My Photo Blog

The ups and downs of walking in Skye – 25 May 2015

Posted on May 26, 2015May 26, 2015 by Zogman

A dull day. Not unknown on Skye, but as we’ve found in the past, even dull days can be turned around. Wandered round Portree taking to occasional shot. I wanted to visit the bakery tea room as one of my Flickr acquaintances has done a sketch/painting from there. It was P5252377- blog-146.jpg mobbed, but I got the view he’d painted. I’d like to have the guts to sketch in such a public place. Maybe some day … Anyway, I got myself a new shirt in Skye Batiks. Rather a grungy red and black one with a white batik pattern on the back. Such comfortable shirts. Expensive, but comfortable. Then is was on the road back to DSC_2434-2- blog-146.jpg Staffin. We stopped at the waterfall because I wanted to try a ‘new’ method of shooting multiple images and then blending them in Photoshop to simulate a long exposure. I’d initially intended using a variable density ND filter to do the job in one shot, but forgot to pack the ND. It’s just a cheapo, so it’s not great, leaving light blotches on the finished image, but it’s good for experimenting. The results, while not perfect, show that I am on the right road and with a little more tweaking, ok, a lot more tweaking, I can dispense with the bog awful variable ND filter entirely. Well, after all, that’s what Photoshop is for isn’t it?!

Just in case anyone is wondering why I’m belting out so much text, it’s to pad out the blog to see how Ecto – my latest contender for Offline Blog Editor is going to handle the text and images. So far it’s very favourable, almost as good as MarsEdit.

After I managed to work out the practicality of making the multiple shots – camera manuals as PDFs and tablets that can read them are a godsend – we headed back up to Staffin.

A day at Trumpan – 24 May 2015

Posted on May 24, 2015May 25, 2015 by Zogman

Looking out from Trumpan over Ardmore Bay.

Today, I’d decided we were off to Trumpan on the west coast of Skye. Tried to go up over Quairaing, but some eejits had not read the memo about passing places and were having an argie-bargie about right of way. Three point turn and head back to Trumpan via Portree. Trumpan is a beautiful isolated area where silence is king. Usually! When we passed Waternish and were almost at Trumpan, I could see that we wouldn’t be alone today. The carpark looked jam packed with cars and camper vans. What is it about camper vans these days? Everyone seems to want to travel in them. Granted, they are better than caravans, but not by much. They seem to be getting ever longer and wider, yes, definitely wider. They are becoming a menace. Also, unlike the ubiquitous caravan, camper vans are easier to park and therefore can be dumped anywhere overnight. As my brother-in-law says, “one wheel off the road and it’s parked”. However, we did get parked and thankfully Scamp had filled a flask and Murd had insisted we take some chocolate biscuits. Not the healthiest lunch, but it filled a wee space.

Took some photos around the church, but not of it.

DSC_2377- blog-145 copy — Some lovely reflections on the wet sand

Drove back to ‘civilisation’ and after dinner I went for a walk along from the slip on to the rocks. By the time I got to the slip, there were already three camper vans parked up for the night. I can see why the locals don’t like them. They come on to the island, wild park at night, paying no site fees. They bring all their food with them. They even but their fuel off the island. To sum it up, they bring nothing but grief to the island and give nothing back.

The rain was pouring down all the way to the rocks. I didn’t see anything worth shooting, so headed back. Just when I got back the skies opened and a rainbow appeared over Kilt Rock. Superb. After that, I drove to the beach and got a few more photos before heading home. Another brilliant day in Skye.

I saw the rainbow over kilt rock and then I saw the little cloud. I waited until the little white cloud floated over the rainbow, and took my shot. Impressed with the result. 365/144 — I saw the rainbow over kilt rock and then I saw the little cloud. I waited until the little white cloud floated over the rainbow, and took my shot. Impressed with the result.
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A typical Skye day – 23 May 2015

Posted on May 23, 2015May 27, 2015 by Zogman

Bernie

It was a typical Skye day. It started out clear, but by early afternoon when we were leaving Portree, the first drops of rain were falling. By the time we got to Staffin Slip, the rain was being battered down by a blustery west wind. Sat for an hour and watched the gulls diving for fish or crabs, not sure which. Came back myself later to get at least one painting done. Took some photos of the river and attempted to catch the swallows or swifts or housemartins – birds at least – unsuccessfully. By this time the wind had really picked up and was reaching gale force IMO and it was soon time to leave.

When I returned to the croft, I was mobbed by Bernie – afterBernie Ecklestone apparently! Bernie is a quite vociferous pet lamb on the croft. Bernie was rejected by his mother at birth, then developed an infection, but after some care and attention by Murd, he is now well on the way to a noisy recovery. Seems to think every man is his adopted father! I spent a pleasant half hour or so watching the swallows (or swifts, or housemarting) catching insects, just inches above the waters of the River Brogaig in the rain. 365/143

I spent a pleasant half hour or so watching the swallows (or swifts, or housemartins) catching insects, just inches above the waters of the River Brogaig in the rain.365/143

Heading for Skye

Posted on May 23, 2015May 23, 2015 by Zogman

Up and out to the gym and then found that I had a chunk out of my tyre, so it was down to the village to get it replaced. £60 lighter, but feeling more secure, I headed home

DSC 2253 blog 142 — They’ve been cutting down loads of trees on Skye and stacked them in tempting piles like this. Such a photo opportunity.

to pack for our trip to Skye. Set off around 12.30pm which was an hour later than we had planned. Trip was fine except the Tamron 70-300mm started acting up again and had to be replaced with the old Tamron 18-200mm which is not a bad lens at all, not as good as the 70-300mm, but at least the focus motor works properly! Stopped at Dornie to take some photos of the ubiquitous Eilean Donan castle (see below) and again at Storr to photograph the timber piled at the side of the road. Finally made it to

Staffin at about 7.00pm to a well earned dinner and a wee dram. Tired, but happy to be in this beautiful place with brilliant people. Onward to Glen Brittle tomorrow I believe.

Biscuit tin castle — The castle that has graced more than its fair share of biscuit tins. It’s Eilean Donan, of course. 365/142

A day of mixed fortunes – 21 May 2015

Posted on May 21, 2015May 21, 2015 by Zogman

Out early and in to Glasgow for a daunder. Stopped at Staples to look for some printable CDs. Hmm, not at that price, thank you very much. Saw a phone cover that looked just like the Venom one I’d just bought for the princely sum of £2.95 from Amazon! Phone, where’s my phone? It’s not in my pocket! Dived out and found the phone lying on the ground, untouched, beside the car where it had fallen from my pocket!
Oh lucky day 1.

Walked down to Merchant City Cameras and picked up a pair of 10×25 binoculars for £15. Cheaper than Amazon, but don’t rush down to MCC, because these were the last pair. Got some arty stuff too. A set of watercolour pens and best of all, new blades for my Logan mat cutter. For making watercolour mounts. Not very exciting to most people, but essential for those without a steady enough hand to do it unaided.
Oh lucky day 2.

For tidying up the PC laptop, I decided to give up on Belvedere as it was more like Belvedire most of the time. Opted for File Juggler which showed so much more potential. Decided to to the decent thing and buy it. Big mistake. My previous attempts at making rules for this prog had proved more than successful. Ever since I purchased it, it’s been going wrong. It may be teething problems with the syntax, or it could be …
Oh unlucky day 1.

Still, two up and one down is still a result.

The green distorted shoots that extend from the boulders in the rainforest of Tattiland reach constantly to the watery sun. Potatoes chitting on a ledge in the bathroom (cool and light) 365/141

Linlithgow – 20 May 2015

Posted on May 20, 2015May 20, 2015 by Zogman

DSC 2219 blog 140 — Harry the Horse. Actually he’s a unicorn and is part of the fountain at Linlithgow Palace

Today, being Scamp’s day off, she got to decide where we were going. She settled on Linlithgow and off we went in the sunshine. Got the last parking place at the Palace and used our Historic Scotland cards to get in. Light was good on the ornamental fountain in the courtyard. Of course, as soon as I pulled the camera out, the sun went behind a cloud and stayed there while I waited and waited. Eventually we wandered off to explore the “Original Entrance” which was closed off to prevent the unwary from a 20′ drop onto the rubble below. When we returned the sun had returned too, so I got some shots of the stone carvings around the fountain. We had been around the palace many times in the past, so we headed off down to the loch. It had been the original intention to walk round the loch, but as

DSC 2212 blog 140 — Another Easy Deer. This one was particularly easy because it was stoned. As you can see it had also been drinking Red Bull and it had given it wings! Part of the fountain at Linlithgow Palace.

that is quite an undertaking, we left it for another day. We walked along parallel to the main street and watched a wee boy feeding the ducks and chasing off the gulls (AKA shitehawks, although he didn’t call them that) telling them they were bad. Watched some guys fishing from boats on the loch for a while.

Walked back into the town and found an Italian restaurant that Scamp had had her eye on for lunch. Went to the fish shop and came home.

If all this sounds a bit prosaic, remember that I am not really writing this for you out there on the interweb, as much as for family and friends as a way of keeping in touch and also for myself as a record of what, where and when things happened during my first year ‘Out of the Saddle’. Feel free to read, but realise that if you don’t fall into any of the F&F categories, it will often mean very little to you, and so to the photo of the day:

DSC 2229 blog 140

A leaf from my book – 19 May 2015

Posted on May 19, 2015May 19, 2015 by Zogman

DSC 2200 blog 139

It was up, breakfast and out to the gym! Yes, you read it right, the gym. We’d signed up a couple of weeks ago and I was interested to see how exhausting it would be. It wasn’t all that bad, in fact it was quite enjoyable. I don’t think I’ll become a gym-bunny any time soon, but I might buy myself a new pair of trainers and a new rucksack.

The next task, and one I was certainly NOT looking forward to was replacing a power socket just below the kitchen cabinets. These things are a nightmare to access, and this was no exception. I felt I should be wearing those close-up glasses surgeons wear. Why are these things put in such inaccessible places? Anyway, after a lot of
DSC 2208 blog 139 swearing and a bloody finger, the thing is in place. I’ve used it twice and it hasn’t gone bang yet.

As a release after the tension of the electrical work, I went for a walk to St Mo’s. For once, it wasn’t deer I was seeking, but simply good light. Also for once it was there in abundance. Lovely directional light with intense darks behind. For once, all I had to do was crop and sharpen slightly. No real tonal adjustment. No use of Photoshop. Just nice to use almost the whole frame

DSC 2194 Edit blog 139 — As soon as I saw the trio of leaves, I knew it just had to be the photo of the day. Again, it was all about the light and the fact the leaves were bounded by the columns of the tree trunks on either side. 365/139

Glasgow Flaneur – 18 May 2015

Posted on May 18, 2015May 19, 2015 by Zogman

I decided to go in to Glasgow today to pick up my monsterpiece and Fred’s masterpiece from yesterday. Weather was very mixed with bright sunshine one minute and torrential rain the next. Bought myself a couple of watercolour marker pens from yesterday’s demo – yes, I know I was scathing about them, but maybe I should be more open to new innovations. Anyway, for whatever reason, I decided to give it a try. I also got one of the reservoir brushes at Fred’s recommendation. To round it off I got a trio of fine line black markers. £20 spent, just like that!

Alley Glasgow

After yesterday’s investigation of the wee alleys, I extended it to include one taken from just off Exchange Square looking towards Buchanan Street. I’d decided not to take formal camera, so relied on my trusty iPhone 4. The best camera you can have is the one in your pocket! So true. I liked the effect of sunlight after the rain shining on the street and the white tiled bricks.

IMG 2552 Edit blog 138

The other pic is from Exchange Square and, because I was shooting into bright light, the highlights were blown out, so I dumped the shot into Photoshop and copied a sky picture into the blown out area. I used Darken mode and then filtered the street pic so that the sky only affected the light area and not the buildings. Photoshop is not my favourite editor, that accolade must go to Lightroom, but it’s useful for simple trickery like this.

Glesga Windaes – 17 May 2015

Posted on May 17, 2015May 17, 2015 by Zogman

Another early(ish) rise this morning to go in to Glasgow with Fred to a watercolour workshop in Cass Art. Interesting, if slightly beneath us both, but we did get to see the new painting sticks (like water soluble pastels without the filler) and watercolour markers (double ended markers, other than that, not a lot different from any other water soluble marker pens). However, it passed a couple of hours on a Sunday morning when I would only be mooching around the house. Weather was again “Scottish”. Such an apt description.

Before the workshop, we wandered down Queen Street and looked around one of the many wee alleys in the centre of the city. It always amazes me the number of vennels there are around the city centre. Some of the photos I took are shown below.

No, the results of my watercolour workshop will not be displayed on this page. You should be so lucky!

Descriptions from left to right:
This is rapidly becoming on of my favourite Glasgow buildings, not for itself, but for the reflections it generates. In this case it’s of the GOMA.
A wee alley just off Queen Street with boarded up windows.
I liked the way the windows ran vertically up this building in a wee alley off Queen Street.
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An ideal parking place for two cars, and right in the centre of town too.

A day with Thomas – 16 May 2015

Posted on May 16, 2015 by Zogman

I’d promised my niece who had promised her son that we would go to Bo-ness to a Thomas the Tank Engine day. I don’t know who was more excited, my niece or her son, I’m guessing it was her. The station was absolutely mobbed for the event, and there was Thomas himself taking pride of place at the front. Not actually doing any work today, but definitely the star.

After seeing the two off on their steam train adventure, I wandered around looking for some photo opportunities not involving steam trains. I walked around the old docks and got a few low level seascapes and some shots of textures on the rusting railway stuff, but as the wind was so strong, it was a bit of a struggle keeping vibration down, even with the VC on the 70-300 lens.

I hadn’t realised just how run-down Bo-ness had become. There wasn’t even a decent cafe to go to for a cup of coffee. One decent butchers, though, so that is always worth remembering if I have to return some time in the future. Hopefully a long time in the future.

Thomas the tank engine at Bo-ness today.

The Fat Controller, known as Sir Topham Hatt in USA and Japan, presumably to avoid litigation from the corporeally challenged. Seen at Bo-ness today.

Come in number 3 your time is (nearly) up. A bit rusty and not looking its best. Number 3 may need something of a makeover before being displayed to the public.

365/136

The wind was gusting and the sea was high. Made for good wide angle shots.