orvphotography-blog

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1-Day Dorset Photo Tour

Get in touch to request a date for a tour

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Proper Prior Planning. 

I recently headed out to Durdle Door.  It's that magical time of year where you can capture the sun rising through 'the door'.  There is a short period of a few weeks either side of the Winter Solstice where this opportunity presents itself so it can be very busy down on the beach there at this time of the year. On this occasion, it was a rare Monday morning where I didn't need to be at my day job so I took full advantage.  With it being Monday the beach was deserted but I was later joined by two other photographers.

Lucky?

I picked my spot on the beach perfectly.  It was so perfect that the photographers who joined me and positioned themselves much further away were now nearly sitting on my shoulders as the sun was about to appear through the famous arch.  I can assure you my choice of position was more luck than judgement but that's where my luck ran out. Milliseconds before the moment we had all been waiting for I heard an Earth-shattering 'click'.  It was indeed the battery on my camera letting me know I was out of juice!  I darted over to my bag a few metres behind me to retrieve the spare battery before the sun was gone.  I scrambled around in my bag and then it hit me, it was back on my office desk still in the charger!

Not all was lost

I was happy with some of the other shots I had taken that morning (like the one above) so I wasn't overly disappointed.  But if I'd been more prepared, I wouldn't have missed my shot. There's no secret to making sure you always have everything you need other than coming up with a routine.  I can't tell you what that routine is because what works for me may not work for you.  I usually check my bag the night before but this time I got complacent.

Here's a couple of extras from that same morning. 

Ironically, if I had known my spare battery wasn't in my bag when I saw that I was running low on the one I had in my camera, I wouldn't have captured these.

click to enlarge

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After a 10 mile jaunt around north dorset I decided to go for something more relaxing this evening. Set up on the rocks at Branksome beach 100 metres from the car park. Say and waited for the waves to come in and form these shapes around the rocks. Bliss. #dorset #branksomebeach #beach #southcoast #coast #longexposure #coastline #rocks #oldharry #sea #cold #blue (at Branksome, Dorset)

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Beautifully misty frosty morning in the Dorset valleys this morning #Dorset #landscapephotography #autumn #mist #frost #fontmelldown #fontmell #fontmelldownnaturereserve #blackmoorvale (at Fontmell Magna)

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The view over Tyneham this evening with some beautiful side light #landscapephotography #dorset #tyneham #greenfields #sidelit #sidelighting #sidelightphotography #sidelight (at Tyneham)

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Went up to Worbarrow Bay and shot a new header photo (thanks to Mrs. V for pulling the trigger!) The water there was incredibly blue! #landscapephotography #dorset #visitdorset #lovedorset #worbarrowbay #jurassiccoast @visitdorsetofficial #dorsetwalks #walkingindorsef

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A beautifully still morning on Dunyeats Heath #dorset #poole #morepoole #lovepoole #autumn #autumncolours #autumnwalks #reflection #calm #still #trees #colours #lake (at Canford Heath)

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Shot this on my trip to Canford Heath a couple of nights ago. I liked the contrast of the silver birch and vibrant colours of the leaves #silverbirch #autumn #autumnleaves #autumncolours #contrast #trees #autumnwalks #landscapephotography #poole #dorset

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I took a little trip out to Canford Heath tonight. The autumnal colours are just about in full swing. I love this time of year! #autumn #autumnwalks #autumncolours #trees #goldenglow #nature #landscapephotography #canfordheath #heathland (at Poole, Dorset)

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Another shot from day 1 of my last tour. Have a look at my website for info on future tours: https://buff.ly/2yLdpVW #landscapephotography #workshop #phototours #dorset #stormbrian #landscapephotographyworkshop #winspit (at Winspit)

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My First Hosted Photo Tour - Day 1

Catch my latest vlog about day 1 of my first ever photo tour.  Subscribe to my YouTube channel here: https://youtu.be/cRixgdMe70M

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My latest video is online. Search ‘Owen Vachell’ on YouTube. #youtube #vlog #landscapephotography #landscapephotographytour #landscapephotographyworkshop #workshop #tour #phototour #vlogger #youtuber (at Poole, Dorset)

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A lot of fun on day 1 of my Dorset photo tour with #stormbrian providing excellent conditions #phototour #dorset #landscapephotography #storm #weather #jurassiccoast #winspit #coast #waves #crashingwaves #drama #dramaticweather

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Dorset Spring Photo Tour, 8 Apr 2018

Capture the best of Dorset

Spaces remaining: 4

Full details below

Tour Itinerary

Corfe Castle at 5:30am (plenty of time to walk up the hill and set up before sunrise at 6:31.  Sunrise in Spring provides a fantastic opportunity for that classic shot of Corfe surrounded in mist)

Kimmeridge Bay

Old Harry Rocks

Lunch in the Bankes Arms where we will go over some Lightroom tips and you will have the opportunity to provide me with feedback on the tour

Only 4 spaces available to ensure lots of individual attention if needed.

INCLUDED IN COST Tuition, lunch and transport during the tour

EXCLUDED FROM COST Photographic insurance and travel insurance

IN-CAMERA TECHNIQUE Exposure; filtration, composition, maximising image sharpness

CLASSROOM TECHNIQUE Lightroom tutorial

FITNESS LEVEL Moderate

Cancellation policy: Deposits are non-refundable.  Bookings cancelled more than 2 weeks before the tour date will be entitled to a refund less deposit.  Any cancellations made less than 2 weeks before the tour is due to take place can sadly not be refunded as the place is unlikely to be filled after this time.  Thank you for your understanding.

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#CorfeCastle being engulfed by a wave this morning @DorsetMag @DorsetAONB @LEEFilters @VanguardPhotoUK @UKNikon @TamronUSA #Dorset #landscapephotography #sunrise (at Corfe Castle, Dorset)

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How to Choose the Right Artwork for Your Space

The brain knows what the eye likes right?  We can’t always explain why we like how something looks, we just do.  So you may ask ‘why the article on how to choose art? I’ll just pick one I like’.  While this is a great approach, it may not always be the right one.

Wall Art for Your Business

One of the many things I love about art is that it’s subjective.  This is a particularly important point to consider if you have a responsibility for designing a space that is open to the public such as a hotel, restaurant or cafe.  Another important point to consider is the look and feel you are hoping to achieve for your space.  The art you choose should complement the design.  It should be noticeable but not distracting.

Let's say for example you have a restaurant with a modern look and vibrant tones and you want a lively atmosphere from your guests.  You wouldn’t want to hang something on the wall with subtle, muted tones or it would disappear into the background.  In this kind of environment you want your customers focussed on the food they’re eating and the conversation they are having with each other but to also notice your chosen art work.  It may even become the subject of their conversation, helping to make your restaurant memorable for more than just the food.

Consider the Subject

Choosing the right artwork to complement your space goes a little deeper than the colours.  It’s equally important to consider how the subject is composed.  For example, if you’re hanging portraits, is the subject's expression conveying the sense of emotion you want your customers or employees to feel?  

Did you know that the shapes formed in a piece of art can also have an impact on how it makes us feel?  As I’m a landscape photographer I will use some examples of my own work to illustrate what I mean.

The composition of Old Harry’s Rocks to the left form a circle in the image and circles are proven to have a calming effect on the viewer.  So this would work well in a hotel or cafe as you want your customers to feel relaxed.

   Conversely, if you are looking to give the viewer a sense of energy and confidence, images that contain triangles are proven to give the viewer a feeling of dynamism.  This would be useful in an office space for example where you want your staff to feel motivated.  The rocks in this image form a triangle and are a good example of this point.

I hope this article has given you a useful insight into helping you with your next interior design project.  Take a look at some of my work proudly on display at Bournemouth's Elstead Hotel.  

If you’d like to have a landscape photographer work with your interior design team or help you choose wall art to complement your space please contact me.

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A more colourful shot as the sun began to show on my trip to Wells Next the Sea. love the open space here and the long line of beach huts #beach #wellsnextthesea #wells #norfolk #northnorfolk #coast #dunes #sanddunes #sand #empty #beachhuts #sunrise (at Wells Next The Sea, Norfolk, United Kingdom)