2008 – My Year In Pictures

Title: If You Go Down In The Woods Today…
Location: Swan Wood, Stock
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 24-105mm EF f/4 L IS USM
Notes: I took a walk in Swan Wood today, looking for Bluebell pictures. Quite a few of them have passed their best by now – I think they would have been lovely while I was away. But I eventually found this patch of flowers in a clearing towards the bottom of the wood. I wanted the contrast between the purplely blue of the blooms and acid green of the leaves. Somehow, the photo doesn’t do the scene justice, despite my best efforts at a little bit of dodge and burn with Photoshop. Anyway, it was a lovely cool place to visit in the heat of the day. Didn’t see any teddies having a picnic though!

Title: Making A Splash
Location: College Wood, Fryerning
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 17-85mm EF-S f/4-5.6 IS USM
Notes: Another happy accident for today’s picture. I had stopped for a cuppa from my flask during my 4 mile walk, and just started off again when I came across two chaps with horses and gigs, picking their way gingerly through the mud and puddles. When they saw my camera, they said they would be back again in a minute, going hell-for-leather, and did I want to take some good pictures?

Title: The Ethereal Forest
Location: London Hill, Galleywood
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 17-85mm EF-S f/4-5.6 IS USM
Notes: It was foggy first thing, so I went out for half an hour’s shooting. I liked the recession of the trees in the mist. Not long after, it had cleared up, leaving just a boring grey sky.