Blue Caddy

No doubt at one time someone's pride a joy, an ageing blue Cadillac parked on a side road awaits restoration. Exposed to the elements, nature has chosen its own colour scheme.

© 2024

Runnin' down to the station

The golden age of the railway has long gone, and the reason a local station survived the swinging axe of Dr. Beeching in 1963 was the fact that at that time it featured a four track layout. It is on a main line system but somewhat neglected, as shown by the rusted-away passenger lift bell in the top image. The lift itself has not worked for many years and thus prevents some disabled people from using the rail network at this stop. All this is not such good news for those that travel by train, but a whole wealth of subjects for my camera.


24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. Matrix metering.

Bell: 1/250 second at f/5.6. -0.67 EV compensation. ISO 400
Rusted girder: 1/1600 second at f/2.8. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 200
Stairs: 1/160 second at f/11. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 500



© 2016

Is it art?...

For the past week I have been trying to photograph the emerging season of spring, and in particular the numerous displays of daffodils and crocus. Unfortunately, none of the sessions spent shooting have produced anything to my liking. Last week I worked with a super-telephoto lens; today a standard zoom, but the results simply haven't worked. I do have an idea or two in mind before the displays die-off, so fingers crossed I will get something before that happens.

Looking like something you might find hanging in a modern art gallery (above), today's inspiration comes from nothing more than the worn and damaged sides of an industrial skip*. Initially, I walked straight past it, but as nothing I was photographing today looked like it would make it past the first edit stage on my computer, I decide to return and take a closer look at the colours and textures.

I'm pleased I did.



24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/4. ISO 400

*Addendum: A skip is known as a dumpster in the USA (see comments, below), and this is the one I photographed on the seafront. It is being used to collect and remove the remains of the demolished beach huts, some of which which were damaged beyond economic repair in the recent storms. 

© 2014