Inquisitive sheep on Dartmoor

Another, maybe the last, from my recent shoot on Dartmoor.

Got any hay?

Inquisitive Sheep on Dartmoor

I first noticed these sheep as I was walking around looking for potential shots and at various points of view for those shots. You can see how I got on in my last few posts. As an aside, this is a good hint for photographers looking to up their game a little—your feet can improve composition dramatically. Don't just stop, take a photo and move on. Instead, walk around a bit and see how the various compositional elements interact in the scene and then choose the one that works best for you.

Anyway, each time I walked past the fence, the sheep were a bit closer. Eventually they were close enough for me to pay attention to them and, as I did, talking to them all the while in a low encouraging voice, I got great eye contact and this lovely little interaction. A genuine look of curiosity from the front sheep, while the back one, though a little unsure, was still interested enough in what was happening to throw this backward glance.

(An observation from looking at the back sheep... when all you have are cloven hooves, you learn to put up with stuff that otherwise might drive you mad!)

Anyway, I hope you like it and got something of the interaction with the sheep; and hopefully, for a moment you might even have been transported there.

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Last of my recent pony shots

As promised here's the next, and last, of the pony shots from my recent outing to Dartmoor at the end of the melt from the recent Winter snows.

The gorgeous Dartmoor Pony

I think the light, though harsh, worked a little better on this shot than my other recent postings. Here it's angling in through the gorse bushes, giving nice highlights, especially across the face, mane and neck.

Grazing Pony - full body shot

These are such lovely creatures—I don't know the Exmoor's so well but the Dartmoor Pony is tranquil and gentle, if you respect their space. Sometimes they approach you, hoping for food, but feeding them is a no-no.

For a time there were many accidents involving ponies on the roads of Dartmoor. Because well-meaning folks were feeding them, the ponies had learned to associate cars with the possibility of free food. As soon as they'd see a car approaching, they'd amble onto the roads, and often quite unexpectedly—it's surprising how many ponies can appear from behind a gorse bush only big enough to conceal a large rabbit!

It's all common sense to the locals but visitors to our fine County didn't realise the feeding was leading to a problem. So signs and fines went up and eventually the number of injuries to ponies (and sheep) went down.

It's a lovely sight, to be walking on the moors for the joy of it and to round a patch of gorse and see these natives of the moors. Just one of the pleasures of living in this part of the world, and long may it continue :)

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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A Dartmoor Pony in profile

Makin' good progress, only a couple more to do from this photo shoot...

Hmmm... what's be happenin' here?

Profile of a Dartmoor Pony

Not quite suspicious but definitely a cautious glance. These ponies are semi-wild and run free on Dartmoor. To the surprise of many visitors, they're not timid at all, though feeding them is strictly forbidden, as it encourages them onto the roads when they see cars, increasing the chances of accidents.

In this shot, taken during the thaw from the recent snows, as well as the cute profile, I wanted to capture the shagginess of the winter coat and its textures.

Actually, I think the next one due out of the digital darkroom will really do their coats justice. You can be the judge when I post it here in the next couple of days.

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Three more shots from Dartmoor

I said in my post the other day that I'd been working in the digital darkroom. These shots have made it through and out the other side.

I'd love to get your feedback on your initial impact.

Distant Haze

Houses on Dartmoor

Looking towards Tavistock and some distant hills and tors of Dartmoor. Houses nestle amongst some trees beyond a large expanse of prickly gorse, in an otherwise deserted landscape.

Grazing ponies

Grazing Dartmoor Ponies

Shooting into the sun can be quite challenging as this shot proves. Often, the loss of detail caused by the high contrast ruins the shot but in this one I think it suits and complements the composition.What do you think?

A Dartmoor legend

...and now for a bit of fun :)

There is a legend on Dartmoor of a headless horseman—well this is the lesser known one of the headless pony!

The Headless Pony of Dartmoor

No, not a trick in Photoshop, just a bit of luck and some careful positioning of your photographer!

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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A Dartmoor pony in the wild

As promised a few posts ago [@Shadow: happy now? :-)]

Dartmoor in thaw

Here's a shot of a Dartmoor pony in the wild, taken on my recent trip up onto Dartmoor.

These ponies run free for most of the year and, even though considered "wild", they still belong to the various farmers on the moors. Every year they have a foal roundup and allot the new foals to the correct herds/farms.

Dartmoor Pony in the wild

Lighting conditions were difficult in this shot. It was during the start of the thaw from all the recent snow in the UK and the air had a very clear crisp quality. In the bright sunlight, even though the sun was quite low in the sky, it lead to very contrasty shooting conditions for black and white, too much even for my tastes—besides, it was in all the wrong places!

So, I finally did battle in the digital darkroom and eventually (after two sessions!!) tamed and bent the lighting to my will. I hope you like the finished shot :)

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Another from the digital darkroom pile

I've just about finished the backlog in my digital darkroom. This one came from my visit earlier in the year to the Dartmoor Miniature Pony Centre.

Here's lookin' at you

Miniature Pony At Rest

Patiently waiting for the last of the visitors to leave, s/he was perfectly happy to pose for me, not minding at all the movement as I tried out different positions. You can tell s/he's resting and quite relaxed—you can just see the cocked rear leg if you look closely.

I might be spending some time around Potter's Bar in the next few months and am looking forward to a new area to take my camera around :)

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Curve Of The Neck published by the BBC

Part of my ongoing publicity push...

Getting published by the BBC

I regularly submit to the BBC News, In Pictures site—Your Pictures section.

This time I submitted a selection of my shots to the "minimal" category and they published Curve Of The Neck, one of the favourites amongst the followers here.

Curve Of The Neck

I guess it's limited to UK folks, but anyway, you can see the upcoming set themes and details of how to submit on their Viewfinder Blog. The themes over the next four weeks are:

• Autumn
• Seven
• Sparkle
• Grey
  

If you enter, good luck!

comments / feedback always welcome :)

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Trying to cut the apron strings

Another from my trip to the Miniature Pony Centre on Dartmoor

Pony petting

 

My god-daughter is eight and was really enjoying herself. She'd already been for a ride and was wearing her rosette with pride. We stopped for a while in the petting field, me waiting for an opportunity to arise and when I saw this scene unfolding, I could see some good possibilities. I think she was puzzled by me lying on my back for this shot, maybe thinking "why are you doing that? I've not seen photos taken that way, are you sure?" Well, something like that is written all over her face. (I must ask, next time I see her!)

Meanwhile mum was hovering close by, trying to not to hover; concerned but not worried; experimenting with loosening the apron strings a bit more.

I had a little cropping to do (ouch no pun intended!) when I got back to the digital darkroom and a little fiddling with curves. Overall, I'm pleased with the composition and the (emotional) undertones in the shot; the interplay between mum, daughter and the pony.

What do you think?


comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Pony Triptych final layout

After a lot of trying different combinations I've finally settled on the one.

Vertical emphasis

Grazing With Light

I chose the vertical format for the triptych, as first suggested by Kitty (who, by coincidence, was also one of the three prize winners for August). The nature of each shot is vertical, both by orientation and composition. When the triptych is laid out vertically, it takes on a very commanding presence, as I'm sure you'll agree.

I've chosen a balanced sequence that goes for a top-to-bottom flow and a title which is both observational and describes the sculpting approach I used—a pun always helps :) 

I've managed to avoid the question of naming the individual images while I've been concentrating on the triptych and sorting out the August prize draw but I'll need to return to that next. But first I have to work out and post some new rules for the September draw, ones which mean I don't lose a whole day actually making the draw, like I did this time!

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Pony study 3

After another couple of hours in the digital darkroom, another shot. I don't think this one is different enough from the other two to stand alone but it might work with others as a triptych, as mentioned in my last post.

Pony Study 3

Grazing into the light (bad pun!)

Triptych thoughts

I'll show you what I'm thinking of for the triptych:

What do you think, do the three work together like this?

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Pony Study 2 - curve of the neck

A partner to the one in my last post and another working title for now.

Pony Study 2

(still to be named)

I'm really pleased with the way this one has turned out. The curve of the neck and those great textures in the mane are real nice. It was hard work but I managed to hold what I wanted of the muzzle to so as to hint at its form.

One more maybe still to do. It looks a little tricky so we'll have to see if it works or not. Anyway, I'll have to wait and see before I can work on the final names.

I was three hours in the digital darkroom with the first and two on this one. 1/2 an hour so far on the last one is what's told me it'll be tricky—so wish me luck!

It'll be great if it does work out—I can see them working well together as a triptych. Still, mustn't get ahead of myself!

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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Pony Study fresh from the digital darkroom

I had some friends come visit and stay over last weekend. Little Laura was desperate to get to the Dartmoor Miniature Pony Centre, so off we went on Saturday. A great time was had, me too, and not just with the camera.

I watched, fascinated, as this huge white stallion used his muzzle to patiently unhook the fastener on the gate to his pen, only to be stymied... The staff, aware of his tricks, had tied the gate shut! You could see him look sideways at the orange twine as he pushed on the gate, trying to figure out why it wouldn't open. Great to see the intelligence in his eyes as this was happening.

Unfortunately it was much too dark in there for a shot and there's no way I'd disrespect the creature by using flash. Besides, I was so enthralled, I preferred just to watch :)

Anyway, here's the first shot that made it from the trip, just 'developed' in my digital darkroom.

A working title

Until I can properly name it, the working title is the practical, if uninspired, Pony Study 1. I still have one, maybe two more shots of ponies to process in a similar vein, so I'll likely not be able to make up my mind till then.

 

(still to be named)

In the meantime, I'm interested to know what title you might come up with for this. So, if something comes to mind, you know what to do... :)

comments / critique / feedback always welcome :)

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