Paint Pots

There's a new exhibition on at the Contemporary by artist Michael Beutler.

A strange one too, as he has rebuilt his exhibition that he had at Spike Island in Bristol, and it's called Pump House.

The exhibition basically consists of rooms that have been made out of recycled materials and rubbish.

It's certainly different, and colourful in places, where he has made walls out of card, or plastic bags stuffed into small wire cages.

But my photographic eye spotted this little still life scene of some jars of paint randomly placed in a group, contrasted by a blue rubber glove.

Death Warmed Up

This handsome chap is called Egore and he works at The Navigation pub in town.

The people who run 'The Nav' often put photos on Twitter of him doing various things around the pub. I think that people have got used to seeing him around now, as he doesn't scare off the customers like he once did.

Bubble It

A Beeston based estate agents called CP Walker, is currently celebrating its 120th anniversary. So to commemorate this, the owners decided to partly sponsor an event at Broadgate Park yesterday called 'Party in the Park'.

It was similar to the carnival event a couple of months ago, with various stalls and music. And lasted all afternoon, and was well attended. The weather was lovely and sunny too. Perfect for any outdoor event.

One entertainer that caught my eye was 'The Big Bubble Man'. As his name infers, he creates bubbles with soapy water. But not just any bubbles. Giant ones, or hundreds of little ones at a time, through a giant piece of special string on two very long poles, which he dipped in a large bowl of soapy liquid and then life the poles into the air, and all these bubbles then appeared.

The children loved it, aid I watched them running around and trying to catch them. But of course they couldn't. And if they did, they would just pop, and a small shower of soapy water would fall to the ground.  There was also the opportunity of people having a go themselves. But on a much smaller scale.

It's A Disco Inferno

Here's a shot of the Disco Prophets, that I took last night at the Riverside Festival.

A slightly different line up since the last time that I saw them at a gig.

They were still great to listen too, which their interpretations of 70s classic tunes like Chic's Le Freak, to more modern songs, such as Get Lucky by Daft Punk.

The audience that was watching them, were soon on their feet and jiving away to the songs. I meanwhile was trying to stay as still as I could, as besides taking some photos, I was also videoing some of the concert.

The stage lighting was great, and really added to the effect of being in Studio 54. Although the mirrored ball was really just there for effect.

Run For Home

I don't normally take photos of sport, as I have no interest in it at all, but a friend of mine is currently training to be a sports therapist, as as part of that he is learning how to do massage.

He and the others on the course were given the opportunity of putting into practice what they have learnt so far, as they were invited to a sponsored running event that took place tonight.

What was good was that the university grounds and Highfields Park were being used for the route. 10 kilometres I believe. So I went along to give him some support before he was needed and to show him where to go.

I got there first, as I came straight from work, and managed to witness the start of the race. There were over 400 competitors involved in the action. But had long gone by the time my buddy arrived.

He then met up with some other people from his course, so I know that he was going to be alright. So I left him with his fellow students, and went home to get ready to go to the Riverside Festival and meet up with a couple of other friends called Rupert and Kay, who lead a band that I've mentioned before called The Disco Prophets.

Digging Up The Past

There's some archeology going on in the castle grounds at the moment.

It's not on the scale of television's Time Team series, but they do seem to have dug a fair old bit of earth out from the area that they've chosen for the dig.

I have no idea of what they hope to find. Be good if they do dig up something really exciting like one of Robin Hood's arrows, or some of the Sheriff's gold coins.

BHS, RIP

Today is the last day of trading in the city centre for the high street store British Home Stores, or BHS, as it's known.

The Broad Marsh based department store will finally close its doors at 5pm this afternoon, after having a closing down sale for the past few weeks, since the company went into administration earlier this year.

Other stores across the country belonging to the company have already shut. In total, around 11,000 people will have been made redundant from the 163 shops. British Home Stores have been a familiar name on the high street since 1928. Similar in a way to Woolworth's, that disappeared a few years ago.

It's not because the company isn't popular anymore. It's actually down to legal theft. Around £570 million has been syphoned out of the company, including the companies' pension fund, by the previous owner called Sir Philip Green, and the new owners, who actually bought the company off Green for a pound, sometime last year.

It is a prime example of capitalism gone bad. While the former employees with be signing on at the Job Centre, Green will be enjoying life on his new £100 million super yacht, docked in the tax haven of Monaco.

There have been calls for Green to have his knighthood taken off him, and that he should be made to pay some money to the employees' pension fund. No action has been taken yet. But hopefully it is only a matter of time.

You've Been Framed

Nottingham Castle has just opened a very special exhibition that goes on until October.

The castle has been loaned from the Royal Collection ten original drawings by Leonardo Da Vinci, which are over 500 years ago.

So I paid a visit today, just to see what's on offer. Apparently its been estimated that in the region of 80,000 people will see the pictures over the next three months. Fortunately it wasn't too busy at lunchtime, despite being the school holidays, so I had a good look at the   line drawings, which consisted of life studies, animals and diagrams. Sadly his design for a helicopter, or a pencil drawing of the Mona Lisa wasn't included.

Photography is allowed, but no flash. Which is fine by me, as I'm sure it would ruin the photo anyway with the reflection in the glass frames. I took a few shots, but weren't really happy with them. As I think I might have had the wrong lens on. But at least with my new season ticket, I'll be able to keep going back until I get the photos I want.

I took the photo above when I first walked in. They are not the Da Vinci ones, just a collection of work by different artists. I just think that the photo works well, showing the five people intently studying the framed pictures.

Sofa, So Good

Walking up towards the Lace Market today, I saw something that was really unusual; a gigantic purple settee. It must be unique, as I've never seen one before, even on the television.

I've not heard about the 'Summer Sofa' promotion at all, despite keeping my ear to the ground and eyes open for events happening in the city centre.

I don't know whether the sofa will be staying there, or being moved across the city. I do hope that they put it undercover, as it won't be very nice to sit on if it is soaking wet.

Up Above The Streets And Houses

People of a certain age will probably know that the title of today's post are the opening lyrics to the theme song of the old TV show Rainbow.

Which is quite apt, as while I was out gardening earlier this evening, I noticed one had formed in the sky, even no rain had fallen.  Only the bottom bit was on show, but I still got my camera out to get a photo or two.

Just as well that I did, as it soon disappeared from sight.

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.

Laid Out Like Lamb And Lettuce

Our little Oscar can always find somewhere to take it easy. And with this warm weather that we are currently getting, he obviously prefers to be outside.

So does Gail. And when I came home from work the other day, I found them both relaxing on the patio. Gail was sitting, eating an ice cream, while Oscar was stretched out on a large plastic box, where we store some of the garden tools.

He looked so comfortable and contented. So much so, that he didn't mind having his photo taken, yet again!

A Bird's Eye View

I'm sorry that I haven't blogged in nearly a week. It's just that I have been busy editing a load of photos that I've taken recently for a couple of people, who asked me to do some photography for them.

But normal service is being resumed.

So today I took my daily commute through Highfields as usual, when I noticed a bird standing on a bench and looking out towards the lake.

Now there's an interesting shot I thought. So I got off my bike, and gently crept towards the seat, so not as to frighten the bird, which I think is a young Canada goose.

I took a few shots, as I thought he might fly away at any time. But no, he just stood there, watching the other birds on the lake. So I inched a bit closer, then a bit closer still, until I was crouched down at the side of the bench, and took a few more shots.

I had my Pentacom vintage lens on my Olympus camera, so some of them didn't come out too well, but I like this one, as you can see him studying the action on the lake.

And before anyone quizzes me, no the bird didn't have one leg. He was just doing a Long John Silver impression. He had raised his other leg. Maybe resting it.

Midnight Mooring

Weymouth at night.

Quiet, still and calm. Even the water is static. Hardly any ripples, so you can see an almost perfect reflection of the boats, buildings and streetlights.

If only water was like that all the time.

A Prickly Customer

Following on from yesterday's rose photo, here's another plant that has thorns; the thistle.

This one isn't in Scotland, but growing in Highfields Park, and it has just about done with its flowing for the year.

I took this with another vintage lens that I have, and it's produced some quite nice bokeh.

A Rose Between Three Others

A rather nice group of roses. One in bloom and three other that are still in the budding stage.

Everyone loves roses, except for those devilish thorns that are always there, and with inevitably I prick my finger on.

Well Stacked

Another thing that was good about going to Kegworth, was that I managed to get a closer, and different view of the local Radcliffe on Soar power station and it's various towers.

It must have been a quiet time when I took the photo, as there's no clouds of steam being emmitted.

Landing Gear Down

Kegworth is an unassuming village on the Notts/Leicestershire border, but it became famous in a sad way when a plane crashed on the M1, near there in January 1989.

The Boeing 737 belonging to British Midland had to make an emergency landing, and aimed for the East Midlands Airport close by. Unfortunately Flight 92 never made it and so it landed by the motorway, with the loss of 47 lives, and only a short distance from one of the airport's runways.

We had stopped off in the village, as we were on a Sunday afternoon drive out into the country, and I managed to get this Jet 2 airliner from a hotel car park, as it was approaching the airport.

The British Midland airline is no longer around, as it disappeared a few years ago. It did become BMI Baby, and did some really good cheap flights. Gail & I went on one to Switzerland a few years ago.

Seaside Special

The Nottingham beach has returned to the Old Market Square for the summer, and today was the opening ceremony.

I was quite fortunate to be around to see it, as I had been busy at work, and wasn't sure at what time I would get my lunch break, let alone at what time it was the opening was to take place. A good case of Serendipity.

My main aim today was to test out a vintage Pentacom 30mm f3.5 lens that I'd bought yesterday from a charity shop for a few pounds, so was looking for somewhere to try it out.  And what better than Nottingham's own seaside.

Here's the sheriff and lord mayor of Nottingham posing for a photo that will be appearing in tomorrow's Post newspaper.

It's All In The Angle

Another day of random shooting, but this one has been a little different, as I have been using a manual fish eye lens.

A little bit harder too, as there's no auto focus. So it really is random, as there's no guarantee that anything is even going to be in focus.

But this one isn't too bad, as everything is in more or less focus. Three people on the corner of Angel Row and Market Street. And see how the specially designed lens distorts the building and pylon, but the people remain normal sized and not distorted.