Leaving a Light On

I finally took the plunge of moving the blog and this is my last post here on blogger.

Honestly I feel a little sad about it, this is where it all started, it was a whole new photographic journey (with some moaning ramblings too) but I feel the time is right to move on. Whilst I've been complimented on my blogger template it is rather limited despite being able to customize the CSS.

I won't be pulling this version, who knows maybe I'll wish to return at some point. I won't however be dual posting, or even triple posting with the AM3 version. The main reasons for moving were to have a blog that I could make more my own and to simplify the process.

So all that leaves me to say is a HUGE thank you to all those that have followed me, left comments and encouraged me to improve/continue especially at the times I really didn't feel like doing so, you have no idea how much that all means. I sincerely hope that you follow me over and continue to look. You can find my new home right here!

So for that last time, let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2010

Raw Revisited

The last few days, in what spare time I've had, I have been making a huge effort to reduce the amount of unprocessed RAW files residing on my hard drive.

Some have been deleted, some are family stuff, some are images I wish to keep but wouldn't necessarily blog and some have surprised me in that I really quite liked them having overlooked them many times. The batch I've been working on are from summer 2008 which shows you how far I am behind!

Let me know your thoughts as always.

On another note I am considering moving the blog to a new location. If I can export all of my work from the blogger version then I'll do it but at the moment it's a big IF I think. I'm not willing to move and start afresh or manually migrate over 350 posts! I'll keep you posted.

CM2010

A Little Further Back

I've deliberated over this shot for a few days.

Most of the pp was done in a short space of time but I've stared at it for what seems like hours ever since, making minor adjustments here and there.

There were two reasons why I've hesitated to post it, the first is that it's the same scene as last time (hence the title) and second (more importantly) I can't figure out if the boats on the left are a complete distraction. My lot reckon no but I'm not so sure! I liked it enough in the end to post it, I think the tone will not be to everyone's taste but it's what I was aiming for, the full colour version was ok but a bit "Chocolate Box" for my liking.

Your honest opinions are welcome.

CM2010

Prick Up Your Ears

Well I am still here as you can see!

Thanks to all the kind words of encouragement from everyone from all sorts of sources. I don't want to stop, just move forward in some way and I think I know what I need to do.

In the meantime you'll have to keep putting up with some old shots. The textures on this were a last minute idea (as they often are with me) they seemed to add to the scene without removing anything-if you see what I mean?

If you can get the connection between the title and the image your mind is probably as warped as mine :D

CM2010

Tidal Waves

I thought about deleting this blog at the weekend.

Not to give up but sometimes I feel I'm not moving forwards, not challenging myself enough. My thinking was that perhaps if I started afresh I might be more inspired to improve somewhat.

Whilst I ponder on that thought here's another shot along a beach, I went a bit further on the pp work on this one, let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2010

At Peace

Just a quick post, I've not a lot to say today :)

One of favourite shots from last summer not perhaps because there was anything remarkable about the image but it reflected the way I was feeling at the time. I've mentioned before I know but when walking along the beach on a day such as this was I feel at peace with myself and the world around me, a feeling I don't really get anywhere else.

Right I'm off to cook dinner and open a bottle of something, which comes a close second to the above in some respects ;)

CM2009

Slumped In The Slips

Thanks for all the kind comments yesterday on my little friend, I told him and he seemed happy, his tail was wagging anyway ;)

We woke up to more snow again this morning but I'm hoping we've seen the last of it, rain is forecast for the weekend and a positively balmy 6 degrees! When the snow falls the world is beautiful place, almost magical but as you get older you realise it has it's downsides too. My youngest reckons I'm a good candidate for the "Grumpy Old Men" TV show :O)

So this is a shot of three benches on my local cricket ground, in a few short months the sun will be shining and the benches will be full of people enjoying the match with a cool drink or two, not a moment too soon will it be!

CM2009

Terry

My little fat friend Terry, I can't tell you how much I love this little fellow.

He loved the snow, some of it was deeper than he is tall in places but he had a great time as you can see. Not my normal sort of post but I couldn't resist sharing this one with you :)

CM2009

At The Helm

I've been mulling over some of my older shots from back in the summer and came across this.

I've posted a couple of the old boat before but I liked this one. PP is a mixture of the original shot and some tone mapped details.

At the helm? More a question to myself than about the boat I guess ;)

Let me know your thoughts as always.

CM2009

No Entry

We're still bitterly cold here in Merry Olde England!

I wouldn't moan but then I wouldn't be English ;) The roads really are dire and as far as I can see nothing has been done to make them any better. Still some car owners had the foresight to get that special optional extra "Supergrip", the guy who overtook me on a country lane covered in ice tonight certainly had it! Boy I wish I'd forked out the extra ££s

Another image from way back when the sun was high in the sky and a T shirt was sufficient apparel.

CM2009

Barbed

Posting two days in a row? It's just like the good old days.

This an alternative view of Felbrigg House and I guess you'll either love it or hate it :-/

Other than that I don't think I have a lot to say, being back to work has numbed my brain more than usual ;0)

CM2010

Wide Fred Sprost

Happy new year to you all.

As you can see I didn't get all that shooting/posting done over the holidays. I didn't do much of anything photography wise, so much for those plans. This is a shot I took just before and whilst there's no snow here at the moment it's bitterly cold with snow forecast. Spring can turn up any time it feels like it as far as I'm concerned!

Oh and the title? It was something I heard a weather forecaster say when I was a kid, poor fellow probably never lived it down :)

CM2010

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