India in December and January
Here’s a collection of images from our recent trips Mystical South India and Captivating Kerala
Martin
Manual workers from Tamil Nadu and Kerala
The population of Tamil Nadu and Kerala are of ancient Dravidian stock, both the culture and language have remained virtually unchanged for well over 2000 years. The people here are generally curious, friendly, hardworking and spiritual. All of the images in this gallery were taken during our photographic adventures in India December, January and February 2010/11 If this kind of photography is ‘your thing’ then take a look at our Christmas Mystical South India or escape the post Christmas blues with our Captivating Kerala photographic adventure
In addition to portraiture there are abundant opportunies for landscape and architectural photography too.
Geraldine
Ice Workshop, September 2011
Steven recently came on our Ice Workshop and kindly provided us with a gallery of his favourite images taken during the workshop.
“… it was great being with you guys for the trip, you really create a relaxed atmosphere making it comfortable to chat and take photos; the critiquing process was easy and enjoyable… I really enjoyed my trip and I am absolutely delighted with the photos I managed to capture.”
Steven Coburn, September 2011
English Graveyards
Many of the graveyards in England’s countryside are several hundreds of years old, some are dating back to the middle ages. This is a selection of images taken in Blean and Fordwich, near Canterbury.
It’s interesting to see how the design of the headstones has changed through the ages. The oldest ones are often sculpted much more elaborately featuring religious and floral elements, also the skull & cross-bones. After this the headstones tend to become increasingly simpler.
Apart from the variety of styles, I was most fascinated by the vibrant colours of lichen ranging from luminous green, to yellow and deep, ‘rusty’ orange. The British are to be complimented on the way they have allowed many of their graveyards to become lovely wild areas, that have developed organically resulting in some very interesting landscape with a rich diversity in flora and fauna.
The images shown here were all taken with a short telephoto lens. I deliberately used a shallow depth of field to accentuate details.
Martin
Snæfellsnes Peninsula – West Iceland
The Snæfellsnes peninsula is a unique location, that we keep returning to time and time again.
There is of course Snæfellsjökull, the iconic strato volcano, that shaped the peninsula, last erupting some 2000 years ago. It is topped by a glacier and is a popular destination all year round.
But the area is incredibly diverse with vast stretches of beautiful coastal cliffs and an abundance of bird life fascinating to watch.
We noticed, that every once in a while something caused a panic among the birds prompting them to take off in a frenzy. The reason for the disturbance were Ravens patrolling the area. The Ravens feed on other birds’ eggs, so the panicking is quite understandable. Somehow though we got the impression, that the Ravens were also quite enjoying themselves causing such a stir.
Geraldine & Martin
Around Iceland
In early June 2009, I was expertly guided around the entire perimeter of this magical and unique island by Geraldine and Martin on what was, essentially, to be the “dress rehearsal” for their photographic holidays.
The experience will live with me for many years to come and I hope the images which Geraldine and Martin have kindly allowed me to display on their site give you a taste of the landscapes you will see and kindle your interest in going – you will not regret it.
Bob Hamilton
All images © Bob Hamilton
Water Ripples and Reflections
Water and the way it reflects and bends light, while constantly moving, has always fascinated me. Its unique characteristics often only become apparent when it’s captured in a photograph. It then can take on painterly qualities reminiscent of the works of artists such as Jackson Pollock
Zooming in closer reveals a whole microcosm of colours and structures, that are truly amazing. It’s fun to experiment with varying shutter speeds – the results are always unique and completely unpredictable. This is one of the few circumstances where a tripod isn’t necessary – even had-held shots with longer exposure times can yield beautiful images.
Martin
Þingvellir – Autumn Colours
At Þingvellir the Icelandic parliament, the Alþingi, was established in 930 and held until late 18th century. It is also the site of a rift valley, where the European and American continental shelves drift apart; more at Wikipedia
Its historical and geological importance make it a very popular tourist attraction.
By the end of September though the tourists are gone and one can witness a fantastic display of vibrant autumn colours. On this crisp and totally calm day I enjoyed the view of the distant, snow-topped mountains and the sounds of the birds; I even spotted an owl.
Martin
Hagavíkurlaugar Geothermal Area
We’ve just returned from a little excursion to the Hengill central volcano known for its interesting geothermal phenomena.
The hot springs and mud pots of Hagavíkurlaugar are quite spectacular and located off the beaten track; it takes a good couple of hours to walk there. Once there, you usually find yourself alone with just the sheep, birds, bubbling mud pots and colourful hot springs in an unusual, diverse landscape shaped by volcanic activity.
We’ve come back to this place now for several years and it’s never the same. Due to changes underground, the geothermal features can change quite quickly, making it a unique experience every time.
Geraldine & Martin
Stockfish
The Icelandic coastal climate lends itself ideally to the production of dried fish also known as stockfish. The fish is hung on wooden racks called flakes and left to dry. It’s one of the oldest known preservation methods.
Although it might seem a bit morbid, it is actually quite fascinating wandering around these structures and getting a closer look at the “raw material”. The smell can be a little distracting, so the sites are best visited when temperatures drop below zero.
Martin