Night photography, the Trossachs National Park, Scotland.
I planned to do some night photography or a sunrise this week, its just being organised, or I will hap-hazard, just go out and see what images I can take. I have now done a personal photography spread sheet, which helps me plan certain types of images. This includes the idea (landscape, portrait, astro, seascapes or sport etc), sun rise/set, moon state, wind, cloud cover and tide times. It worked a treat for the first time actually, using it and writing down new creative ideas. I used this yesterday to my advantage.
I planned a sunrise today but yesterday I captured a beautiful landscape sunset. I also stayed up late and did some astro photography with my prime 50mm and 10-24 mm lenses.
I use walk lakes (its worth checking this out) for my locations, its free and on the internet. It can be used for my photography, hillwalking and mountain bike adventures.
I broke down some sub headings in my head to help me with the spread sheet ;
Plan
Explore
Experiment
Find an interesting subject
On my way to the location I took a long exposure of 120s with a 10 stop filter on the lens during sun set at around 2120hrs. This is an old jetty on Loch Ard, Kinlochard, in the Trossachs. Grid reference NN454 022.
I got to my planned location by car after sunset to view Loch Arklet and have the Arrocher Alps in the background. I took my images at the side of the road, grid reference NN 398 093. A marvellous passing place looking west as the sun had set, what a beautiful site!. I used my 50mm prime lense to capture a panorama, three images were stitched together in LR.
Loch Arklet and the stunning Arrochar Alps in the background. The Trossachs National Park, Scotland. 2230hrs
The sky was clear all night, I used an app called Clear outside, its also on internet, to plan astro and landscapes images in general. This was taken around 2230 and you can see there is some light well after sun setting here in Scotland during the early summer months. I stayed here until 0135, admiring the ever changing light and noises from the wildlife next to my camera, tripod and car.
I will be back here again, as the road from Aberfoyle to Loch Arklet is a gem for any photographer enthusiast or professional. I captured this image as the light diminished at 0130hrs, before heading home with some meaningful images.
Have a nice weekend,
Allan
10mm, f3.5, 10s, ISO 800. Looking west towards the silhouetted Arrochar Alps and the stars. 0030hrs.
