Mark White Landscape Photography

Macro Absract

2011-06-18T14:47:00.001+01:00

Macro Absract, a photo by Mark White Photography on Flickr.

just something different

Dining Out

2011-06-15T11:15:00.001+01:00

Dining Out, a photo by Mark White Photography on Flickr.

ive just recently bought a 50mm macro lens, and am finding it great while out taking landscapes. This is a steep learning curve for me, but I'm certainly enjoying it.

What are your favourite macro photos?

Poppy Field Panoramic

2011-06-14T09:55:00.001+01:00

Poppy Field Panoramic, a photo by Mark White Photography on Flickr.

My latest panoramic - couldn't resist doing one of the poppy fields.

Stop by and let me know what you think.

Blanket of Poppies #1

2011-06-13T11:24:00.001+01:00

Blanket of Poppies #1, a photo by Mark White Photography on Flickr.

I haven't blogged for a while, so appologies; been busy with other projects.

Found this field of poppies on the way home from work one evening, and couldn't resist stopping. I've been back here three times since for more photos.

Sheds n Huts

2010-12-26T20:39:00.001Z

Sheds n Huts
Originally uploaded by Mark White Photography

Merry Christmas everyone!

I spotted this scene whilst walking the faithfull hound, the sky was semi OK, as it was still early morning. I did a three autobracketed shot at -2 0 +2 and then combined the three images using Photomatix.

There was a little more work done via Photoshop to add a little more depth.

Full Moon Rising

2010-12-22T21:41:00.001Z

Full Moon Rising
Originally uploaded by Mark White Photography

I was out looking for sunsets in Girsby, North Yorkshire, but didn't get what I wanted - however on seeing the moon rising, I quickly changed my stragegy.

This image was taken using an 18-105mm kit lens on the Nikon D90, and I openly admit, Ihave enlarged the moon slightely - sometimes its good to cheat!

Post production also included HDR from the three exposures created in camera, then the original moon brought back in and then resized.

Me n Mum

2010-12-17T10:44:00.002Z

Me n Mum
Originally uploaded by Mark White Photography

Last month I attended a photography workshop at Donna Nook with renowned wildlife photographer, Chris Weston.
We were lucky enough to get close enough to the seals, but not too close. It was a fantastic couple of days, and as I don't normally do wildlife, it was great to expand my photography boundries, and try something new.

Fountains Waterfall

2010-12-17T09:50:00.001Z

Fountains Waterfall
Originally uploaded by Mark White Photography

Its been nearly 3 months to the day since I last posted - so much other things going on at the moment. Anyways, this is a photo from Fountains Abbey, near Ripon, North Yorkshire - a wonderful place in its own right, but even better in the snow!

Take a look at my Flickr Set to view more of the day.

Greatful Solitude

2010-09-21T12:31:00.001+01:00

Greatful Solitude
Originally uploaded by Mark White Photography

I haven't posted for some time due to work hours changing - anyhoos, I have managed to get out and about again, and have taken up walking like you wouldn't believe! (Those who know me won't believe it...)

This area is Conistone Dib in the Yorkshire Dales - and I just know I am going to be spending a lot more time up there.

Your iPhone and Photography #2

2010-06-05T09:40:00.002+01:00

Yesterday I talked about Sunlight Tracker to help you get better photographs when the sun is in the correct position. Today I want to introduce you to a FREE app called Field Tools - a great Depth of Field calculator.

This is a must if you are wanting to take your photographs in full manual mode, including focusing.

This works by you first dialing in your focal length, then your f/stop and the app automatically works out your focusing distance.

For example, you set your focal length to 18mm and aperture to f/16 - the app tells you that anything from 3ft onwards will be infocus. Dial in 24mm and your focus point will be from 5.9ft (6ft) onwards. This is a great free app, and one I recommend.

Mark

Mark White Landscape Photography http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Your iPhone and Photography

2010-06-04T13:43:00.001+01:00

If you are like me, your iPhone goes everywhere with you, mainly as your mobile phone an possible use of maps.

As you know there are thousands of apps out there to download, and if we are to be honest with ourselves, some a great and some are not. Here is one of my favourite apps that (personally) anybody enjoying landscape photography should download.

The Sunlight Tracker - fully automated, animated and pretty much accurate. I've been caught out a few times now where I've popped out with the camera with a scene in mind and found on getting to my location the sun was in completely the wrong place. Now, I can search for the location before leaving home and know when the best time to go to that location will be.

You can store multiple locations ready for future revisits. This app will not break the bank at $1.99 or £1.59 and is very handy to have with you.

Hope you find this little gem of some use.

Mark White Landscape Photography http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Can't See the Wood for the Trees

2010-05-17T11:55:00.001+01:00

Can't See the Wood for the Trees
Originally uploaded by Mark White Photography

Along with my landscapes I also HDR Photography (High Dynamic Range). Using this technique brings out more details in your images and can produce some very nice results.

At present I alternate between Dynamic Photo and Photomatix for my HDR processing.

Photographs are either taken in camera using Auto Bracketing so I get three images at 0 +2 -2, or one image then the exposures created in Lightroom before processing HDR.

This image is a single file with 5 exposures created using Lightroom at 0 -2 -4 +2 +4 then a free downloadable preset.

Richmond Waterfalls

2010-05-15T07:18:00.002+01:00

falls-8

Back in February, myself and a friend tackled Dog Agility Photography, with very little success, mainly due to the event being held indoors, and you were not allowed to use flash.

After 500+ photographs, we decided to get back into our comfort zone of landscapes. As luck would have it, the sun was just about to set, so out came the ND filters, and I ended up with this photo here.

Oilseed Rape Fields

2010-05-14T13:41:00.000+01:00

Its that time of year again where when you look into the fields of the countryside you see a carpet of yellow Oilseed. Personally I think its very photogenic, especially when you have a nice blue sky with clouds to blend in with.

Using the Rule of Thirds to help with composition you can come up with some great images.

This is one image I took yesterday, more can be found here, plus more to be added so make sure you keep checking back.

Mark

Mark White Landscape Photography http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire

2010-05-11T13:36:00.005+01:00

Haven't posted for a little while due to setting up new laptop etc and out photographying. Have covered more ground in North Yorkshire these past couple of weeks, and am still going through my photographs.

Had a drive to Helmsley Castle, North Yorkshire on Sunday - a wonderful place, well worth a visit. Apart from the castle itself, there are other towns and villages nearby to visit too.

Helmsely Castle is maintained by English Heritage, with other properties close by, such as Bylands Abbey and Rievaulx Abbey.

Mark White Landscape Photography

Digital Creativity UK

Holy Island, Northumberland

2010-04-29T17:15:00.005+01:00

Been a little quiet on the Blog Front this past week, been out lots with the camera - one location inlcuded Holy Island, in Northumbria - beautiful place.

This trip I made a classic mistake - forgot to check tidal times until last minute, so only ended up with about an hour on the island - lesson to be learned there!

If you fancy a trip to Holy Island, then I think you will find this link more than useful. I intend on visiting this area again soon - but this time with just a little bit more foreward planning.

Mark

Mark White Landscape Photography

http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Hyperfocal Distance Focusing....

2010-04-20T01:33:00.000+01:00

Out with the camera today experimenting & generally having fun with some low light and having the camera on complete manual - used ND & Grad filters, but for a change, any post processing work was tweaking Levels and Curves - going to have to do this technique more often!

This techninque also works great on running water, such as incoming tides, streams etc. Why not give it a go yourself?

Mark
Mark White Landscape Photography
http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Whitby Abbey

2010-04-17T21:48:00.001+01:00

Had a fun day out again today - more abbey's and ruins - but today I thought I would post a "reflection" shot through the bonnet of my car - bit different, but is shows you just need to look around you to get some different kinds of landscapes

Mark

Mark White Landscape Photography

http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Roseberry Topping, North Yorkshire

2010-04-15T21:54:00.004+01:00

Did three different locations today, the first being Bylands Abbey, the next a neighbouring village called Coxwold, and then in a spur of the moment thing, I climbed Roseberry Topping.

Roseberry Topping is not far from Great Ayton, North Yorkshire, where Captain Cook spent his childhood growing up.

Found it surprising how far you can see once you are at the apex of Roseberry Topping - you can see Great Ayton, Stokesley, Teesside, and not to mention Redcar and the sea with incoming tankers.

It is a bit of a hike, but the views are really worth it - just make sure you take something to drink.

Mark
Mark White Landscape Photography
http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

No Where To Go !!

2010-04-13T20:32:00.007+01:00

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mark_white_photography/sets/72157623724271007/Click here to view more photos from todayTo me, landscape photography is not just about taking photographs of beautiful scenery, there is also the element of Urban Landscapes - be it buildings, street life or things hidden within a landscape.

Sometimes, its good to look down, rather than up or straight ahead. It's surprising what you can find.

Took this image today using my 50mm lens (nifty fifty), and did a little tweaking in photoshop to bring the textures out.

Always good to try different things and experiment. You will be surprised at what you will find and what images you can come up with!

Mark
Mark White Landscape Photography
http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Filters or Plug-ins ?

2010-04-12T20:28:00.004+01:00

Ok, you've gone out and captured the photograph you want, but it still doesn't look good enough - so what do you do?

Well, with me, I try and use filters onboard my camera where I can, but sometimes its still doesn't work out so I have to adjust/manipulate the image using Photoshop. Below is a before and after of a temple at Rievaulx Terraces, North Yorkshire.

Unfortunately for me, the sun was in completely the wrong place, but I still took the photo and hoped I could rectify the problem when I got home.

As you can see from the first image, the stonework is still bleached out, but the second more has more distinct features. My solution was to use a plug-in filter for Photoshop called Creative Efex - and the filter called Tonal Contrast.

Apart from the masonary work, I also did a little "cloning" work using Photoshop. A tutorial on this will follow in the next day or two if you would like to have a go yourself.

Mark
Mark White Landscape Photography
http://www.digital-creativity.co.uk/

Rievaulx Abbey and Rievaulx Terraces & Temples

2010-04-11T19:34:00.010+01:00

Well, today didn't go as planned ! Joined the English Heritage yesterday, and was hoping to get out to Whitby Abbey and Helmsley for some great spring photographs.

Instead, my computer decided to give up the ghost and I ended up spending most of the morning trying to revive it - but to no avail. Instead I ended up buying a new machine, so today I am going to mention the day out yesterday.

Went to Rievaulx Abbey and Rievaulx Terraces & Temples. It was a fantastic day out, and since its not far from me I will be revisiting here as much as possible. Here are some more photos for you to have a look at. I will be posting some panoramics of the area soon, along with a link to panoramic tutorials.

First National Publication!

2010-04-11T08:23:00.007+01:00

Yesterday (Saturday 10 April) I had my first photograph published in the "Weekender" - pull-out supplement of The Times !!!

The image accompanied Times Walks: Levisham, North Yorkshire, and was a very large centre spread. Does this mean that I have now upgraded from an amateur photographer to a semi-pro photographer !! ??

Levisham is a great day out and has many great photographic opportunities.

More images of this area can be viewed [here], along with larger image of this one.