Location Scouting For Professional Practice - Update 1

Work for my next project has begun! Having conceptualised my piece and decided on locations today I took the first images for the photographic storyboard at locations:

The Lizard Lighthouse - Grid Reference: SW 70381 11594
Dean Quarry - Grid Reference: SW 80014 20564

The Lizard Lighthouse.

Sheltering from the wind at The Lizard Lighthouse

It was one hell of a cold day, and I was struggling with numb hands and feet! The wind was blowing at speeds of up to 20 mph. However these are the sort of conditions I want whilst recording at Dean Quarry, a little less wind would be preferable though. I also visited The Lizard Lighthouse which will feature within the film.

Docking bay at Dean Quarry

Dividing walls

Electrical generators

At the quarry I am hoping to capture the desolate environment of this forgotten place, the quarry has long been out of action however a lot of buildings and signs still stand. A quick google gives you links to urban exploration forums, whilst walking around I found a way into a room with old electrical generators inside. It truly is a great space to explore, the seashore consists of pebbles, which rattle and rumble as the rough sea recedes.

View through concrete channel

I don't want to give too much away at this early stage but I've uploaded a short sound sample which helps convey the mood.

  Rusted Hole In Metal Gate by miles out in the field

More updates soon.

Tug Boat Pulling Fishing Cages

Dissolves into the eerie sounds of the boat and its heavy load. Recorded during summer 2010. Enjoy.

  Led out to sea by miles out in the field

Tests with induction coil pick-up

I got my induction coil pick-up today in the post. I'm totally new to the idea of this gadget, but basically as far as I understand it picks up the electronic whirrings and signals given off by most electronic devices when placed near or against them.

Here are the first couple of recordings I made by moving it around my MacBook...

  Hard Drive Sounds by miles out in the field

  Laptop Sounds by miles out in the field

DolphinEar Pro Hydrophone

Last month I borrowed a DolphinEar Pro hydrophone from the Wildlife Recording Society. It's a terrific microphone, I got the chance to test out some ideas I've had for awhile.

My final year project will certainly draw upon this first recording I made...

  Mylor Boat Yard by miles out in the field 

This recording was taken inside a small cave, the acoustics of such spaces near the sea is fascinating.

  Praa Sands Cave by miles out in the field

Recording featured on Framework Radio Show

I was very pleased to have a recording selected for a radio show dedicated to field recording and phonography.

The chosen recording is 'Lizard', and can be found on my 'Between Us And Out There' album.

The episode can be streamed/downloaded here: http://www.frameworkradio.net/?p=635

Distant sounds from the coastal waters of Skye...

 Recording on the 'Coral Beach', Isle Of Skye

This summer I was lucky enough to have a weeks holiday on The Isle Of Skye. I have been a bit slow in listening through all my recordings, but here is one I was excited about.

  Isle Of Skye, Coral Beach Hydrophone Recording by miles out in the field 

It isn't a particularly clear recording, so you'll need headphones or a good speaker set up. However it's the first I've heard of what is either a dolphin or a whale call, so I thought I'd share it. Anyone who can give me a positive identification please get in touch! 

M11 contact mic study

So it's the summer and I'm here at my parents house for a few weeks, unfortunately the house is located beside the M11. However today instead of cursing it's evil noise pollution I decided to attach a microphone onto it.

This was also a good excuse to use my hydrophone, bought from Jez Riley French (http://hydrophones.blogspot.com/) as a contact microphone. What I got are some dark, industrial sounds, reminiscent of the cold concrete onto which the mic was attached. Interestingly enough though, whilst I was right underneath the motorway the sounds heard were predominately from vehicles passing beside me, the tunnel acting as a reverberating force whilst traffic thundered above.  Here is that very recording...

  Below the M11 by miles out in the field