All Steamed Up

I read something quite exciting on social media this morning, as someone had put that a steam train would be passing through the Attenborough Nature Reserve at around 1.25 today.

There has been a couple of steam trains passing this way recently, but annoyingly I have never been around to see them. So I was very keen to get down there and see if I could find a good spot to see it thunder by.

Even though I knew the time of its appearance, I thought I would go down a bit earlier, to a, get a parking space and b, find a good place to take some photos.

The nature reserve was really busy when I got there, but I managed to find a space and parked up. I was in two minds whether to stay near the nature reserve building and get a long shot of the train, or stand close to the line, so I could see the might of the 1933 Princess Elizabeth.

In the end I plumped for the latter. So I took the few minutes walk to where the railway line crosses the reserve and looked for a suitable spot. Several other photographers were already there, eagerly waiting to take that shot.

It wasn't as busy as I thought it might be, especially as it was sunny. I found a good spot and waited. Not long, as one old guy called out "the barrier's down", as part of the line crosses a road. I got ready and waited for the right moment to press the shutter.

It was coming by quite quickly, so I just kept on pressing. Fortunately I managed to capture a couple of what I think are decent shots. I was using my 40-150mm lens, and so I wonder if I might have done better with my 14-40mm lens instead. Both can shoot at f2.8.

Still, photography is a continual learning process, so I might try the smaller lens next time. But I'm still happy with this one. Especially as you can see some smoke coming to of the chimney.

Abstract Sky

So here's an unusual little shot that I took near my house.

The moon and a vapour trail coloured orange by the sunset.

As we are on the flight path to East Midlands Airport, we get planes going over all the time, so the pilot flew over in just the right place, to catch the last rays of the evening's sun.

Peek-a-Boo

It was a lovely sunny cycle ride home today. Spring has definitely arrived.

Being so warm that I stopped and had an ice cream, whilst I watched the joggers, rowers and more students doing selfies by the blossom.

I stopped off in various places along my route to take the odd photo. I crouched and watched this hunting along the bank for food. I followed it for a little while. It was slowly making it's way to a part that had been made into a sort of landing stage area. So I lowered my camera and shot this while he popped his head up, as if to say "Have you got any bread for me or not?".

Sadly I didn't, and so he flounced off in a bit of a huff, looking out for the next possible supplier of food.

Doctors' Orders

Today marks the second one day strike by Junior Doctors over the government's plans to change their working hours and conditions.

Despite having a late lunch, I managed to make it to the Old Market Square to see these skilled, but overworked medicos.

I signed a petition and was given a sticker saying that I support them. Then I asked these two medical staff if I take a photo of them while they were holding their placards, which they were happy to do.

Further to my post from yesterday, I've heard that the couple who were knocked down by a bus outside the Victoria Centre, are elderly and that the man is sadly in a critical condition.

You never know, the doctors who are striking today, were the same ones that treated the couple yesterday.

Golden Green

The sun setting over Highfields, I think makes for quite a nice restful scene, especially with the blue sky still poking through the trees.

I took this with my fisheye lens, so there is a slight curving to the trees, but nothing too drastic or surreal.

Shaded Area

Here's Marmalade enjoying a bit of shade from the patio table.

Fete-A-Ccompli

Yippee, the very popular annual church garden party is back after an absence for a couple of years due to the tramworks.

And what a lovely day for it, being so very warm and sunny. A typical English summer's day. Such a shame that we don't get that many these days.

There were plenty of people mingling about looking at the various stalls, including a large one for books, listening to a small orchestra, eating a freshly cooked burger or just sipping tea in the sunshine.

Even though I am still not feeling very well, it was good to sit in the warmth, or chat to some people that I know, including some neighbours, who had a homemade soap stall.

Happy Valley Sunday

As it was a lovely sunny afternoon on Sunday, so Gail and I went on a walk around Highfields park.

Instead of going along the usual route that I take when I'm cycling home, we went round the other way; the one closest to the university. It's quite a wooded area with a path to walk along. The path has lots of  twists and tuns, and you can see the lake for most of the time.

I like the way that the sun is just kissing the top of the plants and trees and inviting you to follow the path to see what's there.

Wedding Wheels

I shot a wedding today, and this is the car that the happy couple arrived in.

It was a lovely sunny day, and I think everyone had an enjoyable time.

Sunsational

Here is my shot of the eclipse, that I took on the way to work. Well the beginning of it. I wanted to see it when the moon had passed further across. But as I was in work, I don't think I could have nipped out with my camera.

I guess that I was also a bit disappointed that the sky didn't go blacker than it did. It did look strange, but I suppose that I was expecting something more apocalyptic.  I have no idea when the next one might occur.

There were certainly many people about standing on street corners with camera or pieces of paper in trying to capture the moment. Maybe I might have been better off in taking photos of them instead!

Still we had a brilliant sunset, which to me are infinitely more enjoyable to see. I stopped off and took this on my way home.

Poking Through

The first signs of spring have started to appear in our garden.

I spotted this crocus slowly making its way up through the soil and into the sunshine. Which gladly we had some today, as Mr Blue Sky has been missing all week, which makes everywhere so grey. So it was nice to see a bit of colour today.

Who?

Before anyone thinks otherwise, this is not a photoshopped image, or has been digitally manipulated. I'm really not that clever.

I took this one evening a couple of weeks ago. The bricks that make up the water feature in the Old Market Square are a greyish black colour, but the fading sun has turned them a golden colour.  The person with the hat and stick, just happened to be standing in the right place so that I managed to get a good silhouette of them. You can just make out the heads of some lads who are enjoying playing in the water.

The Universe In A Jar

£15 seems a cheap price to pay for owning extracts of the universe.

Collecting some of the Earth is fairly easy, and I suppose Neil Armstrong brought some Moon dust back with him when he landed in the Eagle spaceship in 1969. Hope it's not past its sell by date though.

But how do you manage to bottle the sky and the sun. And if the sun is so hot, how come it hasn't melted the container?

Towards The Light

Some poppies in our front garden, enjoying the sunshine, on what has become the warmest day of the year so far.

Lets hope tomorrow turns out the same.

Black Over Bill's Mothers

Today has literally been a bit of a washout. It's rained on and off all the time. The only time that I stepped out of the house is when I went to take some rubbish to the bin.

I had to take some more rubbish out this evening, as it had stopped raining. Looking up, I noticed that the sun was trying to peak from behind the black clouds. So grabbing my camera, I went upstairs to take some photos.

The clouds must have been moving quite quickly as they the shape and position of them had changed in the minute or so that it took me to take this photo.

A Nice Day For A White Wedding

There was a wedding yesterday at Beeston's main church.

Due to the never-ending tramworks, the wedding convoy had to use the side entrance and walk all the way round to the front of the church.

The bride & bridesmaids arrived in some super old Rolls Royces. Phantom IIIs from the 1930s.

It was lovely and sunny for them. I just hope the noise of the workmen wasn't too distracting for when they said "I do".

In a Quiet Country Churchyard

Being in the churchyard of Southwell Minster, I hope this old chap is just snoozing in the sunshine, rather than awaiting his maker!

It was so quiet, even though there is quite a busy road a few yards away. It was that quiet, that I didn't even hear a bird tweet.

I trust he enjoyed his nap and didn't get sunburnt. Maybe he then wandered off to one of the local pubs for a well earned pint.

Striking A Pose

A day off work today as I had a hospital appointment this morning for a chest X-ray. Nothing seriously wrong you'll be pleased to know, it's just that I've had a cough for several months now, and Gail ordered me to see the doctor, just to find out what was causing it.

I didn't have to wait long to be seen and was soon on my way back home. As the hospital isn't too far away, I cycled there, and so as it was sunny I decided to have a ride through Highfields for a spot of photography with my OMD.

I took some of the boating lake, sunshine through trees etc. Then I saw two squirrels playing with each other in the shade. So I thought that I would see if I could get a shot of them. As I approached, they stopped running about and looked at me. One then ran away, while the other actually headed towards me. He then climbed up the tree near me and sat down on a stump and posed for me. Anyone would think he wanted to be photographed!

He must have been there for about ten seconds before scampering off into the distance. I took several photos on my OMD. Wish I had had the 75mm lens, as I could have got a bit of a closer shot, but I am quite happy with this picture, and still can't get over the fact that sat there for so long without being frightened.

Wishing I Had A Photograph

Does anyone remember a band from the early 1980s called a Flock of Seagulls? They were just about a one hit wonder with the song "Wishing I had a Photograph (of you)"

I bet you're wondering what they are doing now. Well here's a shot of them enjoying some sun by the canal.

Forever Autumn

Despite the continuation of the very welcome sun, the days are generally getting colder now that the clocks have gone back.

The trees are beginning to lose their leaves, although you wouldn't think so by the look of these trees in the castle grounds, which are still a healthy green colour.