Best Of The Year

As it's the last day of the year, I've decided to go through all my postings to find which photo got the most hits.

I was surprised to find out that it was this one, as it is not particularly brilliant. But it did receive an amazing 10745 visits. It is of actress Lauren Goodger from "The Only Way Is Essex" who was launching her line of cosmetics.

I took it at the Beauty Show in Birmingham on 13th May while she was promoting herself and her products.

Well that's about it for 2012. It's been quite a year photographically, with learning about taking portraits of some lovely models, owning a full frame Nikon D3s, and now the amazing Olympus OMD.

Gail has caught the photography bug too and we've visited some unexpectedly nice places like Bradford and Chester, where we met up with top snapper Damian McGillycuddy.

Who knows what 2013 will have in store for us both. Personally I'd like to start earning a bit of money somehow from my photography; possibly through doing weddings or covering some local events.
Whatever happens, I'll be sure to share it with you on this blog. So do keep visiting and I'd just like to wish you all a

                   Happy New Year

Does My Bum Look Big In This?

It's a Happy Birthday to my darling Gail who is ?? today, but looks a lot younger.

Here is one of the presents that I got her. If you can't tell, it's a hand crafted wooden zebra that has come all the way from Africa, from where of course they originate.

She saw a trio of them in a local gift shop that specialises in original art from different parts of the world, and fell in love with them. So I just had to get one for her. I would have liked to have bought her a herd, but we haven't really got the space and they are quite expensive. I think it is quite humorous in the way that it's rear end is sticking out!

Besides the zebra and a few other little presents like chocolates, some mittens, I got her this rather bright and colourful  Doc Marten boots. Pink is Gail's favourite colour. Earlier this year she met a model who was wearing a pair, although in a cherry red colour, and thought she might like a pair herself. And now she has.

In Everyone's Life A Little Rain Must Fall...

... but at the moment, it seems to be a torrent.

Yes it rained again today, and quite heavy at times. I don't think there has been a day this week where it's not rained. This is not helping to relieve the situation with the local flooding that is happening at the moment.

So I didn't see anything worth photographing today, except giant puddles everywhere. But no sun to make the puddles look like mirrors. So here's a shot in the front garden with all the droplets of rain hanging from our fir tree.

Heart To Heart

Now that christmas is over, the council have started to remove the stalls that made up our Christmas market.

The food and drink stalls in the Old Market Square still remain, but I think these will be finished very soon; maybe by the end of next week.

One of the stalls sell all sorts of sweets. I quite like this heart shaped confectionery, which are supported by the hearts on the bags.

Love sweets, or sweet love?

Horseplay

A bit of an arty shot today, as the cupboard is a little bare at the moment.

The fairground ride in the Old Market Square. The guy looks like he's enjoying the horses going round. Just hope he hasn't put a bet on one of them!

Snowballs

No snow over Christmas, just rain. Some parts of Nottinghamshire are now flooded. Fortunately we are high and dry. Living on top of a hill helps. So the only white in the garden at the moment is this bush that sprouts these white snowball like flowers. I have no idea what the bush is called, but they do add a little something to what is basically a bare garden at the moment.

Merry Christmas

Here's hoping everyone has a great time over the festive period, and all the best for the forthcoming year. I hope it is a good one.

We're Walking In The Air

An unbelievable thirty years ago, Channel Four first screened a cartoon based around the story of a snowman that comes to life and takes a little boy to see Father Christmas. Written by Raymond Briggs, it has been shown on TV every Christmas since then.

This year a new story debuted on Channel Four. It was a similar story, but this time the little boy makes a dog out of snow as a friend for the snowman that he has built. The boy had a dog himself but it died earlier in the year. He sends a letter to Santa asking for a new dog for Christmas.

It was a lovely story and used the same line drawing animation as the previous tale. No CGI, just old style animation. It's worth watching and hopefully will be on again next Christmas.

I noticed that my local branch of the Nationwide building society had a poster in their window of a scene from the film, so I just had to take a photo.

Season's Greetings

It's getting closer to the big day.

Are you looking forward to it?

Moody

This is Chrissy, our model for the evening, while we were doing a small lighting course at our friends studio in Clifton.

Besides working in the studio, we went outside and using just one flash, set up a shot like this one.

A Touch Of Sparkle

Since adopting Marmalade and Oscar we don't put up a Christmas tree anymore, as Gail and I are worried that they might try and use it as a scratching post and tinsel and baubles will be scattered everywhere as they push it over.

So here is a shot of a tree and decorations that I took through a window of a bank in Beeston, when Gail and I went for a walk along the High Road when it was dark.

Round Robin

Everyone loves robins, those cheeky and friendly birds that often pop into people's garden to see what's happening and what food is available.

Fortunately this robin isn't going anywhere, as it's one of the decorations that are on show in Beeston's shopping area.

Life Flashing By

You may have noticed that my blogging has been a little haphazard lately and have missed the odd day here and there. I certainly seemed to have lost the discipline needed to do a daily blog at the moment.

It's just that we seem to be doing so much recently, that I haven't had either the time or the inclination to sort out the images that I have taken.  Or do anything with them. I know that I should and need to.

Today for instance I had to go to Bristol for the day for work. A very long day too.  I didn't get the opportunity of taking any pictures, except any, like this one out of the train window.

No Red Nose

Another Christmas related photo today, as it's getting nearer and nearer.

This is a real reindeer, but alas it's not Rudolph, or Blitzen for that matter.

I never got to know his name, but there were quite a lot of people queuing up to meet him and his cousin, who were visiting Broadgate Park.

I guess he is wearing a bell because his horn's don't work. Sorry, couldn't resist an old cracker joke!

Dearly Departed

Gail and I had to go to a funeral today. Not a family member as such, but someone close to our hearts; Gail's ex husband's father, Ruben.

He died suddenly from a short illness. So it was quite a shock to hear that he had passed away so soon.

Ruben was very popular in the village where he lived, and the little church in Edwinstowe was packed with family members, friends and locals wishing to say their goodbyes.

The service went as well as could be expected and so did the burial, despite it being very cold and wet.

Although I didn't know him as much as perhaps I was able, we did share the same birthdate, although there was a 40 year difference.

It was the first time that I had been to a funeral with a burial, as others that I have attended have been cremations.  After the coffin was lowered into the ground, I helped his sons to shovel the earth back in. It was the least I could for them.

And The Songbird Keeps Singing

Gail and I now know that it's the start of Christmas, as we've just been to the Playhouse to see Kate Rusby and her band in concert.

It has become a bit of a tradition to see Kate's concert in December. We've had to wait a long time too, as I bought the tickets in May.

She mainly played Christmas type carols, but in a folk style, accompanied by a six piece brass band. She says that she loves to come to Nottingham and play amongst the pantomime set.

The theatre was packed, and everyone really enjoyed her style of music and little stories she tells about the songs, where they come from and her adventures on the road.

I took this photo last year. Kate looks exactly the same, but a little slimmer now that she's given birth to baby Phoebe.

Shopping Bags

A bit of Christmas fun this morning along the main streets of Beeston, as various performers were out and about entertaining the busy shoppers.

Here's an 'ugly sister' pestering the passers by. There was also another one lurking around in the background. Somewhat fatter and more vocal than this babe with a bag.

Bookworm

This is Friar Tuck, one of Robin Hood's 'merry men' who seems to be relaxing and reading a book, probably a Bible, as he was a religious man, although I don't know to which order he belonged.

He is often portrayed in films and on TV as a lover of food and hence his rotund appearance, although apparently he was very good with the sword when riled.

Bicycle Clips

Tonight Gail and I went to a local hotel called The Belfry for a Christmas party organised for the people she works with at the hospital.

There was a bit of a 70s, 80s theme, and some people had dressed in period costume. Someone even dressed up to resemble Mr T. But we just wore normal clothes.

The food was quite good, but we left before the disco started as Gail didn't feel very well for some reason. Not the food, just a lot of coughing, as we were both coming down with colds.

Whilst I was waiting for Gail, I noticed that the hotel had dedicated a wall to local bike company Raleigh. Besides a bit frieze on the wall featuring photos and advertising pictures about the company, there were six picture frames hung on the wall, and each one contained a model of one of their famous bikes.

The one above depicts one of their tandems from the early 1900s, whilst below is probably their most well known and idolised models; the Chopper from 1970. They look very realistic and must have taken quite a time to make, as they look scratch built, rather than being made from a kit.

12:12, 12-12-12

Well today's date was quite special in a numerical sort of way, as it's the last time we will ever see the day, the month and the year with the same number, owing to there only being twelve months in a year.

So to commemorate this event I went to the Robin Hood statue at lunchtime and waited until the appropriate moment and then pressed the shutter.  I got the minutes and seconds right, but according to the photos EXIF data, it came to 23 seconds. Although my camera might be a few seconds out.

The next date with any interest will be 11-12-13. Almost a year from now.

High Flyers

As it was my teams' Christmas dinner tonight, I took the bus into town, instead of cycling in, as I usually do.

While I was walking up by the castle, I heard the squark of a lot of birds. Looking up, I saw a big trail of Canada geese flying overhead.

I thought the birds had flown south ages ago, but they must be just as confused about the weather and the seasons as we are. Maybe now that they have gone, they know that really bad weather is on its way. It was very foggy coming home tonight, and temperatures are expected to drop to minus five tonight. So perhaps the birds know what it is going to be like during the next few days.

Midnight Madness

Whilst we were in Birmingham, we stayed at one of the many large hotels along Broad Street. It is probably one of the busiest roads in the city centre. I took this shot at around midnight on the Saturday night. It just looks like rush hour traffic.

Flying The Flag

For once I have been standing in front of the camera. It doesn't happen very often, as I think I take a rotten picture. Some people have mentioned that about my activities behind the camera too!

This was taken by the in-house photographer at Adee Phelan's salon in Birmingham's The Cube building. I think it works well in black and white. You can still tell that it's the Union Jack behind me.

I quite like the pose. Maybe a touch of the Richard Branson. But without the wooly jumper.

Circles

This is the unique Sefridges building in Birmingham. Most people have seen shots of it in daylight, but as we are staying the weekend in the West Midlands city, I thought I would take one at night for a change.

It is certainly a unique shape and with all those silver discs stuck on the side, it makes it look like it belongs on another planet in the far future..

Out In The Country

A bit of an arty shot today. This was taken up at the farm on which stands the remains of Beauvale Priory.

I used one of the art filters in the OMD, and just did a little tweak or two in iPhoto.

Snow Globe

Besides the ride, stalls and bar, the new attraction at the Christmas event in the Old Market Square is this giant snow globe, with animatronic snowman and penguins.

It is quite cute and obvioulsy a great attraction for children and adults alike. In fact it took me a while to take the photo, as so many people were attracted to it, despite the cold weather.

High Flyers

After a very hectic week last week, I've been a bit stuck for photographic ideas this week. The weather hasn't helped either.

This ride called the North Pole appeared last year in the Old Market Square, and I put a couple of shots of it on here, which was taken with my old Nikon D90. This one was taken with my Olympus OMD and used one of the fancy art filters.

Halfway Up The Stairs

Here's a shot of our Marmalade, posing for the camera on the stairs.

Lighting Up Time

By the time we had left Beauvale Priory it was getting dark, commonly known as the Blue Hour. Just as we were driving down the main road, Gail and I had spotted this overtly decorated semi detached house.

Of course, I just had to stop the car, as it was a great photo opportunity, as it's not everyday you see a house lit up in such a way.

It was really eye-catching, with several Santa's, snowmen and reindeer. Plus trees, vehicles and a nativity scene. There was a serious reason behind the light show, as the owners of the house have done it to raise funds for the special cancer unit at the City Hospital.

Whilst we were there, passers by and motorists were continually stopping to add their donations to the growing mountain of cash. The collection point was novel; a long pipe, leading to a chimney with Santa sitting on the top.

Farmer's Fayre

Gail and I popped up to Beauvale Priory this afternoon, as there was a Christmas fayre on in the barn.

There were quite a number of different stalls; including books; jewellery; plants and nic-nacs. There was also a raffle, done on behalf of the Mayor of Broxtowe's charity. I bought a couple of tickets, but alas I didn't win anything.  A shame, as one of the prizes was a lovely chocolate pizza.

I did hear a bit of interesting news, as a photo of the Priory which I allowed the farm to use for their cafe menu, was liked so much by the Mayor, that the council are going to be putting it on their Christmas cards. Apparently they are presently being printed. I should be receiving one for my reference.

By the time we had finished, the sun was beginning to set over the farmhouse. So of course I had to take a photo.

Theme Day December - My Street

I have been absent from joining in with the City Daily Photo theme day for quite some time now, that I thought I should find a few minutes to start it up again.

There has been some well documented problems with the original CDP site, which disappeared some months ago, but now there's a new one on Facebook, so here we are.

This month's theme is 'my street'. Now I live on what I would call an ordinary road, with a mixture of terrace, semi detached, and in my case, detached housing.  What might be interesting from the casual observers point of view, is that generally all the terrace houses are at one end of the street, the semi detached in the middle and the detached at the other end.

A lot of the houses were built during the Victorian era. Some more during the 1930s, and the rest in the 1950s. There has been a couple of rebuilds too since my late mum and I moved to the area in 1996.

I have been wondering what to put on, as although most of the houses are nice to look at, but not particularly of any architectural merit. So instead, here's a photo of an old Citroen van that belongs to Dave, a neighbour of mine. A good friend, who tries to lead an ethical and green lifestyle. He also has a great sense of humour, is musical and interesting to talk to and is also the father to two lovely children.