This Way For Peace

Christmas Eve already!

I feel I'm not prepared at all, I still have shopping to do and other jobs that must be done. So in true professional, procrastinating style I sat here and processed an image instead!

I shot this yesterday whilst out walking and I must admit I'm not sure about it. I shot a few other frames but shots of the church covered in show was doing nothing for me this morning, pretty though it was.

Let me know you thoughts as always and let me take this opportunity to wish you a Happy Christmas. Whilst we enjoy ourselves let us not forget those who may not be so fortunate.

CM2009

Before The Show

I must admit I'm feeling a bit flat on the photography front.

Other things have occupied my time and the upshot is that the camera has hardly left the bag over the last few weeks. I hope to get out over the holidays and be able to shoot some new material but in the meantime I still have al ot of files still to work through, when I can find the time.......

I shot this whilst waiting for a fireworks display during Cromer's carnival week. Everyone was crowding onto the pier to find a good spot so I took the opportunity to take my camera and tripod down onto the beach and get some long exposures, I still got back in time for the display-oooooooh aaaaaaaaaaah ;)

CM2009

Celebrate!

Well that's it, over the hill, all washed up!

Yup I'm 40 today so this old can of beer seemed appropriate :) I shall enjoy one or two tonight and in reality the age doesn't really bother me, I don't feel any different ;)

CM 2009

20p View

Blah blah blah.........................or I've nothing new to say since last time.

Work has been crazier if anything but I'm sure you're sick of me talking about it. I've blogged just to give my brain a rest from thinking about it! I sure am looking forward to some time off over Christmas, I've just got to convince the family that the black Christmas tree is in fact a cool idea ;)

As for the image, not a lot to say about that really either, it is what it is!

CM2009

Time

It's been another week since I last posted.

It's all been work, work, work, evenings & weekends but last weekend I was trying to be efficient and clear some RAW files from my hard drive, either by processing them or just deleting them because I knew I would never use them.

I didn't get through many but it's a start eh? Anyhoo I came across this one which quite liked and seeing the little time I've had over recent weeks it seemed most appropriate!

CM2009

Wire

This weeks See It Sunday theme is wire.

I didn't think I had anything for that but then I remembered some shots I took way back in March of this year and came up with this. Other than that I don't think there's much more I have to say about it really.

CM2009

Remembrance

Armistice day

I don't think there's anything more to say except we will remember them.

CM2009

Where Have All The Flowers Gone?

Long Time Passing........

Lest We Forget.

CM2009

Golden Age

Anyone who has been reading for more than a day or so will realise I have a head stuck in the past.

Mostly it's the 40's but I just like old stuff in general. I like to rescue things, fix them, restore them and of course photograph them. Perhaps it's my age making things worse? In a few short weeks I shall be 40, life has whizzed by so far so fast that perhaps I am looking at "the good old days" with ever more rose tinted spectacles?

I was going to say that maybe I'll have a mid life crisis soon but I've had a look around and the evidence of cupboards full of model kits, balsa wood gliders, a 1980's BMX and all sorts of other retro junk here in my office tell me that I haven't actually grown up yet so I'm at no risk whatsoever ;O) Phew!!

The above image sparked this off, I think this old train is suited well to the textures treatment but I have chucked in an extra twist on this one.

Let me know your thoughts as ever.

CM2009

I'd Rather Be Beside

Work has been unrelenting lately and shows no signs of slowing down.

Don't get me wrong folks, I know this is a good thing especially in the current climate but a whole day off would be nice and I haven't had one for quite a while. So I'd rather be here (or there, in the image) eating a bag of hot fish n chips and watching the sun go down ;O)

CM2009

Ghost Train

I was hoping for a better day and it started out pretty well..........

I was doing a job I have done literally thousands of times over the last twenty odd years. I won't go into detail but it involves a large kitchen knife and rolling an item to trim off the excess. I slipped and put the knife into my middle finger of my left hand with all the pressure of my right arm. Stupid! Now a million jobs are far more difficult or impossible.

Don't get me wrong, I know it'll heal up but it did make me think about the disabilities that people cope with on a permanent basis. It's amazed me just how much I use that digit, even typing this is difficult. I remember my brother losing his big toe through an infection and telling me how it affected your balance greatly. He eventually lost his leg below the knee and had a terrible time trying to adjust, never really did. Sometimes when we're having a bad day and moaning about it (just as I was yesterday) we should really stop and think for a moment.....

The image then. We were lucky enough to take a steam train ride whilst away this year, it was fantastic, I felt like a five year old. I shot quite a few frames and this was one. It was suggested to me a while back that textured images are sometimes used as an excuse to cover up a bad image, I don't agree, this frame was just fine. I just happen to like to use textures now and again, with Halloween coming up this weekend I thought this had an appropriately ghostly feel ;)

Let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

After The Rain

It's Monday, what more can I say?

I'm not one to moan (hold on, yes I am) but something today really ticked me off. I can't go on without mentioning names etc so I won't, here's hoping tomorrow is a better day!

The image then; the only day we had any rain whilst away this year was our last day there. It wasn't much but sent everyone dashing for cover which cleared the crowded pier in an instant. Just after it stopped I took the opportunity to click a couple of frames, I would have preferred it to be devoid of people altogether but I guess you have to get up early for that!

CM2009

Steady As

A bit of a washout weekend really.

A silly reoccurring dream saw me awake at stupid o'clock on Saturday morning and at work at just gone 6am. Then home to my ill wife and felt a bit rough myself (thanks Jo for sharing with us ;). Had lots planned for today but with one thing or another I seemed to accomplish very little!

Another shot from along the Norfolk coast then, just walking along the beach and came across these. Not much more to say about it really.

CM2009

In The Frame

So I said that I would be processing some images on my last post.

Well I did but then some twerp managed to cut through the telephone line and the lines were down for two days for the whole village!!

I shot several frames at this scene whilst I still had a little light and was able to hand hold (left the tripod back at the house). Then all these folks turned up so I shot some more and was glad I did so. I had a further dilemma in as much as I couldn't decide between this version and B&W, they have a completely different feel to each other, if you're interested you can see the B&W version here.

Let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

In Pursuit of Perfection

I knew I hadn't blogged for a while , maybe a few days, a week perhaps. Well it came as a shock to me that it had in fact been 18 days!!

I've just been busy at home and definitely work too, it's gone crazy and being a very small place we're struggling to keep up at the moment!

So onto the image then, nothing remarkable about it in photography terms I know. I was asked not such a short time ago (in fact it was quite a long time ago) if I thought I could make an artist's watercolour box. Based on an antique design but with an extra drawer so it could hold tubes of colour as well as pans of colour in the top section. It will be on display in Ace Arts shop towards the end of this of this week. Oh yes and I did make the brushes too!

As for the title; Perfection it is not and that's the point. I strive for perfection in almost everything I do usually to my detriment, especially when making something. I never meet that goal, the perfectionists curse! Perhaps one day I shall achieve that aim but I doubt it, there will always be something I will wish I had done better, whether that be making something, taking and processing photographs or washing the car! I'm still trying to work out if this is a good or bad frame of mind to be in?

I'm going to try and process some more stuff tonight so hopefully it won't be too long before I post some real photography ;)

CM2009

Felbrigg

A quick post tonight as I've been dashing around all over the place and I'm beat!

This is Felbrigg Hall which is a National Trust property just outside of Cromer. A fascinating place with wonderful gardens and woodland walks too, well worth a visit.

Let me know your thoughts as ever, they're much appreciated.

CM2009

High n Dry

So the government propose to remove hospital parking charges within three years?

Wow, well done Gordy, they'll be back to what they used to be which is free! Honestly having just spent an unscheduled trip to the hospital A&E this evening and having to park outside some distance away because I had no cash on me it can't come soon enough. I do hate the way they talk as if they're doing us a big favour by giving us back what we had in the first place!!

Back on Blakeney Marsh today and another boat. Not left abandoned this time though, this one appeared to be someone's home and despite being high and dry when I was there I guess that all the ropes and chains mean the tide gets up here at some point.

Let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

Last Bus To Vectis

I'm still thinking about yesterday's rant so I don't have a new one for today.

Despite the fact that I still have lots on I'm trying to make an effort to post on a more regular basis. I've a lot of images backed up that I really would like to get posted. In fact I have a small problem, I've mentioned before that I hold on to far too many RAW files and now the camera has clicked passed 9999 images and started counting again!! Duplication is going to become a problem!!

I attracted some curious stares on Sunday as I lay down on the floor quite a bit looking for a different angle. One chap actually stopped me saying he'd never thought of getting down that low and asked to have a look at the frame, which was in fact this frame. He liked it and I did too so here it is :)

CM2009

Brushing Up

I heard of a new council scheme today, at the moment in Exeter but it's sure to spread rapidly if it's implemented.

What is this scheme? Well all of those out of town supermarkets that were opposed at the time but the council allowed anyway, now they wish to tax the free car parking spaces provided at these places.

The reason? To save the environment and to encourage us back to the high street. Now the last time I looked at a bus timetable (some time ago I admit) where I live I could either get the one bus a week that goes to the town I wish to visit (I'd have to take a day off of work to do so because it's in the week) or I could get another bus and change three times to make what is a five minute journey by car. In other words I'm unlikely to take public transport. Now shopping in local or high street stores is something that I try to do often, especially independent shops but let's face facts high council business rates have forced most of them out of business already!

Perhaps I do not explain myself very well but the bottom line as I see it is that this is just another tax on us and I'm sick of being taxed to death! They know full well that nothing will change and most people will still go to the supermarkets, either the shop will charge for parking or they'll put goods up and pay for it that way. I pay road tax, tax on my petrol, tax on my insurance premium, an MOT charge, VAT on service and spares-you get the picture!

Talking of pictures :) we went out for the day to Duxford and the bus show yesterday so in a break from the Norfolk images here's one from there. No problem catching a bus here ;O)

CM2009

Day & Night

I'm not going to apologise again. You know where I've been and yes I am the slowest decorator in the world!

It stems from the fact that I decide to change everything even those fixtures I was sure were permanent last time and I would never have to change them again ;) Also the perfectionist in me comes to the fore as it does quite often and I spend a silly amount of time trying to get the little things just right, ho hum.

Underneath Cromer pier then in this shot. Many happy times spent here with friends, searching for shells etc on scavenger hunts by day and some evenings too making sure the girls didn't get scared in the dark ;O)

CM2009

No Turning Back

A little later than planned here's the street shot I promised last time out.

I've really not had the time for posting and indeed comments so apologies to you if I haven't got around to your blog the last few days. I have far too much on the brain so I must confess I just took an evening off, perhaps that's not the right approach, who knows, I just needed to switch off for a while.

I realise that street stuff isn't everyone's cup of tea but I saw it, shot it and liked it. Let me know what you think, good or bad.

CM2009

Helter Skelter

Well I guess apologies are in order for my lack of posting. It's not like I don't have the shots to post either!!

Work has been crazy since returning and has shown no signs of relenting (which is a good thing) and the home stuff is just chaos frankly with not a lot of progress, hopefully that will move forward this weekend.

So with all that dashing around and feeling stressed I though I'd take a moment to post something calming. In terms of pp I've hardly changed anything on this. Next time I think it'll be some street stuff ;O)

CM2009

Worlds Apart

We've just spent the evening at a hog roast works gathering in Highgate so big thanks to my boss for an enjoyable evening.

On another note I'd like to thank the little s*%t that stole from my car this week. Thinking, probably, that he/she had stolen a mobile phone and a measly £1 coin what you actually got was a £1 shaped token to use in a supermarket trolley and a remote control for a car stereo which is completely useless to you, well done, your parents must be so proud!!!!

This is another shot from my hols, the title may have different meanings for you depending on how you look at it.

CM2009

Sea Breeze

Back to work this week, it's strange how quickly you can become accustomed to doing your own thing every day. I can honestly say I didn't miss work!

Another from my hols then, just something I saw whilst walking along the beach in the blistering heat, yes I really did say that about an August holiday in England.

That's about all, I'm bushed for today, let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

Documented Demise

Just one day of holidays left and it's back to work for me.

All the house stuff is on hold waiting for the plasterer to come and do his thing so we have to live with the devastation for now.

This is another, obviously, of the boat at Blakeney, just by chance I discovered that this boat has a Flickr group all to itself! You can watch its slow decline in a stream of many images. I knew it must have been photographed before but had no idea to this extent!

On another issue I'm entering a very small comp on Bank Holiday Monday and the theme is "A Water Scene" it's 1 o'clock in the morning as I write and I'm still undecided but this could well be in there. I only get to enter two prints and it's quite difficult knowing, with such a broad scope, just what the judges will consider fits the bill. If you've any ideas before I enter by 11.30 in the morning let me know!

CM2009

Rescue Me

My lounge looks post apocalyptic and I'm sitting here covered in dust, if I get wet I'll set!

Yup it's decorating time although it looks more like devastation at the moment and I'm waiting for the plasterer to come and tell me the damage, IE how much smooth walls will cost me.

Meanwhile I found a few moments to process another image from Blakeney and it's the same boat as the last post. When I see something like this I don't think of the rotting hulk out there on the marsh (or the rusty car, scooter, falling down building etc) I see something that was once beautiful, lovingly crafted by hand and I have the irresistible urge to fix things-I don't suppose I'm the only one though!

Your thoughts are appreciated as always.

CM2009

All Aboard The Skylark

Well I'm back from my hols then but still another week off of work :)

We had a great week, superb weather and far too much food and drink. My shutter went off an insane amount of times, so many I'm not sure I wish to type it for fear it may become more real!

So you'd have thought it would have been easy to find something to post but you'd be wrong. I have deliberated over various shots yesterday evening and most of today. Whenever I shoot and review stuff at home there's always something you wish you had done differently. I guess that in some ways it's a good thing, you keep pushing yourself to improve but it's frustrating all the same, especially when it's not easy to go back for another shoot.

This shot was taken at Blakeney, I spotted this wreck from some distance and knew I had to get over there, after walking quite some distance I realised the ground was far too marshy to cross and I had to double back, ho hum. I wanted to get lower really and did manage it a couple of times (I may post one or two more of this) but the ground was so boggy you have to be careful where you trod let alone lay down.

Let me know your thoughts as always.

Oh and the title, I think you have to have grown up in the 70's in the UK to know......

CM2009

Checklist!

Right so I'm off on my hols, we'll go to Smugglers Top or Kirren Island and solve a mystery or two-or perhaps I read too much Enid Blyton when I was small ;O)

Lenses cleaned and packed
Batteries charged
Charger packed
CF cards
Hard drive
Card reader
Lap top

I have a few clothes somewhere.......feel as though I've forgotten something..........oh wife n kids, CHECK!! :O) The mighty Tez is staying home with a house sitter but shhhhh we haven't told him yet.

I just couldn't resist another from Flying Legends, I have one one that's totally different that I may post when I return but being as I shall have a whole new bunch of shots who knows?

Catch up to you all soon.

CM2009

Big Beautiful Doll

It's been a hectic week so I apologise for the lack of posts. I have only one week of work left until holidays and as usual it's crazy busy trying to get everything done before we close.

Should I apologise for posting another image from Flying Legends? I feel as though I should but I must admit that the process has been a pleasant one and the images have certainly captured imaginations everywhere judging by the responses.

So I'm off to finish off that bottle of white that's calling me, let me know what you think, good, bad & ugly.

Oh and the title is the name of the Mustang, not the big fellow giving me the stare!

CM2009

Ship Shape

We've just arrived back from a HAG BBQ. For those of you who don't know what that is it's a combined Hen and Stag do. So I would just like to say thanks to Hilary and Jeff for inviting us, it was great to see you and meet everyone. Good luck for monday, good job the best man has a couple of days to recover!! :)

On another serious note I've just read some terrible news, fellow blogger/twitter/facebook friend Tammy Warren has had a fall from her horse and as I write is being flown to hospital. Those of you that know her either personally or, as I do, through her blogs A Cricket In The Garden or Standing Still please hold her and her family in your thoughts and prayers. My thanks to Marcel for letting us all know and keeping us informed too.

The image is again from Flying Legends but I guees the title has a double meaning today and I hope Tammy is ok and ship shape again very soon.

You can see the original version here by the way.

CM2009

School Time

I can tell that my holidays are nearly here because work is busy, beyond flat out! Always seems to be the way, a mad rush to get everything done in time. I'm not complaining mind, with the current economic climate we're pretty lucky.

I resisted the urge to go back to the Duxford images today......just!

This is an image shot back in June during the village's Gardens Open day and is our local school which had opened it's own gardens too. It's an interesting place, not only is it an excellent school but it's also a listed building.

The original school was hit by a V1 flying bomb in 1944 just a few yards from my house and this school was built further down the road post war. Being one of the first to be constructed to an experimental design it became listed in 1993.

Let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

Paella; Weekend indulgence......

So I thought I would post something completely and utterly different today. I joked with a pal of mine that I would post the recipe after he called me a show off, after I thought it might make a change.

My wife looked at me like I had lost the plot when I changed lenses and popped the nifty fifty on whilst I was cooking but what the hey eh?

A disclaimer first; this recipe is in no way authentic, has been cobbled together from all sorts of ideas so I apologise in advance to any Spanish readers! Also if it makes you ill, it was your own fault because I'm still standing ;) This will feed 4-6 people.

You Will Need

• 60ml Olive Oil


• 1 large red pepper, 1large yellow pepper (cut in strips)


• 1 onion & 1 red onion (roughly chopped)


• 4 chicken breasts (cut into smallish cubes)


• 200g Chorizo sausage (cut into slices or as you like it)
• One pack of back or streaky bacon (roughly chopped)


• 200g mushrooms (sliced)


• Garlic cloves, crushed (I started with three, I now use five :)


• 1 tablespoon of lemon zest


• 700g of tomatoes (roughly chopped)


• 1 tablespoon of rosemary


• 2 tablesoons of italian parsley


• 1/4 teaspoon of saffrom threads (in reality I use more to get that yellow colour) dissolved in 60ml of boiling water.


• 500g rissotto rice


• 500ml chicken stock (use a good liquid stock)


• White wine (1/4 to 1/2 of a bottle)

Now I use a large wok to cook this in because I haven't found a paella dish anywhere big enough!

Heat the oil and pop in the onions & peppers, cook until soft and remove. Whilst they're cooking I usually start the chicken off in another pan to save time (once cooked switch off and leave until needed)

Now cook the chorizo until golden and remove, then do the same with the bacon.

Cook the mushrooms, garlic and lemon for about five minutes then add the onions/peppers and the tomatoes, cook until the tomatoes have softened.

Now add the chicken/chorizo/bacon/parsley/rosemary and the rice, pour in a good glass and a half of white wine and stir.

Once the wine has been absorbed start add the stock a ladle full at a time. Traditionally paella is not stirred but I continue to stir mine throughout. Keep simmering and adding stock until all the liquid is absorbed. The rice should be creamy but still have a slight bite, if you find it needs more liquid add some more wine ;)

Now serve onto plates or bring the dish to the table and let everyone help themselves. Serve with lemon wedges if desired.

I don't think I'll be doing this often because 1, it's a photo blog 2, it took me ages to write ;-) (now double the time because blogger decided to ask me to sign in after pressing publish and lost most of what I had written).

CM2009

Safe Return

I've spent my evening up to my elbows in dirt fixing the brakes on my son's car. I also spent a whole Saturday afternoon two weeks ago doing the same.

This has taught me three things;

• If you're replacing one wheel cylinder do the other one whilst you're at it because two weeks later it'll fail.
• I'm really not a fan of Peugeot's policy to use many different components on the same year and model of car!
• Last, I'm too getting too old for this stuff, I used to do it for fun and now can't remember why!!

So this is the last in the series of three I had in mind. It's not the image I was going to use but that one didn't meet my expectations. I wanted to get across a feeling of relief and joy of a loved one returning safely but I'm unsure as to whether I've achieved that aim. I can say though that I liked this image just because and that's a good enough reason for me to post it.

Ever conscience of boring myself and you this will be the last from here for a while and I'll stay away from the textures too. I do feel that they suited these subjects though.

Let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

Terra Firma

I don't think I have a lot to say today, in fact I haven't had a good old moan for ages eh? Never fear, I'm sure something will crop up soon enough ;-)

I would like to say thanks for all the great comments and responses to the last two images, it's really great when others like what you've done.

I was/am very undecided about this one. I'd planned this as a follow on of the post before last with a third to follow. With that in mind I wanted to keep that sort of feeling going with this one but I also liked the straight version. In the end, obviously, I plumped for this one but you can see the straight version here if you wish to. Let me know which you prefer, if any at all!!

CM2009

Whispers In The Wind

Whispers in the wind
Bygones in the breeze
Sometimes you may hear them in the bowing of the trees

More than sixty years of skies have passed
Yet still the signs exist
Rusty hangers and crumbling nissen huts
Appear through morning mist

Off you set upon your round
Putters and irons close to hand
But there’s something different about this land

Airstrip on the edge
And criss crossed paths you find
Windsock flapping in the breeze
All echoes left behind

So when you reach the eighteenth hole
And before the nineteenth beckons
Spare a thought for those who have passed
For without them
These days may never have happened

Whilst the images were all shot at Duxford the inspiration was taken from Earls Colne airfield which is now a golf and sports complex in Essex, yet from the air you can still see they were there.

CM2009

One Ship Still Missing

As you may have read we went off yesterday to the Flying Legends airshow.

The weather stayed fine (in fact I've never had a bad day for this show) and the show was fantastic. Almost three hours of magnificent flying, too many highlights to mention.

I knew that my longest lens was nowhere near long enough for good aerial shots (not that it stopped me trying) so we got there earlier and went on the flight line walk. It was full of folks in period dress and they made for a great photo op. I shot several hundred frames, most of which are just for me but I did capture some that I will post and this is the first. I didn't go for the posed shots, they don't really interest me. This young lady really looked the part and I managed to capture this shot, she seemed to have a distant, lonely look, despondent even.

I didn't feel that full colour was appropriate for the mood. As a side note, on a WWII airfield with aircraft and people to match it was still difficult to get a frame without something modern in it!

So let me know what you think as always.

CM2009

P.S. small update, I've just entered this shot into Photo Friday because this is one of my favourite spots to be! :)

Can Hardly Wait!

I've had a real busy week with no time for processing and/or posting but that's the way it goes I suppose!

This weekend however we're off to Flying Legends at Duxford held by The Fighter Collection and they blog too here. As the title says, I can hardly wait and having missed last year's show I'm chomping at the bit to get there this year. This is the largest gathering of piston engined aircraft in Europe and in my opinion the best.

So in view of all that here's an older image with a little updated pp work. I don't suppose I'll get many great shots, especially flying shots, this weekend as I don't have a long lens but maybe on the flight line walk........ :)

CM2009

A Different Take

I've had one of those weeks that I guess everybody has from time to time.

You couldn't say it was a disaster but it was full of niggles, nothing went smoothly put it that way. I suppose the hot weather hasn't helped, people would rather be somewhere else (me included) and everyone gets a little irritable (also me included). Just the morning to go and then I can relax, perhaps it will be a better week next week, not that I'm wishing the sun away!

Getting away from textures today back to something relatively straight and like the beach huts a few days ago what post processing work there is was done in Lab Colour mode. I find it quite a pleasing way to work, I'm going to go into it a little more over the weekend. Mind you that was the plan last weekend and I got waylaid by the textures :)

We'll see!

CM2009

Heart Of The Village

It's still scorchio (The Fast Show:) here in the south of England, I like it but I'd rather be on my hols enjoying it that's for sure!

This is another textured image and that's three in a row which is a bit unprecedented for me. It's been interesting to note people's opinions to this type of image. Some worried that it's not "within the rules" so to speak.

Personally I have no rules, I just like images in all sorts of forms. If there's one thing I have learnt on this blogging/photographic journey is I must stay true to myself and do what appeals to me, of course it's very gratifying when others like it too I can't deny. What I'm trying to say is if YOU like it then that's enough. I found myself at some point along this road producing images that I thought would appeal to others, what happened was I stopped enjoying it.

Anyway, this is an older image again and definitely inspired by the images of Michael Regnier used in the tutorial over at Chromasia and if you like these type of images I strongly recommend you go have a look. I was inspired by one image in particular and whilst I'm nowhere near the level of finesse shown there I hope I've produced something pleasing to the eye, it is to mine which illustrates my point above :) This is where I live and consider myself pretty darn lucky to.

Let me know your thoughts as always, they're much appreciated.

CM2009

Crossed Lines

Phew what a scorcher today, 32 outside and it hasn't cooled down much now.

The batteries seem to be failing in my keyboard so I'll be brief! This is an older image that I was never quite sure of, it had sense of foreboding but not enough, I had another crack at it this evening and came up with this.....

CM2009

Dusty (ish)

Another really muggy, sticky day here in the East of England, I reckon I lost a few pounds just mowing the lawn, which is probably a good thing :)

I've been awaiting the new Textures Part Two tutorial from Chromasia and now it's been published it was well worth the wait, I can recommend it without reservation. Anyone who's been following me for a while will know that I do like to dabble with textures every now and then. So with new information I produced the above image.

The original was not technically any good at all, although I have to say I liked it in a way, my wife called it her Dusty Springfield look :) Reading the new tutorial gave me an idea for this image however. I realise, as always, that it may not be to every one's taste much like HDR is or is not but I'd appreciate your thoughts either way. You can bet there will be more to come soon enough as it's it's really captured my imagination ;-)

CM2009

Feeling Hut Hut Hut

Blimey Guv, what a storm we're having here!

I just managed to save the PSD file for this image before the electric went off! We all sat and ate our paella by candle light which was pretty good I have to say :) both the boys were here, which is often not these case these days, so that was great :)

This is another image processed using Lab Colour (sorry color) mode, I'm yet to work through part two so more to come I'd say!

Let me know your thoughts as always, they're much appreciated.

CM2009

Shower of Inspiration

We've had everything except snow here today. Wind, rain, lightning & thunder which then cleared to leave a beautiful summer's evening!

Still this gave me a chance to try something else and I popped outside in the rain and snapped a few frames :)

I follow quite a few blogs amongst which is Chromasia & it's associated tutorials and picked up on an interview with Dave which I found most interesting and inspiring, you can hear the podcast here. After this I headed over and took a look through the tutorial regarding working in lab colour mode, something I'd skipped over before but hadn't really given it a go. I'm working on one image that I might post but I also processed the above with this method.

Let me know what you think as always. I can highly recommend Chromasia, whether you'd like to learn more about the vast application that is Photoshop or if you just like great images, if you skip back a few there's a series of three infrared shots that I really enjoyed.

CM2009

Hill House

I must admit I'm still reeling from the card cloning scam and have to say my bank couldn't care less, they can't even give you times of transactions because "their computers don't work that way" I kid you not folks.

Harping on about it won't help but just be careful folks, I thought I was. Watch out for mobile top ups on your account, mine were 02 but it would seem they use most companies to check if the card is working, it's easy to do......

The image then. Again shot whilst we were walking around looking at the gardens a week ago Sunday. I go past this house every day but I've never taken much notice of it, I think it's attached to a business based on the site but the house seems run down and empty. Rather strange since property of this sort is snapped up round here, perhaps I'll make an offer-oh no, got no money ;-/

CM2009

Blind Faith

Well it's Father's day and it started out ok. A quick check of our bank account this morning though revealed all was not well, one of our cards has been cloned!

Yup they cleaned us out, I'm sooo angry, we had to spend hours checking through transactions, phoning the bank, cards cancelled etc and now have no money and even if we did no access to it. Chip and Pin, safety in numbers, what a load of old codswallop!! I know I'm not the only one, so many friends getting in touch to say they'd had the same happen. I noticed because not only did they go spending our money in an electrical store they had the cheek to take whatever it was back and get a refund!!

Oh ranting about it won't help, I just hope we get it all back but as they seemed to shopping locally it's pretty hard to prove who spent what.

Still I watched the British Grand Prix, went for a nice walk, took some photos and cooked up a nice dinner which we enjoyed with both of our boys so all's not lost :)

This image comes from Gardens Open day last week, we climbed the very narrow staircase up the tower and came out into the light only to find a very narrow foot way and low walls. My wife clung on for dear life (I kid you not) whilst I shot some frames and this guy sat on the roof of the staircase cool as a cucumber reading his paper!

CM2009

Grow; Old but Never Up

Well it was Gardens Open day here in the village this weekend just gone and despite living here for fifteen years we'd never gone and had a look around the various gardens and thought it was high time we did just that!

It also proved to be good inspiration for photography as we got to see the village from aspects never seen before, including a rather hair raising trip up the church tower, more to come on that.

One of the gardens we walked into was a complete surprise as it was filled with an enormous railway layout! There were four older gents there running these beautiful models around, one was actually coal fired and every few circuits had to be stoked up, amazing! Anyone who knows me knows I love this sort of thing, I refuse to grow up and I'm glad to see that I'm not the only one :)

I have another couple from here that I might post.....

CM2009

Like Yer Hat

It has to be said that I don't feel like blogging much at the moment, in fact I don't really feel like picking up the camera even.

We've all felt like this at some time or other and probably more than a few times. It's best to wait and not force the issue otherwise they'll be no enjoyment in it which, for me at least, is what it's all about. I have a lot of shots in the can but can't work up any desire to work on them, it'll come back, soon I hope once I've got some other projects completed and off of my mind!

So having said that I'm blogging, go figure. I was flicking through some older RAW files and came across this. It always made me smile but I'd never processed it. I know it's not a great photograph but it is a great expression and I remember the moment clearly, the sudden realisation that the lens was pointing at him and his hat just as I clicked the shutter. As I lowered the camera I looked beyond him and pointed at something else, seemed to put his mind at rest
;-)

CM2009

All Mod Cons

We poppped out on Sunday to attend a fun day in support of the Soldiers, Sailors, Airmen and Families Association (SSAFA) organised by Predator Motorsport. It was a fantastic day out with plenty going on and all in aid of a good cause.

There were lots of bike and cars on display round by Predator's building and some of the Welwyn Stags Scooter Club had turned out with some gorgeous scoots. It was good to see them and bump into some old faces. The scooters are something still close to my heart and whilst I sold my Vespa last year (because it was going to be a money pit) the desire to get another Lambretta is still very much alive if only finance would allow, next year perhaps ;-)

Anyway this is a shot of one of the Lammys, an Li125 Special. I was a bit disappointed with the shots I got to be honest but just like the car show I was talking about a while ago with all the scoots being so close together and all the people milling around it's hard to get a good shot!

CM2009

Cool In The Shade

That's it, holiday over and back to work in the morning so roll on August for two weeks off then!

I spent my last day on my own apart from Tez (who frankly wasn't much help) re-pointed the patio, planted up some tubs, pots and baskets, trimmed back some shrubs etc. All sounds like hard work but it's nice to get the jobs done and it was another glorious day, too good to be inside.

I shot this a couple of weeks back on just such a day. I paused for a moment whilst walking, looked up through the trees at the brilliant sunshine streaking through, the hedgerows had a heady scent all around me and all was right with the world.

CM2009

Walk & Talk In Four Four Time

Well I did take my camera with me on the London ghost walk last night and to be honest I really didn't shoot a lot.

I thought I might shoot some more afterwards but there really wasn't much time and the streets were quite rowdy, there had been a football game I think (that's not a jest, I really don't follow or watch the sport at all).

Whilst we waited outside the tube station I did shoot a couple of frames, this being one. I've borrowed the title from a song but I'm going to let you guess what it is, can you?

CM2009