As featured on the National Trust Twitter feed - 12 months ago today

This is what I posted 12 months ago today. I remember this post.

"I was contacted by the National Trust recently, and asked if they could use the image above in their social media feeds.

I said yes of course. The National Trust. What an absolute privilege. 

This is the link to the Tweet - feel free to all head on over there and re-tweet this post!  I have!

The picture was taken on my Canon 6D with my Canon 24-105mm lens at in the woods at The Vyne. 

I wanted to capture the sun shining through the trees, and love this slightly overexposed image, which has a lovely, light natural feel to it.

I will be returning to The Vyne, and lots of other National Trust sites, to take more pictures. The National Trust sites are great locations to photograph any time of the year. 

Rick McEvoy Photography

Landscape photographer

Thursday 23rd February 2017."

How has the quality of the production of blog posts improved over the last 12 months?

Quite a bit. Technical stuff has improved such as

• Shorter page title - some of my old posts had titles so long the important bit was probably lost in Google.
• External links - better quality, relevant external links
• Blog post URL - shortened to have more effect in Google
• The content has refined over the last 12 months as well, not that there was anything wrong with the content, but it is bound to evolve.

I do remember this post, as well as the National Trust making contact with me - the big question is - what impact did this have on my photography business?

Not a lot to be completely honest. And that is one of the problems with social media - we are all so obssessed with posting, likes, shares, thumbs up etc etc.

For what?

That is the thing I am not sure about. And the thing I think I am going to write about in an upcoming article on Improve Photography.

Rick McEvoy Photography - 12 months on

The next photo in my series of pictures of 2017 was taken at one of my favourite places - The Vyne

Another picture from January 2017, is this picture of winter sunshine at The Vyne, the lovely National Trust site in Hampshire. 

I have deliberately processed this image, taken on my Canon 6D, to emphasise the strong winter colours. 

Best get on to February! 

Rick McEvoy Photography - Photographer in Hampshire

Another new photograph of Poole on my website is this picture of one of the peacocks on Brownsea Island

This is another picture which you can find on my Poole Photographer page, of one of those famous peacocks which you can find on Brownsea Island.

Brownsea Island is a wonderful place managed by the National Trust, accessible by boat only from Poole Quay or near the Sandbanks Chain Ferry. 

Unless you are a very good swimmer that is... 

Rick McEvoy - Poole Photographer

A misty path through the woods at The Vyne

Today a couple of pictures that I like.

It is a Saturday in June. It is going to be a hot day.

So let’s just look at some nice pictures today. Nothing too heavy.

As well as the colour version you can see in this post I will also post the black and white version of this picture later.

The colour version of the picture was produced using Lightroom Mobile on my iPad Pro. On a plane. This was the first time I ad flown since I was given my iPad by my fantastic wife. And did it make a difference to a 4 ½ hour flight!

The image was captured using my Canon 6D and Canon 17-40mm lens, mounted on my Manfrotto tripod.

This is quite a stark, contrasty image. This was deliberate processing as I wanted this look for this image.

And for completeness I guess I should tell you where I took this image.

The Vyne. The National Trust site in Hampshire.

The Vyne is one of my favourite places with fascinating woods which I am hoping to return to this summer when everything is in full bloom.

I find landscape photography very relaxing, and also a very productive time for me. I have changed my approach to landscape photography these days, and take much fewer images than I used to. I enjoy walking in the English landscape, looking and enjoying being out and about. Only when I have found something of interest do I get my camera out of my bag, which for landscape photography (as well as any photography on construction sites) is my Peak Design Everyday Backpack.

As well as getting my camera out I also remove my Manfrotto tripod from the external pocket and place it where the scene is I want to photograph.

Landscape photography for me is something to be enjoyed, not rushed.

 Rick McEvoy MCIOB, LBIPP

Landscape photographer in Hampshire 

Another of those pictures of the burst of sunlight through the trees at The Vyne

A new landscape image as it's Friday. It's been a long week, so why not?

This is another picture taken at The Vyne, the National Trust site with the most amazing woods.

Taken handheld on my Canon 6D looking straight into the sun (something which you need to be really careful doing by the way) with an aperture of F22 to get that starburst effect. 

A lovely bright natural vibrant image for a Friday.

Rick McEvoy MCIOB, LBIPP

Landscape Photographer in Hampshire

Rick McEvoy Photography - Image of the Week - two trees and a big burst of sunshine at The Vyne

I love this shot. Two trees with the sun bursting through in-between them. 

Taken at The Vyne, the National Trust site in Hampshire I like so much.  Image capture using my favourite Canon 6D with Canon 17-40mm lens sat on my Manfrotto Tripod.

Rick McEvoy Photography

Image of the Week

Friday 2nd June 2017

Another picture of a burst of winter sun through the trees in the woods surrounding The Vyne

I had such a great couple of hours this day - here is another picture taken in the woods around The Vyne, the National Trust site in Hampshire. 

This was one of those days when the light was so fantastic in the woods with that low winter sun. 

Taken on my Canon 6D with Canon 17-40mm lens, using the following settings. 

Aperture - F22

Shutter speed - 1/50th second

ISO - 400

Rick McEvoy Photography

Hampshire photographer

Monday 29th  May 2017

The picture of the branches on the floor, the trees and the sun - this time in black and white

Here is the black and white version of the picture of the sunshine in the woods at The Vyne, the National Trust site in Hampshire. Posted the colour version yesterday here on my photography blog.

Rick McEvoy Photography

Black and white landscape photography in Hampshire

Saturday 27th May 2017

A new picture of the woods at The Vyne - lovely vibrant winter colours with a big bright burst of sunshine

I was going through my January images the other day, and decided to give myself some time and have an edit of a few images for no reason other than I enjoy doing this. I have a number of pictures taken at The Vyne, the lovely National Trust site in Hampshire. I had an hour free one afternoon so set off with my brand new Peak Design Everyday Backpack containing my Canon 6D, Canon 17-40mm lens and my Manfrotto Tripod.

I was looking for the sun meeting the light mist in the trees. And I got his picture which I did not edit on the first pass to be honest. This is why I like going back to pictures I took some time ago a second time, to see if there is something that I like that passed me by the first time. 

This is one of those shots. There are the branches on the floor in the foreground, with all those lovely winter colours, with a big burst of sunshine through the trees. 

I processed this image in Lightroom Mobile, doing a bit more in Photoshop Fix, all on my iPad Pro.  Amazing what you can do without a PC!!

Rick McEvoy Photography

 Hampshire Photographer

Friday 26th May 2017

These are the new images in my Dorset Photographer web page, and the accompanying text.

The view of Portland from Ringstead Bay

The first image is one of my favourite pictures of Dorset, Portland viewed from Ringstead Bay. Ringstead Bay is a lovely National Trust site, from which you get great views of Portland. Like this one.

I was very lucky to be there and capture the amazing light in this image using a telephoto lens to isolate the land and the late winter sun and all those lovely colours and textures.

Well I say lucky, but I was out there looking. This is the key – get out there take pictures. Nothing happens if you sit staring at your computer!

Lulworth Cove by Rick McEvoy

Next new image is an old image - Lulworth Cove

It is not easy to take a picture of Lulworth Cove. It is quite big, and I had to get a good way back up the steep sides to photograph the cove, even with my 17mm lens on my Canon 6D. I was very fortunate that the sun decided to make a late appearance from under the clouds to give that splash of warmth to the scene.

Next time I go back there, which I will do, I am going to get this shot from much further back, as I want to place Lulworth Cove in context. Either that or by a drone!

Bats Head - the Jurassic Coast

Next up is this picture of Bats Head

This is a stunning picture of the Jurassic Coast, with the cliff face in this image illuminated by the late winter sun. Two people walking on the beach give the image scale and perspective. To get this view you have to just keep walking on beyond Durdle Door, up and down a few hills. It is well worth it trust me.

You heard it hear first.

Get to Durdle Door and keep on walking.

Durdle Door

Durdle Door

Durdle Door and Durdle Door

So good I included Durdle Door twice. There are two views of Durdle Door, the first being a classic view looking back to Durdle Door having walked along the path to the west. The second picture (or first depending on how I sequence them) is the view of Durdle Door from the other side of the path on the Jurassic Coast. I wanted to capture the whole scene, including the beach and cliffs beyond, spectacular features of the Jurassic Coast. Obviously, I waited for the sun to line through with the famous rock arch.

Brownsea Island at sunset

Brownsea Island at sunset

Brownsea Island is a very popular Dorset attraction. This National Trust site is accessible by boat from Poole Quay and a couple of other places in Poole Harbour including right next to where you drive on to the chain ferry. This sunset picture was taken on Shore Road in Sandbanks, one of my favourite roads.

Delph Woods in Poole

Delph Woods in Poole

Something completely different is this picture of the misty woods in Poole. I want my collection of pictures of Dorset to be a bit different, and love the mood and feel of this picture taken on one of those winter days when it was sunny then misty all day long. The rays of sun are illuminating the patches of mist in the lovely woods near Broadstone.

So that is my Dorset Photographer page all but done. Just the update on what I said I was going to do to go.

I hope you enjoy my set of 12 pictures of Dorset - please let me know what you think of this collection of pictures.

Rick MeEvoy Photography

Dorset Photographer

Friday 19th May 2017

Rick McEvoy Photography Image of the week - the black and white version of the picture of sunshine in the woods at The Vyne

And as it's Friday and there is a long weekend ahead here is the black and white version of the picture of the sun in the woods at The Vyne, the National Trust site in Hampshire.

Rick McEvoy Photography

Hampshire Photographer

Friday 28th April 2017

Another picture of the bluebells in the woods - landscape photography in Hampshire

I took this picture yesterday in Morganston Wood, This picture shows the natural colours of the bluebells in the foreground, with the natural chaos of the woods behind. 

This scene has in effect two colours. The blue and the green. 

I am posting this image as it shows that sometimes the best light is not necessarily that raking dramatic sunset light. I have used the soft, diffused light from overhead to create this image. 

This picture was taken handheld on my Canon 6D with Canon 17-40mm lens. 

Processing was in Lightroom, with minor tidying up in Photoshop.  Processing was actually very little, just the basic panel and HSL panel in Lightroom then removing stuff that shouldn't have been here anyway in Photoshop using the spot healing and clone stamp tools only.

Which is just how I like it. 

And this is a single image, captured in RAW. 

Morganston Woods are the woods you drive past to get to The Vyne, the lovely National Trust site in Hampshire. 

This picture will not win any awards. It won't change the world. It is just a nice picture showing the natural colours and textures of English woods. 

Rick McEvoy Photography

Hampshire Photographer

Wednesday 26th April 2017

Vibrant springtime colours in the woods near The Vyne

This was the scene today in Margonston Woods just outside The Vyne, the lovely National Trust site in Hampshire. 

This image was captured on my Canon 6D with Canon 17-40mm lens, and edited in Lightroom Mobile. 

Rick McEvoy Photography

Hampshire Photographer

Tuesday 25th April 2017

A stunning picture of the Isle of Portland photographed from Ringstead Bay

Just a few words today. I love this picture of the Portland taken from Ringstead Bay.

Ringstead Bay is located roughly in between Lulworth Cove and Weymouth.

It is on the Jurassic Coast, and is described on the National Trust website as

“Unspoilt beach, farmland and cliffs on the Jurassic Coast”.

With a great view of Portland.

This picture was taken one February afternoon, at 4.25pm to be precise. The sun was low in the sky, obscured by the fast moving passing clouds, and reflecting nicely off the water.

This image was taken with my Canon EOS 5D and my old 100-400mm F4.5 – F5.6 lens. I say old lens as I sold this some time ago.

Image capture was

1/400th second, F8, ISO 100.

This image was taken handheld, and was a single image capture. I have applied an amount of colour toning to this image in Lightroom, accentuating the warmth of the light from that late afternoon sun, on what was an unseasonably warm February day. It might have been a few years ago but I remember it well.

I love the feel of this image, which works equally well in black and white.

Rick McEvoy - Dorset Photographer

Sunday 16th April 2017

A picture of some winter trees at The Vyne taken using a telephoto lens

This is an almost abstract picture of some trees in the winter sunshine at The Vyne, one of my favourite National Trust sites. 

I enjoy experimenting with different lenses on my Canon 6D, this picture being taken with my Canon 70-200mm F4L lens. 

Sometimes when I am out shooting I will attach this telephoto lens and not allow myself to change lenses. This forces me to look at things differently, just looking for things within a scene rather than the scene as a whole.

This picture focuses on the bare branches of some trees in the winter sunshine. The main component of this image is the light and the trees. There is nothing else. The image is reduced down to just this.

Rick McEvoy Photography

Saturday 8th April 2017

Hampshire Photographer

How I produced the black and white version of the picture of the Cerne Giant using Nik Silver Efex Pro

This is how I produced the black and white version of the picture of the Cerne Giant using Nik Silver Efex Pro, the free software from Google.

Preset

• High Contrast (Harsh)
• I don’t think I have ever used this preset before, but it worked nicely for this image.

Filter

• No filter – they all did strange things to the greens that transformed this image into something even worse!
• And this image is very green – the colour is by far the dominant colour in this picture.

Vignette

• Lens Falloff 1. I tried 2 and 3 but they looked dreadful.

Brightness

• I increased the Dynamic Brightness by 22% and that was that.

Lets be honest. Its not a great image. But all the same it is a picture of the Cerne Giant in Dorset. And the only one I have!

I might be being a bit harsh on myself here. Lets put these two images to the vote on 500PX and Instagram and see what the outside world thinks! 

I will report back. 

As I said yesterday, head over to the National Trust website for a much better picture and all you need to know about the Cerne Giant.

And if you like this image you will be able to view it on my black and white landscape photography in Dorset web page! 

Tomorrow – lets get back on track with a stunning landscape image taken in West Dorset of a location currently featured in a very popular TV programme.

Rick McEvoy Photography

Dorset Photographer

Friday 24th March 2017

This picture of the The Cerne Giant is not the one you will see on the National Trust website!

The Cerne Giant is a unique feature on the landscape of West Dorset.

I have posted this image here as it is the only picture I have of the Cerne Giant, and I wanted to show what the giant actually looks like from ground level, nestled amongst all this lovely Dorset greenery.

On the National Trust website the Giant is described as

Ancient Naked figure sculpted into the chalk hillside above Cerne Abbas.

Head over to the links above to read all about why. There is no point in me telling you this when the National Trust have already done such an excellent job.

 And you can check out the Wikipedia page too.

This image is not staying on my Dorset Photographer page. It is not a great image. I have gone off on a bit of a tangent here, and forgotten that this page of my website is meant to be about interesting, appealing pictures of Dorset.

And this image is not my best work.

So now I need to find something to replace this image with. It’s not the Cerne Giant that’s the problem, its my picture of the Giant.

Bear with me, there will be a better image appearing soon on my blog and also on the Dorset Photographer page of my website shortly.

And if you want to see a much better picture of the Cerne Giant then head back to the National Trust who have a stunning shot on their website.

I will do a black and white version though quickly….

Rick McEvoy Photography

Dorset Photographer

Thursday 23rd March 2017

The black and white version of the picture of The Vyne – the National Trust site in Hampshire with the wonderful woods

I tried a few edits of the colour version of this picture of the woods at The Vyne, including an HDR image, but the original edit in Lightroom happily was the best. I did a bit of cleaning up of the image in Photoshop, but that was all really.

The original edit producing the feel of the image that the National Trust liked was still all there.

All I had to do next was produce a black and white version of the picture using Nik Silver Efex Pro. I wanted to recreate the mood of the colour version of the picture, which has been featured by the National Trust in their Twitter feed which is nice, Very nice indeed!

This is what I did to produce the black and white image using Nik Silver Efex Pro, the free software from Google.

Preset

• Fine Dynamic Smooth worked nicely for this picture

Filter

• The green filter gave a subtle change to the lighting on the ground

Vignette

• Lens Falloff 3. Then I changed my mind and went with Lens Falloff 2. I didn’t like the shadows on the left hand side.

Brightness

After a bit of playing around this is what I went with.

• Overall brightness -18%
• Highlights -47%
• Midtones -19%
• Shadows -18%
• Dynamic brightness +40%

This is purely a visual process, I move the sliders left and right till I end up with something I like. Not very scientific I know!

And yes I know I should be working on other things but there is a gap in my 500PX feed – I need to maintain my colour/ black and white alternating sequence so need to do this, erm, today.

I am going to be a bit more systematic about my posting of images to 500PX and Instagram. The problem is I produce something and want to post it straight away. This is why there are so many posts in my draft folder on my photography blog which I need to deal with as well.

Oh well if that is my biggest problem in life… Which it isn't by the way.

And that is another black and white landscape photography image to add to my new web page which will be imaginatively called “Black and white landscape photography in Hampshire”. I have not added the page to my website yet but there is a collection evolving nicely in Lightroom.

Rick McEvoy Photography

Tuesday 14th March 2017

A new picture of the woods at The Vyne

A different edit of one of the paths at The Vyne, the National Trust site in Hampshire. 

Rick McEvoy Photography

Hampshire Photographer  

Friday 10th March 2017