Creswell & Druridge Bay

Miles & miles of unspoilt coastline. Peace & tranquility. I love the coast. It helps me relax, think pleaseant thoughts of years gone by. My ideal place to live. Maybe when I retire I can move somewhere like this.

Druridge Bay Country Park includes three miles of beautiful beach and sand dunes, plus a large lake surrounded by woods and meadows.

Cresswell parish is located on the Northumberland coast just south of the wide sweep of Druridge Bay. The parish contains archaeological remains stretching back over 6000 years, although most visible to anyone passing through the parish is the medieval tower on the edge of a caravan park.

Bothal

Bothal is a village in Notrthumberland. It is situated between Morpeth and Ashington. There is a castle, a church, a vicarage opposite the church gates, some stepping stones over the River Wansbeck, a few houses and that's about it really. But I have to say it a nice quiet place and worth a look around. I'm going back in early summer to see it in bloom with summer flowers.

Newbiggin

I had a lovely day out today up the Northumberland coast, stopping at Newbiggin. Last time I was there the heavens opened, but today it was a glorious sunny day. Walking around the promenade I spotted the two life-sized figures of 'The Couple' statues that are in the middle of the sea. Newbiggin is a lovely little town and well worth a visit.

The Sage

The first photo is of me walking infront of my camera during a long exposure and having a burst of flash shot at me. I look like a ghost. It was a little experiment we tried out. Next time i'll get a bit further back LOL

All of these are photos of The Sage Gateshead which is a spectacular landmark building on Gateshead Quays at the heart of a cultural regeneration. Built, owned and delivered by Gateshead Council, The Sage Gateshead was winner of the 2004 Robert Stephenson Award for concept & design.

Out with the lads

Here's some more images from my outing last night at the Quayside with Chris & Ron. I'll be posting a few more tomorrow until I get out for another shoot.

Newcastle Quayside

Just got back from the Quayside after a night's shooting with my friends Chris and Ron from my local camera club. Had a great night, even though most of my shots are rubbish I managed to get this panorama. It's not bad but I think I need to process the raw file again as I'm not completely happy with it. Looking forward to seeing Chris's photos. He had some great ones where the sky looked like it was on fire.

Escomb Church

Escomb Saxon Church was constructed around 670 A.D and has been a place for Christian Worship for over 1400 years. The church can be found in the village of Escomb on the west side of Bishop Auckland in County Durham.
Much of the stonework came from the remains of the nearby Roman Fort at Binchester. Now restored, it is one of the finest examples of early Christian architecture in Northern Europe.

Settings

(1st image)

Shutter Speed - 1/160 sec
Lens Aperture - F/8
Focal Length 11mm
ISO - 100
Metering Mode - Pattern
Exposure Compensation -1 step


(2nd image)

Shutter Speed - 1/100 sec
Lens Aperture - F/7.1
Focal Length 11mm
ISO - 100
Metering Mode - Pattern
Exposure Compensation -0.3 step

(3rd image)

Shutter Speed - 1/30 sec

Lens Aperture - F/4

Focal Length 11mm

ISO - 100

Metering Mode - Pattern

Exposure Compensation -0.3 step

Early Morning Light

Taken this morning at around 6:45am on my way to work. I didn't have Helen my work colleague in the car with me this morning (she had a day off), so I took a detour on my way to work. Just as I was passing these woods I spotted the sun shining on the tree bark thought it looked nice so I stopped the car and grabbed a couple of shots.

Tulips

Taken in the Botanical Gardens, Durham.

Settings

Shutter Speed - 1/125sec
Lens Aperture - F/6.3
Focal Length - 22mm
ISO 100
Metering Mode - Pattern
Exposure Compensation - -0.3 step

Durham Botanical Gardens

"The first Botanic Garden in Durham was founded in 1925 when the grounds of the science laboratories where laid out as an experimental garden. As the sciences expanded within the University and more buildings were constructed the garden decreased proportionately, and it was decided in 1969 to move the garden to a new site where it could develop undisturbed and develop and idenitity of its own". (This information is taken from and old guide book written for the Botanic Garden in the early 1970's)

The Botanic Garden has been on this site since 1970. It was created primarily for teaching and research. As the garden matured a visitor centre was built and was opened in 1988 by Dame Margot Fonteyn, the Chancellor of the University at the time, to accomodate the 6000 annual visitors. The garden now attracts over 80,000 visitors annually.

It is set in an Eighteen-acre garden in mature woodland with exotic trees from America and the Himalayas. Prince Bishops’ Garden, tropical house, cactus house with butterflies and insects.