Stillness

Have been stuck for an idea, and didm't come across anything during today, so cycling through Highfields, I decided to take another photo of the rowing boats on the lake. This time I used one of the art filters that my camera has and made the boats and trees look like toys.

If Music Be Food, Then Play On

Another shot from the weekend's Food & Drink Festival, held at Wollaton Park.

I can't remember what the name of this band is, but they played some jazz styled music, with the girl singing and playing the clarinet. But not at the same time, as I don't think any musician can do that, unless that are using a piano or guitar etc.

A Charity Record

You may remember last October, the 19th to be precise, I wrote about Oxjam; the day long music festival that took place in Beeston to raise funds for Oxfam.

Well on Saturday Beeston saw the official launch of the Oxjam Beeston Takeover CD.  Nineteen of the artists that played during the day have donated one of their songs for the CD, which is on sale for a bargain £5.

Of course I was there to capture the event. Here's one of the photos that I took and includes some of the artists and people that are involved in the Oxjam project, who are also friends of mine.

At the moment, I think the CD is only available at local Oxfam shops, but I believe there are plans to sell it on line.

If anyone's interested in buying one, then do leave a comment and I'll let you know where else you can buy it from.

Caribbean Queen

Nottingham city centre came alive with the sounds and colours of the Caribbean yesterday afternoon, as the annual Caribbean Carnival took place. The parade started on Castle Gate and made it's long slow way up to the Forest Recreation Ground, where they site the Goose Fair in October.

There were certainly some varied and very colourful costumes being worn by the participants.

Native American anyone? Or what about some wings that can help you fly.

Not your average outfit to go shopping in. But he'll certainly help you wave you on your way.

Hundreds of people lined the route, and despite a quick rainstorm in the middle of the procession, I think everyone had an enjoyable time. I know me and my camera did.

Party In The Park

Today I popped over to Wollaton Park, as it was hosing a food & drink festival.

It was quite interesting to see all the different food and drink that was on offer. All grown or made locally.Yes, I know Pimms isn't a local drink, but I like the red of the marquee against the colour of the hall and stormy sky.

Besides food related tastings, there was also some cookery demonstrations hosted by well known chefs. I missed the one by Levi Roots, but sat in the ones by the Fabulous Baker Brothers and my friend Raz, who owns the Curry Lounge restaurant in the city centre, which was famously criticised by Gordon Ramsey a couple of years ago.

The show also featured varied arts and crafts, including glassblowing, a blacksmith an painter and some woodworkers who were using chainsaws to create sculptures from tree trunks.

Sleeping Like A Baby

Just messing about today and decided to have a go at creating a newborn baby photo, as Gail had bought a cute little babylike doll dressed in a bee costume some time ago and it looks quite cute in its yellow and black outfit. Plus of course it doesn't start crying or filling its nappy.

Using the poses and props that I've seen professional newborn photographers use, I came up with this, using bits and pieces from around the house.

Yes, I realise that I've overblown the ribbon and blanket at the back a bit. But it's a learning curve for me, as I have never shot any babies in studio like conditions. Would be interesting to have a go sometime though.

Singing For His Supper

As I've had a day off work today, and it was warm and sunny, I had a potter about in the garden. Catching up on some weeding, planting and a general tidying up. While I was working away, I heard a bird singing in the nearby Leylandi trees.

Not a song that I recognised, so looking up, I tried to see what bird was making the sound, but it took me a while to find him hiding within the greenery.  I wondered if he would move, so I could get a clearer view of him. Anyway I went inside to get my camera and zoom lens. When I returned, the bird had moved to a better spot and so I was able to get a clearer view and shot of him.

I didn't recognise the species. It certainly wasn't a sparrow, robin or tit. So looking on the RSPB website, I think it might be a twite. Are there any ornithologists reading this that can confer or disagree with this?

Airstream Abstract

It's not every day that you see jewellery being sold from a silver Airstream caravan. But that's what I came across today near the Old Market Square.

A man & a woman were selling their wares, but I was more interested in trying to get a shot of the reflections of the buildings in the aluminium.

It was difficult, as there was a blue security van parked opposite, so I was limited to where I could shoot. So I went for a corner angle, so you can see some of the Council House on the left, and a bit of a modern building on the right.

Finished For The Day

A photographer friend of ours called Stewart put a photo on Facebook the other day that he had taken of a stormy coastal scene at Canvey Island. It included some upturned boats in the foreground and a lighthouse in the distance. And very nice it was too.

So here's my version of the scene. The rowing boats on Highfields Lake with one of the university's buildings peaking through the trees. Sadly not the seaside. But the next best thing.

Peek-a-Bo

While I was sitting and listening to one of my favourite local singers Emma Bladon Jones, who was doing a gig at the Beeston Bay on Saturday afternoon, this mother and her young son sat down in front of me.

The little boy kept quite still, but kept peering over his mother's shoulder. As I had my camera handy; I had just taken some photos of Emma, I took a couple of shots, which this one I like the best.

Allo, Allo

I popped into out local junk shop yesterday. Well, when I popped in, I meant that I had a rummage through the boxes that the owner had placed outside his shop.

Looking through a box of old telephones, I came across this French Bakelite model, which is dated 14 May 1954. So presumably that would be the date of manufacture. It looked in quite good condition and has this extra earpiece, so that someone can listen in without being heard.

I decided to buy it, as I thought it would make a good prop for a possible photoshoot. I can imagine the scene of two men, obviously spies, sitting and listening to some coded message from their leader.

I wonder where the phone came from. Translating some of the words, it may have been a hotel, as there is 'information', 'fire', 'police' and possibly 'disturbances'.

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.