Sun, Sand And Stripes

This week Beeston has had it's very own seaside called Beeston Bay, as the council has turned Broadgate Park into a costal resort.

It's been great for the kids, with sand, games, entertainment and stories to keep them amused during the present holiday season.

Today Beeston Bay has become Party in the Park, with live bands, fairground rides and water boats. There has also been a giant mermaid walking around and squirting people with bubbles. It's been lovely and sunny too.

It's a shame that the event has only been on for the week, as it has given the children and parents something to do, and without having to spend bus fare on going to the one in the Old Market Square.

Who Is Number One

Besides the boating lake, croquet pitch and child's play area, there is also a putting green at Highfields Park.

I saw that the park keepers hadn't removed the little signs to show where the holes were, so I thought I would take a shot of one of them.

So I laid down on my belly, as I wanted to take a good worm's eye view shot that was in line with the grass, f1.8, so I would get some nice bokeh in the background.

The Black Panther

It's surprising what I come across when I'm out walking with my camera at lunchtime. Sometimes it's nothing and sometimes it's an unique photo opportunity. And that's what happened while I was walking through the Lace Market today.

Turning the corner near St Mary's Church, I was met by two ice hockey players from the Nottingham Panthers team having a photoshoot, whilst having a mess around with a puck.

I have no idea what it was for. I just stood, watched & took the occasional shot. The most bizarre part to the image is the fact that he's playing in flip flops, like he was on the beach or next to the pool.

Not being an ice hockey fan, I have absolutely no idea who this is, or if he is in fact a real hockey player.

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.

In The Frame

An art exhibition has just opened at my local library in Beeston. And of course I had to put in an entry.
As I very rarely print any of my photos,  I put in my rusting bike photo, that I took last year in Wales.

There was a bit of an opening party tonight, as the library had invited the artists to meet up and share their work. There was around 40 pieces of art, including, of course photography, some paintings, sketches and needlecraft.

I was talking to another photographer about my picture and where I took it. She saw the rusting bike as a metaphor for the destruction of the British cycle industry, especially that of Nottingham's very own Raleigh.

Never Forget

Today marks the100th anniversary of the outbreak of World War 1. A century ago the world was embroiled in a very bloody war that lasted four years, and cost countless thousands of lives.

New ways of killing were invented, machine guns, tanks and of course the deadly mustard gas.  Aircraft were also turned into warplanes, and the Royal Flying Corps; the forerunner to the Royal Air Force was founded.

There are lots of commemerative events going on all over Nottingham, but I am taken by this diorama that has been created by Lesley Cook from Sneinton. It is currently on display in the window of the tourism office in the Old Market Square.

As the model is quite big, I have had to split it into three sections, and it's always difficult trying to shoot through a window, especially on a sunny day. But it is very impressive work, and hardy surprising that it took him two months to complete.

Oddsocks

Pagan Pride today up at the Arboretum. The yearly gathering of Pagans and non Pagans enjoying the good weather, the music and the love of the worlds oldest religion.

Last year when we went, it chucked it down with rain, and we had to shelter under a tree for a while, until it stopped. This year there was no problem with the sun not shining.

I was watching and photographing a local band called Cadence Noir, when I saw this girl appear with a camera and started doing the same. What interested me wasn't the camera she was using, but the fact that she had different socks on her feet. And where were her shoes?

Rusty Metal

I had the great pleasure of seeing Beeston band The Madeline Rust perform their new album Truth and Consequences in full tonight at a gig in the city centre.

Although I have heard of the band before, I have never seen them play live, even though the three main members of the band live only a stones throw away from my house. Please don't try to prove it either guys!

 Lucy has a really powerful voice, even though she's slim and only about five feet tall. She can scream out their lyrics the same way that a sergeant major might yell out orders to his men.

It was quite a small room they played in, but it was packed, and so it soon became like a sauna. But the beer was good, and the music loud, and I got some what I like to think were some good shots.

Of course I bought the album, which comes in red vinyl and is limited to 329 copies. It isn't going to be available on CD, but the album comes with a code, so you can download the songs, so you can listen to them digitally.

Here's a WEBLINK to a video of their latest single, and highlight of the album.

Letting The Light In

There's some more demolition work now taking place in the city centre.

This is down near the Broadmarsh shopping centre and involves some old buildings and the remains of some Victorian railway arches.

Some people, including myself think this is a great shame, as it's about the last remaining arches in town, and should be saved for prosterity.

You may be wondering why my photo looks a little strange. It's because I took it with one of the art filters which are on my OMD. Diorama, I think its called, and makes things look miniature. I don't often use them, as I prefer to mess around in Lightroom & Alien Skin, but I don't think it looks too bad.

Protest For Peace

A big demonstration took place this evening which called for peace in Palestine.

The demo began outside the local BBC studios, as many see the broadcaster as being pro Israeli, rather than being balanced and independent.

The people then made their way in an orderly fashion to the Old Market Square, where a number of speakers related the feelings of people that the war must end, as so many innocent people, including children are dying pointlessly, as they are trapped in a place with no way out.

I do hope there is a ceasefire very soon and that peaceful solution can be found. One where Palestine is given its land and freedom back.

101% Cuteness

This little kitten is one of 15 that I saw on Monday night at a local animal rescue, as I was interviewing one of the carers for an article that I have written for a local magazine.

Of course I had to take some photos of the little ones for the article. And who could resist not taking a shot of this cute little fellow who was resting on top of some shelves, out of the way of all the others.

I understand that he will shortly be leaving for a loving forever home, and I hope that he has a long and happy life.

On The Way Down

Some blocks of flats are being demolished that have dominated the Nottingham skyline since the late 1960s. But piece by piece they are being taken down, rather than being blown up, like usually happens. It must be something to do with recycling the waste, rather than just sending it for landfill.

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.

Sundowner

Alright then folks, who wants to guess where this is?

A tropical island? Cornwall? Dubai? What about Skegness even?

Well you'd be wrong on all counts. It's actually Wollaton Park. Standing near the hall and looking over Wollaton and other parts of westen Nottingham.

Glad To Be Gay (2)

Nottingham Pride today. And what a colourful, musical day it was. Met up with a friend who has a band, and they opened the event with a fresh new line up.

There were certainly plenty of characters about, but I spotted these two girls waiting near a tram stop at then end of the day. I like the way they were standing, like Agnetha & Frida did in some ABBA videos from the 70s.

It was a much smaller event this year, and took place in the Lace Market, rather than the Arboretum like last year. Apparently the event lost a lot of money, so they have gone back to basics and scaled things down a bit. I hope this one breaks even, if not makes a bit of money for them, so it comes back next year, as I hand a very enjoyable day.

Glad To Be Gay

It's Pride weekend in Nottingham this weekend. There's an event on tomorrow in the city centre which I will be going to, as there's bound to be some good photographs to be taken, as it's generally a very colourful time.

Although I'm not gay myself, I do have some friends that are, and I have absolutely no problem with this at all, as they are the nicest people you could meet. Probably better than some straight people I know!

I do find it sad that loving someone from the same sex is seen as wrong, immoral, or even sinful. Surely it is better to love someone whoever they are than to hate them, as there's enough hate in this world as it is.

This is actually the first time that I have seen a flag flying on the university's Trent Building. Hopefully there will be lots of other flags flying throughout the coming year.

In Memory Of

I came across this plaque today on the pavement outside a local casino.

Googling the name, I found out that Jamie died whilst travelling as a passenger in a car that crashed into a tree in another part of town. The driver was drunk. Twice the legal limit in fact, and driving at 60mph in a 30 limit.

A sad story, and next month marks the 10th anniversary of his death. I wonder if there will be any flowers left on August 26th?

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?

Paddling Your Own Canoe

There's nothing quite like messing about on the river, well in this case a lake, on a sunny afternoon.

A Canada goose watches the action from the safety of the grassy bank as three friends are padding around the lake at Highfields.

Ping!

I was quite surprised to see a load of people playing table tennis near the Old Market Square at lunchtime.

Apparently Nottingham is one of about 16 cities across the country that are involved in the project called Ping,and organised by the English Table Tennis Association and money from the National Lottery.

Anyone of any ability can play for free, with bats and balls being provided.  Monday was the launch, and the activity goes on until the end of August.