Ian Bramham's Photoblog
Fiddlers Ferry in Winter
Posted by Ian Bramham (Manchester, United Kingdom) on 21 November 2008 in Business & Industry and Portfolio.
An 8 minute single exposure photo of Fiddler's Ferry Power Station on the banks of the River Mersey near Liverpool.
A strong offshore wind and heavy overcast cloud has led to the long exposure streaking the sky with shades of grey.
For those who aren't in a rush here's a link to some hauntingly dark classical music to go with the photo: Philip Glass - Violin Concerto Movement 2.
For purchasing high quality archival prints of any of these photos you can send me an email by clicking here or by going to MY NEW WEBSITE where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.
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Links to the websites of other photographers whose work I love and who have all helped me enormously over a long period of time. I find the work of all 3 to be inspirational.
Steve from Camdenton, United States
Very impressive photo! Looks like the 8 minutes paid off to achieve a soft sky with clean, crisp smoke stacks. The b&w adds a quality of loneliness.
21 Nov 2008 6:23am
@Steve: Thanks Steve.
Paco Díaz from Palma de Mallorca, Spain
There is an impactant experience to look at this great image listening to the concert (I'd like to dowload it, but I can't)
Great series for an exposition in larger sizes. I like it very much.
21 Nov 2008 6:51am
@Paco Díaz: Thanks Paco...the music is haunting isn't it!
yz from Budapest, Hungary
Very nice again, I love this series. You can make poetry out of pollution :)
21 Nov 2008 7:55am
@yz: Thanks yz!
sorter from tehran, Iran
why yours are toooooooo gooooooooood . man i have a question : how these locations affect your photos ?
i really like these locations and ... you really make me happy whith these photos . take care big boss !
one another question : do you know SAM JAVANROUH ?
21 Nov 2008 8:16am
@sorter: Thanks Sorter....to answer your question, of course, we are all influenced in our photography by the locations that surround us and by the weather and light. Amongst my favourite UK photographers are Michael Kenna, who was born about 20 miles from where I live in the north of England, and Bill Brandt.
I had a look at Sam Javanrouh's photoblog....wonderful photos and there are some top-notch architectural photos in there (very different light of course!)
Rune from Norway
Excellent b/w work. I like the atmosphere you have created. Also the center postioning of the subject draws the attetntion in a good way. Too bad the music was not playing simultaneously.
Well done.
21 Nov 2008 10:11am
SKHallisey from Montreal, Canada
an 8 minute exposure? what time of day did you take this picture? it turned out fantastic, great contrast and movement among the clouds. well done
21 Nov 2008 12:31pm
@SKHallisey: It all feels like twilight at the moment here in NW England with overcast grey clouds and very few daylight hours!
Laurie from New Jersey, United States
As always this is an amazing photo. Incredible.
21 Nov 2008 2:44pm
Anita from Quito, Ecuador
superb image! As all the others pictures in your portfolio!
21 Nov 2008 3:58pm
Shuva Brata Deb from Hyderabad, India
The exposure with the wind worked very well here.
21 Nov 2008 4:20pm
Hoshisato from Ealing, United Kingdom
Very impressive, your portfolio is really outstanding.
21 Nov 2008 4:23pm
Frida from Sweden
Very impressive B&W picture. he long exposure works very well here.
21 Nov 2008 7:18pm
Batkoï from Salon de Provence, France
i dislike the subject, but i appreciate your shot, well captured with lovely effects
21 Nov 2008 8:10pm
Em!ly Ng from Studying in: Adelaide, Australia | Home:, Singapore
i like how it blends in with the sky.. hmmm... acid rain pops to mind. there is nice balance in the photo.
21 Nov 2008 11:51pm
Em!ly Ng from Studying in: Adelaide, Australia | Home:, Singapore
and can i say that music makes everybody's photos look better! (leaving it on as i browse Am3 lol)
21 Nov 2008 11:57pm
Suzanne from Huntington Bch, United States
Once more you've creaated an exceptional photo with perfect b/w image quality.
22 Nov 2008 4:34am
Ilan from Israel
Superb frame! Amazing work, very well done.
I really enjoyed it, thanks for sharing! :)
22 Nov 2008 8:42pm
Jeremie from Colombo, Sri Lanka
As usual, a beautiful and very atmospheric picture. I'm curious to know what kind of post-treatment you apply to your photographs?
24 Nov 2008 11:30am
@Jeremie: Thanks Jeremie!...to answer your question I've recently completely changed the way that I post process my photos. I'm now doing the bulk of the processing in Nikon's capture NX2 software which handles my D40 RAW files a lot better than Photoshop ACR.
This photo was converted to B&W in NX2 and I used the NX2 'U' point controls to adjust contrast and brightness in the sky etc. I then imported it to Photoshop and did some traditional dodging and burning using a graphics tablet and pen with a large brush size to bring out the contrasting light and shade in the sky.
Phototherapy from Switzerland
Exception treatment for a long pause image.
I'm woking as industrial photographer and i am always surprised how plants can be beautiful!
SwissCharles
25 Nov 2008 10:04pm
Guillermina from Buenos Aires, Argentina
I'm impressed, Ian. You like Philip Glass! This photo speaks very well of your ears too ;)
26 Nov 2008 12:38am
Nikon D40
961/2 second
F/5.6
ISO 200
105 mm (35mm equiv.)