Wednesday, 24 September 2008
No Goodwood Gallery just yet
The next gallery will not be able to go up for a while as I have exceeded my bandwidth. This is such a shame, but I will attempt to resolve this situation as soon as possible.
Goodwood lives up to its sobriquet – Glorious!
One can only presume that Lord March has some divine connections – how else can he have had good weather on all three days of the Revival Meeting amidst the dismal weather we have had over the summer?
As on every occasion that I have been fortunate to visit Goodwood, the atmosphere was one of incredible good-natured enjoyment from everyone, visitors and staff alike. One cannot praise enough all those who were in positions away from all the excitement who nevertheless wore smiles of genuine enjoyment. I was a little disappointed by the amount of discarded cups and packaging that the members of the public disdainfully left behind for others to clear later.
I came down to Goodwood via Rickmansworth where shortly after six-thirty I picked up Patricia and Nick Rayner, and later met up with Keith Duerden and son in law. The trip was delightful as we watched the mist dispel and the sun rise, offering the promise of the good weather we encountered once we had arrived. As a result of being part of a loose group, the day was very varied and this shows in the disjointed nature of the pictures I took, but it was great to be able to work entirely with just the one lens all day long on the Canon 5D – the Sigma 150-500mm optically-stabilised zoom. For some shots however it might have been handy to have had another body with a shorter lens attached, so I could be found walking backwards to be far enough away to focus!
Now much as I love my Canon 5D, I am considering offering it for sale to allow me to step up to the MarkII version, which sounds absolutely fantastic. After raiding savings to buy that, my eyes are now watering for something in the middle of the range, but having generally been blessed with over-secreting want glands, I have to also consider other upgrades such as a MacBook Pro, but in keeping with everyone else, I have been totally unsuccessful in propagating money trees!
Anyway for my close family and a few colleagues unable to attend the meeting there is another gallery of images from the day. Do enjoy.
As on every occasion that I have been fortunate to visit Goodwood, the atmosphere was one of incredible good-natured enjoyment from everyone, visitors and staff alike. One cannot praise enough all those who were in positions away from all the excitement who nevertheless wore smiles of genuine enjoyment. I was a little disappointed by the amount of discarded cups and packaging that the members of the public disdainfully left behind for others to clear later.
I came down to Goodwood via Rickmansworth where shortly after six-thirty I picked up Patricia and Nick Rayner, and later met up with Keith Duerden and son in law. The trip was delightful as we watched the mist dispel and the sun rise, offering the promise of the good weather we encountered once we had arrived. As a result of being part of a loose group, the day was very varied and this shows in the disjointed nature of the pictures I took, but it was great to be able to work entirely with just the one lens all day long on the Canon 5D – the Sigma 150-500mm optically-stabilised zoom. For some shots however it might have been handy to have had another body with a shorter lens attached, so I could be found walking backwards to be far enough away to focus!
Now much as I love my Canon 5D, I am considering offering it for sale to allow me to step up to the MarkII version, which sounds absolutely fantastic. After raiding savings to buy that, my eyes are now watering for something in the middle of the range, but having generally been blessed with over-secreting want glands, I have to also consider other upgrades such as a MacBook Pro, but in keeping with everyone else, I have been totally unsuccessful in propagating money trees!
Anyway for my close family and a few colleagues unable to attend the meeting there is another gallery of images from the day. Do enjoy.
Saturday, 20 September 2008
A Warm and Sunny Afternoon Tempts Me Out
Yes, I could carry on working, but 'sunny' and 'warm' have not come together much of late, so after charging all my batteries, I grabbed my camera backpack and was off to see what I could capture at Marston Moretaine.
There is the Millennium Park there – disused quarries from brickwork days, and I was sure that I might just capture some dragonflies. I was lucky, I even managed one in flight!
I also spotted a rabbit, but the shot was nothing special, however the reeds and teasels, the pair of chinese dancers (fuschias), and the carvings did interest me; as did the reflections and shoreline. I hope they can be of interest to readers of this blog.
Tomorrow I join Patricia and Nick Rayner to pay another visit to Goodwood for this year's Revival Meeting, and we'll meet up with Keith Duerden when we arrive. I first met up with Patricia and Keith when they were the photographic department at Mobil Oil In Victoria, just a few years back – in the last century and the days of film!
There is the Millennium Park there – disused quarries from brickwork days, and I was sure that I might just capture some dragonflies. I was lucky, I even managed one in flight!
I also spotted a rabbit, but the shot was nothing special, however the reeds and teasels, the pair of chinese dancers (fuschias), and the carvings did interest me; as did the reflections and shoreline. I hope they can be of interest to readers of this blog.
Tomorrow I join Patricia and Nick Rayner to pay another visit to Goodwood for this year's Revival Meeting, and we'll meet up with Keith Duerden when we arrive. I first met up with Patricia and Keith when they were the photographic department at Mobil Oil In Victoria, just a few years back – in the last century and the days of film!
Friday, 19 September 2008
A Quick Visit to Nexus Restorations
Grant Jenkins used to work for Metro Photographic in London, and now works with Nexus Restorations. I had cleared my work, and the sun tempted me out to nearby Kimpton to pay him a visit. Naturally the reason behind this trip was to take yet more photographs, this time of men at work.
I was made extremely welcome, and I quickly set up my tripod. It was amazing how quickly everything was covered by fine sawdust! I left the camera and tripod cases outside. There were going to be no changing of lenses today! Also I found shooting with the 80-400mm on the tripod was none too easy and soon dropped that in favour of shooting handheld, and upping the speed to 800 ISO.
I was also asked to take some pictures of Pickle, the dog, but that was done outside for reasons of Health & Safety. I shall put up temporarily a small gallery of pictures of her as well.
I tried to get a variety of different angles, which did rather favour Steve, purely because I could work all around him! I hope the shots give some pleasure; it was certainly fun to try to capture what went on in such a tight timeframe.
I was made extremely welcome, and I quickly set up my tripod. It was amazing how quickly everything was covered by fine sawdust! I left the camera and tripod cases outside. There were going to be no changing of lenses today! Also I found shooting with the 80-400mm on the tripod was none too easy and soon dropped that in favour of shooting handheld, and upping the speed to 800 ISO.
I was also asked to take some pictures of Pickle, the dog, but that was done outside for reasons of Health & Safety. I shall put up temporarily a small gallery of pictures of her as well.
I tried to get a variety of different angles, which did rather favour Steve, purely because I could work all around him! I hope the shots give some pleasure; it was certainly fun to try to capture what went on in such a tight timeframe.
Monday, 15 September 2008
Gordon Hickie comes of age – Sixty!
I was invited to join Kit Greveson and James Greveson Hickie to help celebrate Gordon Hickie's sixtieth birthday party in a school gym in North London on Sunday 14th September. Due to being too busy sorting myself out and diabolical traffic I arrived late.
Fortunately for a change, the weather was fine and bright, with the sun streaming through the high windows for much of the time.
The room was crowded with small groups of chatting friends and families, so I grabbed some food and sat down to eat something before grabbing my camera to try to capture some of the jollity.
In the main I was taking photos of the band members and those friends of Kit and Gordon that I knew or that I knew were family, and anything photogenic that caught my eye. I was fully aware that most people were taking their own pictures, so really that was all I was doing, the only difference being that my lens was less intrusive (though conspicuous of itself!) as I was generally further away.
I have put up this gallery so others can share the moments I saw and captured. I hope that they give you as much pleasure as I got from taking them.
Gordon is currently the Director of Photography for Holby City, with shows like Silent Witness to his name, and feature films such as Leon the Pig Farmer and Clockwork Mice.
Fortunately for a change, the weather was fine and bright, with the sun streaming through the high windows for much of the time.
The room was crowded with small groups of chatting friends and families, so I grabbed some food and sat down to eat something before grabbing my camera to try to capture some of the jollity.
In the main I was taking photos of the band members and those friends of Kit and Gordon that I knew or that I knew were family, and anything photogenic that caught my eye. I was fully aware that most people were taking their own pictures, so really that was all I was doing, the only difference being that my lens was less intrusive (though conspicuous of itself!) as I was generally further away.
I have put up this gallery so others can share the moments I saw and captured. I hope that they give you as much pleasure as I got from taking them.
Gordon is currently the Director of Photography for Holby City, with shows like Silent Witness to his name, and feature films such as Leon the Pig Farmer and Clockwork Mice.
Saturday, 13 September 2008
Artists' Day at Luton Hoo's Walled Garden
After a lengthy trip back from Durham, and a night's rest, I spent the morning getting myself sorted for the next photographic sortie – another trip just down the road to Luton Hoo Estate, where the middle of the day was designated a day for artists and photographers. Upon my arrival I pulled up to see Charlotte Phillips with a fork in hand busily putting the finishing touches to weeding and tilling a small patch just outside the octagonal wall of the Gardens.
I was determined to capture this moment so that no one could ever accuse her of not getting her hands dirty! Charlotte heads up the project to bring these gardens back into use and restore them to their former glory – a daunting task for which I hope some of my pictures may help to provide evidence of all those volunteers who give of their time to this never-ending onslaught against weather and bugs, and of some of the beauty already to be found from their hard work.
I went quietly around engaging with the artists and photographers to ensure that no one minded my taking their photographs, and tried to capture the spirit of what had turned out to be a glorious summer afternoon. I found myself chatting to several artists and one or two fellow photographers, and the results of this sojourn are also to be found in the Galleries section on the right.
Sunday will see me visiting friends of mine, Kit Greveson and Gordon Hickie, and their son James, to celebrate Gordon's 60th! Gordon is director of photography for Holby City, who also directed Leon the Pig Farmer and Clockwork Mice. I think I see another gallery coming on…
Next weekend another photographer friend of mine Nick Rayner will join me to visit the Goodwood Revival Meeting as a guest of Lord March, so hopefully another gallery of images…
I was determined to capture this moment so that no one could ever accuse her of not getting her hands dirty! Charlotte heads up the project to bring these gardens back into use and restore them to their former glory – a daunting task for which I hope some of my pictures may help to provide evidence of all those volunteers who give of their time to this never-ending onslaught against weather and bugs, and of some of the beauty already to be found from their hard work.
I went quietly around engaging with the artists and photographers to ensure that no one minded my taking their photographs, and tried to capture the spirit of what had turned out to be a glorious summer afternoon. I found myself chatting to several artists and one or two fellow photographers, and the results of this sojourn are also to be found in the Galleries section on the right.
Sunday will see me visiting friends of mine, Kit Greveson and Gordon Hickie, and their son James, to celebrate Gordon's 60th! Gordon is director of photography for Holby City, who also directed Leon the Pig Farmer and Clockwork Mice. I think I see another gallery coming on…
Next weekend another photographer friend of mine Nick Rayner will join me to visit the Goodwood Revival Meeting as a guest of Lord March, so hopefully another gallery of images…
Trip to Durham
On Thursday, 11th September, Jane and I took a trip to Durham, arriving a minute before the time she predicted – fairly remarkable for a journey of two hundred and forty-eight miles, and although I did take a short detour to a garage no longer selling petrol, and went twice around one roundabout to check my bearings, I can only conclude that she expected me to make those mistakes!
The destination was the Marriott County Hotel, and incredibly, a space beckoned in the crowded car park. Two trips later, my impedimenta were lodged in my room, which I can only surmise the staff mistook for a sauna - it took me nearly a minute to turn it down to 16˚C, and more than half an hour before I could consider it moderately cool!
I was there to do a workshop on Lightroom and Photoshop CS3.
I then set off to find Caroline Smith, Craig Richardson and Jason Candlin my contacts within IMI, none of whom I had met before. It was not long, partly due to everyone being tethered to mobile phones, I also met up with Stephen Owen, who was anchored to an iPhone (I think just to fill me with envy! Or perhaps it was to remind me there are earlier adopters of technology than me!) Steve was in truth Apple's Man for the Show. All were bubbling with vitality, keen to help and determined to make the Show a success. I was made to feel completely at ease straightway.
The first event from my standpoint was to grab my two cameras and walk the short distance over the main road and up the cobbled road across a bridge to a waiting boat, Caroline was to be the last person aboard, and then we would cast off.
Here was my chance to capture some images that would be used in Friday's workshop – we were lucky enough to have some weak and milky sunlight, so after a 'banking' shot of the boat at the river's edge, I focussed my attention on taking portraits of the more animated passengers or those whose faces were familiar – results are in the IMI Boat Trip Gallery on the right. Enjoy.
The destination was the Marriott County Hotel, and incredibly, a space beckoned in the crowded car park. Two trips later, my impedimenta were lodged in my room, which I can only surmise the staff mistook for a sauna - it took me nearly a minute to turn it down to 16˚C, and more than half an hour before I could consider it moderately cool!
I was there to do a workshop on Lightroom and Photoshop CS3.
I then set off to find Caroline Smith, Craig Richardson and Jason Candlin my contacts within IMI, none of whom I had met before. It was not long, partly due to everyone being tethered to mobile phones, I also met up with Stephen Owen, who was anchored to an iPhone (I think just to fill me with envy! Or perhaps it was to remind me there are earlier adopters of technology than me!) Steve was in truth Apple's Man for the Show. All were bubbling with vitality, keen to help and determined to make the Show a success. I was made to feel completely at ease straightway.
The first event from my standpoint was to grab my two cameras and walk the short distance over the main road and up the cobbled road across a bridge to a waiting boat, Caroline was to be the last person aboard, and then we would cast off.
Here was my chance to capture some images that would be used in Friday's workshop – we were lucky enough to have some weak and milky sunlight, so after a 'banking' shot of the boat at the river's edge, I focussed my attention on taking portraits of the more animated passengers or those whose faces were familiar – results are in the IMI Boat Trip Gallery on the right. Enjoy.
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