A few weeks ago my wife an I visited some local garden centres to see if they had their Christmas sections in place (they did, of course, it was late October – practically the big day already!). While wandering around the displays in one I spotted this festive T-Rex and the terrified snowman quaking in the background. The snowman was literally shivering – some mechanism causing it’s movement – and it amusingly reminded of the words spoken by Alan Grant in Jurassic Park when the T-Rex escapes its paddock.
I’m quite surprised the picture turned out ok – it wasn’t well lit in there and I have no control over the XA3’s shutter speed or aperture.
I’ve been away for a few days and scheduled a bunch of posts to auto-publish. Unfortunately I didn’t draft one for today, when I’ve just arrived home exhausted! So a very quick post today with a bit of street photography (the people that can be seen to the left of the frame are part of the march that I’ve posted images from over the past few days).
Another view of Monsal Dale (these will come to an end in a day or two, in case you’re fed up of seeing the place). It’s from almost the same vantage point as the colour version I posted a few days ago but this one was made after I’d walked down to the valley floor, across the bridge you can see middle-right in the picture, followed the river beneath Headstone Viaduct, past the weir, and then up a deceptively long and, in parts, steep footpath back up the other side to my starting point.
If you click the image and zoom in, you can make out a person stood in the courtyard between the two houses you can see at the bottom of the dale.
Another bridge picture today, this one crosses the River Wye not far upstream from the Headstone Viaduct but is of a much smaller scale.
I shot another roll of my expired film this morning so I’ll hopefully (if the film gods smile down upon me) be able to post some results from that before too long.
Don’t worry, I’m not going to compare three almost identical photos of the same bridge today. Instead, it’s the same bridge but photographed from the footpath that runs beneath. The sun kept peeking out from behind the clouds so I timed the shot for when the bridge supports were catching some extra light and I think it’s lent the picture a nice three-dimensionality.
Above the river Girders of steel support The ghost of rail tracks
Two photos of the same derelict railway bridge spanning the River Rother. The first shot on HP5+ in somewhat dull conditions, the second on Delta 400 in brighter light on a day with sunshine and interpersed cloud. Before comparing the two photos I’d assumed I would prefer the one taken in brighter light, but I think the overcast day image clinches it which is a bit of a surprise as I normally dislike such conditions for photography (although by neccesity I have to embrace them living with the UK’s weather!).
Two shots of one bridge Crossing the River Rother Conditions may change
A couple of fenceposts today, photographed when I walked down the Trans Pennine Trail the other week. I’ve walked on it several times since, just not as far.
One more week to go until “recreation” is given as a reason to go out (as well as just for exercise), although we still need to remail local – rather confusingly the order is to stay at home, but you can go out one a day for recreation or exercise, or to meet one other person outdoors. Three weeks later, assuming that infections are continuing to fall, various other leaisure activities re-open such as tennis and golf. While I have no interest in either of those things, I will take it that it means I can venture slightly further afield for my photography again (my reasoning being that I presume few golfers will only play on courses within walking distance…). Then, at Easter (again, dependant on infection rates), domestic holidays are allowed (with restrictions). This should mean that I can travel further still, which will be nice. Given that I’m a solitary creature when out with my camera, I doubt I’ll come into contact with many other people anyway,
The first of the fenceposts below has a laminated clapping-hands picture afixed to it. I’m assuming that this is in relation to all the clapping activities people have partaken in to thank key workers over the past year, but I guess it could be for something else completely.
The second post has no signs attached, but a nice clump of moss on its top.
To hold up a fence A post of some description Really is a must
Bridges are probably creeping up on power lines as one of my most oft photographed subjects I think. This one crossing the tracks not far from Renishaw golf course.
In other news, I have some time off work next week, so I’m looking forward to that – even though my ability to do stuff is still largely curtailed – and plan on a few long walks from home where I’ll hopefully find opportunities to make photos.
I also received a box full of old slides in the post yesterday and plan on scanning some of those. There are a variety of subjects but a considerable number of them look to be European holiday photos from the early 70s. The colours on the Kodachrome slides look loveley, and there are some nice looking Fujifilm slides in there too.
Across twin rail lines Iron bridge. Steel and rivets Carries me over
I’m jumping back in time by a year or so for today’s photo. I’m on the cusp of scanning and uploading some recent images that will likely form tomorrow’s post, but until I get that done I’ll dip into the archive. Hopefully it’s not a shot I’ve published before (I don’t think it is).
It depicts the Eagle Stone, a large boulder that stands alone above Baslow Edge in the Peak District. A footpath passes closely by and it no doubt gets lots of attention, but on this day at the start of the year, the temperature was cold and the wind was blowing gustily – especially along the nearby crags – and there were not many folks about.
As I approached the stone I saw a small group of people near its base. Then, as I got closer, a man appeared on its top. He first lay on his back and took a selfie, before calling his girlfriend to talk about where he was. Then, after taking a drink and standing to survey his surroundings, he clambered back down the edge of the rock, jumping down the last six feet or so (my less supple physique gave an internal groan as I watched this happen, imagining the damage it might have done were it attempted by me!). The other people with him were, I believe, his parents and a sibling, and I passed a few comments before they moved on and I made some more photos of the rock sans human presence.
As I’ve mentioned before, one of the main tolls the current lockdown is having on me personally is the loss of freedom to roam, and I look forward greatly to the day when I can visit places such as the Eagle Stone once again.
Above Baslow Edge A stone stands stark on the land A challenge is set
Steel City Snapper photography 