Sheen on Metal

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This, I believe, is what a Jaguar looks like these days, since the revitalisation of the classic British brand. I passed this aerodynamic beauty on the seafront in Scarborough, UK, in November, 2007, just before climbing the cliff trail to the castle, and couldn't resist the elegant lines and the fascinating things the afternoon sun did with reflections from metal and paintwork. Look at the tonal variance between the sun highlights on the flank and the reflections of the sky in the hood: that's subtle, the kind of things it takes a student of reflection dynamics to understand and reproduce correctly in artwork (I'm thinking Syd Mead's classic work for Ford and US Steel). Enhancements include 5% sharpening and colour saturation, but contrast was not adjusted as the image contains true black and true white, and the highlights are already burned out. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. Image by Mike.

A Million Panes of Light

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The effects of direct light into the lens are always amazing. The infinite points of reflection the sea creates in the glare path of the sun fox the light meter to compensate and drop all other parts of the image to night-deep contrast, which creates an amazing atmosphere to such scenes. This is the small-boat marina at Scarborough, on the Yorkshire coast, shot from the winding cliff stair leading up to the walls of the castle, and one is very aware of the passage of time here. The sea is eternal, the castle over 800 years old, the marina modern, but all coexist in immediate contact with each other. The dramatic light this shot offers suits the sense of antiquity at the locale very well indeed. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. November, 2007. Image by Mike.

Stone, Sea and Sky

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This is a technically simple shot, frame and shoot, no exposure issues, nothing fancy about backlighting or lens flare. The subject matter is what makes it: this is Scarborough Castle, on the North Sea coast of Yorkshire, UK, which has commanded the bays to each side of its headland since the Middle Ages, now somewhat in ruins but remaining an impressive sight hunched on the headland above the popular Victorian holiday town. Through the arch you see the next bay, with all its modern residential and commercial development, and once again it's an example of the new and the old, side by side. England is one of those countries where the tangible remains of centuries gone by are right there to see, where history really is alive in the everyday experience of life. Fuji FinePix S5600, automatic. November, 2007. Image by Mike.