Dino Saw Us

It seems that dinosaurs are alive and well and living in Highfields.

But country to their ancestors, the modern version is a lot smaller. Mother Nature has helped them adapt to the changing environment, and human development.

Apparently they have also become quite shy and timid. It's the reason that you don't really see them in urban areas.

I just happen to spot this one. And fortunately I managed to get a quick shot. I had been shooting in black & white earlier, and so didn't really have the opportunity of changing it back into colour. But I was very lucky to get it, before it ran off into the bushes.

Late Night Conversations

Another album design. This time, a local singer by the name of Erin.

She has a sweet folkish voice, that is well suited to those dinners with friends, or that ultimate romantic meal.

Eyes, Whiskers And A Little Pink Nose

Oscar is a very photogenic cat, and he doesn't seem to mind having his photo taken.

Here he is looking all sweet and innocent whilst posing for the camera. In reality he is just sitting patiently for food, like some feline Oliver Twist.

Branching Out

Here's another one of my album designs for Chilwell based folk singer Braxton Hicks.

Braxton is quite a moody singer and guitarist, and his self penned songs seem to be in the style of Leonard Cohen. His songs are often about loneliness, unrequited love and of course death.

But of course he isn't as gloomy in real life as he often portrays in his songs. He loves to laugh at Carry On films, and the old silent comedies of the 20s. Buster Keyton and such like.  He also enjoys drinking real ale and playing Monopoly. His favourite playing piece is the top hat.

Ann And Thomas

A bit of a quiet day on the streets today, so I just spent my lunchtime walking and shooting from the hip, to see if I could get anything useable.

Wouldn't it be amusing if the two people entering the photo were really called Ann and Thomas!

Flushed With Success

Beeston based punk band The Despot Cleaners, recently asked me to sort out a photograph or two for their new EP, which would be called 'Flushed With Success'.

Their lead singer Ray Stray said that he didn't want the usual 'band shot', but still wanted to keep the toilet theme, as their first single featured a pile of dog mess on the cover, as the title was 'S*** Hits the Fan'.

A bit of a strange request, and a puzzling one too. So I spent a couple of lunchtimes walking around the streets, looking for inspiration. I was in luck, as I came across a pile of rubbish from a building renovation and low & behold, there was an old loo, peeking out from the waste.  Just the thing. And an old waste bin, just the thing for placing the title on.

Ray was delighted with the finished photograph and artwork. I can't say that I like their sort of music much. But I'm happy to see my work get a wider audience.

Cannon Fodder

An old cannon on display at Wollaton Hall.

I don't think Batman used it at all during the time that the building was used as Wayne Manor for the Dark Night Rises.

In A World Of Her Own

If it wasn't for the mobile phone, you could be mistaken that I had taken this in the 1960s, with the girl in her wooly jumper and duffel coat.

Lines

The Broadmarsh Shopping Centre was built around 40 years ago and so is getting a little run down, especially with all the boarded up shops dotted around the two floors.

But plans are afoot for it to be dragged into the 21st century. There have actually been plans for it for years, but nothing has happened up to now.

While the frontage of the centre may look enticing, the rear part of the building less so.  It has been completely neglected. I can't even remember when it was last used. If it ever was. It certainly doesn't help that it's in an area that people don't really walk near. Only perhaps photographers, people up to no good and the homeless.

Still it makes a good urban decay subject, with lines, lines everywhere.

Tunes

Popped into a local record shop called Plates this afternoon, to see one of my favourite local rock bands called The Madeline Rust play as part of the shops' music day, interesting called Analogue Excursions.

There are usually seven members in the band, but as there was only enough space for the three main members, Lucy, Aly and Martin. They did most of their songs from their album, which was well received by the audience.

Besides a couple of photographers taking photos, Lucy was being filmed by her work, for a project that they are doing, regarding what their employees get up to when they are not in the office. I bet there can't be that many that play and sing in a band.

Singer In A Spotlight

One of the backing singers at last night's Simple Minds gig.

Alas I didn't catch her name.

Rush Hour

Shoppers going and passing through the Broad Marsh shopping centre.

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.

Camera Shy

The beginning of the month and its theme day. This month's is a camera shy self image.

Not difficult for me, as I hate seeing myself in photos. Yes I do have a negative body image, always have done. So here's my photo for the day. Fortunately it was sunny when I took it, so I got a decent shadow. Just a shame that you can't see my camera.

Peek-a-Boo

A sunny lunchtime today, so I took a stroll around the Lace Market. Whilst I was walking along, I began to notice that there seemed to be a lot of photography students about in small groups and all carrying cameras.

Passing through St Mary's churchyard, I saw a couple of girls trying to take a photo of another girl who was hiding herself in-between the branches of a tree. They were obviously trying to learn about light and shade.

One said that it was too dark to take a photo, and I thought that they should either increase the ISO, reduce the shutter speed or change the lens's f stop.

If anyone is interested, I took this with my 45mm lens, 100 ISO, f1.8 at 1/60th. Also slightly tweaked in Lightroom.

£3.50

This multi-storey car park close to the Broadmarsh shopping centre, used to be known as the Arndale car park, but it has recently been rebranded as the Maid Marian Car Park, with some new singe & a lick of paint at the entrance.

£3.50 is actually quite cheap for all day parking in the city centre, and actually 10p cheeper than getting the bus. Although of course you have to take into account petrol and running costs, and of course the amount of time wasted in traffic jams.

Religious Views

This is the view of St Peter's Church taken from Houndsgate; a rather narrow road which leads to Maid Marian Way.

The church is over 700 years old, and is situated right in the heart of the city centre. In fact there's a big Marks & Spencer's next door.  There used to be some stairs that you could use as a sort of short cut to the top of St Peter's Gate, but the church did a deal several years ago with M&S, and so now they are part of the store. In fact I think they are used as the employees' entrance.

Review Of The Year - July & August

The summer wasn't too bad with the sunny weather. Although it was rather cloudy when I went to London for the day in July. Besides taking my favourite 45mm lens, I took along my Samyang fisheye lens. It worked very well on this unusual shot of the BT Tower.

August saw me spending the day at Tank Mania in Leicestershire, with some other photographers and a load of models. It was quite a muddy day, and three of the models decided to get down and dirty in a large muddy and very deep puddle. I prefer my models to be armed and dangerous like Kat here.

"E's" Are Good

Spotted this little fellow in a gift shop window in Beeston. All dressed for Christmas in his scarf and hat.

He actually dances; well wiggles from side to side, like he's doing a belly dance. So cute to watch.

Night Noir

We had to go and collect something tonight from Derby, and on the way back we stopped off for something to eat.

We decided to try a pub down by the canal. One that I cycle past everyday from work.

It had got dark by the time we had finished our meal, so of course out came the cameras.  We had a wander down the towpath, seeing if there was anything worth taking in the darkness. I decided to try a mirrored image, as the water was quite still. I put my camera down on a flat, hard surface, as I didn't have a tripod with me, and clicked the shutter a few times, just to make sure I didn't get any camera shake.