PHOTOGRAPHY EXPOSED

by John Peters A.R.P.S.

EPHEMERIS or PHOTOGRAPHERS EPHEMERIS

Before my stroke in 2014, the PHOTOGRAPHERS EPHEMERIS was free, you now have to pay for this product. What is it?

In simple terms, it shows the angle of the sun or moon in relation to any location in the world, and other useful items of information. The date and time are displayed too. Extremely useful info for a landscape photographer.

There are free to use products that are similar. Just Google. Remember though, you tend to get what you pay for or don't pay for.

TOP TIP I often used Google Earth and the Photographers Ephemiris to scout for new locations to photograph. I hunted mainly for lochs or ponds, even waterfalls in remote locations. Sad you may say, but true. If I could guarantee that just one of these locations would materialise and culminate in the act of walking up to collect a prize, priceless. Theres no feeling like it.

Like stepping back in time and taken long before this location became popular. A longish exposure to capture movement in the water. Composition to the fore. Extreme Bracketing followed by 'blending' to ensure no burned out highlights. Extra work, but worth it. ETOILE said I had a winner and I did. You could too, check out 'E' for ETOILE



When I was competing in photography, I was asked for this location many times. I either lied or didn't tell them. I went there twice. I took my son Jamie (a good tog too) and my waders on the second trip. I always have wellies in the car but dryfly fishing used to be one of my pastimes, so I packed the waders too. With a few shots in mind, I was all set. I stood in the middle of the stream, on a ledge inches from where there was a drop to 4 or 5' (5 feet not inches) of beery coloured water. See 'F' Page for Finnich Glen. Films like the Eagle, the series 'Highlander', and a Scottish thriller with the young Scottish actor from Line Of Duty, all had sequences filmed there. Little wonder this place is swamped now and parking is a problem. When I went, I was 'bird alone' which was extremely scary, no phone signal (you are 80' down a gulley) and no bird sounds. By the way, the borders in the last pic could be created in FASTSTONE later on. The second last photo highlights why it's also known as 'The Devils Pulpit'.

TOP TIP I used waders to get some other shots from spots most others won't have gone. Check out 'F' for Finnich Glen. Always have wellies or waders in your car, especially if going near water.