Cranborne Chase - Photo Biker 3

One of my favourite motorcycle rides is to follow some pretty little back roads through picturesque villages and out across the Cranborne Chase to Shaftesbury. And when there's a cloudy sky with gaps between them - it's even better. I call them "Blue Holes". Little patches of open sky which allow the sunshine to pour through like a spotlight on the scenery.

Spotlight on the landscape

This beautiful pool of light didn't hang around on the house for long. One moment it was there and the next it disappeared like a fart in the wind! Capturing great photos is all about finding the best light for the subject and this involves experience, observation, patience  - and quick reactions or you will miss the decisive moment when it all comes together.

How do you recognise the moment? Well it's actually really simple. When it looks great the moment is upon you. The real question is how do you anticipate it? Well, you just have to pay attention to what's going on around you. Whilst opportunism has a valid part to play you need to be a mindful photographer too. 

Watch, wait and be ready

So what does being mindful and aware look like? Think about more than the subject. Think about what's going on around it. As yourself powerful questions...

• Where is the nearest light pool?
• Which direction is it going?
• Will it land on the subject - or slide past it?

In the video it took just 4 minutes to shoot these scenes - don't believe it...

It actually took around 45 minutes of searching the sky for 'Blue Holes'. Anticipating where they'd go. Cussing when it wasn't where I wanted, waiting and being ready for when they did. And what a difference it makes. Swap back and forth between the two 'Tree' images above and you'll see what a difference it makes.   

This is why it's vital to enjoy and effortless and easy relationship with your camera and master the five controls you need to capture, well - pretty much anything.

And then to think like a photographer rather than a snapper. Mindfulness is the start of this photography thought process.  There's nothing wrong with being a snapper by the way, but your keeper rate might not be quite as high as you'd like it to be...

I hope you enjoyed the video. If you did please click the Youtube link and give it a big thumbs up and maybe leave me your thoughts in the comments... 

Until next time...