Of Course I'm Listening.............Honest

So I'm sitting at my evening class (yawn) wondering if I'm even thicker than I thought because the spreadsheet I was working on literally wasn't adding up and it turns out the book is wrong, missing an entire essential column. If the book isn't right what chance have I got? Sheesh!

I don't know what this lady was talking about but this poor guy had clearly heard enough of it!

CM2008

All Bussed Out

Another quick post today as I'm not feeling 100%

Just heading back to the car yesterday and spotted this guy who'd clearly had enough and so had his feet by the look of it. I knew how he felt, there's something about wandering around slowly that seems to leave me more tired than a days work, odd!

CM2008

Cutaway

Just a quick post tonight. We've been back to Duxford today to attend "Superbus" as my wife like the old buses and I must admit they have an appeal. Don't think I'm going to get myself a conductors uniform, pad & pencil then go running round writing down bus numbers just yet though, oh yes there were such folk there! Then sat and watched the recorded, first ever night time, Grand Prix and I'm beat!

Anyway, back to beach shots today and another of that great slice of the beach that was washed away in the rainstorm, I feel this is probably better than the last one I posted. You decide?

CM2008

Boyhood Fascination

Just a quick post today because apart from thinking it'd be a great idea to help with the shopping and discovering (again) that I hate Tesco I've nothing much else to say.

Boyhood fascination? I have one with aircraft and in particular WWII aircraft and always have had for as long as I can remember. I just wonder if I'll be like these two some day? I've a better shot of them taken from the hip but until I decide what to do with a very annoying background I won't post it! Oh and the woman behind definitely clocked me on this one!

CM2008

Happy Accident

Work is still very erratic, one day quiet the next rushing around like a nutter. I am however still employed which is more than can be said for many poor souls at the moment because businesses are disappearing fast everywhere it would seem!

Another shot from my visit to Duxford and continuing on my current little portrait theme. Now I'd love to claim that I planned it this way but I'm too honest for my own good. In reality it was shot in low light at a low ISO and this was the result but it's got something about it I hope you'll agree. Those of you who know me will know whom my assistant is and those of you that don't, well I guess you don't need to know.

I'm thinking of setting up a Redbubble or similar account to make it easier for me to sell images and easier for people to buy them. If anyone has had an experience, either buying or selling, on these type of websites drop me a line as I'd be interested to hear your thoughts.

CM2008

Thought Provoking..........

This is part of a memorial outside the American Air Museum building at Duxford. Huge rows of glass tablets where each aircraft and therefore crew lost is represented.

I took several shots but because of some works going on in the background and thus reflected in the glass most were no good. I looked at this one as I processed it and it struck me that if it were not for these young men I might not have been there, reflected in the glass, to take this shot in the first place.

Also a very old friend of mine had some very sad news today, just want you to know I'm thinking of you mate at this very sad time.

CM2008

Frame Of The Day Take 2!

Well I had a very mixed reaction to yesterday's post and to be honest I was disappointed on the whole.

For me this portrait has something. As soon as shot it I liked it from the first look at the screen on the camera and I guess that's all that really matters.

However I wasn't convinced, as I said, that I'd extracted the best from it. So I went back today, took a fresh look and a different approach. This is the result and I have to say I'm happier with it. I'd be very interested in reactions to both and one against the other.

CM2008

Frame Of The Day?

Had a good day yesterday, haven't been to Duxford in a while and it was nice to get back there, see what had changed, what progress has been made on restorations etc. I like to go poking around behind the scenes as it were, sneaking a peak through the windows of buildings that are not open to the public, where the restoration work goes on.

The sun was shining and the Large Model Association gave some great displays with convincing scale flying.

I had some fun with the camera too trying to take some impromptu portraits with the subjects not necessarily knowing they were taking part. Stopping for a cuppa in the cafe this chap sits down opposite me and he had a face that was begging to be photographed so I bit the bullet despite some strange glances from those around me. I guess it's something I'll get used to.

I'm very interested to know your opinions on this one as I'm not sure I extracted the best from it. I processed it four times in B&W and with different tones but the consensus of opinion round here (and everyone who's stepped through the door has been asked) is that this was the better one. Let me know as ever.

CM2008

Familiar Face?

Just another Saturday then, more work, clean the car blah blah but tomorrow I'm off to Duxford, one of my favourite places to be. The smell of AV gas, the roar of Merlins (maybe) and fresh paint in the restoration hanger, great! Plus it's the Large Model Association meet tomorrow so the should be some fantastic RC warbirds on display. The camera and I are looking forward to it ;O)

Not sure that I've got the whole portrait thing right but it's something I want to work on.

The more I look at this fellow the more I seem to know him, then it struck me, he's been draining my bank account for the last 21 years!

Comments welcome as usual.

CM2008

Sea Level

I've spent the last three days working my butt off on an export order that was "very important" only to be told that I've now got to wait for the customer to confirm this and that before it goes. Everything else had been put on hold, ARGH happens all the time but sure is frustrating, you reading this boss? ;O)

Really not sure about this image but it was an amazing natural occurrence. We'd had a torrential downpour the day before and the force of all that water draining off of the cliffs had cut the beach in two. The sand you see on the left was ground level the day before, a huge portion of beach over 2ft deep had just gone. The day after this it was back to normal, what power the weather and the sea has, we should harness that power!

CM2008

Close But No Cigar

Ah Friday at last, another week comes to an end, I don't know why I get excited about because I go to work every Saturday anyway!

Still out for beers with my nephew and the lads tomorrow :O)

This is the image that placed second in the recent comp. Shot specifically for a theme "Garden Flowers". I preferred this to the one that I had placed first which was in a another section as they separated them by print size!!?????

CM2008

Hung Out To Dry!

Work, just like everyone else's business it would seem, is getting slow, in fact very slow. Everyone is starting to feel the pinch.

As the world strives for cheaper and cheaper products and our own manufacturing disappears those imports are creeping up in price because they have us right where they want us. I'm no economist or politician and for sure there are many factors but do yourselves a favour, next time you buy something try and buy a British Made product-if you can still find one!

Taken on one of my beach wanders, some washing hung out, right in the middle of nowhere and not a soul in sight, how strange!

CM2008

Did She or Didn't She?

Not much to say today, another damp gloomy September day!

Thanks for the comments left recently I appreciate them, to know that others like your work is great, spurs you on to keeping on clicking!

I don't think this is on par with recent postings but it's just a moment in time. Now I'm not accusing anyone but did she really steal that little fellas hot dog? Answers on a postcard or in the comments section if you like ;O)

CM2008

99? That'll be £10.99!!

I need to take a day off soon to have a tooth removed, it seems it's a difficult one that necessitates the need to visit a specialist and have some bone removed in order to get it out NICE!

I digress, it's not the tooth it's the day off, everyone else does it, sick days, sofa deliveries, dog needs brushing etc etc but me? A day off? End of the world it would seem-better look after myself, what would they do without me?

Rant over then. I had some fun with the camera whilst away, just keeping it around my neck, pointing in the general direction and pressing the shutter. Things are more natural that way, no one poses or tries to get out of the way, it was an interesting experiment. I liked all the people in this. The young couple wishing they weren't on holiday with the folks, the kid on a mission to get somewhere quickly and the poor Dad standing there, knowing that this ice cream had probably just cost him over a tenner! Had he clocked me? Hmm who knows, you decide?

CM2008

Look East

Well after what has to be said was a dull wet weekend we went out tonight for an "All You Can Eat" Chinese, so I ate all I could and then ate some more, just to make sure I got value for money! ;O)

Looking east from the same point that Castaway was taken from. This country really does have some stunning coastlines and countryside if you just open your eyes every now and then to look at it!

Another dual raw conversion-I'm really liking this method at the moment-then a knock down of the saturation to round off.

CM2008

Wobbly Wheel

I forgot to mention the bank holiday competition results a couple of weeks ago. I placed a first and a second in the photo comp, I'd have preferred them to be the other way around and it's only a small comp but hey a result is a result isn't it? Oh and I got a first for my fuchsia too!

Another holiday shot I'm afraid, just wonder how they get this down the slope on that trailer? Perhaps it belongs to the same guy that owns the tractor with no front wheels?

CM2008

Castaway

Well it's been a few days since I last bored you with one of my holiday snaps and I don't have much else at the moment so here's another!

After visiting an attraction that promised much and delivered very little I went for a drive along the coast. Seeing a sign for parking just behind the beach I took a turn off the road and went to take a look. It was literally a shingle car park and one guy with an old 2CV van selling (rather good) coffee and doing a roaring trade, good for him.

This was shot looking east towards Wells and Blakney (my old school chums should remember Blakney Spit very well as we had to walk it on a field trip, remember?). So feeling bold I took a shot or two of this old fella who turned up with his rod out of nowhere.

CM2008

Retired

Another day another dollar! Still soon be Christmas eh?

Another shot from the hols then. These rusty old tractors are great. You'd have thought this had be sitting here unused for years but in reality all the moving parts were still greased up so it'd not long been out of service. Pretty tough really when you consider the life they live!

CM2008

Where He Belongs!

My youngest, just where he belongs-well sometimes anyway!

CM2008

Still a Long Way Back

My first week back at work, albeit a short one, has made holidays seem a long time ago already. I've had a lot on my mind, it's worn me out!

So as threatened here's the second image I spoke of yesterday. I'm still not sure which one I prefer, you decide!

CM2008

Long Way Back

I thought I'd completely lost it this morning.

As I was driving to work, on the brow of the hill I live on, I could see a large shape in the sky. Too large for an airliner but it was way off in the misty cloud, cigar shaped?! Then I lost sight of it, all the way to work I kept looking but not a sign. Aliens? Ghost of an airship? The girls at work thought I'd cracked too until one of them phoned me this afternoon and told of the headline "Cardington airship finally takes off, first airship cruise since the 1930's" Phew my sanity gets another close escape and it's been tested to the limit lately!

Great news for Cardington too, the hangers have been saved from being turned into warehousing and are being used just as they were intended. Don't think I'll be booking a ticket though, only 5k each-wonder if that includes taxes?

Today's image is one of two very similar shots I have and it took me a long time to decide which one to post today. Using a split raw conversion I was quite happy with the outcome if not the composition so much. Might post the other tomorrow.

Comments welcome as always! The feedback is always nice and only takes a second, no need to even leave your name if you so wish.

CM2008

Lets Off Road!

Oh joy, back to work today then and just for added pleasure some kind creature had killed a pigeon and left it outside the workshop, nice!

The image today is an expensive wheel rim on my eldest son's mountain bike getting covered in salt water and sand. Doesn't he know how much they cost me? Surely too precious to actually use? Oh and the title, a salute to the Fast Show and the couple of berks in a Land Rover that never got anywhere.

CM2008

Night Lights

The village is a hive of activity today, it's our annual bank holiday fete and people are dashing this way and that making preparations. I've been and entered a couple of shots and a fuchsia so fingers crossed for that but it's the taking part that counts right?

Another from my recent hols, taken from the promenade above the east beach and with a 30 second exposure. As always comments good, bad or indifferent are always welcome.

CM2008

New Light Through Old Windows

No rain today then, why are we British obsessed with the weather-on the other hand perhaps it's just me?

Now before I'm accused of bizarre photoshopping this image is a reflection in the old glass of a cottage window, apart from from minor curves there is no adjustment and certainly no camera shake! Just goes to show how imperfect this old glass really is-I like it.

CM2008

Place in the Sun

Last few days of holiday left then, just hope the sun might shine over the weekend?

Not much to say about this one, it is what it is, an old rusty chair on the beach!

CM2008

Light Through Yonder Window Breaks

Well I've been on my hols for the year.

We actually had some sunshine for a change and this image combined with the sunburn on my back are here to prove it. This was the early morning sunshine streaming through the front door window in the old cottage.

I came back with a fair few images so you'll probably be sick of seascapes before too long! Comments, good or bad are always welcome as usual.

CM2008

Alfresco!

Only three more days of work then two weeks off for me :O)

I was just leaving the house this morning and spotted this little chap munching his breakfast on my patio. Not wanting to miss the moment I quickly whipped out the camera and took a few shots before I went on my way, he didn't seem to mind one bit!

CM2008

What Next?

A quick post today.

This is a group of Prefab bungalows down the hill from me. They're now all empty bar one, which is still impeccable with mowed lawns and lots of hanging baskets.

They're going to pull them down and we're being asked what should go there. Whilst I shall fill out the form I have to wonder if the planners will actually listen? First time for everything I guess.

CM2008

Ghosts of The Future

Living out here and walking through the fields I forget how close my old home town really is.

Not the greatest image but the buildings dominating the skyline may soon be gone. QE2 Hospital, gradually closing; Shredded Wheat all but closed, Roche, all but gone on this site I think(?). The large companies continue to pull out of the town and still they rush to construct new warehousing that no one seems to want or need!

At least part of Shredded Wheat is listed and so it should be it's been there virtually since the start of the Garden City but I wonder what silly use they'll come up with for it? If it's anything like the de Havilland Site where Kentucky Fried Chicken dominates the gatehouse why bother?

Powerless to change all of this I thought I'd have a bit of a rant on here instead! ;O)

CM2008

Tangled Web

Haven't been out with the camera much recently, haven't felt much like it and when I did venture out the weather was bad so didn't risk it.

However just browsing through the card and came across this, I probably would have junked it but I was fascinated by the amazing tangled spiders webs. I must admit I didn't even pick them up by eye when I took the shot but the camera certainly picked them up.

CM2008