke up and looked outside to see I had missed out on the opportunity to capture a beautiful sunrise? I knew I would be kicking myself all day and later on wishing I could be editing the photos I missed out on.

So, I rolled out of bed and went downstairs. I put on the coffee. I readied and double-checked my gear. Camera batteries, check. Memory cards, check. Tripod and adaptors, check. My wife and I loaded into the car and set out to the hill fort. As we made our way, I watched the sky begin to lighten with great anticipation. The blue-hour began and as the horizon brightened, optimistic anticipation morphed into outright excitement. The clouds were well above the horizon and arranged in some striking patterns and I knew this was going to be something special.

Thankfully, there is a fairly large car park right at the base of the hill fort so we were able to park the car and walk to the summit in very little time. This was our first visit to the Danebury Iron Age Hill Fort, so I took a few minutes to try and scout out a good composition for capturing what I knew would be an epic sunrise. There is a plinth at the top that I thought made an interesting foreground for the wide shots of the fields surrounding the summit.

The sun rises just off frame to the left, casting a lovely glow on the fields surrounding the Danebury Iron Age Hillfort.

The light reflects off the top of a plinth at the summit of the hill outside the hill fort as the sun languishes just below the horizon

A striking sky of purples, yellows, and oranges adds drama to the peaceful countryside

My amazing wife and adventure partner backlit by the rising sun

As the sun continued its rise, I was on the lookout for something different for a foreground. Nearby a lone small tree stood out in the field. Spotted first by my wife, I initially was skeptical as the tree was not visually interesting to me from our current vantage point. However, I investigated it and once I changed my perspective I was glad I made the walk around. As it turned out, my wife’s instincts were right on the money. The shots of the tree below lit by the sun at an angle turned out to be my favorite captures of the morning.

At the urging of my wife, I isolated this small weathered tree against the surreal light of the sunrise and horizon

The same tree as above from a different angle, taken with slightly different lighting

Our luck held as we noticed a few highland cows (hairy cows or ‘heddy coos’ as we understood them on a visit to Scotland several years ago) grazing in the fields. I positioned myself off to the side to try and get some nice dynamic lighting. I had to wait patiently as they were much more interested in filling their bellies and spent most of their time with their noses buried in the grass.

A highland cow meanders through the fields, warmed by the sun

Taking a brief pause from grazing to size up the photographer

A highland cow slowly walks between the bushes to find some choice grass to munch on

This entire morning left me feeling grateful and humbled. The epic sunrise was well worth getting out early for but it was more than that. Standing atop the hill in the quiet morning with my wife, my camera, and my coffee I felt an immense happiness to be where I was. In that moment, I felt the warm thankfulness that I was able to witness the sunrise, share it with the love of my life, and capture a few images that I could both share with others and look back on in the years to come. When I do view these images years down the road, I will undoubtedly be transported back to the hilltop and remember this morning with great fondness and I know that the immense sense of gratitude I felt then will resonate across time and rekindle in my soul.

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A Foggy Old Sarum

I felt the itch to get out and checked the weather forecast Friday evening for the following morning. It looked like it would be a good chance of a nice sunrise. Some clouds were predicted but otherwise clear, with pleasantly cool temperatures, and mild winds. I arrived at Old Sarum around 0500 and wandered about looking for the best angle on what I hoped would be an epic light show. However, as the sun rose, it was hidden behind a low bank of clouds and haze and never really burst through. Instead, it was a relatively formless blob of yellow for the brief time I was able to visualize it. Fortunately, there was a nice consolation prize as a beautiful low-hanging fog covered large parts of the areas surrounding the Iron Age hill fort, including the city of Salisbury and the magnificent Salisbury Cathedral.

I was able to take some drone footage during the early quiet hours. Once people came about, I put the drone away as I try very hard not to disturb anyone’s peace and quiet. Below is a short compilation of some of the drone footage. I’d appreciate it if you like and subscribe to my YouTube channel to help me grow.

In the photo below, I thought the cloud formations and misty fog created a very nice composition as they spread out over the Wiltshire countryside and farmland.

This next one highlights the dense low fog in the areas surrounding Old Sarum. Just to the top right of the main hill fort are the remains of the original cathedral for Salisbury, laid out in a cross as was the fashion.

Below is a moody image of the ‘new’ Salisbury Cathedral, built in the 1200s. It is currently home to perhaps the best-preserved of the four remaining originals of the Magna Carta as well as the oldest working clock in the world. Here, wreathed in fog, the striking cathedral towers above the trees and you can imagine the imposing and constant reminder it has been to the people of Salisbury over the centuries.

For this final image, I took some pretty dramatic artistic license to create the effect seen here. I’ve been trying my hand at purposeful color grading and corrections to improve my Lightroom skillset. The original image was pretty underexposed and the light was not as vibrant as you see here. Obviously, there was some presence of the colors and lights, but I wanted to enhance them to the point they felt emphasized but not overdone and wholly unnatural.

I’m open to feedback and constructive criticism (CC) on my work as that’s how we get better! If you have any feedback or CC, I’d be grateful if you’d leave me a comment. Thanks for viewing and have a Happy Easter!

Red Kites Galore!

Recently I returned to the Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest. I was driving by just after 2:00 PM and saw dozens and dozens of Red Kites circling the small lake on site. I thought as I drove west towards Aberystwyth, if there’s an open space in the layby at the entrance to the visitor center, I’m going to go stop and try to grab some pictures! As luck would have it, there was a spot open and a gap in oncoming traffic that let me scoot right into the layby and park. A walk of about 50m and I was in a position to start taking photos. The walk down near the lakeside isn’t too far either, so after securing a few shots from distance, I walked down to see if I could get some more from a nearer vantage. I secured a few shots I am very pleased with. I hope you enjoy them!

This first batch is comprised of just a few snapshots captured from a distance mostly. I like them because they show some of the colors and textures of the landscape behind the soaring birds… even an out of focus sheep!

Next are my favorites where I was able to get relatively close and follow the birds in flight with the sun largely coming from behind just to the side and illuminating the birds well, limiting the amount I had to lift shadows in post.

These images were captured with the recently released Nikon Z-Mount 180-600mm telephoto lens. What an amazing piece of kit! I have it paired with my Nikon Z5 and, while I love my Z5, having the capability of the 180-600 lens has opened up my world to bird photography in a revolutionary way. I am seriously considering updating my camera body to the Z8. I figure if I can continue to get good photos with the Z5, it will translate to better photography when I upgrade (eventually).

Thank you all for viewing and reading. Content linked to my website (www.paradocsphotography.com) is available for purchase, but you don’t have to buy anything to show your support. You can always comment, share, and like posts to show your support and I am grateful for everyone who chooses to do so!

Recent Nature/Bird Photos

Good morning everyone! Between the business of life, travel for work, and poor weather for outings, I have not had the opportunity to capture many photographs lately. However, I have a few shots taken recently that I wanted to share.

Spring is definitely in the air as the temps slowly warm and the birds become more active.

Black Bird Aerial Show:
A pair of male blackbirds perform a wonderful display of aerial showmanship

Just after the blackbirds’ skirmish, this curious Robin decided to get in on the photo

Robins were plentiful and as usual, they were not afraid of striking a pose for the camera!

The Eurasian Skylark is plentiful in the fields near our home. These fascinating birds are ground-nesters and can often be seen hovering above the ground in search of food, almost like a small kestrel, though their prey is mostly seeds and insects.

This last image was taken on the return walk to the car park from Old Harry Rocks. This young deer was enjoying a walk through the meadow and seemed unbothered by my presence, though he watched my wife and me as we walked by.

Well, that’s it for today! I hope you have a wonderful Thursday.

Lens-Artists Challenge #291 – Cityscapes

This week’s challenge is brought to us by Patti. Her post with beautiful images can be found HERE. Thanks for the great challenge, Patti!

This week’s challenge was indeed just that. I don’t shoot a lot of cityscapes, at least not those epic shots of mega-city skylines like Chicago, Paris, or London. So, most of my ‘cityscapes’ are more like ‘town/village-scapes’.

My first entry was on my first real ‘photography’ trip with my new Nikon Z5. I took the trip to the Durdle Door in Dorset, England. This is from the return walk to the car park, which lies just at the end of the path. Beyond that is West Lulworth and Lulworth Cove. The field to the right was where I walked on the hike to the Durdle Door as there was a gate down on the path and it was pitch black. Not my best land navigation effort, but I was able to avoid the cow pies (for the most part).

A Return to West Lulworth:
The path down to the quiet village of West Lulworth as the sun breaks through the clouds

Next up are a couple of snapshots from a trip to the Netherlands. The first is the view of a canal (one of many) that runs through the towns and villages throughout the Netherlands. I loved the reflections and the cool wooden boat moored at the side.

Below is a photo of the main train station in Amsterdam, with a view of one of the many tour boats operating in the waters in and around Amsterdam. We took one of these tours on the vessel shown in the photo below, complete with some drinks and cheese.

I have shared a version of the next cityscape before, but this is a bit different as it is an example of light painting as well. At first, I thought myself unlucky when the police vehicle drove past right during my long exposure but the result was actually pretty fun!

Light Painting in Bergen, Norway
While taking long exposure shots of the Bryggen waterfront in Bergen, Norway, I was frustrated when a police car started down the road with the lights on right as my exposure began. However, I quickly realized the 30 second exposure might end up looking cool and I think I was right!

This is my kind of cityscape! A group of cabins just outside of Flam, Norway. Maybe a little crowded for my tastes but I am sure you can find the peace and quiet of nature not too far away.

Next up is a view of the Aurlandsvangen municipality, taken from the Stegastein viewpoint in Norway. It’s more about the fjord than the ‘city’ but I submit it nonetheless.

Stegastein Lookout, Norway
The view from the Stegastein lookout in Norway.

My final entry is probably the closest to an actual cityscape. Taken from the Cliff Railway Trail, Aberystwyth, Wales sprawls out from the coast with its castle and the Pen Dinas Hill Fort monument visible on the top of the distant hill.

Aberystwyth Viewed From the Cliff Railway Trail
A cool autumn morning hike up the Aberystwyth Cliff Railway trail led to this view of a moody sky over the peaceful town.

Thanks for reading and I hope you enjoy my entries!

Lens-Artists Challenge #290 – Circular Wonders

This week’s challenge, Circular Wonders, is brought to us by Leya. Leya’s own entry is a beautiful collection of images with fantastic compositions and wonderful colors, you should definitely check it out.

My first photograph is one of my favorites. It is a picture of Old Sarum in Wiltshire, England. Believed to date as early as 400 BC, and later a site of a castle in the medieval period, along with the original site of the famous Salisbury Cathedral around 1100 or so AD. If you are interested in reading more, you can visit the English Heritage site here. Old Sarum offers a relatively easy walk around its perimeter and you can get sweeping views of the surrounding farmland, fields, and portions of Salisbury itself.

The whole universe is based on rhythms. Everything happens in circles, in spirals.
John Hartford

Old Sarum Golden Hour Aerial View:
Shot by drone, the deep shadows in the deep trenches surrounding Old Sarum provide a stark contrast to the bright spring greens of the surrounding open spaces

Nature often has geometric patterns, and circles are frequently encountered. Here I present two photographs of flowers, with their bright bursts of colors representing new growth in the Spring and perhaps a taste of stubbornness near Autumn when they refuse to fade. Also, I’m going to take any chance I can get to include some Wheel of Time quotes!

The Wheel of Time turns, and ages come and pass, leaving memories that become legend. Legends fade to myth, and even myth is long forgotten when the Age that gave it birth comes again. In one Age, called the third age by some, an Age yet to come, an age long pass, a wind rose in the Mountains of Mist. The wind was not the beginning. There are neither beginnings or endings to the turning of the Wheel of Time. But it was a beginning.
Robert Jordan from the ‘Wheel of Time’ book series

Summer’s Last Colour:
Late summer blooms appear before Autumn roars in

This next image is a bit of an odd one for me. There’s nothing technically outstanding and the composition and other factors don’t make it one of my ‘wow’ photos. However, there is something about it, I think it’s the colors. I thought I may not have many challenge briefs that this photo would fit in, so there it is in this one. This was taken on a lighted Christmas walk a couple of years ago. There were many displays like this, and I was still new to photography for the most part. It reminds me of a fun night with my wife and children in the cold December evening, maybe that’s what draws me to it instead of the colors.

Lastly, architecture is an obvious source of some amazing geometry and circular subjects. The circle has often represented peace and unity, as well as pleasing aesthetics, so it is not surprising that religious sites would frequently utilize circles.

Below is a ceiling mural at the Ettal Abbey in Bavaria, Germany. Founded in 1330, there are still monks actively caring for the abbey, and running their successful brewery.

God is a circle whose center is everywhere and circumference nowhere.
Voltaire

Thanks so much for reading, I hope you enjoyed my submission!

Lens-Artists Challenge #289 – Tools of Photo Composition

At the buzzer for this week’s challenge! This week’s challenge, presented by John, presents an opportunity to showcase examples of shape, form, texture, and light.

Some of the best examples of shape and form come often from architecture, and what better place to find them than in older churches and cathedrals, with their attention to detail, sweeping arches, and grand appearance.

A monk at the Ettal Abbey (and Brewery) in Bavaria briskly walks about the main hall, watering the plants

Salisbury Cathedral:
The view from above the main hall in the historic Salisbury Cathedral.

The next two photos stood out to me as I glanced through hundreds of shots. Of course light is a powerful tool and the beauty of a sunrise to sunset would certainly fall into the ‘light’ category of the challenge. Afterall, we spend most of our time in photography chasing the perfect photonic proportions, don’t we? These images aren’t sweeping dramatic landscapes but the light pulled my attention. The first was an almost throwaway shot of some waterfowl in the waters of Reykjavik, Iceland. When I viewed the picture later, I was enamored with the way the light played off the surface of the small waves and the shadows and reflections of the birds as their wake spread out behind them creating similar, but smaller lighting effects in the water.

Ducks enjoying the frigid waters of Reykjavik, Iceland.

Admittedly, this image was at sunrise, but it was not a dramatic beach shot with a golden sun and splashes of purple. The retro-illumination of a small hare as it stood on guard in the early morning hours was striking to me. So much of the image is in shadow with the natural landscape giving an interesting shape to the darkened areas.

On Alert:
A small rabbit stands alert on the top of a ridge, backlit by the light of early dawn at Old Sarum in the United Kingdom.

The next two photos were my submissions for texture. The first was an attempt at focus-stacking, taken in a photography box. The smooth texture of the glass ball, coupled with the undulating colors and varied textures of the contents of the glass ball create interest and contrast in texture I found interesting.

Focus Stack of Glass Ball:
I used 10 focus-stacked images to create this final product, shot in a lightbox with a 50mm lens.

In the image below, texture plays an important role in conveying the frigid temperatures. Combined with the blue colorations and the obvious appearance of frost, the texture evokes an instant recognition of what that level of cold feels like. The pop of color from the berries adds just a touch of interest and drama, as if the berries blossomed and were caught unaware by the sudden freeze.

Frozen Twig and Berries Freezing fog in Southern England makes everything cold!

Thank you for taking the time to read and enjoy my submissions. Click here to find out more about past and future Lens-Artists challenges.

Recent Birding Captures

I’ve been lucky enough to capture a few shots of birds recently here in Wiltshire, despite the often poor weather. Sometimes you go out and everything is hunkered down and not many birds or other wildlife are out, I imagine them nestled up, cozy in the hedges trying to conserve warmth. However, with patience (which I often lack), you can spot birds moving from spot to spot before they become secluded again. If that doesn’t work, bribing them out with a feeder (we use suet and seed mixes), you can entice brief sojourns to your garden feeder! The birds get a free meal and we get to briefly watch them!

One of the most exciting encounters was seeing a Eurasian Kestrel land in a tree and survey its surroundings for quite a while, permitting me to get relatively close for the first shot below. The majestic bird then took flight, staying low, to other nearby branches. I was able to capture it hovering in the winds scanning the ground for prey, but those shots didn’t quite come out as well as I had hoped. Regardless, I am thrilled with the shots I managed and was excited to see it!

A kestrel poised on a branch overlooking Castle Hill Country Park, Wiltshire, England

A kestrel takes flight at Castle Hill Country Park in Wiltshire, England

A kestrel poised on a branch overlooking Caste Hill Country Park, Wiltshire, England

Up next are a couple of shots showing the Stonechat. The first appears to be a young female with the second being a mature male.

A stonechat rests as the winds ruffle his feathers

A first for me, more as a product of my new-found enjoyment of birding as they are not uncommon, is the Eurasian Siskin. A small bird with bright yellow markings, they were a little difficult to get photos of as they are fast and fairly skittish. Finding them enjoying a food source made it a little easier to get the captures below.

A Eurasian Siskin perches and devours a berry or blossom of some sort on this tree in late winter

The final shots below were taken in the back garden (yard for my American readers). Yes, perhaps it is cheating to lure them in with yummy suet and seeds but I make no apologies! The top was the first Marsh Tit I was able to capture, and the second is a lovely Blue Tit captured while the rain sprinkled down.

A marsh tit takes a moment between mouthfuls on the garden feeder

A blue tit hangs out near the garden feeder

Old Harry Rocks – Dorset, England

The weekend wake-up call at 0400 to travel someplace new for a chance at a spectacular sunrise is sometimes a tough sell. This past weekend, my wife and I decided to roll the dice and get up early so we could make the drive down to the Old Harry Rocks in Dorset and arrive before sunrise. The forecast was for mild winds and relatively clear skies. It was also, barely but literally, freezing. Still, we awoke early, grabbed the backpack of camera gear and coffee in travel mugs, and made the trek down. Boy, was it worth it.

As we hiked from the nearby (~1 mile away) car park, the first stop was for the shots below of the Pinnacles. Isolated figures standing apart from the striking cliffs of the coast. I took these first, just before the sun rose, to capture the moon and the blue/purple tints to the sky as the blue hour gave way to the golden hour of sunrise.

The sun is just about to rise off frame as the moon sets over the pinnacles near the Old Harry Rocks

Next, after jogging over to scout the location, I lugged the camera and tripod down to the middle of three promontories that extend from the shore. Here, though the angle isn’t perfect, you can see the sun as it crests the horizon and casts its golden light on the Old Harry Rock formations. When taken in spring/summer, wildflowers adorn the cliff’s edge. No such luck on a chilly day in early March, but the view was amazing despite the lack of floral color.

Standing on the projection on the west side of the Old Harry Rocks provides a beautiful view of the rising sun

I then returned to my original position on the southern side of the Old Harry Rocks to capture the golden glow of sunrise on the white cliff face. I thought a long exposure added a dramatic effect to the sea.

Taken from the edge of the southern cliffside, this long exposure showcases the beautiful colors of the seas surrounding the rock formations

I fly the DJI Mini 2, which is an amazing little machine. However, it does struggle (in relative terms) with more modern or higher-class drones. So, I typically wait until the sun is well above the horizon before I launch the drone. Below are several photos captured with the capable DJI Mini 2.

If you’d like to see a short video of the drone footage, I’ve embedded a short version below. A longer version is available on my youtube channel. Subscribe and follow if you haven’t already!

Taken by drone, the limestone formations of the Old Harry Rocks jut out from the Dorset, England coastline

A straight-down view captured by drone of the Old Harry Rocks in Dorset, England

Just south of the Old Harry Rocks, the view of rthe pinnacles illuminated by the rising sun is striking

When researching the location, I found an amazing guide written by Dorset photographer Daniel Wretham. I would recommend taking a look, whether you plan on visiting the Old Harry Rocks or not. He has some amazing work and his write-ups for this location and for Corfe Castle are absolutely brilliant. You can find the Old Harry Rocks write up here: https://www.danielwrethamphotography.com/post/dorset-landscape-photography-locations-old-harry-rocks

Bwlch Nant yr Arian Forest, Wales, United Kingdom

I had the opportunity to visit this lovely park that sits right off the A44, about a 25-minute drive from Aberystwyth, Wales. This expansive location offers several hiking and mountain biking trails and a daily feeding of their large red kite population. Unfortunately, I didn’t make the feeding but will have to return to witness the spectacle. For more information about the park, visit their site HERE.

A bird soars high above the valley with the Pen Dinas Hillfort visible in the distance

I think this is a must-see if you are ever in the area. There is ample parking and the trails are well marked and maintained. Stunning views of the surrounding valleys coupled with a very large lake are worth a trip. On the trails through the forest, there are several small waterfalls and lookout points, as well as frequent benches and picnic tables for spots of rest.