Project Update: 'Times Past'

I've been out and about pursuing my little project and I was struck by the number of fairly old items scattered about the streets near home. As a result the project is tentatively entitled 'Times Past'. There's quite a number of things that date back to the 1940's and 50's if you look carefully and take note of your surroundings and I guess that as more and more development takes place such things will eventually disappear. Here's three images of things I particularly like...

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The faded writing on the wall of a public house and the old RAC road sign (is it the oldest one still in use, I wonder? I've not seen one like it anywhere else) were within 200 yards of each other. And no, that isn't my shop in the lower picture!


As always, comments are welcome...

Holiday Homes 3

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Fresh overnight snow followed by freezing temperatures in Snowdonia produces a wonderful sight for walkers and photographers alike. A storm is gathering over Foel-Goch bringing the threat of yet more snow and adds some drama to the scene while Llyn Ogwen remains frozen over despite early morning sun. New Year's Day 2010.

Holiday Homes 2

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Anglesey... a late August sunset at Tywyn Fferam on the west coast of the island.

I'd only just arrived on the island for the weekend when this stunning sunset presented itself. A quick dash up the coast to another favourite location and the fastest setup ever to snatch a few shots from the headland overlooking the beach. No filters were used and just a tad of under exposure with the merest tweak of the saturation in Photoshop Elements.

Holiday Homes...

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Okay, I admit it.... this isn't thirty minutes from my home, more's the pity! I'm lucky to be able to travel quite often so 'temporary holiday homes' give me endless opportunities to stretch the thirty minute rule.


This is the western end of Llyn Padarn at Llanberris looking east towards Pen-y-Pass and the Snowdon range. A lovely still summer afternoon, blue skies, fluffy clouds and perfect for landscape photography. I spent most of the afternoon here looking for the right picture. This whole area is a lovely part of the world.

Always Carry a Camera!

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It really does pay to always carry a camera with you... I was greeted with this line-up of Bentley's old and new outside the Bentley factory in Crewe when out for a stroll on a sunny summer day. You never know what you might see.

Storming North

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I grew up with steam trains... as a small boy my bedroom window overlooked a quite busy line and I was always fascinated by the sight and sound of a steam locomotive. In the late 1960's as the steam locomotive was phased out railway photography was radically changed from the sunlit front three-quarters view of a clean engine to a more realistic dirty, gritty, rainy one by the likes of Colin Gifford, Ian Krause and many others. They didn't go for pretty locations; the industrial north with its decaying buildings and lousy weather became the backdrop. And often the train was secondary to the location. I photographed many steam trains with my little Halina 120 camera during 1967 and to the end of July 1968. Sadly, the negatives were lost in various house moves.


Whenever it's possible I still get out and photograph steam trains. This is 71000 'Duke of Gloucester' at Coppenhall Moss just north of Crewe working very hard; I've treated this to a monochrome conversion, a severe crop and added some Giffordesque grain.


Two books that I can recommend are Gifford's 'Decline of Steam' and 'Each a Glimpse' and Ian Krause's 'Steam', which show how steam railway photography changed in the mid- to late-sixties.

A New Project

Black & White Photography magazine challenges its readers each month with an assignment which can last for a few days or a couple of weekends (short term), several weeks (medium term)or a year (long term).


The first stage is to fire off shots; experiment, indulge yourself, enjoy. The aim is to get three or four satisfactory images. For the medium term build up a collection of images using the time to plan and experiment. The aim here is to have produced at least four images. Finally, the long term aim is to produce around eight pictures building a sequence of images across a whole year.


So, for my own pleasure, for the next couple of weeks or so I'll be looking for a theme on my local travels. Look out for progress reports...

  

Little Moreton Hall

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Old buildings are another passion. They do so lend themselves to being photographed but often it's difficult to get an image without people admiring them. Little Moreton Hall, near Congleton, has a public footpath running right past its front door. On this occasion I was looking for something a little different so I ventured off the path a ways and used the reeds and moat as foreground interest. One of the finest Elizabethan timber-framed buildings in the UK, Little Moreton Hall is owned by the National Trust.

Dawn Patterns at Winterley

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I like water and reflections. There is something very calming about sitting by a still lake waiting for the right moment to press the shutter and capture another unique moment. There's plenty of pools and lakes near my home so I'm never stuck for things to photograph.


My favourite time of day is either dawn or dusk. This is a dawn shot taken at Winterley Pool about five miles from home. The rising mist and sun  together with the trails of early aircraft combine to give an ethereal image.

Marbury Church

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This is in the village of Marbury cum Quoisley on the Shropshire/Cheshire border right on my thirty minute limit and a much loved location. The mere presents lots of picture opportunities with fishing platforms jutting out into the water. It's a much loved location and one I return to often.