To Drone or Not to Drone? Photographing Postbridge in Dartmoor
Postbridge Clapper Bridge has spent years languishing on my landscape photography bucket list, yet I had never quite managed to capture the scene I held in my mind’s eye. For me, the magic lies in framing both the historic 14th century clapper bridge and the neighbouring 18th century road bridge together in a single shot.
The lay of the land, however, presents a devilish little topographical challenge, a hurdle that could easily be solved by gaining just a few extra feet of altitude. The very altitude, of course, that has been denied to me by a foolish obligation to pay for trivial luxuries like food and shelter rather than vital camera gear.
To drone or not to drone, that is the question.
As virtually anyone who has suffered the misfortune of encountering me in the flesh will freely attest, I am a man who thoroughly enjoys droning on. It is a source of mild personal irony, then, that I do not actually own a drone.
Now, I must confess that the ten year old boy who permanently resides somewhere behind my ribs would like nothing better than to send a motorized gadget swooping through the upper atmosphere, snapping aerial photographs of the Devon countryside with frantic glee. Indeed, this inner child is entirely prepared to throw a world class tantrum to get one.
Unfortunately, standing firmly in the doorway between me and aerial glory is the thoroughly unromantic figure of my bank account. No amount of pouting seems to move the unyielding hearts at Lloyds Bank, so a photography drone remains indefinitely exiled to my Christmas list.
The Challenge of Photographing Postbridge
By now, you are almost certainly wondering whether this particular ramble is headed anywhere at all. To be entirely honest, when I start waffling, even I am rarely privy to the final destination.
But there is a point, and it concerns Postbridge on Dartmoor.
Postbridge Clapper Bridge has spent years languishing on my landscape photography bucket list, yet I had never quite managed to capture the scene I held in my mind’s eye. For me, the magic lies in framing both the historic 14th century clapper bridge and the neighbouring 18th century road bridge together in a single shot.
The lay of the land, however, presents a devilish little topographical challenge, a hurdle that could easily be solved by gaining just a few extra feet of altitude. The very altitude, of course, that has been denied to me by a foolish obligation to pay for trivial luxuries like food and shelter rather than vital camera gear.
A Creative Alternative to Drone Photography
With my bank balance steadfastly refusing to perform a miracle, I was forced to resort to good old fashioned British ingenuity.
The solution was standing right in front of me: my trusty tripod.
I firmly attached my camera to the tripod head, gripped it securely by the base, and hoisted the entire precarious contraption high above my head like a medieval standard bearer. And lo: there was the angle. Both bridges were framed beautifully at last.
Matt from MJC-photography taking a picture using the tripod to provide extra height.
Naturally, I felt compelled to make loud, throat rattling airplane noises while operating the shutter. It added a certain je ne sais quoi to the artistic process, with the delightful added bonus of causing nearby tourists to give me a very wide, very cautious berth.
So, there you have it. A long sought Dartmoor landscape photograph secured, my inner child appeased, and not a single propellor required, all thanks to the low tech magic of a six foot pole.
A Guide to Capturing the British Firework Championship
I carefully set up my shot, framing the tower in my viewfinder and waiting for the show to begin. With each boom and flash, I held my breath, hoping to capture the perfect moment. The result? A new photograph, one that's uniquely mine and not just another postcard cliché. It's a reminder that sometimes, the best view is the one you create for yourself, even if it means venturing to a place with a devilish name.
There are certain events in this country that simply cannot be avoided. One of them, if you happen to live in these parts, is the British Firework Championship. It's a time honored tradition that, like an over enthusiastic houseguest, shows up once a year and promptly takes over your entire social media feed with a thunderous barrage of bangs and flashes. It would be churlish, and perhaps a bit antisocial, to resist. And so, I too found myself drawn to the siren call of loud noises and pretty lights.
Years ago, I’d already bagged the classic shot, the one every camera club member from here to the Scottish borders has in their portfolio, of the fireworks exploding in a shower of sparks behind the lighthouse. This time, I decided to be more ambitious. I set myself a new challenge: find a different composition entirely. My grand idea was to zoom in with a long lens and frame Mount Batten tower under a relentless barrage of light.
A quick glance at a map told me that the prime viewing location for this particular bit of photographic genius was from a spot called Devil’s Point, which sounds less like a place to enjoy a convivial evening and more like the kind of place where one might sign away one’s soul. But don’t let the name put you off. It’s actually a perfectly pleasant spot, handily located just across the way from the Royal William Yard, a place teeming with opportunities for a bit of liquid refreshment before the pyrotechnic assault begins. So much so, that I consider it an personal triumph that i managed to actually put the tripod up at all.
I carefully set up my shot, framing the tower in my viewfinder and waiting for the show to begin. With each boom and flash, I held my breath, hoping to capture the perfect moment. The result? A new photograph, one that's uniquely mine and not just another postcard cliché. It's a reminder that sometimes, the best view is the one you create for yourself, even if it means venturing to a place with a devilish name.
Fireworks over Mount Batten Tower