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Carrasqueira, Portugal.

Sunset Selection

A handful of shots taken at sunset over the past few weeks. I don't think I've posted the first two here before, it's hard to keep track, so apologies if I have.

All images taken with the GFX100S plus either the 32-64 or 45-100 mounted on a tripod. Processed from single raw files in Capture One Pro 23.

The Nab From Black Coppice

I was low on energy on this particular evening and very nearly didn't go out. But as sunset approached the skies were looking increasingly promising, so I dragged myself out somewhat belatedly and scrambled wearily up the steep path around the quarries of Black Coppice as quickly as I could, arriving at the top mere minutes before sunset was expected and not leaving myself much time to find compositions. Fortunately, it wasn't too hard to find something quite nice.

Sunset from Black Coppice

Taken the same night as the previous shot. Although I bracketed this (it's just one exposure from the sequence), I didn't allow quite enough exposure compensation to catch the sun properly without blowing it out a little. The sun had just fallen below the clouds at this point, but I could see the ominous spectre of coastal mist on the horizon, so I only had a brief window of light before it quickly faded as the sun sank into the mist.

Moody skies over Limbrick

This evening began with heavy rain at my initial location (Brinscall woods), that didn't look like it was going to ease up any time soon, so I decided to head back home. Unsurprisingly, as I got closer to home the rain stopped, so rather than writing off the evening entirely, I decided to drive over to Limbrick and investigate a path I'd recently spotted on the maps of the area. Despite living in the same town for the past 56 years, it's surprising just how much of the surrounding area I've not explored and it's always a treat when I happen upon some location I'd previously overlooked, Limbrick being one of them.

The path follows the route of the river Yarrow as it resumes its original route after being rudely interrupted by the Rivington reservoir chain and most of the walk along it was either under woodland canopy or surrounded by trees. However, as I emerged from the end of the path onto a country lane, the impending sunset began to fill the sky with colour. I was in a less than ideal spot to catch a sunset, so I hastily looked around for a better vantage point.

As luck would have it, the lane I was on ran alongside the steep dam wall of Anglezarke reservoir. Having found a hole in the dry stone wall separating the lane from the dam (quite unnecessarily as it turned out because there was a gate a little way back up the lane), I hastily scrambled to the top to see if it offered any better views. Fortunately it did.

Sunset over Limbrick

Taken shortly after the previous shot and just after the sun fully broke cover from the clouds.

I'd moved a little way back down the side of the dam wall at this point so that it didn't dominate so much of the foreground, although you can still see part of it in the lower right.

It's a shame about the flare beneath the sun, I'm not sure what's caused it. For the previous shot I still had the CPL on and that flared like crazy when pointed directly at the sun, so I'd removed that when I took this. I'd hazard a guess we're looking at internal reflection of the PDAF matrix given how regular the banding is, but that's just conjecture on my part. It's not too bad, but I'd rather it wasn't there at all.

I guess I could have used the old 2nd exposure with my finger blocking out the sun trick and then merged the two images later to paint out the finger, but I didn't think of that at the time.

A Secret Lake

This is from the same walk that I posted last week. The lakes on the Emilian side are easy to access and are well known. Lake Padule on the Tuscan side of the mountain ridge is hidden away down an unmarked gravel road. It is always silent and deserted. I have posted pictures of this lake before.

1 The lake lies behind the row of darker trees.

2

3
3

4

5

6 Abandoned Ice store in winter ice would have been stored here, and taken town to nearby towns in summer.

7

8 The Tuscan side of the Apennines

Looks like a great location, the mountains at the back are just asking to be explored. Were these taken with your 28-400?

White Maiden and White Pike

A few months ago I climbed the mini matterhorn known as Caw, which is in Dunnerdale, a little frequented part of The Lake District. When the clouds broke on the summit, one of the neighbouring peaks that caught my eye was White Pike.

White Pike as seen from Caw, back in January.

This looked like an achievable summit in my current condition and, when I was on holiday a couple of weeks ago, I took a ride up to Dunnerdale to see if I could make it to the top.

The forecast was pretty good, clear skies, little wind and moderate temperatures of 13-15C. The last bit turned out to be way off and I found myself completely overdressed for the occasion in temperatures the wrong side of 20C.

All images were taken hand held with the Nikon Z8 and mostly the Nikkor 24-70 f/2.8S, although the 24-200 occasionally got a look in. The 24-70 images were shot with a CPL and all were processed from single raw files (except the pano, which comprises several) in Capture One Pro 23.

The View From The Bottom

Most of the walk involved climbing the Walna Scar Road. An old mountain pass that runs between Coniston and Seathwaite in Dunnerdale. This is the view looking up at the summit from the bottom of Walna Scar Road.

Harter Fell

This was taken during one of many breaks I took on my way up the Walna Scar Road. The prominent fell in the foreground is Harter Fell, with the Scafell massif lurking in the background.

The Scafell Clan

A closer look at Scafell (left) and Scafell Pike (right) through the 24-200. I think the shadow covered fell in the middle distance is Hard Knott.

Harter Fell - Up Close and Personal

Harter fell in detail through the 24-200. This is a great little mountain to climb if you ever find yourself in Eskdale. The views from the top across the Great Moss towards the Scafell massif are excellent.

The Walna Scar Road

Looking back down the Walna Scar Road. Despite being an ancient track made of crushed rock, it's generally in better condition than most of the roads in Chorley at the moment (#ukpotholecrisis). Eventually it leads to the lowest point in the ridge connecting White Pike to the Coniston massif, where a walker has the option of turning left to head to Dow Crag, right towards White Maiden / Pike or carrying on down the other side of the ridge towards Coniston. I was quite tempted to give Dow Crag a go as it looked reasonably achievable from where I stood at the top the pass, but I'd set out for White Pike on this particular day, so that's direction I went in.

Crumbling Walls

This wall runs along the summit of White Maiden.

White Maiden

I very nearly ignored White Maiden as it was some way off the path to White Pike, which is where I'd initially set out to reach, but I figured while I'm nearby I may as well take a look and I was so glad I did. The summit of White Maiden is an excellent spot to rest for while, with lots of bright rocky outcrops and excellent views in all directions. In this shot I'm looking back along the ridge towards Coniston Old Man.

Coniston and It's Old Man

This is a stitched pano stretching from Coniston Old Man and its many surrogate fells on the left across the visible length of Coniston Water.

Caw

After spending some time at White Maiden, I made my way across the relatively flat top of the fell to White Pike. Here I was presented with a rather nice view of Caw, the summit from which I first saw the location I was now stood upon.

Off Piste

After reaching the summit, I was then pondering how to get back down. I had the options of retracing my steps back across the top to Walna Scar Road, taking a rather dubious looking (unmarked) route down the nose of White Pike (potentially ending up crag fast for my efforts) or simply walking down the grassy slope towards the slate mine on the lower flanks. I chose option 'C', after all, what could possibly go wrong? The picture doesn't really show how steep it was, but I took my time, planning and updating my route as I descended and eventually arrived at the abandoned slate mine.

The Slate Mine

I finally arrive at the slate mine. That's Harter Fell in the background, looking in a North-westerly direction.

Caw From The Slate Mine

Looking in a South-westerly direction towards Caw.

Abandoned Buildings

Having picked my way through the maze of the mine, I eventually emerged here by this abandoned and crumbling building, with the path beyond leading back to the Walna Scar Road.

Get Orf My Lamb'd

The owner glares at me with disdain, so I make my excuses and leave.

We are fully into Autumn and it's been overcast and rainy most days with few opportunities. Today was a much drier, mostly sunny day. There were some insects and wildlife about and instead of 20 shots I got 250 - I feel normal again...
All taken with the PL 100-400mm.

I thought the dragonflies had gone but this one put in a brief appearance. Very happy to get a late season in flight opportunity.

They are quite territorial and chase each other around with wings taking the damage. I have seen a lot worse than this and they still seem to be able to fly ok. That's a fluffy early seed head of a wild / bush tobacco plant. It's a deadly nightshade variety and will develop hard, bright green berries with the distinctive purple flowers and yellow stamens.

A couple of Willy Wagtails are about the only birds I can get close enough to at the moment. They are fun to watch, have beautiful calls and plenty of attitude.

A pensive looking Ravi the cattle dog.

On the way back she was going crazy at something on the ground. I knew straight away what it was - an Echidna, burrowing into the ground to escape. But with quills like that a dog has no chance.

This is a weird prehistoric looking butterfly - Melanitis Leda, the common evening brown. It always looks out of focus - maybe that's the photographer. It has some nice markings on the upper side of its wings but never seems to display them when perched.

I missed a wonderful opportunity of a soaring wedge tailed eagle. Couldn't work out why I couldn't get him in frame and by the time I realised focus was too close he had moved too far away... Only the second time I have seen one since having a camera...

Urban decay.

Nice matching tones in this shot. Looks a bit muddy for a swim though.

I like the colour and composition of the first shot most in this set.

I enjoyed reading your notes on what must have been an enjoyable walk. Lovely pictures as usual.

I was taken by the dog in this set. He looks like a real character. Tell me something about him.

She, is a just gone 2yo Australian Cattle Dog (Blue Heeler - there are red ones too). I had a dog in my late teens and early twenties. I never thought I would ever have a dog again and in fact am partial to cats. In 2022 I was helping out at a breeder who bred these. I came to really like them. They are affectionate, loyal, hardy and have lots of energy. She was only a few weeks old when I started there. The breeder sold mostly off photos and Ravi and her brother weren't the best looking in the litter so no one took them. I knew enough to see that she was the pick of the litter though - more intelligent and reserved. So after some time she grew on me and the idea of taking her on percolated away until I decided I would. There is a breeder of these dogs in Italy. He gets dogs from the breeder I was at and from what I hear is very professional. Funnily enough, they have quite a reputation in the USA and I think I read that there are more of them there than here - at least as pets. They aren't used as herding dogs so much anymore in Australia. Kelpies and Collies seem to be the choice these days.
It was because I wanted to take photos of the breeder's dogs that I got into photography. I quickly realised that my phone, although it had a reasonable camera, just didn't cut it. I bought a compact, and as you know, recently upgraded to m43. Now here I am...😁

Thanks, I had dogs as a teenager too, but my wife likes cats. They are easier to keep in a flat. We have a Maine Coon cat, we went to the breeders after we saw a picture of one of the litter, but my son was attracted to a less striking kitten, who in real life seemed more interesting. The most obviously attractive dogs or cats in a litter are not always the best choice.

Yep,

28mm

400mm.

One of my favourite walks is to climb this valley, right to the top of the glacial circus. I am out of practice so it would be hard work fo me right now.

Very graphic.

Colourful Tirana

Back home from the Balkans, and a first trawl through images of Tirana. The city is full of contrasts and colour. A prveious post-communist prime minister decreed that the city needed brightening up, and a cheap fix was with cheerful paint. Now there are ultra modern buildings going up and street art on every corner.

The remains of on old turbe (ottoman muslim tomb) sheltered by the curving corner of the ultra modern building constructed around it.

Wow, impressive set. Goes to show it doesn't need to be perfect to be different and variation is enough.