How close is Jersey to France?

I have always been trying to explain to people how close Jersey actually is to France so I thought I would try and come up with a shot that would explain this. Last year, I decided to go up in a plane to and see if it would work doing it that way, but I found myself very restricted and the window reduces the quality of the image a lot. The first photo shows the whole length of the island (9miles) with France in the background.

Width of Jersey with Sark in the Background

WWII Tower littered all over the Coasts

 I rethought what I actually wanted in the shot. I wanted a landmark that is famous in Jersey but at the same time I wanted to have France in the background. This isn't as easy as it seems.
In order to make this shot work I needed to use a long lens to compact the image and I needed to be up high so I could overlook the landmark and clearly see France.
After endless searching all over the island on where to do it  it turned out I only needed to drive a little bit up the road to find a good spot. The shot I had in mind was to have Mont Orgueil (Gorey) Castle in the foreground and have France in the background.
The next factor to include was the weather, France can only be seen when the skies are clear. So waiting for the right day/time and availability was a bit frustrating. However, it came and this was my shot.

I don't think it is the greatest shot but it is getting the general idea that I wanted. I think the the sky is too empty and needs some clouds in there so I waited a week until when it was cloudy but still clear and france was visible.

This was on my next shoot, the tide was low so the beaches were visible and I managed to get clouds in the sky. But I think too many, because the light is flat. I waited for a while for the light to pierce through the clouds and hit the castle but it wasn't as dramatic as I wanted it to be. So I think I might try couple of hours before sunset to give it a golden glow instead, unless another opportunity come up.
I like this shot as a second shoot attempt though but hopefully I can get a better shoot in before I leave.



Contact:
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ITV Channel Television

Last year I worked with my local TV production company, ITV Channel Television. I was a runner for the Shaun Rankin cooking program, Island Feast. I then went on to working with the team at Jerseylive music festival. My roles varied here and I was present in the interviews for Kate Nash and Paul Weller, which was a great experience for me. Here a couple shots I took at the festival.

Tinie Tempah

I then, last month, worked with them at the Grassroots eco music festival where Seasick Steve headlined the event. Grassroots is a world class independent surf and music eco festival, hosted in Jersey where artists like Newton Faulkner, Jose Gonzalez, Natty and Bedouin Soundclash have performed. It is my favourite festival on the island and was good to go back stage and meet some of the artists this year.
Here are some of the shots I took, unfortunately I had no flash so when it turned dark I didn't even bother to photograph it.

Emily and the Woods

Easy Star All-Stars

Ben Howard Interview

India Bourne, Ben Howards Cellist

Arrested Development Interview

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Behaviour in the pool

Hello All,

Sorry its been a while since I published my last post. As you know I have been monitoring the cygnets and other chicks growth, but I have been unable to photograph the interactions between the birds. So with this series of photos I have been trying to capture the behaviour of the wildlife in Swanpool lake.

Here are a few of the shots:
Click to enlarge:

Mum with her 6 cynets crossing the lake

Herring Gull stealing the bread from the ducks

Mother and her ducklings

Having a stretch

Hiding in the reeds

Frequent bullying

The Coots share an affectionate relationship

Female Mallard Portrait

Angry Coot

Contact:
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Everybody Loves Chicks

I took another trip down Swanpool Lake last night. It had cleared up after a miserable day so in the evening I spent an hour or two photographing the signets in the last remaining light. There are 6 cygnets in total.

Click on the image to enlarge

Coot Chicks

Queuing up

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Pendennis Point to Swanpool Lake

Yesterday I took a trip down to Pendennis Castle and walked along the coast through the local beach the Swanpool lake. I found there were some Cygnets there and some Coot chicks.
Here are a couple shots I took:

Contact:

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Prussia Cove

Today I went to Prussia Cove again in search of the Kestrel. The project is completed so this was merely for fun.
The weather wasn't on my side today as it was raining but I still stuck around and it started to brighten up. I only saw the kestrel twice and both times he was being attacked by the Swallows in the area so he didn't stay for long! However, just before the place where the Kestrel hangs is a cliff side where a group of Fulmars roost so I got a couple of shots of these as I haven't before.
After actually spending some time with these birds I really started to like them, and I think I could get some nice shots showing their behaviour so I will try and keep this going!

Fulmars Displaying

Can be identified from their stiff wings when flying

Fulmar

A pair of Fulmars

Female Linnet

Male Chaffinch

Blackbird

Contact:
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