Where to go for some nice photography, Midlands/Oxon/Bucks
Discussion
Right, I've got 6 days until I start work again, and the forecast for this week is looking reasonable. So I want to get some practice in with the camera before I lose the spare time.
Not overly into landscapes, not unless there's a subject or there's some impressive scenery...border country, I guess you could say (land/sea, mountains/air, mountains/flat, unusual stuff). And sea and mountains are a long way from Cov!!!
Have also recently done a raptor centre, and probably enough motorsport for this year.
So...wondered what suggestions people had that were no more than say a 60-90min drive from Coventry.
My ideas so far (and I realise it's half-term, alas):-
- Twycross Zoo
- Classic Motor Show at NEC on Friday (£18 advance, £21 on the door though...and artificial light and even on Friday potentially too busy)
- Blenheim Palace
- ...any interesting castles or ruins?
- Duxford or Cosford (bit far, but...)
Doesn't have to be a full day, but a half-day would be nice.
Thanks very much,
Martin
Not overly into landscapes, not unless there's a subject or there's some impressive scenery...border country, I guess you could say (land/sea, mountains/air, mountains/flat, unusual stuff). And sea and mountains are a long way from Cov!!!
Have also recently done a raptor centre, and probably enough motorsport for this year.
So...wondered what suggestions people had that were no more than say a 60-90min drive from Coventry.
My ideas so far (and I realise it's half-term, alas):-
- Twycross Zoo
- Classic Motor Show at NEC on Friday (£18 advance, £21 on the door though...and artificial light and even on Friday potentially too busy)
- Blenheim Palace
- ...any interesting castles or ruins?
- Duxford or Cosford (bit far, but...)
Doesn't have to be a full day, but a half-day would be nice.
Thanks very much,
Martin
There are some nice NT houses in the midlands; Packwood, Badesley Clinton, Coughton Court (too far west?) Castles; Warwick, Kenilworth. To name a few. 
Not too sure on the opening times of the houses though, and you won't be able to use your camera inside.
NT properties in Warks
Not too sure on the opening times of the houses though, and you won't be able to use your camera inside.
NT properties in Warks
slinky said:
Motorsport next year.. how about Shakespeare County Raceway or Santa Pod?
Or some of the Autograss events.. bonkers vehicles on the loose stuff..
slinky
Or some of the Autograss events.. bonkers vehicles on the loose stuff..
slinky
I'm looking for THIS WEEK slinky!!!
Biggleswade's an idea...might have to look that one up.
NT houses...yeah, tried a few of the N. Yorks ones back in Sept, but they were closed...they have funny opening times over winter...i.e. not a fat lot. Might investigate a couple of the closer ones...
havoc said:
slinky said:
Motorsport next year.. how about Shakespeare County Raceway or Santa Pod?
Or some of the Autograss events.. bonkers vehicles on the loose stuff..
slinky
Or some of the Autograss events.. bonkers vehicles on the loose stuff..
slinky
I'm looking for THIS WEEK slinky!!!
I'm just getting you ready for next year ...
note to self.. read ALL of the post before replying
Hmmm...some good options there.
Bit pressed for time today as the Focus is in for it's service which is now over 2 days to fit brakes and tyres (BIG bill!
), so I think Twycross calls for today...if I didn't have the car to worry about tonight it'd be the Cotswold and Broadway stuff instead.
Shuttleworth...would be better on a flying day, same as Cosford and Duxford.
But Thurs or Fri is completely clear...will do a bit more research.
Cheers all,
M.
Bit pressed for time today as the Focus is in for it's service which is now over 2 days to fit brakes and tyres (BIG bill!
), so I think Twycross calls for today...if I didn't have the car to worry about tonight it'd be the Cotswold and Broadway stuff instead. Shuttleworth...would be better on a flying day, same as Cosford and Duxford.
But Thurs or Fri is completely clear...will do a bit more research.
Cheers all,
M.
Not sure about 'industry' and cooling towers...I'm sure they'd make very interesting subjects, but I'm still at the point of needing to be interested in my subject.
Steam trains might be an idea, but Blenheim sounds like a good call if the sun is out later this week. If not, probably one or more of the NT places or castles nearby.
Cotswold w'life park...would have done today instead of Twycross if I hadn't had the Focus to collect from the garage. Will be next on the list for a weekend out with the missus.
Probably SHOULD have gone there, Twycross wasn't entirely photographer-friendly...all the primates were behind glass (and very reflective glass...even a polarising filter didn't remove it), with only the big apes being out in the open, the rest in quite small enclosures with a lot of 'furniture', making it difficult to get good clear photos of them. Add in the thick cages for some and the really badly scratched glass for the lions, and I'd say I had no decent shot of nearly half the different animals, even when using minimal depth-of-field.
Nevertheless, got some cool photos, I'll post them up when I've had a chance to filter the best and crop where needed.
PS - I really need to get my act together...need to think about both camera (completely forgot the white balance setting for about an hour!) and composition at the same time, I'm only doing one or the other and making a right pigs-ear out of some shots.
Steam trains might be an idea, but Blenheim sounds like a good call if the sun is out later this week. If not, probably one or more of the NT places or castles nearby.
Cotswold w'life park...would have done today instead of Twycross if I hadn't had the Focus to collect from the garage. Will be next on the list for a weekend out with the missus.
Probably SHOULD have gone there, Twycross wasn't entirely photographer-friendly...all the primates were behind glass (and very reflective glass...even a polarising filter didn't remove it), with only the big apes being out in the open, the rest in quite small enclosures with a lot of 'furniture', making it difficult to get good clear photos of them. Add in the thick cages for some and the really badly scratched glass for the lions, and I'd say I had no decent shot of nearly half the different animals, even when using minimal depth-of-field.
Nevertheless, got some cool photos, I'll post them up when I've had a chance to filter the best and crop where needed.
PS - I really need to get my act together...need to think about both camera (completely forgot the white balance setting for about an hour!) and composition at the same time, I'm only doing one or the other and making a right pigs-ear out of some shots.
havoc said:
Not sure about 'industry' and cooling towers...I'm sure they'd make very interesting subjects, but I'm still at the point of needing to be interested in my subject.
Steam trains might be an idea, but Blenheim sounds like a good call if the sun is out later this week. If not, probably one or more of the NT places or castles nearby.
Cotswold w'life park...would have done today instead of Twycross if I hadn't had the Focus to collect from the garage. Will be next on the list for a weekend out with the missus.
Probably SHOULD have gone there, Twycross wasn't entirely photographer-friendly...all the primates were behind glass (and very reflective glass...even a polarising filter didn't remove it), with only the big apes being out in the open, the rest in quite small enclosures with a lot of 'furniture', making it difficult to get good clear photos of them. Add in the thick cages for some and the really badly scratched glass for the lions, and I'd say I had no decent shot of nearly half the different animals, even when using minimal depth-of-field.
Nevertheless, got some cool photos, I'll post them up when I've had a chance to filter the best and crop where needed.
PS - I really need to get my act together...need to think about both camera (completely forgot the white balance setting for about an hour!) and composition at the same time, I'm only doing one or the other and making a right pigs-ear out of some shots.
Steam trains might be an idea, but Blenheim sounds like a good call if the sun is out later this week. If not, probably one or more of the NT places or castles nearby.
Cotswold w'life park...would have done today instead of Twycross if I hadn't had the Focus to collect from the garage. Will be next on the list for a weekend out with the missus.
Probably SHOULD have gone there, Twycross wasn't entirely photographer-friendly...all the primates were behind glass (and very reflective glass...even a polarising filter didn't remove it), with only the big apes being out in the open, the rest in quite small enclosures with a lot of 'furniture', making it difficult to get good clear photos of them. Add in the thick cages for some and the really badly scratched glass for the lions, and I'd say I had no decent shot of nearly half the different animals, even when using minimal depth-of-field.
Nevertheless, got some cool photos, I'll post them up when I've had a chance to filter the best and crop where needed.
PS - I really need to get my act together...need to think about both camera (completely forgot the white balance setting for about an hour!) and composition at the same time, I'm only doing one or the other and making a right pigs-ear out of some shots.
Blenheim is bloody expensive to go in for a wander - like 8 or 9 quid. Even more if you want to go in the house. Just so you know!
Furyous said:
If you fancy steam trains, theres always Quainton Railway centre.About 10 outside Aylesbury, open on Sundays I think.
F
F
Also as mentioned earlier about Didcot power station. There is the Didcot Steam Railway centre next door of which i'm a member. This weekend is one of the last big steam events of the year, Firefly, Earl Bathurst and another tank engine will be in steam all weekend giving rides...Sat evening the place is staying open until after dark (till 8pm)specifically for night photography of the 'Firefly' broad guage locomotive...
I'll be there... Anyone else fancy going...??
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