Have you ever imagined something and when it happens it exceeds your expectations,
Scrabo Sunset for me was such an occasion.
I had travelled up the Ards Peninsula many times and seeing the setting sun
behind Scrabo was inspired to someday freeze that moment on film. In Spring
1981 such an opportunity arose with a particularly good spell of weather. Setting
off on three consecutive evenings I was rewarded with not only Scrabo Sunset
but also two other Featured Images.
Preparation included studying maps and tide tables to determine the best vantage
point to get the shot. With one evening left I was determined it was going to
be third time lucky. I parked near Mount Stewart and with wellies on waded into
the lough a couple of hundred yards to the viewpoint where I calculated the
monument would juxtapose with the setting sun. Even with all this preparation
a large modicum of luck made it the picture you see, I took several exposures
but this was the only perfect frame returned. The sky was embellishment free
and the two yachts appeared as if to order, for me they add balance and interest
to the composition.
My personal reason for liking this picture so much is twofold, firstly I feel
I have created a different perspective of Scrabo that's both striking and memorable
and secondly a colleague who saw me that evening from his car said next morning,
"I doubt if you got much of a picture last night", how wrong can one
be.
Date - Spring 1981
Camera - Yashica TL Electro XiTS
Lens - Vivitar 135mm F2.8 + 3x Tele-converter (equivalent to 405mm F8)
Tripod - SLIK 35D
Film - Kodachrome 64 (35mm)
|
