Kissing With Confidence

Much, much better weather today. The sun was out and it was a lot warmer. So my workmate and I had another wander to the Winter Wonderland in the Old Market Square, to see if there were more people about, and some skating on the rink, so he could have another go with my big lens.

When he gave it me back, I just had to take a shot of these two having a romantic kiss by the skating rink. Sadly there was no mistletoe around. So they had to make do with their pints of beer.

Skateaway

Now the the 'Winter Wonderland' was officially opened last night, I and my photography pal from work went down to see if there was anything worth taking a photo of, besides the usual fake snow and Christmas trees.

The ice rink has returned and slightly bigger than last year.  There were quite a few people going round and round. Some were pretty good, while some kept falling over. It's not something that I've ever had a go at. Nor rollerskating, or riding a skateboard, as I have a fairly poor sense of balance. I even have to hold onto something if I stand on one leg.

I noticed this woman in a dayglo red jumper, and thought she would make for a good subject, as it would stand out from the white of the ice. It took me several goes to take a decent photo of her, as sometimes other skaters got in front of her, or she was moving too quickly to focus properly.

I'm quite happy with the composition, but its just a shame that she's not in a more dynamic pose.

Blowing In The Wind

Due to me not taking any pictures today, I've been looking through my archives for a photo that I can pop on for today.  I came across this one, which I took last month in St Ives, Cornwall.

I actually took it whilst we were up at the little chapel on the hill for the renewal of our good friends Stewart and Julie's wedding vows. I've no idea who she was. She wasn't a guest, she was just sitting on the wall looking out to sea, or watching what we were doing. So of course I just had to take a candid shot or two.

This one came out the best, with her hair blowing madly in the breeze off the sea. I was going to say hello to her, but I was required for the group photos, and so by the time we had done, she had sadly gone.

Gone In A Puff Of Smoke

I've never been a fan of cigarettes. I tried one at 16, couldn't see the point of it and so have never touched them since.

Whilst I was chatting to a fellow photographer tonight by the left lion in the Old Market Square, when this woman came up and stood on the other side of the granite figure.

Whilst we were chatting, I had my camera out, waiting to see if any interesting characters would be walking by. Looking round, I could see that this woman had just lit a cigarette, whilst she was waiting for someone. A date perhaps, as that is what the Left Lion is most famous for.

I watched for a minute or so, to see if she was going to have a puff. She did, so I just managed to get a shot whilst she was exhaling the smoke.

Time For Relaxing

Here's another negative that I've brought to life at the weekend.

Possibly the same woman from yesterday, only this time she's relaxing in her summer house, although it looks more like a large garden shed, especially with the rough grass growing under the doorway.

Posing

Here's another scanned negatives from the collection that I got the other day.

Another great photo showing what clothing from the 1920s looked like, together with that really delightful parasol.

Foor For Thought

As there are so many eating places in the city centre, it's often difficult to know what to choose, as there is so much on offer. Italian, Spanish, French, pizzas, pies, burgers, fish & chips. Nottingham has it all.

This woman is studying the menu of the Cock & Hoop pub in the Lace Market, situated opposite the Galleries of Justice.

The pub is linked to the hotel next door, and both have been closed for a while, as the hotel closed for some reason.

But a new owner has been found, and so both businesses have reopened.  But they might have finished painting the door before they did.

Sunday Fun

Hope you don't mind a bit of nudity for a Sunday?

Don't worry, no need to complain, as this particular nude is made of stone.

I bumped into her at Bardill's Garden Centre, where she was on sale for £345. Hasten to add, I didn't buy her, just took her portrait instead.

Lost In Space

Nothing exciting happening in town today, so I had another go at 'shooting from the hip', the action of just randomly taking shots without knowing where you are pointing the camera.

Of course there were many flops; out of focus, nothing of interest, or just plain rubbish. I think this one is ok though. The woman staring into space whilst having lunch, whilst Mary looks on, possibly praying for her soul.

Tuning Into The World

Day two of our break from work, but another day of not clicking my camera's shutter button. So here's a shot that I took last week during a walk along the canal near where I work.

The woman was completely oblivious of anything going on around her as she was so wrapped up with listening to music and texting on her mobile phone.

Land Ahoy

Here's a happy looking pirate, one that's around twelve foot tall.

Don't worry, Beeston isn't being invaded by Blackbeard and his gang, it's all part of the Beeston Bay community day.

Besides Cut-throat Jake, there were a number of stalls, both trade and charity, a music stage and of course a beach.

It has been lovely and sunny and lots of people have attended the event at Broadgate Park, and I think have had a whale of a time.

On The Town

I saw this picture in the window of a local charity shop and thought that I quite like it. I have no idea who it is by, but like the simplicity of the narrative. A guy having a drink with a woman in a bar. Is he a private detective, or has he just arrived, as he still has his hat and coat on?

I decided not to buy it, as we don't really have any suitable wall space to hang it, so I just took a photo of it instead. A shame that the yellow, no parking line is reflected in the glass.

Siesta Time

What could be better than dozing in the summer sunshine?  Well that's exactly what this couple were doing at the Hemlock Happening yesterday.

They owned a old Morris 'Moggy' Minor and were showing it off, together with some other classic cars. Most of which, I think I saw last week at Wollaton Park.

They seemed quite content to sit there in chairs that aren't usually very comfortable. I didn't hang around too long to find out whether they snored or not.

Given The Brush Off

A new sculpture appeared in the city centre yesterday in the shape of this woman and child cleaning their garden.

The sculpture is entitled "The Sweepers" and has been created by a company called Shipshape Arts. It is in recognition of Nottingham becoming the cleanest city in Britain.

It has attracted a lot of attention from passers by since it was placed there, with people having their photos taken whilst standing next to the two figures.  In fact a woman asked me to take her and her family's picture whilst I was shooting this.

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.

Glamour Puss

Thankfully Princess Leia put down her Lightsaber and struck an art nude pose for me. Another present for the blog's ninth birthday.

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.

Bookworm

When I was taking photos of the parade on Monday, I bumped into a fellow photographer that I know and who is a regular visitor to these shores. We had a chat while I was taking some pictures. I had not seen her or her husband for a while now.

I noticed that she had this rather interesting bag round her shoulder, so of course I just had to take a photo of it.

I will have to ask the next time I see her whether she is rather partial to reading.

If you didn't know (I didn't) the quote comes from one of Alcott's novels called Work, which was published in 1873.

Corner Decoration

If you approach the Contemporary from the Broad Marsh area, you see this big window with this recumbent female figure, with her big floppy hat and logo of the gallery on her, probably naked body.

I don't know if they got a real model to pose for this, or they got an artist to draw the figure.

Happiness

This is Gemma and her fiancee David.

We all went to a local beauty spot today where Gail and I took some photos of them at different locations around the park.

Despite the cold weather, we all had a great time and I think we got some good shots of the happy couple.