Pirate Ship

Braving the elements at Bridlington

Saturday 31st October 2015

Half term for the children and a chance for many to have a short break at the seaside. Only today, it was cold, misty and windy, with the wind coming off the sea. We went to Bridlington in the morning and as we got near the harbour, there were shouts of; "Anyone for the pirate boat". Very few people were stepping forward, as apart from the wind, the sea looked quite rough - but it was only £1 a head. Eventually the ship left harbour and was being tossed about on the waves. I decided to photograph it on return. As it rolled into port, there were not too many happy people on board, other than the Captain waving!

Locos in a different light

The Great Hall, National Railway Museum

Friday 30th October 2015

At 4pm we headed for York and the 'Illuminating York' event, lots of buildings and streets lit with coloured lights. Coming from Driffield, we parked in the Park and Ride at Grimston Bar and hopped on the bus into the city. Disappointment number one. I was informed that the last bus back was 8pm, when I had read it would be 10pm. No, I was wrong, it was 8pm for Grimston Bar and 10pm for Askham Bar and Monks Cross. What is wrong with us from the East Riding, do we have to go to bed that early - shame on you York Council and First York. By the time we got into the City in heavy traffic it was about 5.30, we raced across the city centre to the Railway Museum to find the display did not start until 6.30! We then got into the Great Hall and it was a very good display. By the time I had taken a few time exposures, it was approaching 7pm and time to go, to make sure we caught the last bus! Dashing across the city centre we only managed glimpses of the light shows before we caught our bus and made our way home very disgruntled. Come on York, if you have late night Park and Ride for large evening events, make sure you treat us all the same!

Candlelight

Let there be light

Thursday 29th October 2015

By the time I got round to thinking about a photograph for today, it was nearly dark! Outside, it was another wet and dreary day. My wife had lit a candle in the sitting room and in the half light, I suddenly realised how early it was getting dark. There is something warming about a candle (not the heat), something cosy and looking at the candle it felt serene. I decided to borrow the candle and photograph it against a black background. I really liked the shape and form the melted wax had taken around the top and with the wick fairly low, it produced a nice translucent glow. 

Scarborough Spa Express

Steam Locomotive 'Galatea' at Scarborough Station

Wednesday 28th October 2015

Had to go through to Scarborough today. It was very foggy on the tops and murky in Scarborough, then at lunchtime it poured down with rain. I set off back about 4pm and went via the railway station as I was aware that the 'Scarborough Spa Express' steam train was running. It was due out at 5pm so I didn't expect it to be sitting on the end of the train an hour before departure. I would have been in no position to photograph it after 5pm as it would have been dark by then. Well, it might as well have been after 5 as it was very dark, murky and drizzling when I took my shot. The locomotive was highly polished, but someone should have told them to polish the tender as well, to match!

Hypnotic effect

Are you sleepy yet?

Tuesday 27th October 2015

Went to open the door of our tumble dryer and there it was. The photograph. Our tumble dryer is on the floor, so we don't normally see inside the machine, but tonight it caught my eye. The holes let the heat into the machine and the drum spins to dry the clothes. I took a photograph inside, of the back of the drum and as you cannot see into the machine when it is working, I decided to spin it myself. Stare at it too long and you would swear it was moving!

Dead Thistles

Dead Thistles

Monday 26th October 2015

Out walking near Warter village in the Wolds this afternoon, when I came across lots of dead thistles. The purple coloured flowers had by now given way to a bleached white droopy appearance (reminded me of a Sporran). The late low evening sun was casting a golden glow onto them, emphasizing the brown woody stems of the decaying plants. 

Black Mill Beverley

Black Mill on Beverley Westwood Common Land

Sunday 25th October 2015

Decided after lunch to go for a walk through Burton Bushes oak wood on Beverley Westwood (opposite the racecourse) and across the Common, which is Open Access land. Dodging the low flying golf balls (there is a proper golf course) and the low flying model aircraft, we made our way, passing the free grazing cattle to the black windmill on the skyline. The grade two listed windmill, built in the early 1800's, is painted with black tar and is boarded up, it's sails were removed years ago . The afternoon was cool, cloudy with a very watery sun. I decided to photograph the windmill, framed by the two trees, with the sun just behind the top of the building, to highlight the crenellated top. There was never going to be a dramatic sunset (too early), so I exposed for the sun to put the trees into partial silhouette and as the windmill was black, it stood out, backlit by the sun.

Bridlington Harbour

The fleet is in

Saturday 24th October 2105

Went across to Bridlington at teatime, the weather was very dull and overcast. There was a glint of sun in the south west, but overhead it was dull. We had a walk up the fish pier (again) and I was surprised just how many fishing boats were in the harbour. I wanted to take a shot showing the extent of the fleet with lots of masts. I needed to show the fish processing building on the right to give the image a location and the mooring posts and ropes. What I did not want was the colourful signage in front of the fish processing building and the colours of the cafes and shops on the left. By converting the image to black and white, sepia toning and adding a vignette, it gives a semi timeless appearance. Ten minutes after we left, there was a fantastic glow on the boats from the low evening sun, which lasted all of two minutes - shame!

Autumn a picture

A picture of autumn

Friday 23rd October 2015

Had to travel to Scarborough today, so took advantage and had a walk around 'The Mere'. It is a natural freshwater lake of approximately sixteen acres on the southern edge of the town. Surrounded by trees and just below the mighty Oliver's Mount, it is a haven for wildlife and is the home of Scarborough Mere Angling Club. There is a lovely walk around the perimeter of the lake(s), which is wheelchair friendly. It was a fine day and I found that the leaves under the trees on the path were very dry and crisp. The mix of colours and shapes made a good abstract picture.

Runswick Bay

Early morning at Runswick Bay

Thursday 22nd October 2015

Cleveland Way Volunteers day today at Runswick Bay. I arrived early and was surprised at the calm sea, no wind and beautiful sunshine - nothing like the forecast of gale force winds! I walked down to the beach and took this view looking north. Then I was off to spend a day strimming and hedge cutting on the Cleveland Way around Runswick Bay.

Nerine or Bowden Lily

My favourite October flower

Wednesday 21st October 2015

When most things in the garden are dying at this time of year, there is one plant that stands tall and radiates life. It is the Nerine Bowdenii or the Bowden Lily; the magenta coloured flowers stand out among the withered leaves of shrubs and decaying summer bedding plants. It is a perennial bulb, which originates from South Africa, but is very happy in a sunny British garden. They are long lived; the bulbs growing in clumps which increase in size year on year. My image is of a single flower head (not the best specimen), but on each stem there are several flowers.

Light at the window

Frosted Light

Tuesday 20th October 2015

I had to go and post a letter this evening. I was just fastening my shoes in the hallway, when I looked up and saw the street light opposite shining on our glass front door. The brightest part of the light was on a diamond shaped pane of frosted glass. I thought it created an interesting pattern, so I grabbed my camera. The image was a bit ordinary, the black diamond shaped frame, with reflected light on the inside, leading into the frosted glass. I decided I would transfer the image into Photoshop and make something of it. I came up with the above, which is a far cry from the original diamond shape. I think it looks great.

New Crab Pots

New Crab Pots at Bridlington

Monday 19th October 2015

Had to go to Bridlington this morning, so took advantage of a walk around the harbour area - with only one hour free parking - even in winter! Time was not on my side. I wandered along the fish pier, but nothing inspired me (few boats in), except boxes of fish heads being unloaded from a pick-up, to be used as bait (not very nice for the blog). I then went onto the central pier where all the crab pots are stored and came across these brand new crab pots. I couldn't resist a photograph of them. I did wonder if the crabs are attracted to the bright colours or will they run (crawl) a mile?

Experiment with light

The descent of bubbles

Sunday 18th October 2015

My image for today was an experiment with a flash gun and children's bubbles. Against a black background and a dark room, I blew bubbles high above the background. I set my camera up for a two second exposure and as they descended, I fired the flash on high speed sync, giving me 10 flashes for the two second exposure. Interesting that only the top and bottom of each bubble is shown and two highlights in the middle. Is this the way the light is reflected around a sphere? Does each bubble descend at 9.8 metres per second, per second? Answers on a postcard. The result reminds me of the old 'Space Invaders' computer game.

Wild Thing!

'Mr. Aggressive' about to attack my wife.

Saturday 17th October 2015

Had to make a trip to Pickering today to hand over the entries for one of the Driffield Photographic Society competitions to the judge, who lives there. It was the 'Wartime Weekend' at Pickering and there was not a parking space to be had anywhere in the town. Having dropped off the pictures, we decided to go to Helmsley and have a walk. We were walking up Beck Dale, when from about 100 metres away, bold as brass, the above pheasant came trotting towards us. I said to my wife, "Better set my camera up, he wants his photo taking". He came right up to us and let my wife almost touch him. As we walked on, he walked at our side; when we stopped, he stopped - and so it went on. Then, as we presumably got near his territory, he suddenly became very aggressive, attacked my wife's walking stick repeatedly, then had a go at my leg. You can see the aggression in his eyes! Just then a Land Rover came down the track and the pheasant scarpered for the undergrowth. It was as if he could tackle us, but Land Rovers meant shooters and dead pheasants. After a pleasant walk, we returned the same route and sure enough, he was waiting for us and had another go. Will he survive the winter?

Fungi

But what type?

Friday 16th October 2015

After a visit to Pocklington this morning, I returned via Millington to see if the trees had turned colour in Millington Wood. It was a dull, dreary morning with bits of drizzle, just the sort of morning for photographing trees! I parked in the car park and walked up the wood but the trees had not turned colour. I was about to return to the car when I saw a tree stump covered in fungi, which I set about photographing with flash. I have no idea what type of fungi it is; an animal, presumably a deer, had set about eating it, then left it. Was it edible for us humans? I have no idea. I did look it up in some books but could not say exactly what it was, perhaps someone could enlighten me?

Twisted Bauble

Cane Bauble with a twist

Thursday 15th October 2015

Busy all day today, did not get out of the house. Late evening and still no thoughts for an image. Then I saw what can only be described as a 'cane bauble' sitting in the potpourri dish. The cane was twisted and bent, almost broken in places, it had the appearance of a sphere, but was very angular. I photographed it against a black background, then in Photoshop manipulated the image until I produced something that I liked.

Hull Fair

Giant Wheel at Hull Fair

Wednesday 14th October 2015

Visited Hull Fair tonight with some fellow photographers. The aim was to try out different techniques of night time photography. It was a mild evening after a heavy rain shower at tea time. We hoped to get around all the big rides and photograph them. We soon realized that was not going to happen because the Fair was so big. The noise was deafening, but there was a great atmosphere with everyone enjoying themselves. My image focuses on one of the oldest attractions of funfairs, 'the big wheel'.

Bracken colours

Autumn is a good time of year for Bracken?

Tuesday 13th October 2015

Why is autumn a good time of year for bracken? The answer is because it is beginning to die back! Yes, the colours are great and as the image shows, some leaves are still green, whilst others go through a yellow and gold phase before turning brown. Bracken is a very invasive plant and spreads with underground rhizomes. It has dense foliage so that hardly anything grows beneath it. Bracken grows to a height of about two metres and there is very little in the way of available chemicals to control it. As a walker, I hate it, as it is very difficult to wade through when it is covering a path. This time of year, it is good to see it die back, but as it is a perennial plant, it will be back again in spring! My image was taken this morning in Yearsley Moor Forest in the Howardian Hills AONB. The forest is owned by Ampleforth Abbey and managed by The Forestry Commission.

Londesborough Park

One of the lakes at Londesborough Park

Monday 12th October 2015

Today with a friend we walked another part of the Yorkshire Wolds Way from Goodmanham to Millington. What a great start to the walk, almost wall to wall blue sky. By the time we stopped for lunch at Nunburnholme, the cloud had descended and we had some light rain, before finishing at Millington in semi sunshine. My image is of one of the lakes on the Londesborough Estate, just north of Market Weighton, which the Wolds Way crosses. The estate was owned by George Hudson, 'The Railway King; he bought it in 1845 and sold it in 1849 to pay off some of his debts.

Triffid?

Tassels on a sweetcorn plant

Sunday 11th October 2015

Took a walk around Sledmere Estate circular footpath this afternoon. Half way round I saw a field of sweetcorn, the crop was tall, but the cobs were nowhere near ready. What fascinated me was the tassels on the end of the cob. These 'silks' have tiny hairs along the strands and connect to each kernel. Each 'silk' has to be pollinated and they grow each day until they are all pollinated. You learn something everyday! I liked the 'triffid' effect of this plant.

Oliver's on the Mount Cafe

View from the Terrace Oliver's Mount Cafe

Saturday 10th October 2015

Early morning trip to Scarborough and what a fantastic day, blue sky and not many fluffy clouds. Once we finished our bits and pieces, we drove up to Oliver's Mount to admire the view. We called in at the cafe near the War Memorial, now called  'Oliver's on the Mount Cafe & Bar' and had coffee. My image is the view from the terrace of the cafe. Sitting out on a lovely warm morning looking onto the south bay, but for the trees beginning to turn, you could almost have been in the south of France! My intended image for today was going to be the steam locomotive 'Galatea' steaming through Driffield at 4.46pm; sadly it broke down just outside Scarborough. Good job I had the above in reserve.

Reflections

Reflections at Bell Mills

Friday 9th October 2015

Busy today, did not get out until 4pm, then it was to take my grandson to feed the ducks at Bell Mills in Driffield. The river or beck flows around an island at Bell Mills and the water is very still as it is the holding area for Bradshaws Mill. I was looking at taking a picture with trees, a fence and the garden centre reflected perfectly in the water, but it didn't work out. I walked across the road to where the Driffield beck falls over a weir to bypass the mill. Here the water was fast flowing. Overhead were trees still with green leaves and a blue sky, but standing on the bank was a dead tree with just two branches like a fork. With the sun on the water, the reflections from the two branches made a great pattern, which I used to lead the eye; the rest of the colours and ripples made the image.

Start of the Lyke Wake Walk

The Lyke Wake Walk stone on Scarth Wood Moor, Osmotherley

Thursday 8th October 2015

Today I was at Osmotherley doing my Cleveland Way Volunteers duties, we were hedge cutting, and strimming to the west of the village. It was a glorious day. I arrived early and to fill in time had a drive to Cod Beck Reservoir. Parking my car near the reservoir, I noticed a standing stone on the moor opposite. I walked across to have a look and saw it was the start stone for the 'Lyke Wake Walk', the 42 mile crossing of the North York Moors finishing at Ravenscar on the coast. I have 'done' the Lyke Wake three times and each time it has been in bad weather. Today, with glorious sunshine I wanted to do the walk, I was imagining the views from the Cleveland Hills and the distance you could see. This part of the walk was always in the dark when I have done it - we always started about 2300 hours! I don't know how long the stone has been there but I don't recall seeing it before. So today's image is a personal reminder of my travels on the Lyke Wake Walk.

Waves

Swirling waves

Wednesday 7th October 2015

A trip to Scarborough today, it was cold, misty and raining. Once I had finished what I needed to do, we drove around the Marine Drive. The waves were crashing over the railings onto the footpath (not near me). Just below the sea wall there was lots of action with waves hitting the wall and then retreating into an incoming wave. This created lots of patterns. I took a photograph of this action and over emphasized it when processing to give more of a swirling effect.

Bridlington Beach

Chalets at South Sands

Tuesday 6th October 2015

Travelled to Bridlington this afternoon and by the time we got there it was very overcast with a cool sea breeze. Having visited the shops we took a walk on the South Sands from the Spa. The tide was going out and there were not many people around. I spotted these chalets just below the Park and Ride terminus and thought they might make a photograph. Then I saw that the 'beach cleaner' at sometime had driven onto the beach and done a 'U' turn and headed north. I didn't want the sky in the picture as there were all the street lamps etc. from the Park and Ride, so I retreated towards the sea and used the tyre tracks as a lead-in line. I decided on black and white for the final image.

5p or no carrier

Death to the plastic carrier bag

Monday 5th October 2015

We have, until today accumulated lots of carrier bags, they reside in a holder on the back of the kitchen cupboard door. The new charge of 5p for a carrier will perhaps limit the number of carriers supermarkets and the like throw at us. To be fair, some have been charging for a while. My image is a reminder of what was on the back of the door. I photographed them and then in Photoshop added an extra 'plastic' effect, to give them more of a hideous look. Let's hope that the ban is effective in stopping a lot of animals and fish being killed needlessly.

Rowan trees

Mountain Ash Leaves

Sunday 4th October 2015

Returning from a day at Boggle Hole Youth Hostel (Meeting) near Robin Hoods Bay, I thought I would cut the grass in our back garden before the rain that is forecast for tomorrow. Whilst mowing, I noticed that of the two Mountain Ash trees (Rowans) in the garden, one still has completely green leaves and lots of berries. The other one (above) has leaves that have started to show magnificent autumn colours. I couldn't resist a photograph before the leaves shrivel completely and drop off. Autumn is certainly with us now.

Look what I've got!

Mother and seven cygnets on Driffield Beck

Saturday 3rd October 2015

A dull, cool day today, big change from yesterday. We visited Bell Mills Garden Centre this afternoon and to our surprise swimming along the Driffield Beck was mother, father and their seven cygnets. My image shows mother and the cygnets; father was about twenty metres ahead looking for danger. We have been observing the swans over the months and it is the first time I have seen all seven cygnets. It was as if the mother had brought her young to show us. It is good to see that the swan population has increased, but what I did notice was both parent birds and five of the seven cygnets have developed 'Angel wing'. Apparently, this condition can be passed on genetically or as a result of poor diet and too much protein. It is caused by rapid growth of the wings when the bones cannot support the feathers. It means the birds will never be able to fly. Read more about the condition here.  

Beverley Minster

North Door Beverley Minster

Friday 2nd October 2015

Had been in Scarborough all day and arrived home about 1815, eating my tea when I remembered I was going to go to the Discover 'Beverley Minster at Twilight' from 1800 to 1930! Rushed and got to the Minster about 1850, some of the lights were 'on' in the Quire, so I set up with tripod and began photographing. There were a few photographers there and with long exposures we found it hard to keep out of each others shots. The time I had inside went very quickly, so with the door firmly shut behind me (I was one of the last out), on a warm still evening I took some shots of the outside of the Minster. This image is of the North door. Thanks to all the staff at the Minster for the refreshments and for putting up with the lumbering tripods.

Dark nights and coloured lights

Coloured Elastic Bands

Thursday 1st October 2015

Looked at my calendar today and saw that the 'Fair' season was upon us. Locally, that means; Scarborough Fair this week, Hull Fair next week, followed by Bridlington Fair. It is a great time to experiment photographing the lights and motion of the rides against dark skies. As I was thinking about this, I was staring at a bag of elastic bands and it set me thinking, I would create my own fairground lights. I took out some coloured elastic bands and photographed them with flash from the left hand side, to create a slight shadow. I then processed it in Photoshop and selected a filter to bring out the coloured edges of the bands. Now I was looking at something that reminded me of the neon lights of the Fairgrounds. Perhaps a real image next week?