LINCOLNSHIRE BY NIGHT

LINCOLN BY NIGHT

CAPTURING THE CATHEDRAL

CAPTURE THE CATHEDRAL THIS SEASON

Lincoln Cathedral’s illumination makes it a bit easier to capture stunning night-time shots of the building and its cloisters...

>> Lincoln Cathedral is beautiful in any light, but there’s something especially beautiful about it when you see it in low light. Adam Winfield lives in North Hykeham and he’s a commercial photographer who provides both tuition for novices or slightly more knowledgeable photographers keen to sharpen up their skills or learn a photographic specialism like night-time shooting. “Lincoln is a stunning place to live, and there are so many photo opportunities at night, or sunrise and sunset. A tripod is a must... as is warm clothes and a flask of tea!” “It’s important not to trespass on private property, and to be patient. Also, visit at different times of the year. You’ll be amazed how the same place can look so different through the changing seasons!” n For one-to-one camera tuition, call Adam Winfield on 07954 192253.

Taking Pictures at Night

n They’ve become better in recent years, but camera phones still don’t cut it, especially in low light. Use a proper camera, one which allows you to set your shutters speed. n A tripod is a must. Mount your camera on a stable tripod, us manual or Tv (shutter speed mode) to dial in your exposure. n For shake-free images, you need to keep an eye on shutter speed. This is shown on your camera as fractions of seconds. 1/200 means a twohundredth of a second, and is the speed of your camera when using a flash. n You can usually hand-hold a camera down to 1/125sec, perhaps 1/40 if you’ve a steady hand or stabilisation in your lens or camera. n Rather than a viewfinder, use your camera’s screen to preview your exposure and release the shutter using a two or ten second timer.

n Shoot in RAW, not JPEG to capture in the highest quality.

LINCOLNSHIRE BY NIGHT

OTHER LANDMARKS ACROSS THE CITY OF LINCOLN

BRAYFORD WHARF & BRAYFORD POOL

Lights, contrast, reflections and colour... what more could you want?

Image: Andrew Wright, taken on 20th November.

In the heart of Lincoln and close to the University, it’s little wonder that the Brayford Wharf area of the city is renowned for its nightlife, which is colourful in every respect. From the neon lights and reflections in the water to the view of the uphill area of the city and of the floodlit Lincoln Cathedral, it’s an ideal vantage point for photographers, especially suited to those hoping to capture a panoramic shaped image of the city. The pool was formed when Roman founders of Lindum widened the Witham and connected it to the Trent via the Foss Dyke. Though Brayford Pool was looking increasingly shabby into the late C20th, a regeneration of the area following the arrival of the University to Brayford Wharf from 1996 facilitated its regeneration into the area we know today with its boats, swans, nightlife and its new footbridge in 2019, an ideal vantage point for your photography. n

LIGHT TRAILS OVER PELHAM BRIDGE...

Abstract colours to make a night time shot stand out!

Safety comes first whenever you’re taking photographs, but if you can find somewhere to safety set up your tripod –on a footbridge over the A1 or A17, for example –a long exposure will create motion blurred images of headlights, moving fairground rides etc. Here, the lights in motion serve to add extra colour and interest, and create a juxtaposition between the static Cathedral and the comparatively busy lanes of traffic heading to and from Pelham Bridge. n

LINCOLN CASTLE’S ILLUMINATED WALL WALK

HIGH BRIDGE IN LINCOLN

From 5pm - 9pm during Lincoln Christmas Market...

Quite aside from being a spectacular landmark in its own right, Lincoln Castle reopened its medieval wall walk alongside the Magna Carta vault, allowing visitors to walk the whole 360° perimeter of the castle and enjoy spectacular views over the city. Head to the top of the Observatory Tower, so-named by gaolkeeper and astronomer John Merryweather in 1799 for the highest views. The Cathedral, too, offers rooftop tours which afford similarly elevated views and access to parts of the Cathedral you’ve never visited before! n www.lincolncastle.com www.lincolncathedral.com

Another popular view in the city is Stokes’ High Bridge Café, built circa 1160. On the other side you’ll enjoy photographic fodder in the form of the views along the Witham, towards Waterside and Lincoln’s Guildhall. n

LINCOLN CHRISTMAS MARKET

Capture the festive atmosphere from 1st-4th December

Lincoln’s Christmas Market is back from 1st to 4th December with over 250 stalls right across Uphill Lincoln. This will be the event’s 40th year and it’s expected that 250,000 people will visit the city to enjoy the festive atmosphere. Of course, the event is also ideal for photographers looking to sharpen up their skills can capture some great images of the city. From stallholders in costumes to the illuminated Cathedral and the colourful lights of the event’s fairground, it’s a good idea to take along your camera to take some great images of the biggest and best Christmas Market in the UK. www.lincoln-christmasmarket.co.uk

Captured some great images? We’d love to see them! You can email your pictures to the Editor via robin@pridemagazines.co.uk or send them via our Facebook and Instagram social media channels. n

LINCOLNSHIRE BY NIGHT

LANDMARKS TO PHOTOGRAPH THIS AUTUMN

AFTER DARK AT BELTON HOUSE

Enjoy (and photograph) Belton’s magical illuminations...

Grantham’s Belton House will welcome visitors back to enjoy Christmas at Belton from 24th November with more than a million twinkling lights, colourful trees and larger than life illuminated installations to enjoy – and to photograph. The trail will take 90 minutes to enjoy, or a bit longer if you’re there photographing the displays. Mesmerising installations around the 2km route include Rose Garden, Sea of Light, Cascade Tree and Bubbles. Admission £21.50/adult, £15/child, last entry 8pm. n See nationaltrust.org.uk.

ST BOTOLPHS & ST DENYS...

Two fine churches to photograph in Boston and Sleaford

Two churches, beautifully illuminated in the evenings, Boston’s St Botolph’s Church is now scaffolding-free and has had a large overhanding tree removed, meaning photographing the landmark from the Town Bridge is easier than ever. Likewise Sleaford’s St Denys’ is easily accessible and floodlit with another interesting building, The Hub, to photograph nearby, too. n

LINCOLNSHIRE’S BIG SKIES

Take advantage of the county’s open farmland and its reputation for expansive skies...

So far we’ve advocated photographing Lincolnshire’s landmarks, but one of its most unique and beautiful features, especially in the flatter parts of Lincolnshire, it is enormous skies. Following sunrise and before sunset, the colours you can see in the sky are incredible, and even when there’s nothing much in the foreground, they can still create an evocative image as the above picture shows. As always, never trespass onto farmland, use your tripod and with your camera on manual mode, experiment with exposures from half a second to five seconds in duration. n

CAPTURING FIREWORKS

Professional firework displays this month...

The snap, crackle and pop of a firework display sounds good but looks even better when photographed. Professional displays this month will take place at the Lincolnshire Showground on Friday 4th November, £10/adults, £5/children. A display will also take place on Friday at Market Rasen Racecourse, Belvoir Castle, and Lincoln’s LNER football stadium. n

Captured some great images? We’d love to see them! You can email your pictures to the Editor via robin@pridemagazines.co.uk or send them via our Facebook and Instagram social media channels. n

SUNRISE ON LINCOLNSHIRE’S EAST COAST...

Know the difference between sunrise and sunset and plan your photographic adventure first!

Lincolnshire’s big skies are at their best on the East Coast, where a trip to Skegness in the evening means capturing fast rides with bright lights. For a more idyllic subject, we headed onto Skegness Beach to take this image of the pier in July 2022, just after 4.30am! During sunrise, greater humidity and lower temperatures will result in moodier, cooler shots. In warmer weather cool light rays are filtered out, giving sunset shots more orange/red tones and sunrise shots more blue and pink hues. The ‘golden hour’ is usually an hour after sunrise and sunset but ambient light levels will still be low so remember your tripod! n

Photographing The Humber Bridge

A hulking structure nearly 1.4 miles long and 155 metres tall, The Humber Bridge is a spectacular subject for evening photography. Head to Waterside Road for the best views.

Polar Foldback Gloves

Foldback fingers and thumbs for better dexterity, £13.49, www.gooutdoors.co.uk. Olympus OM1 Mirrorless

Lightweight, weather sealed, 8EV stops of image stabilisation, 20.4MP, £1,999. Leophoto LN-248 Tripod

Avoid shaky shots, 1.76kg, carbon fibre, with head, £249.99.

Unbreakable 1.3 litre Flask

The most essential item in your kit bag... hot tea! £44.97, www.gooutdoors.co.uk.

SEE THE LIGHT

The right camera gear will help you to see –and capture – the light, even when it’s dark!

Our preferred photography retailer is London Camera Exchange on Silver Street, Lincoln. Call 01522 514131, or see www.lcegroup.co.uk. Olympus 25mm F1.8 Lens

Wide angle, great low-light performance, light and silent AF, £329.

Celestron Starsense 114AZ

Smart-phone guidance to the night sky, great telescope for beginners, £249. Head Torch

Ideal for seeing where you’re stepping, hands-free, £3.50, www.gooutdoors.co.uk. DJI Mavic Mini 3 Pro

Under 250g so escapes UK legislation, 4k video, 48MP stills, £709, www.dji.com.