New Images of Northumberland

I added several new images of Northumberland to my web site a few a weeks ago. They included several castles as well as Berwick. Here's a sample. The rest are on the web split between Landscapes and Cities (with a bit of overlap), use this link to see all of the Northumberland images.

Bamburgh Castle and Waves

Bamburgh Castle and Sand Dunes

Beadnell Harbour at High Tide

Lindisfarne Castle and Boat Hut

Lindisfarne Castle and Posts

Berwick Beach Reflections and Lighthouse

Northumberland course day 2

Today we spent the day on Holy Island/Lindisfarne and had pretty good weather all day. No camera again for me.

We started around the huts made from upturned boats, then took pattern pictures amongst the lobster pots before moving to the jetty.

Then around the harbour for shots of the castle and old lime kilns.

From here we went to the Crown and Anchor pub for lunch. The priory and harbour followed before we finished with the classic shot of the castle with old jetty posts in the foreground with waves crashing in behind us. Had to go back for this at the end of the day as tide was too high earlier.

After a quick wash and brush-up it was down to the bar to review the results from the day; lots of good shots.

A quick nip round the corner found us at the Wetherspoons pub for dinner. This was chosen for its position next to the main bridge.

As we saw the light start to fade we made our way down to the bridges to take the lights and reflections between the 2 road bridges. In total we were out for over an hour doing night photography. Everyone had some good shots, probably the best being the early ones before it was completely dark so that we kept detail in the sky.

Tomorrow we do more castles.

Castles and Coast

Today started with snow flurries and a cold day in Berwick.

After a quick wander around Berwick we headed for Bamburgh for the castle, rocks and sand dunes. It started dull but very quickly cleared and had me running back to the car for my camera gear, foolishly left as I scouted the beach.

It was high tide and windy so the waves were crashing over Harkness Rocks. Jolly impressive! Bamburgh Castle was in the background but difficult to get the angle I wanted on the shot for fear of being washed away!

After shots of Bamburgh Castle from the sand dunes we headed for Dunstanburgh and another castle.

The tide was still high and needed care among the rocks but I wanted wet rocks in my foreground so took my chances. Blue sky here but it was heavy rain by the time we had walked around to the Craster side. An April shower!

Called in at Beadnell on the way back. Clear blue sky again. Nice light on the old lime kilns behind the small harbour but low tide so just unattractive mud as foreground. One to go back for.

Late lunch at the Craster Arms here and Black Sheep Bitter on good form.

Last stop was Spittal Point in Berwick. A beach opposite the lighthouse on the breakwater. It was low tide so I could walk out pretty close for panoramics of the lighthouse and waves.

Another good day. Sorry forgot to take any snaps on mobile phone, just 8 rolls of Ilford FP4 120 film. Will take a few weeks to get to them as still a big backlog.

Tomorrow we go north into Scotland.

Sunny Lindisfarne

We arrived in Berwick upon Tweed by 10pm last night ready to take photos and sort final details for course next week.

Today started around Berwick while we waited for the tide to clear the causeway to Lindisfarne. Nice light, clear as a bell too. Photos around the old fortress and down on the beach.

Lindisfarne is about 20 minutes from Berwick and the causeway must be a bit under a mile long. First stop was the harbour with the huts made from upturned boats a bit before midday. Always good for pictures. Lots of lobster pots too for pattern pictures. Best view of all was across to Lindisfarne Castle with blue sky and white fluffy clouds above.

Then past the castle to the lime kilns (in photo) for pictures back to the castle. From here we walked round the coast north to the sand dunes then round and back to the village for a break at the Ship Inn for a pint of Blessed Bitter. It was nearly 3pm by now so just crisps for lunch, too late for anything else. A good time for a break as the light had long gone.

A quick stroll around the village and we ended up at the jolly friendly Crown and Anchor for a pint of Sacred Kingdom.

After all of these delaying tactics the sun had returned so we went back to the harbour via the Priory. The light was now on the other side of the huts, boats and lobster pots. This made for excellent foregrounds for shots of the castle.

Back to the car and a short drive to the dunes at the Snook just before the causeway. The sea was a long way out so no photos.

Stopped at a beach near Berwick on the way back for shots of the waves racing in over what looked like limestone pavement. It was 6.30pm now, the light was pretty much gone so time to return to Berwick for food at Wetherspoons.

Tally for the day: 7 rolls of Ilford FP4 film making 70 negatives in total using my Mamiya 7 camera, mostly with an orange filter to darken the clear blue sky. Unusually for me I took lots with the standard lens (80mm) rather than my more favoured wide angle (43mm). I didn't want to reduce the size of my subjects by pushing them too far back in the pictures.

Hope the weather holds tomorrow as we head south for some coastal castle shots.

Landscape Photography Course - Northumberland in April

There are still 2 places available on the Landscape Photography course that we are running in Northumberland in April. The dates are Monday 16th to Wednesday 18th April. We meet at the Cobbled Yard Hotel in Berwick on Tweed (TD15 1DJ).

Day 1 is spent in Berwick and the coast to the north (just in Scotland), including Coldingham Bay and the pretty fishing villages of Eyemouth and St Abbs.

Day 2 will be on the island of Lindisfarne with castle, lime kilns, harbour and boats, priory, sand dunes, etc.

Day 3 is around Bamburgh and Dunstanburgh castles and the coast around them, which includes sand dunes, rocky pools and round boulders on the shoreline.

There will also be time for night photography around the old town of Berwick on one or two of the evenings.

The group will be limited to just 5 people with 2 tutors, me and my wife Jan. Suitable for digital and film camera users. The cost is £375 for 3 days tuition in lots of stunning locations and we do all the driving once you arrive.

See my web site for more details: www.davebutcher.co.uk

New Edinburgh Black and White Photographs

The new Edinburgh black and white photographs that I took over 2 days in early August are now with the company that looks after my web site. All 32 images should be loaded and live for viewing in a day or two. In the meantime here is a taster with 3 of them. Hope you like them.

Dave Butcher

Pennine Way and Northumberland Castles

Just on way home from Edinburgh via Northumberland coast.

Started off in Kirk Yetholm late morning. This is the end of the Pennine Way and I hadn't been here since finishing the walk in 1974. Took some photos before having a beer at the Border Hotel, the official end.

Then round to Wooler and a little road that took us to the foot of the Cheviot. Walked about 3 miles up the valley for photos then turned back for car.

Over to Bamburgh for afternoon shots of the castle with hay bales and sand dunes for company.

Then on to Alnwick and photographs of the castle from the footpath on the other side (north) of the river.circumnavigated the castle but the only photos were from river. Time marching on, past 5pm here.

Started to cloud over as I finished at Alnwick.but carried on to Warkworth Castle to end the day. Couldn't get photos around entrance, it was a campsite with delivery vans unloading for medieval day tomorrow. Light not that good now but found a few angles to keep me amused.

Now in the car on A1 near York and it will be late when we reach home. Then have to find time to process the 28 rolls of film and scan some negatives.

Dave Butcher

Edinburgh Photo Trip

Nearing the end of our second full day in Edinburgh.Lots of sunshine and fluffy clouds.

Sunny spells and windy yesterday. Very wet when we arrived Friday so no pictures until yesterday. Started in coastal village of Cramond for views and boats then on to Victoria Street to meet friends (Bow Bar) and watched Mardi Gras jazz parade before heading off down Royal Mile to Holyrood Park and photos from the top of the crags over the city and Arthurs Seat (local hill). Then over to Calton Hill and Calton Cemetery before retiring to pub (Guild Ford, Cafe Royal and pub on Rose Street). Night shots of castle from the gardens below to finish the day.

Today we started back on Calton Hill as some of the shots work better in the morning. Then the castle from the gardens, this time in daylight. Then back to car and out to coast at Portobella and a few beach shots. Then in to Stockbridge for lunch with friends before walking along Wa(er of Leith to Dean village for some nice river shots and a weir.

Just writing this before joining friends for dinner in the local Indian.

Tomorrow if weather good we will go to Northumberland coast to see what pictures present themselves.before heading home.

So far looks like a good trip with 21 rolls exposed including some good ones. Watch this space for results.
Dave Butcher