My August Favourite Photos

I thought I would start to blog my favourite photos of each month. So here are my August favourites

It is said that the best time for photography, particularly landscape photography, is the hour before and hour after sunrise and sunset, which for normal people is a bit of a bind to be out taking photos at 5am or 10pm. However, whilst this is probably true, great photos can be taken at any time of day and its certainly better to take photos than not take any at all and as part of my photography journey, I am trying to make a habit of having a camera with me at all times – Wear Your Camera. So, on to my August favourites……..

No.1 – Start the day with a Cappuccino!

One of my favourite pleasures is to sit in a nice independent cafe and drink Cappuccino and this cafe in Saddleworth is one of my favourites. I like this photos because of the coffee colours. Taking the photo with the lens wide open has also created a nice bokeh around the lighting in the background. I also like the way the lights and the furniture create diagonal lines through the image. The coffee is here is really nice and the Eggs Benedict is the best ever. This will be the start of a coffee shop series. A part of my wear your camera project.

No.2 – Summer Evening after the Rain

After a torrential downpour, I went on one of my usual walks from my house and was met with this beautiful scene, the water was rolling down the footpath and the sunshine was pouring through the trees lighting up the leaves. It was so peaceful with the sound of the trickling water and I hope I have captured the atmosphere I experienced.

No.3 – The Cow on the Hill

On the same walk as the previous shot with the storm clouds still around, I spotted this lone cow grazing right on the skyline. This was quite a long way off and had to heavily crop to create this image. Fortunately, a good level of detail has been retained in the hillside. I like the three bands of colour in the image, the feeling of remoteness with the lone cow providing a focal point for the eye.

No.4 – Piethorne Woodland Path

One of my favourite places near where I live is the reservoirs and woodlands of Ogden and Piethorne near Newhey in Rochdale. There are so many different walks to explore off the main perimeter path and lots of photo opportunities. I particularly enjoy being in the woodland but I often struggle to get the white balance right and the correct exposure to ensure highlights and shadows are exposed correctly and with details in both. But in this shot I was pleased to get it spot on. I love the colour contrast between the green leaves and the brown bracken footpath.

No.5 – Lowry Bridge – Salford Quays

We regularly go to local makers markets in the Manchester area. My wife and Daughter will browse the stalls whilst I usually find some coffee and walk round with my camera. I love this shot and whilst it was shot in colour, I knew when I took the shot that it was destined for Black and White. I love the lines leading you into the scene and the clouds providing a moody background. The actual name of the bridge is not clear as it is known as the Salford Bridge, Millennium Footbridge and the Lowry Bridge as one end of the bridge is at the Lowry Centre at Salford Quays.

So that’s my favourites from August 2020. Now, on with sorting through Septembers Shots to narrow them down to four or five favourites.