Rain stops play

Scarborough South Bay & North Bay about 1.30pm Bank Holiday Monday!

Monday 31st August 2015

What a difference a day makes. Yesterday on the coast there were crowds of people - then the rain came. The tide times were almost perfect today, giving the maximum amount of beach space for the holiday makers to enjoy. The last Bank Holiday of the year and make or break time for some seafront businesses. Heavy rain is not what was needed. As I drove across from Driffield at lunchtime, there was a huge queue of traffic on the A64 near Staxton, not going to the coast, but coming from it - on their way home. The first shot I took was the bottom one, at North Bay; it was drizzling, with only a few hardy souls on the beach. Then onto the South Bay; by this time it really was raining fast. This beach should have been crowded with people, instead it was empty, wet and grey. Will they be back next year? Only time will tell. Being a Scarborian, you know it's the natural beauty of the place (not counting the town centre!), that keeps them coming back.

Wolds Sunset

Sunset on the Wolds

Sunday 30th August 2015

Spent the day doing my National Park bit at Robin Hoods Bay. It was packed out and grid locked with cars, well it is Bank Holiday! I returned home after six and realized I had not taken a photo. I had in mind a studio shot, but later in the evening I happened to look out of the window and saw a beautiful orange sky. By the time I got the car out and made my way onto the top of the wolds, where there is an odd tree, the orange glow had gone, to be replaced by the above. I like it, but I wish there were more standard trees for variety.

Let there be light

Patterns in Beverley Minster

Saturday 29th August 2015

I went to Beverley today. My wife was at an event, so I decided to have a look around Beverley Minster. As I approached, the bells were ringing out for a newly married couple. When the party had departed, presumably for the reception, I ventured into the Minster. I have visited before, but thought I would have a look around to see what I could photograph. There are beautiful stone carvings, magnificent stained glass windows, yet I was drawn to a pile of metal! It was some form of interlocking structure stacked in a corner. I didn't pay much attention to what they were, it was a combination of the bloom of the metal and the way the light from the stained glass windows was falling on them that really drew my eye, plus the pattern. Sadly, there is always one that does not conform. The black capped one in the middle is the rebel!

Hessle Haven

Hessle Haven start of The Yorkshire Wolds Way

Friday 28th October 2015

Had to journey down to Hull today and a visit to B&Q at St. Andrews Dock. On leaving there I decided to pay a visit to Hessle Haven, just on the east side of the Humber Bridge. Here the Fleet Drain empties into the River Humber. It is one of those places that fascinates me. I think it is something to do with the remains of the piers and the feeling that this place was once something more important than an old muddy creek with bits of decaying wood. Barton Haven on the other side of the Humber Bridge is another of those places. Although the industry is no longer there, the name Hessle Haven lives on as the starting point of The Yorkshire Wolds Way. When I took the photograph looking east, it was still sunny with blue sky and fluffy clouds. Behind me coming from the west was heavy rain. It had just started raining when I took the picture, I then had to rush back to the car. I felt that black and white gave the image a more timeless feel.

Ready to fly

Yorkshire Gliding Club Sutton Bank

Thursday 27th August 2015

Cleveland Way maintenance duties today. I arrived at the White Horse Bank car park early, so I could go and photograph some stationary gliders. They were already being pushed out of the hangers and lined up ready for take off with the winch. I asked one of the pilots if it was good gliding weather, he said once the low cloud lifted it would be a good day. That was fine for me as we were going to be strimming the undergrowth around the top of the Kilburn White Horse all day. Very exhausting day, but we completed the task and it looks a lot better. Have a look; https://www.facebook.com/clevelandway

Cleveland Way

Looking north to Skinningrove on the Cleveland Way

Wednesday 26th August 2015

What fantastic weather for a walk with three friends from Saltburn to Staithes on the Cleveland Way. When I left home about 7.30 it was throwing it down with rain. By the time I arrived at Saltburn it was sunny. A great walk with a deviation at Skinningrove due to the new flood defence works. The photograph was taken on what turned out to be a very clear day, looking north on the climb to the top of Boulby cliffs. The heather is out in full bloom, Skinningrove steel works can be seen as the long sheds. Beyond that is the jetty at Skinningrove, Hunt Cliff and in the distance, the wind farm at Redcar and the Durham coast. We finished the walk at Staithes with a pint of Timothy Taylors Landlord in the Cod and Lobster before catching the bus back to Saltburn.

Dragonfly

Migrant Hawker Dragonfly (Aeshna Mixta)

Tuesday 25th August 2015

Sunny and windy outside when I noticed a couple of dragonflies drifting around the garden. Quarter of an hour later and I was out in the back garden, when I happened to notice the above clinging to our clematis with wings outstretched. I was fascinated by it, don't think I have seen one so close. I ran inside to get my camera, thinking that it would have flown away by the time I got back. To my astonishment, it was still there. I approached with caution and was able to get a few pictures before it flew away. Not knowing exactly what it was I had to look it up. It is a Migrant Hawker and used to be rare in this country, but is now well established in the south and east. I am led to believe that this one is a female.

Mini Mike!

Mini microphone head

Monday 24th August 2015

Talking to my sister on Skype and accidentally moved my microphone. It's only a cheap Tesco mike, but it works. As I moved it, I was aware that the speaking end was covered in a very fine mesh. I decided to photograph it, but the microphone is completely grey against a light background, not very contrasty. Inverting the image gave more contrast and a mysterious appearance.

Fordon Church

St. James Church, Fordon

Sunday 23rd August 2015

This quaint little church is in the hamlet of Fordon. This year it celebrated its 900th anniversary with a special service in July conducted by the Archbishop of York, John Sentamu. Services are still held here on the first Sunday in the month. The church is a Grade 2 listed building and was restored in 1876 and 1923, hence the modern brick. According to Historic England, the church is the smallest in the East Riding of Yorkshire. Fordon lies in a beautiful valley north of Wold Newton on the Wolds.

Abstract

Abstract design

Saturday 22nd August 2015

Busy all day and with no camera. Late evening decided I needed an image, so took a photograph of an object and then played around with it until I liked what I saw. In this case the outlines reminded me of an engine crankshaft.

Spaghetti

Spaghetti in boiling water!

Friday 21st August 2015

Spaghetti. How do you eat yours? Do you cut it or twirl it? Taking it out of the packet is the first hurdle, as it slides through the fingers and onto the floor! The pan of boiling water ready and just throw it in. I don't, I like to stack it in the pan and watch as the hot water slowly turns these brittle sticks into bendy rubber, twirling them from the bottom. All too soon the hot water has consumed them into a pit of slithering snakes. There's imagery for you! I thought about photographing this action, but the effects of hot steam on my camera ruled it out. I grabbed a handful of Spaghetti, put it in a glass and against a suitable 'steamy kitchen atmosphere' backdrop, took a photograph. Then added a slight twirl effect to capture the moment it begins to bend and drop into the abyss.

Recruitment Drive

Looking for new members

Thursday 20th August 2015

Today's image (taken on my mobile phone) is also an advert! Several members of Driffield Photographic Society (including me) had a stall on Driffield Market with the aim of recruiting some new members. Our new season begins on Monday 7th September and we have a packed programme, with weekly meetings. Cost for membership is £25 adult and £10 Junior, that will give a person 36 meetings up to our summer break, great value. If you would like to see what we do, there is no charge for the first few sessions. We are a friendly club and welcome people of all abilities. So if you have a camera (any camera) and not sure how it works or you want help getting your photos onto computer, printing or just improving your photography, give us a try. We meet in the Bell Hotel, Driffield YO25 6AN  Mondays at 7.30pm. We look forward to seeing you.
Visit our website for further information: Click Here

Little Wold Vineyard

A Vineyard on the Wolds

Wednesday 19th August 2015

Walked a section of the Yorkshire Wolds Way today from South Cave to Goodmanham about 11 miles.  Not far out of South Cave came across the Little Wold Vineyard in; you guessed it, Little Wold. A lovely south facing slope, ideal for grapes with views across the Humber onto the Lincolnshire Wolds. I read that they started growing grapes in 2012 and had their first harvest last year. The weather was good and the company good. I found it a very pleasant walk with quite varied scenery and good views. We finished with a well earned pint of 'Whitby Abbey' in the Goodmanham Arms!

Light bulb

Fluorescent light bulb

Tuesday 18th August 2015

What a horrible day, rain never stopped. Took a photograph of a cool fluorescent light bulb and converted it to black and white. Next time I try a shot like this, I must remember to clean the bulb first, each spot of dirt shows up. Some have been removed.

Tree silhouette

Tree at sunset

Monday 17th August 2015

Saw this lonely tree on the skyline near Sledmere and photographed it against the setting sun. A simple silhouette.

Bullocks

I only have eyes for you!

Sunday 16th August 2015

I was out walking in Harwood Dale today, the weather was great, bit cloudy, but sunny and warm. I had walked down a bridleway from the Reasty road (the farm on the hill on the left) and had passed half a dozen young bullocks. They were curious and as I approached they ran away. I turned right into the above field and walked close to the fence, there were sheep in the field and quite a few bullocks. They saw me and came trotting over. I ignored them and carried on walking, they got closer, I looked up and they ran off. I could see they were just young animals and carried on. The next thing I heard them coming behind me, I looked round and they were stampeding, I turned and clapped my hands. Some stopped, others ran away, but some kept coming slowly towards me. Then they obviously felt brave as a group and all started running towards me. I realized they meant business and ran for the gate. I just got through the gate!
I stopped to wonder what would have happened had it been a family out walking, they would have been absolutely terrified - it doesn't bear thinking about. Farmers complain about walkers trespassing all over their land, but if the footpath or bridleway was fenced off (electric or otherwise) to prevent livestock from coming into contact with members of the public, there would be a safe defined path, so no need to stray and harmony - simple solution?

Logs

Timber Stack in Beck Dale

Saturday 15th August 2015

Today was a day out in Helmsley with the Driffield Photographic Society and a circular walk up Ash Dale and back down Beck Dale. It was a good day for walking, not too hot, not too cold and the company was good. As we wandered back down Beck Dale, I got a whiff of cut pine. There at the side of the track was a timber stack, ready to go to the mill. To me, what was interesting was the different colours, the chain saw marks, the annual rings and that beautiful smell of fresh pine.

One too many

Through the wine glass

Friday 14th August 2015

Very poor dull rainy weather today. Just rewarding myself this evening with a glass of wine (can't think why) and having had a drink I put the wine glass down onto a beer mat. The glass has a spiral design and I saw a pattern developing as I looked into the wine. It was partly due to the 'Windsor & Eton Brewery' colourful beer mat and the movement of the wine, plus the angle of the glass. At the centre you can make out the stem of the glass. It's probably the sort of image you would notice after a few more glasses, when the room starts to spin! I like it - the Chardonnay that is, cheers.

Aces High

It should have been!

Thursday 13th August 2015

Having been informed that four Spitfire aircraft were to fly over Scarborough today at 1640, we made our way across there in good time. They were to fly over Whitby, then down to Scarborough and onto Bridlington, it was going to be a unique occasion. I took up a position near the top of Scarborough Castle, on the north side and waited for them to come into view. I guessed they would be flying low, so with this vantage point, I would be able to photograph them quite close. I was able to see about eight miles up the coast, so had plenty of time to prepare for my shots. Five o'clock came and went, then half five, then six, no information from anyone. Hundreds of people were waiting, but not any more. I decided to call it a day. Driving home I was a bit upset to learn that they had been seen at Whitby, but had not flown over Scarborough or Bridlington. For once, I had been organised and been in the right place. I had so much time to imagine the shot I was going to take that I couldn't get it out of my head. I got home and decided I would take that shot - but I didn't have a Spitfire! Not to be outdone, I discovered a propeller driven aircraft in the form of a 'Matchbox' Cessna metal model (circa 1974) in among my Grandson's toy box. I photographed it, cut it out, introduced a cloudy sky, then gave the aircraft a bit of motion blur and that was the image I had in my mind. For Cessna think Spitfire!

Tattershall Castle

Tattershall Castle Lincolnshire

Wednesday 12th August 2015

The 'Glorious 12th'! No photographing grouse today. I ventured into Lincolnshire and a visit to Tattershall Castle, a beautiful brick building. The castle was built by Ralph Cromwell, Lord Treasurer to King Henry VI between 1434 and 1447. It was built of brick on the site of an earlier castle. It is considered to be one of the finest examples of medieval brickwork in the country. Lord Curzon restored the castle and gave it to the National Trust in 1925. The views from the top of the Keep are fantastic, you can see for miles. Where is it? Next door to RAF Coningsby in Lincolnshire. Our arrival at the castle was greeted with four RAF Typhoon's taking off (very loud) and then a display by a Hurricane from the Battle of Britain memorial flight. A good day.

Altered image

Twisted metal

Tuesday 11th August 2015

Late post. It's an image. Nothing more to be said.

Lissett Memorial

Memorial to 158 Squadron

Monday 10th August 2015

Driving past Lissett airfield this evening as the sun was starting to go down. I stopped to take a photograph of the seven metal airmen. They form the memorial to the 851 men and women from 158 Squadron who lost their lives whilst serving with the Squadron. The airfield was used for Halifax bomber missions between 1943 and 1946. The 851 names are etched onto both sides of the metal figures. The sculptor was Peter Naylor from Beverley. My shot was low down and silhouette, to bring out the faces and togetherness of a crew about to embark on a night mission. 

Dots of colour

Shredded Waste

Sunday 9th August 2015

Happened to be shredding some waste paper today and as the bits collected in the bottom, I noticed that there were all sorts of coloured pieces. Where the paper was thickest, on the bottom and where someone had been using a highlighter pen, the colours came to the fore. The scattered pieces on the top were less colourful, but more defined. I photographed the shredded paper through the metal gauze basket, with flash, allowing just enough depth to show the mesh and detail in the paper (but not too much). I liked the idea of many dots of colour, it reminded me of some of the works of impressionist painters and the more modern spot paintings by Damien Hirst. Screw your eyes up, you'll see what I mean!

Driffield Steam Fair

A quiet evening in Driffield!

Saturday 8th August 2015

Today and tomorrow are given over to the Driffield Steam and Vintage Rally. As is usual on the Saturday evening there is a parade of all vehicles into the main street. The procession takes about one hour, before all the vehicles come to a halt on both sides of the road. The charity buckets are passed around, the occupants of the vehicles mingle with the local people, then after a bite to eat and a drink, they return to the showfield. I took my photograph on Mill Street at the junction with Market Place (the main street). I wanted the showman's engine to be centre of attention, but there was far too much colour around. I therefore decided on black and white with colour only on the engine.

Alliums

Allium seed head

Friday 7th August 2015

We have some Allium plants in our garden. They are also known as ornamental onions and have masses of purple flowers in a huge ball about ten inches diameter. When the flowers die, they leave the seed heads (the green blobs) and when the seed heads drop off, the plant is left with masses of tiny spikes. Flower arrangers love them. I have photographed the plant with flowers in the past, but today I waited for the sun to strike the seed heads, against a dark area under trees. This makes the detail stand out.

It's just an apple tree

Wrong. Sir Isaac Newton's famous apple tree

Thursday 6th August 2015

Down to Lincolnshire today and a visit to Woolsthorpe Manor near Grantham. This was the birth place and home of Sir Isaac Newton when he was a young lad. The apple tree above, is not any old apple tree, this is the very 'Flower of Kent' apple tree, from which the apple fell and helped Isaac with his theory of gravity, way back in the 1680's.
Today, the National Trust look after the house. I have to say that the Science Discovery Centre there, with its practical hands on demonstrations of Newtons Laws of motion and theories of light, is brilliant. The image today had to relate to Newton and of course the apple tree. Yes, there are some apples on the tree.

Twisting

Twisted light bulb

Wednesday 5th August 2015

Late home tonight and not a picture taken. Sat at my desk, looked up, saw the cool fluorescent coiled light bulb and wondered what I could do with it. Photographed it from below, removed all the background so it was black, then applied filters in Photoshop, before returning it to Lightroom and split toning the image. Modern art?

Corn Field Flowers

The best colour of the day!

Tuesday 4th August 2015

Today I was out walking from Fridaythorpe to Wharram Percy, with a stop at The Cross Keys pub in Thixendale for a pint and a bite to eat (by special arrangement). The day was very overcast, gloomy and windy, but the company was good. Just before we dropped down into Thixen Dale, at the corner of a field, there was a beautiful, colourful display of flowers associated with corn fields. There were: common poppy, corn chamomile, corn marigold, cornflower, sun spurge, to name but a few. Just as we finished the walk at Wharram, it began to rain, so this really was the best colour of the day.

Castle Howard Temple

The Temple of Four Winds

Monday 3rd August 2015

This evening the Driffield Photographic Society met for an evenings photography at Castle Howard. I was late getting there, but met up with three of the group. We decided on a long walk on public footpaths around the eastern side of the house. We came to the Temple of Four Winds, which like the house itself was designed by John Vanburgh for the third Earl of Carlisle. A fairly dull evening weather-wise, began to change as sunset approached and the sky livened up. I liked the steps leading to the temple which showed their age (built 1726), so I decided black and white with a very slight sepia. The walk back to the cars was in the dark. But that's what happens when you overstay the 'Golden Hour' at sunset! 

Combine Harvester at Kilham

Combine, harvesting the Barley

Sunday 2nd August 2015

I've heard them, I have seen the results, but today was the first time I have seen a Combine Harvester in action, this year. Just driving through Kilham and noticed it processing the Barley crop. It reminded me that the summer is slowly drawing to a close and we could really do with a good spell of sunny weather. This farmer was taking advantage of the sunshine today and with a large header on the combine, was making easy work of it.

Reflections

Sunset through a knobbly glass

Saturday 1st August 2015

Quite often with taking a picture a day, I am stumped for an image. I am not in a creative frame of mind or not feeling too good. It is bound to happen and when it does, it is very hard to put something together. I was feeling pretty lousy today and certainly not in the mood for taking pictures. As I was sitting at the computer this evening, the sun was going down and a shaft of sunlight shone through the window and onto my desk. Next to me was a very 70's empty knobbly glass tumbler. I picked it up and saw the light reflect off the glass. By chance a picture for the day? I held the glass towards the setting sun, so that the light would reflect off the base, I then noticed that there were also blues and purples being reflected from the curtains nearby. A shot!