essential kit for lake district photography......

[longers]

After last week in the Lake District you may be interested to learn of the latest addition to my camera bag...

camera body
memory card
lenses
filters
tripod
cable release
spare batteries
cleaning cloth
MINT SAUCE.

Last Thurs I got up for some dawn shots across the mirror like Lakes. I was at the bottom of a 6 foot slope, tripod, lens, filter etc all in place and ready to go..... I turn to bag to get cable release, suprise a dozy half asleep sheep on top of the slope that slipped when turning to run away.... sheep slips and in slow motion slides down slope and knocks over tripod which lands lens first!!

Body & new manfrotto both ok, Sigma 24-70 f2.8 in bits

Fingers crossed for the insurance or else the funds for a new telephoto for Le Mans may have to be diverted.....

And yes, I did have lamb in the pub for dinner that night and it never tasted so good.

Longers

PS Once home lap top died so am unable to post any pic's yet.

[marctwo]

Bad luck. I've lost a lens before too. Let's hope the insurance pays up.

I'm also going to the lake district in July, do you have any suggestions of particularly photogenic (and sheep-free) locations?

[_dobbo_]

Ouch, unlucky.

[V6GTO]

Sorry about the lens but it looks very funny in my minds eye...I've dropped my 28-135 twice and I've lost AF so I can sympathise.

Martin.

[Captain Beaky]

marctwo said:

I'm also going to the lake district in July, do you have any suggestions of particularly photogenic (and sheep-free) locations?

Try standing next to GetCarter

[GetCarter]

Captain Beaky said:

marctwo said: I'm also going to the lake district in July, do you have any suggestions of particularly photogenic (and sheep-free) locations? Try standing next to GetCarter

Only if you are more likely to get bitten by mossies than me.

As I always say (God I'm boring) - the north and west lakes are miles better than the south.. both photographically and for the (comparative) lack of punters. Avoid Windermere (and area) unless you want to water ski and eat ice cream. IMHO Ullswater, Derwent Water, Crummock Water, Buttermere, Wastwater, Enerdale and Loweswater are the ones you should head for.

Basing yourself in the Borrowdale Valley (south of Keswick) is a great place to start. I know Longers was very happy there last week. We used to visit every year before we moved here and there are some cracking cottages grommit.

I can also recommend www.kirkstile.com - both for rooms, views and food... oh and the beer.

...did I mention the beer?

If you need more info, feel free to e mail... and I'm sure Longers will have some thoughts too.

Oh and tell me what you're driving and I'll look out for you!

Steve

[V6GTO]

Steve...there's a nasty rumour going around that there is going to be a tuquoise Noble up your way in October. I'd avoid it like the plague if I were you

Martin.

[marctwo]

GetCarter said:

Lots of useful stuff

Thanks. I'm staying at Ullswater so hopefully will get some nice shots.

Going to be driving the S3 so unlikely you will notice me or the microscopic PH sticker on the back window!

>> Edited by marctwo on Thursday 1st June 16:09

[GetCarter]

V6GTO said:

Steve...there's a nasty rumour going around that there is going to be a tuquoise Noble up your way in October. I'd avoid it like the plague if I were you Martin.

Just as well I will have moved to another country then.... They don't sell shades dark enough up here. (Us never seeing the sun)

[GetCarter]

marctwo said:

GetCarter said: Lots of useful stuff Thanks. I'm staying at Ullswater so hopefully will get some nice shots. Going to be driving the S3 so unlikely you will notice me or the microscopic PH sticker on the back window! >> Edited by marctwo on Thursday 1st June 16:09

I always notice Audis with the red flash on the front

[V6GTO]

GetCarter said:

V6GTO said: Steve...there's a nasty rumour going around that there is going to be a tuquoise Noble up your way in October. I'd avoid it like the plague if I were you Martin. Just as well I will have moved to another country then.... They don't sell shades dark enough up here. (Us never seeing the sun)

You'll not be finished by August 24 and you know it!

Martin.

PS - you'll be able to get a cheap tent in a couple of weeks time...they sell them off cheap at the end of the big camping exibition at a place called Le Mans. I also heard rumours that there's some kind of race nearby around that time too.

[docevi1]

Captain Beaky said:

marctwo said: I'm also going to the lake district in July, do you have any suggestions of particularly photogenic (and sheep-free) locations? Try standing next to GetCarter

no, wait until he is just about to take picture and push him out of the way

[Ian_H]

marctwo said:

Thanks. I'm staying at Ullswater so hopefully will get some nice shots.

There are plenty of good places for photos around Ullswater, take the Howtown road from Pooley Bridge and follow the road all the way along past Howtown up the tight and twisty single track road and continue on to Martindale Church (not the 1st church you come to)


Martindale Church

also while you're along that way have a drive down to Sandwick.

If you head along the lakeside road from Pooley Bridge to Glenridding half way along you will come to the car park for Aira Force (waterfall) don't go in the main car park, carry on past the entrance and turn right onto the A5091 1/2 a mile up the hill there is a car park on the right hand side, use this car park as it is closer to the waterfall and you don't have to pay. The waterfall is much more spectacular after rain (obviously )


If you're in and around Glenridding and fancy a walk, head up to Lanty's tarn where you get a great view over the village with the lake in the background, all along the lake road there are plenty of places to stop with stunning views.


Ullswater from Glenridding






Cheers
Ian

[marctwo]

Ian_H said:

More useful stuff

Thanks Ian, that's really helpful. Great photos by the way. Desparately trying to resist buying a Sigma 10-20mm for the trip. Wedding is already costing me enough!

[longers]

Captain Beaky said:

Try standing next to GetCarter

Didn't help me much - most of the time I spent with him I had my hands full of beer or dog or both!

This was my first trip to the Lakes and my best....which may sound a bit daft! I couldn't imagine any part of the Lakes to be better than where we were so guess anywhere else will be a disappointment. Mrs L has visited the Lakes before and she said that where we were was by the best bit she'd seen.

We were in the Newlands Valley which runs from Keswick towards Buttermere on the other side of Catbells from Derwent Water. It's not a "headline" place so everyone misses it completely!! Very very quiet (even when Derwent, Buttermere etc were relatively busy), good walks directly from cottage so you can have some car free days, excellent pub called the Swinside Inn 1 mile stroll away, Keswick 6-8 miles for food / beer supplies, Buttermere 6-8 miles in opposite direction for some of the most photogenic water I've ever seen (just watch out for the sheep!) and a couple of pubs.

[url] www.theswinsideinn.com/[/url] just remember to duck most of the time in this place if you are more than 5.5ft tall! Can highly recommend the hand pumped Waggle Dance & Theakstons

Hope to get laptop up and running over the weekend so I can evetually post some pic's.....

Longers

[longers]

GetCarter said:

I can also recommend www.kirkstile.com - both for rooms, views and food... oh and the beer. ...did I mention the beer?

This place WAS excellent, superb beer and food. I was glad that Mrs L was very pregnant as it was too far to walk from our cottage though!!

Longers