On the Muddy Riverbank...

Beautiful sunny day and just had to escape and get 'things' off my cold-infected chest...

The bus to Amesbury, then an exploration around the River Avon. The river has been swelled by the recent rain and a few fallen trees and branches evident from the recent storm.

I took my tripod as I wanted to explore further my new 10 stop Nisi ND filter. Not an easy companion on a walk of several miles but obviously essential with exposures of 30 seconds, in bright sunshine!

I'm really pleased that I can combine my polariser (a slimline Sigma EX) with the ND on the Nikkor 10-24mm, from 11mm upward. At 10mm there is a little vignetting in the corners but from then on it is fine. Combined, this gives a 12 stop reduction plus the gorgeous blue skies you expect with a good polariser.

I settled for this one as it includes a lovely spot of autumn colour, not much of it around, yet, but this bit glowed like molten gold. It is actually in someone's sprawling garden, on the other side of the river. I scrambled through overhanging branches and mud to get this close to the river's edge and I've purposefully left the shadows a little dark and mysterious, to help emphasise the area of autumn colour. I liked the angle and shape of the nearby tree, too, but didn't want it to dominate the picture. Check it out on LARGE!

Lots of heron aloft and also helicopters and jet aircraft - Boscombe Down military airfield is only a mile or two away and we are on the edge of Salisbury Plain. The occasional 'crump' of heavy guns broke the placid stillness.

I've arranged a short portrait session with the lovely Helen tomorrow, with hopefully, a Blip, if it goes well.