A bubble's tragic end.
March 16, 2024
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Although the second captures the moment of death, I prefer this one because her loping gait is just so odd. I'd crop out the right hand side to just left of that short, black post though.
BTW, last weeks' shot was superb. -
For anyone wondering where I've been for the past month or so, my dad passed away at the end of January, so I've been keeping away from social media while trying to come to terms with the loss.
My dad was great, he was fun and well liked by everyone who knew him. He'd always been into the magic of film, perhaps more moving pictures than stills and he spent many happy years in the 60's working as a projectionist at the local cinemas, where he met my mum, which eventually led to, well, me.
Always fascinated with how things worked, he taught himself about electronics and the inner workings of machines. He was always playing with old cameras (both cine and still) and loved taking pictures and movies of our family, he never really rated himself as a photographer, but he took technically good images and definitely had an eye for it. I still remember the thrill of the first time I saw an image magically appear on a previously blank piece of paper when he showed me how to develop black and white prints when I was little.
He never lost his interest in films, repairing and playing with old projectors until ill health stopped him a few years ago. He even had a 35mm projector (the mainstay of cinema projection for the best part of a hundred years) lurking in my mum's kitchen for a while.
Of course he taught me what he knew about engineering, electronics, film and photography, sowing the seeds of interests and hobbies that have grown and flourished throughout my life.
He was a good man, my best friend, my dad.
After his funeral I gathered together the floral tributes and took this picture so we'd have some record of them before they faded as they were quite nice. The photograph placed amongst them is my dad from around the year 2000, leaning on his Bell & Howell TQIII 16mm projector (I currently have that very projector sat in my living room while I go through his 16mm film collection).
Anyway, here's a roundup of recent photos taken with a mix of cameras (see EXIF for details). It's not intentional, but this does feel like a bit of a sombre selection. Probably reflecting my mood at the moment and when I took these I suppose.
A Coniston Tree
I took a trip one weekend to explore the woods around Coniston, but really wasn't in the mood. I think this is the best picture I came back with. Ideally, I would have been stood a bit higher to stop the top of the tree poking above the hill. I did investigate this at the time, but there were obstructions from higher vantage points.
Misty Moors
This is looking towards White / Black Coppice. You can just make out the shapes of each hill in the distance beyond the farmhouse.
Teasels
I had no idea what these were called when I took this (thank you internet for solving that mystery). They were growing at the side of an old reservoir at Heapey. This was taken hand held with the 100-400.
Duck Season
This sad sight was found high on the hills above Todmorden.
Crepuscular Action
A break in the leaden clouds over Todmorden.
Soft Light
As we gained height over Todmorden, the mist thickened in the valley below and the light from the fading sun grew softer.
The Path Ahead
Looking along the path that eventually would lead us to the Bride Stones.
Top O' Th' Hill
And what was over the top? More hill.
A Big Stone Head and a Gate
Does what it says on the tin.
The Bride Stones
These intriguing weather worn stones sit on one of the hills overlooking Todmorden. I was pushed for time due to the impending sunset, but took a few shots anyway. This is probably the best. I'll have to go back at some point for another look.
Some Sort of Sunset
This was the last we saw of the sun as it melted into the gloom.
Magenta Hour
Taken after a very disappointing sunset over the hills surrounding Todmorden, there was still a hint of pink hanging around in the sky.
Into The Blue
Magenta hour shifted into blue hour, well, more a manky grey hour if I'm being honest.
A Bear With A Shark Fin Shooting Fire From Its Paws
Probably a regular Saturday night at Heysham Head.
Finally A Waterfall Shot I Don't Hate
As it makes its way down from Anglezarke Moor into Lead Mines Clough, Limestone Brook passes over this quite impressive and borderline lethal to reach waterfall. I find waterfalls extremely difficult to shoot well, making even the most dramatic falls look very mediocre, but for once, I'm reasonably happy with the result. The risk of falling to my death while being precariously perched on wet slippery rocks above Limestone Brook must have helped to focus my mind on the task at hand.
Fun fact: I slipped and fell into (a fortunately shallower part of) this ravine about 10 years ago. As I fell, my then main and relatively new camera, a Panasonic GH4, which had been perched on my shoulder with the supplied strap, was thrown through the air and smashed onto rocks on the far side of the river. I landed on my back in the river, with my back and head protected by the padded camera backpack I was wearing at the time.
When I realised I wasn't dead, my first thought was "how was my camera?" I jumped up and limped across the river to find the camera. The battery had been ejected, the viewfinder housing was bashed in and the front element of the 14-140 had been chipped (despite having a [now smashed] UV filter on the front), but other than that the camera was fine and still works to this day.
This shot was taken on my first visit back to that location, so as you might imagine I didn't fancy a repeat performance with the GFX kit and was treading very, very carefully.
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Sorry to hear about your dad, Steve. You will remember him for ever! My parents died 30 years ago and I still miss them. The floral tribute photo is wonderful, as are also the other photos, which I shall look at in detail later.
All the best,
David
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Really sorry to hear that Steve, the death of one's parents leaves a hole that is never really ever filled.
Beautiful photographs. I like the vertigo-inducing 'The Path Ahead'. And the light in Top O' Th' Hill. But I have to take issue with the so-called bear. Any fool can see that's an alligator with a flame thrower. And yes, a spectacular waterfall.
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Agree.
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I love the waterfall photo. I grew up partly in Bury, but I didnt have a camera of quality and was more of a townie...
You are very lucky to live where you do, Steve.
David
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So sorry to hear that Steve. Yes, I had wondered where you'd got to.
My Dad died nearly 20 years ago, and I still miss his company and humour. The little things in everyday life bring back the memories and the smiles. -
These two are both excellent shots. The duck is rather sinister...
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I was thinking just the other day, about how quickly this terrible event has been forgotten by the mass media. Just like the more recent earthquake in Turkey.
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I like the peaceful atmosphere in this set. This is my favourite. You can never go wrong with the British beach hut,
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I still have not done any photography lately, so here are a couple of shots I missed from an outing last year, as well as a calmer reworking of a couple of shots, I have probably posted before. The location is Bastia Fattori, near Parma.
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There's a lot going on in that building but it comes together very well.
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It made me feel the dust in the back of my throat, working under the scorching sun after an earthquake. A good documentary capture.
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These two are my pick; paddlers are really brave. If I were them, I would end up in the water and freeze to death :)
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A fantastic photo, really liked it.
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Batman's apartment :) It has a strange aesthetic. I am not sure if I like it or not. You captured its dominating presence very well.
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It is a kind of macro with nicely focused the most important part. I like the colours and transitioning to OoF areas.
