Stanley Jordan Interview and Concert... When To Pull Back.

I will carry on with Cornwall pictures in a day or so, for now I wanted to share story from yesterday.

Stanley Jordan Solo

We (my friend Richard and me) asked for an interview with Stanley Jordan some time ago, and we got final confirmation on the day of the concert! I love those short notice calls.

I had basically few hours to have all the gear ready and charged, and off to Porgy & Bess stage in Vienna. This is THE stage for Jazz music here.

Now for those who do not know who Stanley Jordan is, well, he is a legend guitarist famous for his unique two handed tapping techniques. His solo performance blew me away, never heard something like this live. 

But idea for this post came at different moment. This is about pulling back and not pushing too far. I will get to that in a moment.

Back to interview, it was scheduled for 5:30 p.m., but as usual such sessions are never on time. We were ready though, had extra few minutes to setup cameras, plug in microphones and test the lot. Here great thank you to Porgy & Bess Crew, who helped us with power and light. We shot interview on actual stage where Stanley performed few hours later. There was very little time, it was still before sound check, and we were not really sure how much footage we will get in the end. Stanley was great, we got way over 30 minutes, and he completely did not show he was really in a hurry. We really appreciate he gave us so much of his precious time before the show.

Stanley Jordan mounting his microphone

Cornwall - Part 1 - Trevose Head, Godrevy

Cornwall is so much different place. It is hard to describe it really. I have spent in England so much time over the years and more or less know what to expect in different areas of UK, but visiting Cornwall was something completely different and new experience.

Trevose Head, Cornwall.
3 frames stitched together, 16mm, 15sec, f/11, ISO 100

I had few locations to visit around the most remote parts of west Cornwall, had few of my own plus Jeremy gave me few of his hints. Driving west from Dorset via Exeter the most logical first stop was Trevose Head with huge lighthouse. Few kilometers before reaching Trevose Head you pass Polventon Bay, and this was the first moment I saw huge Atlantic waves crashing on the beach. And to my surprise I met quite some surfers taking on those waves. Before I never even thought that people surf in England, especially in January.

Trevose Head, Cornwall
24mm,  30sec, f/8, ISO 200

The sound, smell, scenery of Atlantic are simple overwhelming, especially for someone landlocked. I stood still for some time and simply digested the atmosphere. Best option would be to leave all your gear behind and relax waiting for sunset, cloudy sunset. Noise of crashing waves was absolutely fantastic. I did not care about the wind, I loved the moment.

Grey Dorset, Ten Minutes of Sun in Cornwall

Just having a pint of Triubute Cornish Ale in Hayle, Cornwall. 

Had fantastic time, in unfortunately grey and totally cloudy Dorset. Last 3-4 days were totally grey but at least it was not raining, and this was nice surprise. I had a workshop with Jeremy Walker, widely recognised landscape photographer based in Dorset. So despite the weather, those were really good and educational days. 

It is a good practice to come up with decent landscape photos despite all the odds. And here Jeremy helped me a lot. 

So where do you go with huge possibility of rain with heavy overcast? - Kimmeridge Bay with its fantastic stone ledges, but also you must know when tide is low and you can simply walk literally into the sea. 

This picture is magical. I have three or four different versions of the same scene with different white balance setup thus different colours, and different orientation. But this one speaks to me in strongest way. On top of that it simply screams that dull and grey afternoon can be so dramatic in form and colours... well not to many colours but still there is something here. 

The picture is right out of the camera, except panoramic crop from 3:2 to 2:1 ratio. Nothing else have been changed. The key to get that effect are filters, and it this case I used 2 stops ND grad and 10 stops grey filter - The Big Stopper from Lee, which has quite dramatic blue cast. This blue cast works perfectly once you get to know it, set the camera to manual white balance, and forget auto one and off you go. 

Wet, Wet, Windy and Grey Kent During New Year

Happy New Year!

Prior to my trip to Dorset and Cornwall I spent New Year with my brother in Kent. This is the first time I have really more time to concentrate on photography here in UK. Whole trip is about shooting this time and that's why I also decided to travel by car. This way I have no weight restrictions, and I can go anywhere and anytime I want or have to. Actually when I am writing this I am already in bed & breakfast just outside of Wareham, which basically is a starting point, gateway to Jurassic Coast. Got O2 sim card and surf free or roaming costs.

100mm, 30sec, f/16, ISO 50 + 10 stops ND filter

Trip started with rain, and forecast is not promising, but photographer should be able to take great photos in any conditions, so I am prepared for rain and wind. When I boarded Euro Tunnel in Calais it felt like sky got pissed off for some reason and unleashed its full forces with pouring rain and blasting winds. One hour later already in Folkstone, seems like same rain decided to wash my car again. Anyhow I am optimistic.

Sunday afternoon, drove to Whitstable to to get few shots I had in mind for quite some time already. Been to the beach almost exactly year ago, but back then had no tripod with me. I was after long exposures to completely blur the sea leaving pin point sharp wave breakers and old beacons. I think in the past they were fire lit. I did different scenarios with 5 seconds, 30 seconds, and few minutes exposures. Also used two different lenses 100mm and 24mm that day. Clouds were breaking apart from time to time and setting sun was behind me thus I hoped little bit for some spectacular red clouds above the sea.

But it was not my day in the end. However I happy with few pictures. On the way back to Vienna, I might stop there again.

24mm, 5sec, f/11, ISO 50 (while shooting this frame I hoped for red sky, sun was setting behind me)