We wanted to get an image of one of the then recently introduced Gold-specification Enviro 200MMC single deck vehicles that Stagecoach had bought for its 48 Atherstone/Leicester-Nuneaton-Coventry service.

We had covered the media and stakeholder launch a few weeks earlier but the weather was overcast and did little to emphasise the ‘gold’ colour scheme carried by the new buses. Bus stations are restrictive so we headed out to do some shots in a semi-rural location, which was a success. 

When we returned into Nuneaton we noticed the planting in grassed area next to one of the bus loading stands. And it was the stand that was used by the 48 service. We spent some time assessing focal lengths and also positioning. We opted for a location that allowed the ornamental grasses to fill the left hand corner of the image. It was then a case of getting the best focal length and we opted for the maximum wide-angle capability of the lens.

Editing of the image was minimal, but we have removed the unsightly stand number from the end of the shelter.

The result was satisfactory but lacked in composition on the right hand side. Stepping back a few paces allowed the trunk of a tree to be used to frame the right hand edge. This, in our opinion, worked and the result saw the image used as a centre double-page spread in a Trade magazine.
 
Technical Information
Nikon D5500
Shutter Speed 1/500
Aperture f7.1
ISO 200
Nikon lens giving 12-24mm zoom set at 12mm
Shutter Priority

This was the view from the bedroom window at the farm B&B in the village of Saron, located a few miles to the south of Caernarfon. Although some distance from the farmhouse across the fields and a roadway, the room afforded a spectacular view across Foryd Bay.
 
The views of the Bay changed by the hour as the sun moved position and in my opinion was at its most spectacular at Sunset, although it did need the tide to be in to create the greatest effect. That said, even the remnants of the sun’s rays across the saturated mud layer produced sparkling results.
 
It was challenging not to bleach out the image, and to control the camera’s metering system so that it did not compensate for the light levels. We took many shots over several nights and this was one that we were most pleased with. The golden light illuminates the sky, distant landscape and the bay whilst the bushes in the foreground and the near landscape give a silhouette effect.
 
Technical Information
Nikon D5500
Shutter Speed 1/1200
Aperture f9
ISO 200 asa
Nikon 18-300mm zoom lens set at 300mm
Shutter Priority