A family trip to Saltash just happened to coincide with a steam train coming through Saltash. Most people were on the platform but I decided the bridge would be a better viewpoint. Here’s the photo:
The Cornishman at Saltash Station
July 13, 2011
July 26, 2010
2011 Calendars Now Available!
I’m pleased to announce that my 2011 calendars of Gower, Brecon Beacons, Pontardawe and Saltash are now available on my buy page. Various outlets will be stocked over the next few weeks and they will be available to buy direct from at the Brecon Craft Fairs in August, September, November and December and the Saltash Wesley craft fair in October.
July 11, 2010
Steam Train Return Journey
During the stay in Cornwall, I was able to capture the steam train’s return journey too, although lighting conditions were harsh. There must have been around 100 people watching it from the Tamar Bridge car park!
Cornish Riviera Express crossing Coombe Viaduct
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much steam from the engines as they crossed the Brunel Bridge.
Cornish Riviera Express crossing the Royal Albert Bridge
July 10, 2010
Saltash Waterfront Sunrise
When in Cornwall, I had a sunrise down on Saltash Waterfront planned so got up early and arrived at 4:50am. The BBC website said sunrise was at 5:06am. At 5:20am, the sun rose and I shot several photos. This is one of my favourites:
Sunrise at Saltash Waterfront
July 7, 2010
Early Morning in Saltash
I really ought to thank one of my Facebook friends, Adrian Oakes, who wrote as his status “Forecast is looking good for sunrise. Another 3am start looming….”. When it comes to early mornings, I tend to procrastinate about actually getting up and going out; I sometimes look for excuses why I shouldn’t go. Which is all very silly as when I’m out for sunrise, I’m one of the happiest people alive. Walking around in the pre-dawn light, seeing the sun slowly rise (usually several minutes late from the BBC sunrise time) and then feeling the warmth of the new day slowly seep into my cold body is an experience I will never tire of. What makes the procrastinating even more silly is I was trying to decide whether to go to a location just 10 minutes walk from where I was staying, my childhood home from birth to 25 and where my parents still live. Anyway, I saw Adrian’s status which kicked my bottom into gear and I decided to get go for it.
So I set my alarm from 5am, got up at 4:50am (I always wake before my alarm on sunrise shoots), dressed and walked out the door. I met my first dog walker at 5am, tried a shot of Devonport from Saltash Comprehensive School (or whatever it’s called now) and then proceeded down into Churchtown Farm Community Nature Reserve, but slightly wary of dogs – it’s a haven for dog walkers, but I’m not happy with dogs and they tend to get defensive when I’m using the tripod (was out once, sensed someone behind me and it was a dog crouched down and it growled horribly when I looked at it). I was pleased to see mist lying around and was glad I’d made the effort to get up. After taking a few shots of Trematon Castle and Forder, I headed into Point Field as the sun was rising. Realising I was in the wrong place, I ran to the right place in the field and set up the tripod whilst getting my breath back (I’m fit, but not a runner). I only knew this was the right place due to a walk here earlier in the week, which highlights the benefits of a recce.
River Lynher sunrise
I then walked around Point Field to the view towards the Ince Estate, which was hidden in the mist.
Shillingham Point from Point Field
Slightly further along, I shot a photo or two of Trematon Castle through the trees and then walked into the next field. By now, the sun had risen a little higher and had lit the underside of Forder Viaduct so I headed back to Point Field. As I got the camera set up, I heard the first Penzance train of the day. I quickly framed, focused and got ready. To be honest, I’m not sure of the photo would look better without the train (I do have one without the train, but haven’t processed it yet).
Trematon Castle and Forder Viaduct
With the photo shoot over, I walked home for breakfast. A good mornings work and it wasn’t even 7am yet!
July 5, 2010
Cornish Riviera Express
I’m just back from 2 weeks in my childhood town of Saltash, Cornwall. One of the reasons for going is the elusive steam train. For years I’ve been trying to get a photo of a steam train on the Brunel Bridge. It’s always either been cancelled and the weekend after I’ve been down, but this time I was lucky. Not only was it on time, but it was lovely sunny weather too! I set up two cameras, one on the tripod with a fixed view and another hand held so I could get a variety of shots. When the train was on view, I put the tripod camera on continuous shooting so I could leave it whilst I concentrated on the other camera. The train was running to celebrate the 175th anniversary of the Great Western Railway. The engines running were 5029 Nunney Castle and 6024 King Edward 1st. I have some photos of the return journey too, but that’s for another day.
Coming out of Saltash Station
Crossing the Coombe Viaduct
January 12, 2010
Brunel Bridge in Saltash, Cornwall
Rather than go out in the snow, I’m going through my 2009 photos and putting them where they belong in libraries, etc. I’ve just processed this one that I took after the celebration fireworks – the smoke is what’s left over from the immense display.
Brunel Bridge at Night (Canon EOS 5D Mark II)
