John Long's tip of the week

This week - hold your breath and watch this amazing 'Ford Fanatic' Video

 

 

 

 

To view click here

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If so, please view my other Photo Blog at -  https://thereddingsblog.wordpress.com

Holiday in Cornwall

Travelled to Cornwall last week for 5 days with my Probus Club. Just a few varied shots from the trip!

The Drummer, Truro - and - Twisted Tree, Lanhydrock House

Rocks at Land's End

Outward Bound

Tea at The Tate, St.Ives

Out by the water!

On Easter Monday I visited my friends Betty and Peter and we went for a car ride, ending up at Sharpness Docks, having tried to visit the Butterfly House at Berkeley Castle - but not open until May!
The Docks were surprisingly colourful - and quiet! - so just a few snaps taken.

'Is he taking our picture?'

'Ready to launch'

 

'No activity today'

Castle Combe

Went for a car ride yesterday afternoon and eventually found myself in Castle Combe.  Very busy in the main street as expected, but had a very pleasant stroll and just a couple of shots to prove I was there!

 

Scanned Slides

I came across some slides taken in Jerusalem in 1996, and thought I would scan them and possibly use them for internet Forums.  They needed quite a lot of cleaning up! This was at the Dome of the Rock where a group of soldiers had entered for worship, this chap was left outside to guard the footwear!

 

Two Muslim ladies passing by

 

 

 

 

Out of the bag!

Friday evening was the first time my DSLR has been out of the bag for a couple of months. We had a studio session at Kingswood PS and I took a few portraits.  My "flash trigger" didn't work and I had to borrow from another member.  I attach just one of my favourite shots of Gemma - also one taken by a "friend!" with me in action!!

RPS Biennial Exhibition

I was delighted to be able to view the RPS Biennial Exhibition as this time it was held in Bristol at the Grant Bradley Gallery in Bedminster.  The Gallery also has a coffee bar and sells cards etc.

 

 

Flower Girl

O.K, I know it isn't a photograph, but I was rather pleased with this drawing I did with my Art Group this morning. I am never happy when painting or drawing faces, but this one I was pleased with. She's my "Flower Girl" - I think I've made her a little older than intended!

Here at last!

Friends have been asking whether I've given up photography as I haven't posted for a good while!  The reason is that apart from pictures of speakers to KPS or Probus for the websites, I've done very little since serious photography since the late autumn. I was determined to go out and take some pictures today, so I went to the old Warmley Station, and to the cycletrack which runs from Bristol to Bath along the route of the old LMS Railway line. Opened in 1835 it used gravity and horses to take coal from the Kingswood mines to Bristol Harbour.  Within a few years it was converted for steam trains. This station opened in about 1869 and connected Bristol to Bath.  It was closed in the late 1960's.

 

Looking back toward the signal box, this is the original Waitng Room, now a café.

 

This shows some of the metal sculptures on the platform, and the café.

 

Outside the Waiting Room/Café

 

 

The signalbox, recently renovated

 

On line at last!

Several kind friends have contacted me wondering if I was O.K, not having seen any postings from me since Christmas.  My computer had been getting slower and slower and finally gave up last weekend, so I have been off-line since then.  Apparently, I had an 'uninvited nasty Trojan - but my machine now returned from Neil, my 'Computerman.'

So here's the annual snap of me with Ellena and Joe, my Grandchildren taken on my Birthday!

Success!

I was delighted to get the third place in the final Quarterly Competition for 2014 last week!  It's a Venice picture of course, which I call "The Shaman"
Converted to monochrome, added a touch of Topaz Adjust to enhance the texture of the wall and his gloves.    If you are observant, you will see that the eyes are in colour!!  Maybe I should have said that this was at Kingswood Photographic Society, and the marks for this print and those in Competitions 1-2 and 3 meant that I ended up in 3rd place for 2014. 

My Christmas Painting

I know this blog is usually about my photography, but I was rather pleased with the Acrylic painting I did this week. Too late for this year's Christmas Cards!

My Grandson

My photographs have been displayed in some unusual places over the years, but this is a first!!
This portrait of my Grandson Joe Trickey is a tattoo on my daughter's back - not seen it personally, but this is an iPhone picture.

Autumn Colours

I've been waiting for a few days for some sunshine to photograph autumn colours locally. As I was about to leave, I heard lots of birds squawking and found a gathering above me - I think they objected to me being there!

 

 

 

 

 

Steam at Bitton

 

On Saturday 18th October I spent a couple of pleasant hours at the Avon Valley Railway, Bitton,where there was a 'Festival of Steam' taking place. They had four locos under steam that weekend.

Autumn trip to the Isle-of-Wight

During the past week I have been to the Isle-of-Wight on holiday with Kingswood Probus Club. Lots of pictures taken of course, many of which are to use with the Review of the Year which is shown at the Probus Club in January. However, some just for me, and I'll show a few here.

Alum Bay Cliffs

At the Donkey Sanctuary

The Glass Blowing Centre

The Needles

Trip to Minehead via Coach and Steam Railway

Enjoyed a very pleasant trip yesterday with Kingswood Probus Club to Minehead. We went by Coach to Bishops Lydeard Station where we boarded the Steam Train  to Minehead.  Weather not too good for photography - apart from candid pictures of members - but just a few miscellaneous shots here

Presentation

I was very surprised, but delighted of course, to be honoured with Hon.Life Membership of the Digital Imaging Group of the RPS.  I had been invited with others to attend and watch the selection of P.D.I entries to the DIG Exhibition, and this was sprung upon me in the afternoon.  This picture with Janet Haines, Chair of the Group, was taken by Barry Senior FRPS, and there is to be an article with my selected pictures, in the next edition of the DIGIT Magazine.

Portrait Session at Kingswood P.S.

Our meeting last Friday consisted of a "free-for-all" portrait session.  I had seen pictures of the model and was keen to photograph him.  I was so annoyed when the "trigger" on my SLR didn't fire the Studio Lights, and shooting with just the modelling light was a disaster!   I resorted to a few shots with my little company camera and this was probably the best.
This is James Artaius, alias Cocaine James who was described as a multi talented, published, kick ass, rock god model !