Go Fife: December sunrise, Seafield, Kirkcaldy

A really dramatic sunrise today in the company of Stuart Low and Scott Masterton.  My first sunrise shoot so the adrenaline was flowing. Was minus something when we arrived and the beach was covered in frost when we packed up.  The tide was on its way out so we had to constantly move down the rocks.  The sky was full of black clouds which added a touch of menace to the already dramatic scene.  

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Although it looks like the type of scenery you would find in The Lord of the Rings, this is the Fife coast between Kirkcaldy and Kinghorn.  Seafield beach to be precise, on the south side of Kirkcaldy.  Accessed from Seafield Road, off Kinghorn Road (A921), the gate to the car park is automatically controlled to open at 6:30am and close at 10:30pm. There is a height restriction for cars only but the parking is free.  

We all set up at different positions along an area of the shore south of Seafield Tower, about a mile from the car park.  The rocks here are tilted and slope into the sea with the channels between being tidal. I got the above shot a few minutes after sunrise having noticed the big rounded boulder was glowing orange in the corner of my eye.  Had to quickly reposition and check all my settings to make sure I got the shot as opportunities like this are rare. 

  All images taken with a Canon EOS 5D mk II with Canon EF 17-40mm f/4L USM lens and Lee ND Grad filters helped with the dynamic range.    

The Olympics comes to Cairneyhill, 13th June

Moment to Shine, Olympic Torch Relay, Cairneyhill, 13th June 2012, a photo by SwaloPhoto on Flickr.

2012 and it was London's turn to host the Olympic and Paralympic Games for a 3rd time.  The games are always preceded by a Torch Relay and this one was to last for 70 days; from 19th May to 27th July.  Approximately 8000 people were to carry the torch a total of 8000 miles (12800 km), starting from Land's End, Cornwall, travelling all the way up to The Shetland Isles before travelling south again, arriving at the Olympic Stadium in London in time for the Games' Opening Ceremony.  The plan was to have the torch pass within one hour's travelling time for 95% of the UK's population so that as many people as possible would have the chance of seeing it.  A wide range of people were to carry the torch around the country, mostly local heroes from the towns and cities that it would pass through, but also sports and other celebrities and military service personnel.

The 2012 Olympic Torches were designed by Edward Barber and Jay Osgerby and made of an aluminium alloy.  They were 80 cm / 31" high, weighed 800 gms / 1.8 lbs. and contained 8,000 holes to represent the 8000 torchbearers who would carry them. The holes helped to keep down the weight, dissipate heat without it being conducted down the handle and provide extra grip.  They were tested to withstand all likely weather conditions, from high winds, rain and snow as the relay was to include the summit of Snowdon, the highest mountain in the UK outside Scotland, as part of its journey.

BBC Torch Relay Broadcast vehicle

The BBC were providing TV coverage of the whole of the Torch Relay with 'live' feeds on one of their digital channels.  It had been well supported too with thousands upon thousands of people out on the streets to see a fleeting glimpse of the torch as it passed through.  

So, Day 26 of the Torch Relay, 13th June, and the route was:  St Andrews, Milnathort, Kinross, Crook of Devon, Alloa, Bridge of Allan, Dunblane, Stirling, Cumbernauld, Larbert, Camelon, Falkirk, Skinflats, Cairneyhill, Crossford, Dunfermline, Hopetoun House, Broxburn, Edinburgh.  The St Andrews leg was to include the torch being carried on West Sands Beach in a recreation of the famous scene filmed on this beach for the film 'Chariots of Fire'.

Cairneyhill, Fife.  Population, about 2500.  A small village west of Dunfermline, on the A994.  Nothing happens in Cairneyhill, except the Gala Day in June.  We have lived here since 1996.  Today the Olympic Torch Relay was coming to town on its way to Edinburgh.  A big deal for the village.  The BBC had estimated that the Relay would arrive here between 1pm and 3pm.  It would be a walk down to the end of our street, along a private lane and out onto the main road.  A distance of 150 metres / 500 ft, that's all.  It would take a few minutes.  I was sure there would be plenty of room too.

The crowds are gathering along Main Street

 So I made my way along to the main street with camera and a couple of lenses, after looking at the feed on the web saying the Relay had left Skinflats.   Arriving on the main street there were already thousands of people lining the street. Quite a few deep.  I wasn't expecting this.  This is Cairneyhill after all.  At the same time,  I was very proud that the turnout was as high as it was.  It was great!  There were signs for temporary Car Parks,  vendors selling Union Jack flags,  bunting between the lamp-posts (it had been the Gala Day the previous weekend) and a carnival atmosphere ensued.  Even the sun was out.   

Outriders with the first cavalcade of supporting vehicles behind

 I crossed over to the other side of the street and waited along with everyone else.  The action would come from the west, from the big roundabout on the main road to the Kincardine Bridge.  First to appear were Police motorcycle outriders followed by the first cavalcade.  This included sponsors floats from Samsung and Coca-Cola, together with a BMW car in the official 'Olympic Torch Relay / Moment to Shine' livery of gold and white.  They came through quite slowly with loud speakers proclaiming that the torch was 6 minutes away.

The supporting acts arrive on Main Street

Outrider

Soon enough it was time for the main event.  More Police outriders first, then a surge as the crowd moved out, spilling over the kerbs for a better view and the chance of a photo or two.  I got down low to avoid the heads and elbows of everyone else from getting in the way.  Schoolchildren were waving flags and cheering.  

The BBC Live Broadcast van, again in the offical 'Olympic Torch Relay / Moment to Shine' livery went by and right behind, flanked by the police escort runners was Cameron Walker with the Olympic Torch in his right hand.  It was his 'Moment to Shine'.  He has cystic fibrosis but has completed some of the hardest endurance events in Europe including the Ben Nevis Triathlon, Lochalsh Ultra Marathon, Land's End to John O' Groats by bike, Loch Ness Marathon and Caledonian ETAPE. I nearly forgot to press the shutter but managed a few shots before he disappeared further up the Main Street to the cheers and clapping of the flag waving crowd. 

Cameron Walker's 'Moment to Shine'

His relay leg was over further along as he handed over to David Hilton who has overcome three brain tumours and is a volunteer speaker for MacMillan Cancer Support.  At the end of the village the Relay goes into Convoy Mode again for the short journey to Crossford, another small village, where more bearers will run with the torch.  They are in for a treat.

So, its all over.  In slightly under 10 minutes.  The Olympics passes through Cairneyhill.  The BBC said on their Olympic Torch Relay blog -  "Lovely big crowd waiting for the torch in Cairneyhill".  Now its disbursing.  Back to the schools and homes and other villages in the area.  A Moment of History witnessed by thousands.  I'll not see the torch again in my lifetime, nor will the UK get the Games again in my lifetime.  Quite an event.  

Update - September 2012

As for the Games, they were the best ever.   From the Opening and Closing Ceremonies, and everything in between.  In total Britain won 29 Gold, 17 Silver and 19 Bronze medals - the best medal haul since the 1908 Olympics,  in London.  

Every Games needs a defining moment.  In London there were many.       

Usain Bolt defended his 100 metres and 200 metres sprint titles and won a 3rd Gold with the Jamaican 100 metre sprint relay team.  He is now a self proclaimed 'living legend'.  Few would disagree.  Probably the Games most defining moment and backed up by Mo Farrah who won the mens 5000 metre and 10000 metre titles.  

Bradley Wiggins won the mens individual time trial to go with his Tour de France win, Andy Murray won the Olympic tennis title at Wimbledon and Sir Chris Hoy won his 6th Gold cycling medal to become Britain's most successful Olympic Champion.  

There were so many great moments, not all of them human too.  Horses were dancing to classical music, perfectly.  It was brilliant.  

All images can be viewed on my Flickr site by clicking on my Flickr badge or clicking on the headline picture.

Satellite map of Cairneyhill is provided below:

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Go Fife: East Neuk Sunset - Valentine's Day

On a weeks' annual leave and with this being Valentine's Day we decided to go to Anstruther for a fish-supper at The Anstruther Fish Bar.  It had been dull all day and driving the 45 or so miles out from Cairneyhill to the East Neuk was no different.  Sometimes we get all 4 seasons in a day, unfortunately today wasn't one of them. I had packed my camera gear more in hope really.  Instead of going directly to Anstruther we stopped off at Pittenweem and parked on the sea front at the far end of the harbour overlooking the Firth of Forth. The sky was getting darker as day turned into night without any form of sunset at all.

Pittenweem is a commercial fishing port, the busiest and liveliest in the East Neuk, and a number of the boats were on their way back into port.  You could see their lights out at sea.  Grabbing my camera pack and tripod I went for a wander around the harbour in the fading light which I always tend to do when I visit.  I ended up on the harbour wall which leads onto the long pier / breakwater which protects the harbours narrow entrance.  Two or three boats chugged passed into the harbour and I was so pre-occupied with watching them that I nearly didn't notice the change going on with the sky.  

The dull dark grey of the oncoming night was breaking up from the west to reveal a sky already full of the colours of the setting sun.  It was as if someone had opened the curtains on the sky and it was completely unexpected.  Straight into action to get my camera onto the tripod.  At least I was in a great spot on the pier at the harbour entrance. The light levels were already pretty low.  I didn't need any filters, just a quick check of ISO and aperture and I was hitting the 2 sec. shutter release.  I spent about 10 minutes at the harbour entrance before moving back along the harbour walls towards The Gyles.

  

Just before 6pm there was another change as the whole sky turned a deep crimson red, as if the sun didn't want to let go. It was just incredible! I don't think I had even seen colour like that.  Walking back to the car the twilight, or ‘gloaming’ light as it is referred to in Scotland, started to fade into darkness.  An hour earlier you would not have believed this was going to happen. Christine was waiting for me in the 'Larachmhor', opposite the harbourmaster's office, when I finally put my camera away.  She had seen it too.  What struck me was that there were very few people about at all.  I had been the only one at the harbour with a camera so I probably had some unique shots.

And then it was on to Anstruther for our tea from the award winning fish bar.  No queue's this time as it was mid-week. The best sunset over Fife between the winter solstice and the vernal equinox.  Quite amazing to witness and all because it was Valentine’s Day and our desire to grab a fish supper in the Neuk instead of going to a local pub for dinner.  

Satellite map of Pittenweem below: