News

I have been a dedicated Canon man ever since I bought a T70 back in the 80's - thats 1980's, not a century earlier !
So you can imagine what it took for me to take the plunge for a Fujifilm X100. It looks like an old film camera with it's stylish retro design but it's all digi with just over 12 mega pixels served by a large sensor. I'm still trying to work out all it's foibles but in the meantime I always believe that the best way to learn is on the hoof. So off I went around my hometown of Leeds with the camera strapped round my neck.Lovely and light and it fits comfortably into a pocket. Just what I've been looking for especially as I increase in years and the DSLR's just get heavier to carry around.
The pick of the images I arrived home with was a shot taken in the Corn Exchange,Leeds. This is a building which was erected between 1860-3 when Queen Victoria was still a lass. It was designed by Cuthbert Broderick who is also responsible for the Town Hall and the Civic Theatre ( now the City Museum).The Corn Exchange is a lovely eggy shape with an upper gallery of shops. They all seem to be individual too which makes such a pleasant change from the 'Malls' and the 'retail parks' which all have the same national outlets and the same products on display.
Hope you like the Fuji shot, with my previous love of all things Fuji since my slide days I am hoping this will be a long and loving relationship !

Sad to report that my lovely lurcher Alfie got himself injured in January. He disappeared into some bushes and then howled his head off. I went to his aid and found him in a heap on the ground. I feared he had trodden on glass but instead I discovered he had ruptured the cruciate ligaments in his left knee.No wonder he complained so loudly,consequently my wife and I have spent a fair amount of time ( and money) looking after him this month(January). In between I have managed to get out with camera but the weather has been nowt and 'summat most of the time. In between frost and malicious cold under grey skies.
Went to football and racing but couldn't get the images I was seeking - another day perhaps.

Sincere apologies for my absence from the website since August but I've been involved in a little 'project' in Teesdale. It's still ongoing but I hope to resume adding images at a more regular rate than of recent. I've also been experimenting with software programmes and some of the latest stuff has been modified using them - hopefully it's improved them !
They reckon that certain areas of Teesdale are largely undiscovered by the general public who tend to flock to the more popular dales,this area by the way was part of Yorkshire until the local government boundary changes of 1974, well thats alright by me - it gives those of us who have found our way there a bit more room.
You'll notice at the end of the latest portfolio - "Since August 2011" - an Avocet and some trains,nothing to do with Teesdale but I had to put them somewhere.

A fortnight in North Norfolk in the charming town of Wells next the sea was just what the doctor ordered. A wonderful base to explore the coastal strip and all its charming villages and wildlife.
I confess I had never seen an avocet before this holiday -honest!- but I have now as this wader breeds in fairly large numbers in the area. Other species on the 'hard to see' list included the Marsh Harrier and the Spoonbill There's plenty of other things to do and see as well including Holkham Hall,seat of the Earls on Leicester and the superb beach between Wells and Holkham.
Great food, pretty good weather and local ale. It's just a shame that they have yet to learn how to pull beer through a tight sparkler but I suppose there's time to learn !

It's been a brave venture opening a haven for wildlife in Yorkshire especially in an area not noted,by reputation at least, for it's animal innovation. Having said that the Yorkshire Wildlife Park near Doncaster is a very exciting project which I sincerely hope succeeds. At the moment the lions from Romania, how well they loook now and the endangered Amur tigers are the star attractions along with the ever popular meercats. There are several enclosures which could do with a few more 'bodies' in there, animals that is, rather than visitors. I would also have liked to have been able to see the African wild dogs closer up as they,like the tigers,are a diminishing species in the wild. In the future these parks may the only place our children may be able to see these beautiful creatures, so thats what makes them so important.
If you haven't been yet, do go along and give your support, you never know it may be the only contribution you ever make to conservation.

Decided to take in the local derby in the Central Yorkshire Cricket League between Methley and Townville. Although it lacked the fervour normally associated with neighbours trying to bash each other into submission there was a determined dourness about it. The batters were saying 'go on then get us out-if you can' and the bowlers were desperate not to give anything away unless they had to.With Methley apparently in control and heading towards their target of 193 for victory,I got the 'get home for your dinner-or else' call.I never argue with the boss so just like the News of the World reporter when offered sex for money,I 'made my excuses and left'.So imagine my surprise when I checked the score to discover that the game had apparently had a tense finale with Methley reaching 192-9 and a tie was declared. At least I think it was,non of the 3 websites,both clubs and the CYCL, had any real information about the game and only the league site had the result. Thats a shame because it denies followers the world over the opportunity to check out the situation.

Went along to see the Cross Country section of the International Horse Show at Bramham and thoroughly enjoyed myself. It was a real family day out and I probably saw more makes of dogs than I realised existed. It's a number of years since I went to the event so it took a little while to settle into picture taking but just like the ancient mariner of old I quickly graduated to the water area. So did everyone else it seemed to me and there were lots if us gathered around to see if anybody fell in. We pretended we wern'et there for that - but of course we were. Hope you like the images - I am happy with most of them but if anything is lacking it's probably variety.

The judges of the Yorkshire Photographic Union sat in judgement of the countys best images on Saturday the 14th of May. I'm delighted to say they approved five of my entries for acceptance into this years Exhibition. This is on at the Doncaster Arts Museum from now until the 30th of June.Then the images go 'on the road' - just like a rock band - visiting all the Photographic clubs in the Yorkshire Union.
Four of my entries were from a sporting scene, one horse racing, one soccer and two Rugby League, one of which is to go forward to the Photographic Alliance of Great Britain as a Yorkshire entry.
You can see the images here on the web site entitled 'At the YPU 2011'. Hope you enjoy and approve.

Just back from a fantastic week in the Yorkshire Dales with free beer thrown in !
Stayed in Askrigg where one of the 3 pubs had a problem with it's alcohol licence meaning we all got a free drink as they were unable to sell it to us.
The weather was fabulous and we met a dog that looked just like our own lurcher,Alfie,his master was a publican so this meant another visit to licensed premises-well somebody has got to do it.
Askrigg looked lovely in the sun ( everywhere does I suppose) as did Hawes and even the normally stern Leyburn,Richmond too.
After a bit of coaxing I managed to get out with the camera and tripod so plesae have a look at my efforts and see what you think.

There are those breaks that go well and those that sometimes don't ! This time a 3 day stay in Keswick went pretty well I think, with lots of opportunities to grab some lovely images. The weather was sensational especially in the early morning allowing my companion and I the chance to view what is, in my opinion,the most beautiful of the lakes.
Not only did we have great digs we also enjoyed some Jennings hand pulled ale and if there is a better regional brew than Cockerhoop then I'm a Dutchman !

I'm delighted to be able to tell you that I was recommended for my Licentiateship with the Royal Photographic Society on Thursday the 3rd of June.
It was a tense affair with around 40 hopefuls sitting nervously in the Lecture Theatre at Fenton House in Bath. Each wondering what the judges would make of their panel. When it came to my turn I was relieved to see smiles of approval amongst the four wise men and an equally wise woman who gave me the nod.
I did feel very sorry for those who failed to reach the required level, especially those, who like me had travelled a distance to be there.
Plenty of people asked me why I didn't just send my prints in the post but I wouldn't have missed the experience of being there for the world. It was a smashing day out which I thoroughly enjoyed.
I must thank our President at Wakefield Camera Club,John Bickerdike-ARPS- for his help and advice at all stages of my application to the RPS. Without his influence I doubt that I would achieved the required level.
I must move on now to the next stage, it's no good sitting back and becoming lazy-that won't do at all-so here we go!.....Hi Ho Silver.