Vitamin B12 – Citroen flavoured

“Vitamin B12 has a key role in the normal functioning of the brain” – the Citroen B12 racing car from around 1924 has now taken hold of my nephew in much the same way! He purchased the car from racing driver Graham Capel, who personally delivered it to Alex. I was honoured by being asked to pick Alex up from Luton Airport so that he could be present for its arrival.

What a shame that the weather was so inauspicious; it was grey, dull and threatening to rain. We arrived after Graham, so I took a few photographs of the car on its trailer before going in to meet the seller. By the time I came in and was introduced, Graham had already learned that I had been a Marshal and regularly attended Goodwood, and he had fired Glory, my sister in law, with enthusiasm for the car, its history, and the idea of going to the Revival Meeting with the car.

The threat of rain, and our arrival, curtailed further conversation, so Alex, Graham and I set to, getting the car around to its new home. I took a few more shots, so we had a record of its arrival and handover. I also managed to capture the feeling of awe on Alex’s face and his intrigue, as Graham showed him photos, catalogue, advertisements and history that all added to the provenance of the vehicle; he was thrilled to learn he was being given these as well.

We just managed to get the car off the trailer and under cover before the rain. We then spent some time learning something more about starting the car, where things were stored and small points of interest. After Graham left we did some more manoeuvring to put the car securely in a garage.

I look forward to seeing the car restored and running on the road, hopefully in sunshine!

Sunny Day after the Storm

It is a week since I took these shots, and sadly the North of England has since suffered the heaviest single downfall of rain on record, with massive losses to their local houses and businesses, and the tragic loss of a policeman from a bridge collapse at Workington.

The Lake District has a powerful pull on tourists for its beauty, I do hope that those that visit in the near future will remember that such beauty can hide the awful tragedy wrought by the power of all that water. We need to fully realise and plan for our defence from the awesome power of Nature.

In the South, and in inland areas beyond the flood plains, we need to appreciate just how lucky we can be to not suffer from such cataclysmic forces. We suffered just a few tree branches blown down, but in Cumbria they lost livelihoods.

The sun was out early down here in the Home Counties, and blue skies prevailed with little hint of the destruction of the night before and what was to follow just a short week later, up North. I decided that work I had to do could wait, whilst I went out and took advantage of the warmth and sunshine to capture what was left of beauty in the nearby countryside.

I was lucky to be photographing a landscape when a rustling nearby turned out to be a badger! My camera was on a tripod, so I only managed to catch this fleeting glimpse of Brock in daylight. Its home turned out to be beneath the bole of the tree right in front of where I stood, shielded by ferns.

There were still signs of autumn colour, and a few hardy flowers, with even some optimistic buds that I managed to capture, as I and numerous others, took advantage of this brief spell of warmth and sunshine. I dedicate these images to those less fortunate.

Tunnel Vision

I am doing my bit here to redress the imbalance where good news travels less fast than bad.

Patricia Rayner, a friend and fellow photographer, whom I first knew when she worked for the Mobil Oil Company based in Victoria, London, now jointly runs Image 2 Photography.

Patricia is still taking award-winning photographs, having recently been honoured in the Industrial category of the ‘2009 British Institute of Professional Photography International Awards’ for this stunning image.


Whilst working on a shoot for VolkerFitzpatrick, who were fitting out a new underground station at St. Pancras International, Patricia was drawn to a rather drab tunnel at one of the platform ends. With her typical flash of inspiration, she created this stunning shot by the addition of a backlit human figure and later some work in Photoshop to change the overall colour.

I think you’ll agree the award was well-deserved.








© Image 2 Photography

Babraham Bonfire

Although the night was cold, at least it was dry. Although I had my camera with me, I had not got my tripod, so I took very few shots, and they were silhouettes, one of a mother and child and several of a couple conveniently placed between the dying bonfire and myself.

I visualised them as potential covers to a Mills & Boon romance! I thought they were fun.

Autumn and a Milton Keynes Car Park

Colour and beauty are not normally associated with Milton Keynes, but if that is your perception, you would be wrong. The car parks are bordered and divided by trees and shrubs, and have been well-chosen for their colour in autumn, as I found when I visited recently. Americans refer to our season rather too literally as fall, as this describes only how the trees and bushes shed their leaves. Autumn says so much more, as was demonstrated to me, and how I hope I have portrayed in this selection of images from the trip.

It was windy, and not always blessed with sunshine, so in some of the shots I endeavoured to capture the variations and feel for what was happening. When inside the Shopping Centre, I also tried to show how light played its part in highlighting architectural detail and how it gave long shadows when the sun was out.

None of these images have been into Photoshop; these colours are real, their intensity except in isolated cases, was as I saw them, the contrasts were provided by those who planted them, and I compliment those who made the choices, and those who have tended them. I hope I have proved that a car park can contain and display beauty for those who care to look.