Today I should be spending my day editing photos from a wedding. But it’s a nice day,
at the moment, it’s sunny outside so I can't help but want to get out in to the open and
grab some shots. So I’m going on a little mission. Go up to the Yorkshire Dales, probably,
and try and film a review I’m planning to do for the Manfrotto BeFree tripod. I’ll
just show you that. This little baby comes in a tiny, little package and it really is
nice and light. So I want to get out there, test that and review this. The legs open up
like that and it fits into a really small space. So I’m going to get up into somewhere
windy, hopefully, and beautiful to see if this tripod is going to do the business. There’s
also a few other shots I’d like to grab and just really create as much content as
I possibly can today and film a bit of footage for a vlog. So I’m going to get packed up
and to hit the road and get up to the Yorkshire Dales.
The life of a photographer in the UK is often a tricky one because at some point you're
always going get let down by the great British weather. Look at that. What time are we at
now, 8:58? If you look on this lovely little BBC weather app, between 8 o'clock and 9 o'clock,
we should have cloud, possibly little bit of sunshine, and then not till later in the
day, possibly get a little bit of rain. As you can see out of this window but it's pretty
grey and it’s just started raining. Whilst I’m not going to let that defeat me, it’s
not ideal. So, thankfully, the weather…look how blue
the sky is now ….the weather is absolutely lovely. I’m just walking up to go on Elsescar.
The sheep are all out because, after all, I’m in Yorkshire and it's springtime so
the lambs are out. I’m going to try and find one just to show you because they are
pretty cute. He’s so cute. Look at him! I’ll get a bit closer. A classic Yorkshire
scene with a dry stone wall in the background as well.
Actually the sun isn’t helping me out at the moment because, as you can see, there’s
a deep shadow at this side of the valley and then across Gordale Scar, you then have …look
at that bright sunshine there…it’s overexposing the camera. That’s going to make the shot
quite difficult to expose properly and it won’t look particularly good in the final
image. It is quite a nice walk up though. It’s very impressive scenery and I'm enjoying
myself a lot. This is the place to be, this is what I’m talking about when I say you
need to come out to somewhere amazing to get the good pictures. If you point the camera
in any direction any direction, you’re going to end up with a half decent shot no matter
how good you are at photography. What camera you’re using is….. a lot of it for landscape
photography is about getting out to these amazing places. I’m just about to round
this corner into the scar and it should be pretty exciting to see what we’re going
to see. Wow! Look at that! That is amazing. See the waterfall up there and look at the
shear size of these rocks. This is particularly special. I hope that comes across on the video
because this is an exceptional place. I’m going to walk up to that waterfall and see
if there’s a shot up there we can get. This is a pretty amazing place. I could stay
here for a lot longer but I’ve got shots to capture, I’ve got video to shoot, I want
to get a time lapse in as well so I’m going to head off and hope that the images and the
footage I’ve captured here will do it justice. So I’ve just to stopped to get a little
shot on my way down. I saw a little scene that I hadn’t noticed before featuring this
waterfall. That’s what it’s about. Keeping your eyes open, looking in different directions
and then really seeing that shot that’s going to make the difference. There’s a
woman climbing up there. I genuinely wouldn’t fancy climbing up there. You can see she’s
pretty much got to the top now. Well, fair play to her. It’s not my cup of tea. I’m
6’ 2” and weigh 18 stones. Climbing is not a thing I’m good at.
I’m heading back down. I’m going to film a video about the Manfrotto BeeFree tripod
It’s been pretty good so far so I think it’s going to be a pretty good review. I’m
just going to jump down this little beck here and find good shots. There’s a lot going
on down here so it could be pretty good. I’ve definitely got some shots. Pretty tricky
conditions. It’s not the best time of the day. You’re best shooting landscapes at
that golden hour and because the bright conditions have got a hell of lot contrast in the cliffs.It’s
creating a bit of a problem getting the right picture. It’s worked well though, I think,
for the infrared shots. I’m looking forward to getting back and processing that and see
what that comes up with. So I’m going to head back to the car now, have another refresh
with another cup coffee and then head up to get on top of the cliffs, just up there. There’s
a limestone shelf that features….nearly tripped over there…. a limestone shelf that
features in the Harry Potter films that I've been to before. I’m going to head back up
there and see if I can get a couple more shots. I’ve made it to my next location and I want
to go and get to this three that’s just about here. It’s out on the limestone pavement.
It looks good all by itself. It’s quite a classic shot that a lot of people have taken
but I like to go to places like that and see if I can do better.
So I’m still just walking to the tree. It’s a bit of a round about journey. As you can
see, the clouds behind me are moving a little bit. That’s what I want for this shot. I’m
going to make it a fine art style image. So having some drama, a bit of darkness in the
sky, will work well for this shot, I think. If you're wondering why I’m out of breath
it’s because I’m in Yorkshire, it’s always hilly and I’m not particularly fit.
My fitness is something I’m trying to work on. I’ve started cycling again recently
as well. Hopefully, soon, well a few months hopefully, I will be fit as a fiddle and you’ll
see me out and about a lot, lot more and, probably, my arm strength will increase as
I carry this camera around all the time and talk to you guys more, hopefully, on these
vlogs. Being out and about is amazing though. When we get to the top here, I’ll be able
to show you some of the amazing scenery. It’s just utterly beautiful here. It really is.
If you’ve never visited Yorkshire, wherever you’re from, right over in New York, Los
Angeles, wherever you’re watching far away, you’ve got to come to Yorkshire.
Sometimes when a Spitfire flies over, you’re just not ready to film it. I hope you heard
a little bit of that on the video. I was a bit slow through a bit of inexperience as
a vlogger but that was a Spitfire flying overhead. Well, I’m at the tree and it’s particularly
windy and unpleasant. I’m getting hail on my face but it’s well worth coming here.
it’s a great spot. I’m going to set my tripod anyway. It’s going to be a real test
for…the wind’s taking my breathe away… it’s going to be a real test for the Manfrotto
BeeFree tripod. It’s a light tripod, great for getting out and about with but with the
test is how steady is it going to be when I do a 4 minute long exposure photograph.
A real test. I’m going to get set up and try and brave this weather a little bit. I’ll
get set up and shoot that shot. Then get out of here because of the hail in my face…lucky
I’ve got a beard isn’t it? I’m set up now and I’m getting absolutely
blasted with the wind and with the hail. Thankfully, my down coat is keeping me nice and warm but
there can be no doubt as to my commitment to making these videos and to entertain you
as much as possible. I’m nearly finished here. I just need to
collect the camera and finish the exposure and then I’ll pack up and make my way home.
I think I might stop off if I see something I like the look of and grab a shot of that.
The weather has kind of scuppered my plans a little bit. I’m still feeling good about
it. I know I’ve got some good shots. I’ve filmed some good footage for the vlog. So,
all in all, not a terrible day but not gone 100% according to plan. Like I said before,
that is thanks to the great British weather. It makes photography particularly difficult
which is why, sometimes, I spend my time doing macro photography..........
because you can be inside.
I would love some feedback. Let me know what you think. Have you enjoyed seeing me out
and about a bit more? Has it all been worth it for me? Or should I just stick to being
in the studio? Leave you comments down below to let me know. I deserve a comment or two
after facing this wind and hail in my face. Please subscribe to the channel as well if
you haven’t done so already. There’s videos going up on a Sunday and a Wednesday every
single week. See you on another video very soon.
I’m Adam in a very windy Yorkshire Dales…
Out!!!!