Being an avid social media user for more years than I care to admit, I often get frustrated by the lack of options when it comes to displaying panoramic images online. The wider than usual images on FB look small and tend not to attract any attention and the quality also tends to be ruined. And you can forget Instagram with its ridiculous crop factor and the fact it's a phone based activity with minuscule image sizes.
So here is a selection of panoramic images by way of a test to see how they look in a post on Hive:
As the smoke clears....
As the smoke clears, the midges return and head straight for me!
I've visited this tunnel under the Peak District in Derbyshire at this time of year many times before but I don't recall ever seeing this many midges. Millions of them descended upon me, every single one intent in taking a chunk and eating me alive!
Needless to say this was a very quick session in the dark!
Many hands make light work
On the 2nd Saturday of every month, Mannakin Hall in Fulbeck host an open day where you can photograph around 20,000 or so mannakins. Not a place for people who get freaked out easily 😉
Star trails over the Arcminute Microkelvin Imager Small Array
I may have used the word, "epic" a bit too much last night. It's not often I get a chance to shoot something so photogenic or cinematic. Even more conveniently, the whole array of radio telescopes is aligned exactly north towards Polaris, making it quite easy to align.
This is 319 x 20 second exposures. I couldn't resist lighting it up.
The Unsung Hero, the Gritter Lorry
Standing on a hill in minus 8 degrees centigrade temperatures with two other crazy people capturing the unsung hero of the Peak District, the gritter lorry!
As much as I prepared my camera settings, I didn't anticipate the lorry using it's brightest lights as it drove up the hill. It's a little bit blown out but I think I just about got away with it.
This is a 2.35:1 ratio crop where I've excluded the night sky.
Hope Cement Works, Derbyshire
Standing on a moonlit hillside in the mist overlooking Hope Cement Works is a sight to behold. The mist and the illuminated industrial landscape reminded me of a scene from the movie Bladerunner.
A moody evening in Lincoln
I've seen this image shot by others all over the internet and visited Lincoln to see if I can do any better. I shot this just before Christmas late in the evening with less people aka shadows moving through my shot. I reckon this image works with a 2.35:1 ratio crop with the wide angle being exaggerated and maybe best viewed on a large screen.
Sunset on Sheringham Beach
I'm not sure how this is a thing but I've never been to Sheringham in North Norfolk. I've usually bypassed this place in favour of the famous town down the road, Cromer.
It turns out that Sheringham is just as nice as Cromer and this images works better than expected a panoramic crop.
Bolehill Quarry in the Mist
Ever since I noticed Fuji cameras with their good looking and enticing film simulations, I've been fascinated with the idea of colour grading my images. This is an attempt at simulating Kodachrome 64 colour slide film.
I shot with this stuff way back in the 1980's (ish) and I remember being blown away by the punchy images.
I'm not sure I've completely nailed the simulation but it looks ok to me.
Low water levels on Rutland Water
On our road trip to Rutland Water, a huge reservoir in the middle of England, we hadn't anticipated such low water levels. Normally most of this scene would be submerged in water surrounding the path to the church.
Hunstanton pastel afterglow
There's a short window of time after the sun has disappeared below the horizon and before the blue hour starts to kick in. It's only a short window and before you know it, it's gone.
Shot on Hunstanton beach in Norfolk, a rare west facing beach on the east side of the UK.
About me:
Historically I've specialised in shooting lightpainting images but more recently I've been dabbling in landscape photography. I'd love to do more urbex and artistic model photography but opportunities are not presenting themselves. I like to collaborate with other photographers and occasionally shoot outside my comfort zone.
Social Media
https://www.facebook.com/fastchrisuk
https://www.flickr.com/photos/fastchris/
