Are You Sitting Comfortably

Tonight Gail and I went to our monthly strobist meeting at a professional photographic studio in Clifton. This meeting was a bit special, as we had the opportunity of shooting two young local actors: Finn Atkins and Kieran Hardcastle. They have been in a number of TV shows including Casualty and Eastenders, and appeared together in the film 'Once Upon a Time in the Midlands'.
They were good sports and put up with our snapping and suggesting poses to them. Here's one of the two of them together. Posing especially for us.

King Of The Jungle

The is Richard Kensington; MuHa's percussionist. I thought this was quite an amusing shot, with some strange black and white film featuring people dressed as monkeys. With Richards long hair, he is a spitting image for Tarzan.

Little Boy Blue

Besides MuHa playing last night, a 'beatboxer' also did a turn. I wasn't sure what he was going to do. But he did a mixture of singing and making strange noises and sounds like drums with his voice. He was quite entertaining. I tried to take some photos of him, but he just wouldn't stand still!
So instead, here's his shadow against some back projection.

And The Band Played On

I'm writing this on Sunday as last night I went to see and photograph the folk roots band MuHa. I saw them during 2009, and took some photos for them then. A couple of weeks ago they put a request on Flickr for people to go along and take shots of them. So there were four of us in all snapping away.

Dark Wine Sky

Coming home from a drama rehearsal, it absolutely tipped it down. But the sun was still shining behind the black clouds. So of course I had to stop and take some snaps. Fortunately the rain had stopped enough for me to get out of the car and not get me or my camera too wet. Here's the result.

Sleeping Beauty

Here's the latest shot of our little cat Marmalade, asleep as usual. We both find it amusing at some of the sleeping positions she gets into. We call this her 'Bambi' pose.

Sign Of The Times

This week's Headbanger Challenge is about signs that caught your eye. Well yesterday I was talking about how people are afraid to take pictures of children, just in case they get into trouble. Well there is the other side of the argument, about where everyone is filmed or photographed just going about their personal business. Most shops, hotels, pubs etc have some form of CCTV to monitor the movements of their customers. Then there are cameras on street corners and ones to check your speed. "Big Brother" is certainly watching you in 2010, let alone 1984.

Another more happier and useful signs are ones giving directions; making sure you don't get lost and telling you how much further your journey is. My header is taken along Beeston Canal, and which is especially useful for walkers who are out exploring the waterway.

Who Loves Ya Baby

Holding a camera and taking a photo of children these days is seen in the same way as someone holding a bomb. It's a shame, as many good photo opportunities are lost for ever as photographers are scared to switch their cameras on. But I couldn't resist this little girl. She was standing very close to me while people were being entertained by the carnival. She seemed oblivious to both. More interested in eating her lollipop than a guy with a camera or watching a group of cheerleaders.

Hello Ducky

Plastic ducks bobbing in water,
fished out by small children,
rewarded with a prize.

Black Gold

This is a sight you rarely see on the streets of Nottingham, let alone in a playground. But attending a summer fair at a local independent school, I saw this Ferrari parked in the playground. No, it didn't belong to the headteacher, but tickets were being sold and the winner got to be taken around Donington Park in it. I didn't buy a ticket, as I am not a very lucky person, but quite happy with this photo.

Puff The Magic Dragon

Today Beeston experienced its annual carnival. A lot of the things on offer were similar to last year. But there were also some new attractions. I was in about the right place at the right time as the procession went through the High Road. There was a pipe band, a group of belly dancers, clog dancers, firemen tugging a fire engine and this lady with her puppet dragon who was doing the comparing. Alas she did the comparing, rather than the dragon, which might have made it extra special.

High And Thai

One of the girls that I work with is celebrating her birthday on Sunday. She is one of these people whose birthdays last a week, as tomorrow she's organised a 'ladies lunch' which Gail is going to. Men are banned!
Today, some of us went out to a local Thai restaurant, who do a nice lunch menu for £5. I had chicken and noodles. As ever I had my camera with me, so I took a couple of shots of the frieze's that were dotted around the walls. As you can see, they are really effective 3D images that look like they are carved out of stone.

Heavy Plant Crossing

For the past couple of days there has been a number of stalls in the Old Market Square. It has been selling different foods, clothing and trinkets of various kinds. A stallholder had a large selection of plants for sale. They were a number of these spiky plants. I managed to get into the right position with my camera to make it appear that there are some giant palm trees growing around.

Citrus Cooler

Headbanger Wednesday again and this week's theme is 'what makes me chuckle'. So I bet you are wondering why I've put a photo of four candles up. Well the reason is in the sentence; "four candles". It's the title of probably the funniest sketch ever, created by Ronnie Barker for The Two Ronnies. I won't spoil it for you, but you can see it on YouTube here.

Tonight's picture is a clue to another fantastically funny sketch. This time from the BBC's "Not The Nine O'clock News". If you can work it out from my photo, then you've obviously seen it a few times. For the more puzzled amongst you, here's the YouTube link.

Licky Mouse

I think everyone likes to hear the sound of the ice cream van, as it trundles around the streets with a tune blasting out to attract some custom. I don't know what it is, but ice cream out of a machine tastes a lot better then the block in the freezer. I'm not sure if it is down to the continual churning, or the fact that its soft as it comes out of the tap and into a cornet. Not forgetting the Flake.
The world's favourite cartoon mouse loves ice cream too. As well as dressing up as Robin Hood!

Stag At Bay

Besides the hall, lake and various events that go on in the grounds, a number of deer also call Wollaton Park their home. Here's one of the stags enjoying the pleasing shade from a tree. I was cycling through the park when I saw his antlers above the grass. So I quietly got off my bike and pulled out my camera. Fortunately I had my zoom lens on, so got snapping before he realised and came charging after me. Not exactly the Serengeti, but exciting enough for me.

Get Me To The Church On Time

To celebrate American Independence Day, here's a photo of a Ford V8 Pilot. Ford of course is the famous American car company founded by Henry Ford. You may remember he said that "You can have any colour as long as its black". Fortunately this is a nice shade of green, and the white walled tyres went well with the bride's dress.

Voice Of An Angel

This young lady is Ellie Keys. She was one of several very good singers, dancers and musicians that entertained the shoppers this afternoon in Beeston Square. The show was created by the Broxtowe Youth Factor, an organisation designed to show everyone that the majority of teenagers are doing something useful with their lives and not hanging around on street corners, drinking cheap cider or getting into petty theft.

Flying High

Well, you wait ages for a flying motorbike, then two arrive at once. I took today's example in the Old Market Square tonight, at exactly 20:10. This particular daredevil was one of four who were showing everyone stunts in readiness of performing at Battersea Power station on August 14th. They are called the Red Bull X Fighters, and as expected, they are sponsored by Red Bull, which is a type of energy drink.

The stunt you can see being performed here is called the Hart Attack. Which is quite apt, as I'd be too frightened to try anything like that.

Not Exactly British Airways!

So you love flying, but don't like spending hours in a crampt and hot aeroplane. Here's the next best thing. A flying motorbike. Feel the sensation of freedom from the saddle of a Yamaha. One drawback though is that you only stay in the air for 30 feet at a time. So going anywhere will take weeks, and of course riding over water is impossible.