Smile For The Camera

My final photo from the Photography Show is this shot of a model that I took using a new speed light that this stall were demonstrating.

It was a bit different in design to normal speed lights in that it comes with an external  battery pack and its bulb is much brighter than normal bulbs. In fact it is more like a small portable studio light. There were various modifiers of different sizes that were available to buy.

 It took me a couple of goes to get the photo almost right. The first effort was a bit overblown, as the power had been tired up a bit too much, while the second attempts too dark. But this one is just about right.

Don't Be Afraid Darling

There was an interesting little scene near the entrance to the Photography Show.

It was a reenactment of life in the 1940s. There was a Nissan Hut and a little garden scene, which I am showing here.

The people that take part are all fans of vintage, and really enjoy dressing up and pretending that they are living in that era. They call themselves 'Timeline Events'.

Of course they were attracting lots of attention from all the photographers that were coming in and they were all queuing up to take photos. The 'actors' were only too pleased to pose for everyone.

I caught them on the way out, when there weren't that many people around, which made it a lot easier to get the shot without having to dodge other people.

Shopping For Lord Vader

I didn't think Darth Vader had time for photography, as he was so busy trying to rule the universe and eliminate all the Jedi knights, but I spotted one of his Stormtroopers out shopping for camera equipment at the Photography Show.

He must have had a lot of money to spend, as the Stormtrooper has a shopping trolley to fill. I don't know what currency he'll try and use to pay for the cameras, lenses and lighting equipment, as the stalls only take Sterling, Euros or credit cards.

Apparently the Stormtrooper's name is Eric and he has become quite well known on the Internet, as his visits to Earth have been documented by a photographer called Darryll Jones. If you want to see what else Eric has been up to, then pop over to Eric's page.

A Brucie Bonus

This furtive looking chap is world famous American photographer Bruce Gilden. He was at the Photography Show today, talking about his life behind the camera, together with some commentary over quite a few of his well known photos that he's taken in New York, Haiti and Japan.

Bruce is well known for being quite an aggressive photographer on the streets of New York, where he almost pushes the lens into a person's face. He is also a Magnum photographer, and has had several books published of his work.

It was interesting listening to the stories of who was in the photos and how they ended up there. He also talked about his three wives and his health problems, now he has reached the age of 69.

Crowne Estate

Dusk setting of the Crown Plaza Hotel at the NEC in Birmingham.

One for the archive, as the cupboard is a bit bare at the moment.

I actually took it in March, when I went to the Photography Show. I was there that long, that I was one of the last people to leave the hall. Still it was with it to get this shot.

A Blinding Success

One of my photographic concoctions taken from the inspiration of a bottle of beer that I bought the other day.

For those that don't know, a 'Peaky Blinder' was a member of a gang of violent criminals and thugs that lived in Birmingham  in the late 19th & early 20th century.

The BBC made a drama series a while ago that illustrated their violent exploits around the city.

I've not tried the beer yet, but I just hope it doesn't turn me into a monster!

V For Victory

The general election shocks and surprises of today has somewhat overshadowed the 70th anniversary celebrations of VE Day, when the fighting stopped in World War 2.

Some celebrations have taken place across the country. I saw on Facebook some photos that a friend took in Birmingham of a street party and they actually had a real Spitfire parked outside their new library.

But sadly there has been nothing similar in Nottingham. Some schools have done projects on the subject or dressed up in period costumes. They have lit a beacon in the Old Market Square, which I don't think was advertised very well.

So I've looked through my archive and selected this photo of "Churchill" that I took last year at the annual May Day Knees Up at the Brewhouse Yard Museum.

Sitting Pretty

I took this shot of  the posing model at the Photography Show last month in Birmingham. So I thought I would see if I could give it a vintage look. The sort of photo that reminds you of Hollywood during the 1940s.

Bridal Shoot

A shot from the photography show that I went to the other day.

This model was posing for a lighting demonstration, so of course, almost everyone was standing facing her. I just thought that I would try it from this angle.

Tunnel Of Love

Just spent an enjoyable day at the Photography Show in Birmingham's NEC.

I caught up with some photographers that I know, and had a very good look round all the stands and stalls.

Ended up buying a new lens for my Olympus camera, and this is one of the first photos that I took with it. It is one of two underpasses that you have to walk through from the car park to the main halls. Generally underpasses are dark, dank, scary places, that people are often frightened to walk through. But the exhibition centre has made an effort to make it a more pleasant experience.

Warped

There are some serious building works going on in Birmingham at the moment. I was there for work, and it's almost as bad as poor Beeston with its tram works.

They seem to be completely revamping New Street Station, and it looks different every time that I have been. It's taking an age too. Must be getting on for two years now.

I saw this old building reflected into the new covering on some part of New Street Station and thought it would make for a good pic. Just a shame that they have removed one section  for maintenance, as it spoils the overall look of the photo. But I suppose it could be mistaken for a window.

Reading Between The Lines

A shot from the inside of Birmingham's new library.

This is taken from the first floor escalator, and you can see some of the greenery on the outside.

It's A Square World

I got a rare trip out of the office today, when I went to Birmingham for a meeting, and of course my camera came with me.

This is the view from the 16th floor of the Jury's Inn Hotel on Broad Street. The unusual looking building in the distance is the new library that holds a surprise. It has a garden on the roof, as you can see in the photo below.

Visiting The Past

It's always interesting to see how air travel has developed since the early 1920's, when small propeller driven plane used to fly to France and other parts of Europe. Croydon Airport seemed to be the most well known at that time.

Birmingham Airport started life in the late 1930s in Elmdon, which is part of Solihull. Elmdon Aerodrome opened in 1939, but was soon turned into an RAF base, then becoming Birmingham Airport in about 1960.

My photo shows the Elmdon Building, which was the original terminal building. It's a great example of Art Deco architecture. Perfectly symmetrical, with all the straight lines that are typical of 30s buildings. The canopies on each side were built to protect passengers and baggage from bad weather as they went on and came off the planes.

A shame that it was not possible to see the front of the building, as unfortunately that is inside the airport parameter. But this old photo from English Heritage shows what an amazing building it is. It even looks like a plane. A really lovely building, and pleased that it is still in use. I just think that it needs a bit of TLC and a lick of paint.

The Force Is Strong In This One

For the next few days, the NEC in Birmingham will be full of photography enthusiasts, as it holds the relaunched and rebranded Photography Show.

Today was the first day & so Gail and I popped down to see what was going on and how much money we could try not to spend!

Of course it was packed.  And there was a good buzz in the air. It seemed a lot different to last year's Focus on Imaging. Plenty of brightly lit stands showing their wares. The Olympus stand looked enormous, and it was good to say hello to top tog Damian McGillicuddy, who had just completed a demonstration using one of Olympus's latest cameras.

During the time we were there, I was looking for something unusual to photograph, other than people trying out cameras or looking at the latest kit. So I was quite surprised to see Darth Vader and one of his Stormtroopers there in full menacing stance.

They of course haven't mistaken the West Midlands for Tatooine and were about to destroy it with the Death Star, but were posing, as part of a studio lighting demonstration.

Wedding Belles

Gail & I are off to Birmingham for a bit of a weekend away. Well we won't be getting much further than the NEC, as we are are going to two shows there; the Wedding Show & The Photography Show.

Gail fancied having a look around. Not because she wants to get married again, but because a niece of hers is getting married sometime in the near future, and she has offered to give her some ideas.

So we went trawling around the different stalls that were selling all sorts of wedding gear, from invitations to venues. There was of course loads of wedding dresses on sale, and the highlight for me was the half hour catwalk show. So for thirty minutes I could pretend to be one of the photographers at say London Fashion week. Just a few seconds to try and bag the winning shot of each costume.

The official show photographer had of course nabbed the best spot; right in front of the end of the runway, so I stood a few feet away at the side of him. Not such a good spot for close-ups, as I kept getting the lights in the shot, but I'm pleased with this one, and don't think that it would look too out of place in the pages of fashion magazines.

Time Has Stopped

There has been some controversy over at the Victoria Centre, as of part of the plans to revamp the centre, the owners have thought about moving the famous and well loved Emett Clock. This has caused a bit of an outcry, as it has stood where it is since it was erected in 1973.

The Aqua Horological Tintinnabulator, to give it its proper name was built by eccentric artist Roland Emett, who was involved in the Chitty Chitty Bang Bang film, and has been a favourite with local people since.

But the clock is on the move, not to another part of the shopping centre, but to Birmingham. Not for good fortunately, but only for a holiday for a year or so whilst the building is upgraded. It's also going to get a sprucing up. Something that hasn't happened to it for quite a while.

Ooh Heck!

No, this isn't one of the Weeping Angels from Doctor Who, but a Jacob Epstein statue called Lucifer, and was cast in bronze in 1945.

Lucifer was an angel and after questioning the power of God, was banished to Hell.

This fine piece of art is on show at Birmingham's main museum.

Out Of The Blue

A trip to Birmingham today for a meeting. Afterwards I took a walk to the famous Selfridges building at the Bullring.

I've took the building a few times now, but this is the first time I've taken it using my OMD and the dramatic tone art filter.

A Chip Off The Old Block

I did a spot of DIY today. I've been meaning to shave a bit of the bottom of the kitchen door for a while now, as it's started scraping a bit on the floor. Oh, I've rhymed without knowing it!

I've been put off doing it recently by the bad weather. But the sun had come out a bit today, and it was chilly, rather than freezing. So I removed the screws from the hinges and carried the door outside. I then got my tools out and set to work, shaving off some wood from the bottom of the door.

Whilst I was working, I realised that the plane I was using must be nearly as old, if not older than me. It was my late father's. Dear old dad, he did enjoy doing his DIY, gardening and messing around with engines. He was good at it as well. He practically rebuilt one house we used to live in.

Alas, I'm not as handy as he was. But I can do the basics, like re-wiring a plug and unblocking a sink. My gardening skills aren't too bad either. At least I can tell the difference between a flower and a weed. Although some people say that weeds are flowers, but they are just growing in the wrong place.

I couldn't tell you how many times this old tool has been used down the years. Or what sorts of wood that it has worked on.  Like most things these days, I doubt that they make them as good as this anymore. A lot of planes nowadays are electric, and mass produced in the far east. This one was proudly made in Birmingham.