Isle of Wight suggestions/advice

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rackhs

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Steve
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Hi all,

On holiday on the Isle of Wight and I want to get some shots at the Needles. I am thinking of doing the 20 min boat trip but wondered if anyone else has and taken shots from the boat or is it not worth it? Going to be my first proper try of landscapes and got myself a 2nd hand 10-24mm to play with so looking forward to it :-)

Also, are there places people would suggest for sunset shots on the island?

Any other advice also greatly received.

Cheers
Steve
 
Better off on the boat, the land side is garbage, IF you can get near! I went once to get some shots, never will I go again, worst part of the IOW as far as I'm concerned!
The rest of the island is fantastic though, some great photo opportunities, Godshill, Shanklin (old part) & Chine, Havenstreet & Railway, Ryde with the ferry's and hovercraft, Tank (military) museum, zoo, botanic garden, bags of wildlife, well you get the picture (pun intended)
Tennison AONB will give you good sunsets, (not far from needles) as it is south/west facing, as is Freshwater Bay.
Yes, I like the Isle of Wight! I'm sure someone else will pop up with more suggestions.
 
I've always thought of the IOW as the Hotel California.
My parents moved there and never returned, and so did one of my sisters...

I prefer the east end of the island, but that may be because I know it better than the rest of the island.
Bembridge and south to Shanklin, the Downs Road. Lots of decent places to visit.
 
I have been to the isle of wight every year for the past 9years isn as its a family thing, If you stick to the east and west sides of the island you can't go wrong, also Bembridge Windmill is another good location to shoot, along with Bembridge Liftboat station which is brill for a long exposure shot. Your find some nice landscapes to shoot across the island to shoot, Specially by Freshwater and if you head down the military road theres some cracking shots to be had down there, and also some Bee-Eaters on the island if your into wildlife, also lots of Red Squirrels in some hidden gem locations across the Island :thumbs:...
 
for the Needles, have you tried the mainland? Go to Keyhaven and Hurst spit which is a recommended viewing point for the round the Island race

Or the Puffin cruises from Lymington quay which during the summer provide an alternative route to Yarmouth

There is an excellent pocket guide to the Island avaliable locally. try the old railway between Yarmouth and Freshwater which is now a footpath/cycleway with tea rooms at Freshwater station

As well as the steam railway, the Island line is run by 70+years old former London Transport tube trains

On my itinery at the end of May is the Yarmouth Old Gaffers festival - traditional rigged sailing ships as opposed to the usual Bermuda rig, with onshore carnival, If you want to see the boats racing, be sure to get there early Sat/Sun
 
I'm visiting the Isle of Wight in May, and would also like some decent shots of the Needles. I have visited Bembridge & Sandown as they are the only two airfields on the island so am looking to visit the West and South coasts of the island. I have thousands of aerial photos of the coastline so it would be nice to get some photos landside. I particularly like wildlife photography, any suggestions on where to go for good shots? Any more info on the Old Gaffers festival as it coincides with my holiday

Thanks
 
hi Steve,

Try this has a map http://www.shothotspot.com/browse/united-kingdom/england/isle-of-wight/hotspots/

. I'm from there and miss it. Not the roads though... worst roads in Europe.. Went to visit the folks at Christmas in the MG and it's like dragging your arse on cobble stones....

Take a Landrover and you will be fine.

Also if you are in Newport go to Steve Gascoinges's shop opposite St Thoms church in the Square... Lots of great landscape work on sale... Next to Lloyds Bank.

http://www.availablelight.cc/

Don't forget... Take a cushion.....
 
Daryl said:
Not the roads though... worst roads in Europe..
Click to expand...

I thought that too... Until I went to Bournemouth a couple of weeks ago. I think roads are generally terrible all over the country now.


Steve.
 
traumahawk said:
I'm visiting the Isle of Wight in May, and would also like some decent shots of the Needles. I have visited Bembridge & Sandown as they are the only two airfields on the island so am looking to visit the West and South coasts of the island. I have thousands of aerial photos of the coastline so it would be nice to get some photos landside. I particularly like wildlife photography, any suggestions on where to go for good shots? Any more info on the Old Gaffers festival as it coincides with my holiday

Thanks
Click to expand...
http://www.yarmoutholdgaffersfestival.co.uk/
 
Tennyson Down for sunsets, Godshill for Oldie Worldie, Cowes for street photography and yacht racing, Newtown Creek for wildlife, Folly Inn for party, Steam Railway.

Just don't be tempted to shoot through the railings at the top secret locations or you may find MoD plod being interested in your camera.
 
st599 said:
Tennyson Down for sunsets, Godshill for Oldie Worldie, Cowes for street photography and yacht racing, Newtown Creek for wildlife, Folly Inn for party, Steam Railway.

Just don't be tempted to shoot through the railings at the top secret locations or you may find MoD plod being interested in your camera.
Click to expand...

One of the handy things about being a pilot... no fences to get in the way when you want to shoot the top secret stuff :)

Ashley
 
I could tell you, but then I would have to kill you ! :)

The prisons and the QinetiQ facility near Cowes if memory serves. There is a danger Area to the West of Cowes also (Shepherd's Hill)

The rocket test area near the Needles (New Battery) was once highly classified but is now open to the public
p113250030-4.jpg
 
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None of those things are top secret if we know about them and they are in plain sight from a public place!

However, if you wave a camera at one of the prisons, you might get a visit from the police - although it's not a crime to photograph them.

For most of his life, my father was the treasurer of the local cycling club. When I was a child we used to go on cycle rides starting near Parkhurst prison. Almost every week the police would turn up wondering why so many people were gathered there!


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
None of those things are top secret if we know about them and they are in plain sight from a public place!

However, if you wave a camera at one of the prisons, you might get a visit from the police - although it's not a crime to photograph them.

For most of his life, my father was the treasurer of the local cycling club. When I was a child we used to go on cycle rides starting near Parkhurst prison. Almost every week the police would turn up wondering why so many people were gathered there!


Steve.
Click to expand...

Nope.

There's one site on the island near Cowes which is a fully restricted location under the Official Secrets Act.
 
Steve Smith said:
What locations here are top secret?!


Steve.
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Didn't there used to be a site up on Brading Down as well? It has been a while since I lived there but still visit relatives.
 
We went to Bonchurch a few years back, nice place with a nice beach at the time
 
Brighstone Forest is Great walk.... You can do the whole Shepherd's Trail Carisbrooke to Freshwater Bay
 
Steve Smith said:
my father was the treasurer of the local cycling club.
Click to expand...

Was he Derek Smith by any chance? I spent my first 39 years on The Island and used to ride with Vectis Roads CC
 
Got national trust membership? The needles battery is well worth a visit and you can get a shot of the rocks from there.
Bembridge windmill is worth a visit, but check opening times. Garlick Farm has a good shop, Freshwater bay has some nice cottages, otherwise, just explore, see what you find
 
Freshwater also has Dimbola Lodge. The former home of Victorian pioneer photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron - now a photographic museum and gallery.


Steve.
 
Steve Smith said:
Mike Smith.


Steve.
Click to expand...

Now that makes more sense! Memory banks on the blink, sorry - couldn't really see Derek as being, well, looking others' money!
 
Steve Smith said:
Freshwater also has Dimbola Lodge. The former home of Victorian pioneer photographer, Julia Margaret Cameron - now a photographic museum and gallery.


Steve.
Click to expand...

I used to rent a flat from the then owner of Dimbola (back in 1973/4). I remember when he told me he's found some 'old photographs' and was having a job 'getting rid of so much old rubbish he'd found in the attic'. This was all before anybody knew too much about Julia Margaret Cameron. When this all came out he was facing hell... he was Polish and he wasn't too well versed in the English Language. It was when he was renovating the adjoining building which was in a state of disrepair, that he found some 'treasure'. It was a whole complicated process to retain these 'treasures'.

I guess, what I'm saying is, all this heritage was nearly lost to the local tip!
 
chuckles said:
Now that makes more sense! Memory banks on the blink, sorry - couldn't really see Derek as being, well, looking others' money!
Click to expand...

Indeed. Especially after his involvement with Leading Leisure!

My father once found a 2p discrepancy in the accounts. After a lot of searching, he realised that the bank had made a mistake. There was an account with a small amount of money in it which had earned 1p interest.... except that the bank had deducted it rather than added it! He made them correct it saying "what if they did that to everyone?".

You might remember my brother, Paul Smith. He was much more active in VRCC than I was.


Steve.
 
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