Bodmin Moor,Cornwall - August 2003
I spent two nights in this magical place photographing the stars,and throughout the first night had wondered what exactly had been making the various noises I had heard around me - mostly the sound of hooves and the occasional snort,so I figured they were horses,but was half expecting a cow to stumble into my tripod and demolish equipment its taken me two years to put together - not a nice prospect,so I remained weary that first night ! At first light my suspicions were proved right - mainly horses and a few sheep that had been keeping me company that night,so I packed up all my astro photo gear,and grabbed the Nikon and my 600mm. By the time everything was put away the horses had drifted off and where out off sight over the ridge so I followed with my tripod and 600mm on my shoulder after having taken a few pics with the 50mm of the Eastern sky just before sunrise.
When I caught up with them,the first golden rays of sunshine were peaking out from behind the higher ground over in the East,but as I went for my first shots,the cable release adapter thread gave out and without a spare I was forced to operate the shutter by hand,and use the best long lens technique I could muster - Luckily some of the shots seem to have come out sharp,which was a pleasant surprise!
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