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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.

NIKON D40 961/2 second F/5.6 ISO 200 105 mm (35mm equiv.)

Like what you see here and are interested in photographic composition?.....the blog section of my website now has a complete set of 5 articles covering my personal approach to the subject: Ian Bramham Photography - Blog

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 website Ian Bramham - Fine Art Photography where prices are listed in the gallery sections under each individual photo.

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!)

Sof from Neuchâtel, Switzerland

Superbe cette photo

21 Nov 2008 9:31am

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

djedfre from schaumburg, United States

beautiful b&w - absolutely amazing sky!

21 Nov 2008 11:47am

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

Vink from Grasse - French riviera, France

Incredible b&w shot !

21 Nov 2008 7:44pm

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

Jac from Alfena, Portugal

Great shot...

21 Nov 2008 11:14pm

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.

Håkan Jelk from Stockholm, Sweden

I just love it!

24 Nov 2008 11:22pm

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.)