We walked through Portrush this afternoon, and then drove out through Bushmills to have afternoon coffee at the fabulous BOTHY COFFEE cafe at White Park Bay. Iv’e spent so much time with a camera in Portrush, so I wanted to get some different shots, something fresh and original from a familiar location. Here’s a few of my efforts…
The Liverpool Supporter’s Back Alley/.
I looked down this entry and noticed a Liverpool FC flag hanging from a window, giving a tiny splash colour to an otherwise bland scene.
Baby Molly visited the new ‘Studio-Pod’ at Ballygowan (aka ‘Man-Cave for retired photographers! LOL) for the first visit of her ‘Baby’s First Year’ photoshoots. What a lovely subject she was. To maintaining social distancing and good practice, her mummy had to do all the hard work, moving props, and posing her – but it was fine, and we got the studio visit over in around 20 minutes.
In the studio I used the Fujifilm X-T3 camera, fitted with a Fujinon XF 16-55mm f/2.8 R, LM, Wrlens. Before the visit the fabrics and floor were washed and sterilised, hand sanitiser, masks and gloves were made available, and afterwards all fabrics went straight into the washing machine. As we all say – “When you pod – Pod safely!‘
On a lovely sunny June evening a walk along the sea path past Pickie Funpark at Bangor is a pleasant way to while away an hour or so. Here’s a few shots made on the Fujifilm X-T30, using the excellent Acros Film Simulation.
On a warm sunny afternoon, Victoria Park was well populated by walkers, runners, picnickers, and ball game players! There was one unoccupied piece of path…
Fujifilm X-T2, Nikon 50mm MF lens, Focus Peaking. F=50mm, f/5.6 @ 1/60th sec on ISO 400. Shot on Acros Black and White Film Simulation Mode.
An electric fence has to end somewhere, and here it is, – shot on the Fujifilm X-T2, with a Nikon/Nikkor 50mm lens, F=50mm, f/4 @ 1/125th sec on ISO400.
When I drive I keep the camera beside me, usually with a medium range zoom lens fitted. When I stop at traffic lights I wind down the window and look around me. If something interesting is happening, I shoot it. So this was the scene today at the bottom of the Limestone Road.
I liked the symmetry of the men’s postures.
Fujifilm X-T30, F=200mm, f/7.1 @ 1/160th sec on ISO400
Removing the colour made the image less fussy and distracting.
Here’s a building that’s been part of the East Belfast community since 1893. It was originally built to facilitate hygiene requirements by the City Corporation, for many of the houses in the terraced streets around the building had only outside toilets, and no bathrooms. So, the council built the public baths…
I have passed the building on many, many occasions, but rarely can it be found without cars parked along the front during the daylight hours. (It sits just off the new ‘Glider’ bus route along the Albertbridge Road, so I suppose that people park there and ride the Glider into the city centre.) Today as I passed it was clear, and I just happened to have a camera or two in the car! Continue reading Templemore Baths, Belfast→
I love Black and White, the images have a timeless quality about them, and the lack of colour seems to make the mind work harder to interpret the image, a provocative gestalt. But does it work in the studio, under studio flash lighting? It does for adults, – but what about for kids? And does studio monochrome always have to be so noir?
Scarlett visted the studio this evening with her mum and her little sister to make some lovely photographs and memories, and among them was this little black and white portrait.
So, does this image work for you?
Fujifilm X-T2 F = 24mm f/8 @ 1/125th Sec on ISO 200 under studio flash, W/B = 5600K
Time for my annual visit to the Belfast Christmas Market, clustered around the veritable ‘Dome of Delight’ itself, Belfast’s historic City Hall. This year again, it was the evening when I visited. I took the Fujifilm X-T30, small enough to be unobtrusive and powerful enough to make eye-watering images. I had the ISO at 3200 throughout the evening. Despite the fantastic X-T30, the market was so busy it was difficult to make any decent images, but here’s a few…
Saturday 9th September 2019 – the morning was wet, for heavy rain has been lashing the British Isles, causing flooding. Thankfully Northern Ireland has been spared the worst effects, unlike parts of England, where flooding has ruined homes and even led to loss of life. It’s too wet to go out on the streets, but I had a sort of a back-up plan. In Belfast is an old Victorian Covered Market, ‘St George’s Market’ (built in the 1890s) – and I thought a visit might bring one or two photo opportunities.
I liked this image. It was captured in RAW and converted to monochrome, then combined with the original colour image. The metal girders are converging on the sign, while the two people in monochrome are like bookends, giving the photograph a sense of completeness. It’s interesting that the woman on the left is pointing at the sign.
