Point & Shoot?

I mess around with cameras - all sorts. Old and very old cameras. Ones that work properly and ones that don't. Complicated ones, manual ones and in two cases, automatic ones. Like the Minolta Point & Shoot camera I have. Paid all of 99p for it but, and here's the rub, works really quite well. Makes up somewhat for my incompetence. And I wouldn't matter if I dropped it in the sea either - although I'd hate to lose a roll of film in the process.

Ok, it's not completely in focus but the exposure is fine. And the subject - Leigh on the good-tub Freyja - is great. And yes, the developing leaves a bit to be desired. But otherwise it's lovely don't you think?

A Modern Man

Please don't suggest I don't move with the shakers and movers - those on the cutting edge of... of whatever the cutting edge is on. Here's Toots Wilson with his I-etchasketch  or something like that. Signalling his stuff to the world massive. Or Anne, his wife. I saw the sketch anyway.

twiddling big string

That's Eve on the pointy end of the wee boatee Freyja. Doing something with big string we keep up that end for something or other. Not exactly sure what for to be honest, I keep myself to myself in that department - unless I sail on my own then I just pile the big string and whatever else is up there up on the front bit and leap for the steering stick before I run aground [again]. Works for me.

Did I tell you 'they' were surfing here the other day?

No?

Well, they were.

And No I have no photograph of them. It was too cold. And raining.

And I couldn't be bothered.

But I do have a snap from the XA2 of Trevor Robertson oop his mast of his self-built boat Iron Bark on Christmas Day. Like you do.

The time has come to reintroduce bears

Just small bears. Cuddly ones. Three of them. That sort of thing. And just here and everything. There's a house for them to live in, a sheeps to make friends with and Goldilocks is no doubt not that far away.

I suppose so.

It's nearly the end of the year. I'm having trouble reaching it without repeating myself so I just have to tell you a few secrets. So secret that I didn't know them. So I made them up.

Forgive me for I have sinned: I am merely mining the archives down the back of the settee / neg storage facility.

Delicious eh? I think that may even be a rainbow o'er the top. Or a flaw in the neg. Ok, we'll go with the rainbow.

Yes, it's the beach One of the beaches hereabouts anyway. I think that must be snow. Yes we had snow a few times in recent years. Comes from being stuck up here in t'north - out west where the sea keeps us away from the snow on the mainland. Mostly.

I'm probably taking snaps around now. I have a three cameras at least with half use film in. Only it's always the wrong film for the light or the subject. I'm a perfectionist don't you know? Eh? Ok, probably not then.

Thanks and everything

Many many thanks for your visitations here. It is very much appreciated. Makes me feel I have a little impression on the world - however meaningless.

Meanwhile the world has its problems and it is people like Medecins sans Frontiers who put themselves into the firing-line so to speak and try to pick up the pieces. For this I am very grateful. They have so much work to do; Ebola, Afghanistan, Syria and all the rest. What I like is that they treat everyone - patients' religions, gender, nationality or whatever don't come into it. Saving lives does.

So before you tuck into another mince pie please look at this vid and consider donating to their sadly vital work.

O'Maly's Cafe?

Is this O'Maly's that Nice Cave croons about?

Probably not but I can confirm the identity of the personage posing thereabout. If you want me to.

Well, that's that for another year,

Roast cucumber with stuffed sprouts, the traditional Winter Solstice fare in some places. Possibly. I think we had Haricot beans in a light tomato sauce on braised leavened bread escalopes. It was lovely. We sang around the cooker, danced around our handbags and fell on the floor in front ofthe fire. That's traditional too - I think.

Anyway, it's over. The earth people have done their thing at the Stones, I whinged and Eve smiled. Thank goodness we can look forward to another year ahead. I mean, no-one celebrates Christmas these days do they?

Another snap

I took this the other day. Looks nothing like William although, trust me, it is he. I took it with the Olympus OM1n - the camera of choice for the great Jane Bown who passed away yesterday. Yes, go on, check out Jane's work - it is wonderful.

Oh, if anyone on the island could tolerate me taking their portrait - for free - just say hello or something

She hates me

Well, maybe she does. Nearly opened my jugular the other day and I was only trying to give her a tickle. It must be the lightning, or the state of moon, the weather or maybe because she is stroppy. One of those things anyway.

This is what a proper snap can look like

Well, it can look like this if you point the camera towards this wall. And have a crappy film inside with no anti-halation layer on a real sunny day. Must have been caught unawares with the weather. I mean, I'm usually ready for wind and rain, sleet and hail. But sun?

Sorry and everything

It was a mistake I know. This snap taken with the old KOWA6 camera I no longer have, crept up on me this morning and begged to be shown. I showed it.

This delightful image shows Frederick Hunter nicking the last biscuit or something as Mr National Paralympic cycling manager/coach Norfolk looks on and and Fred's sister Lucrecia reads. This was a few years ago I might add. Fred's all grown up now - at least I hope he is since he is at uni now. Lucrecia is wowing the fashion world with her photography at Uni too while Mr Norfolk is still Mr Norfolk - although now married and with a delightful daughter of his own.

How time passes!

Digital? Do I care?

I don't care to be honest. Don't much care about digital cameras that is. I'll tolerate them, I have used one a couple of times but it doesn't rock my boat. Doesn't float my cake or something like that.

The electrical imaging devices are very good I might add. You can take nice snaps with them, load them up on the pooter easily and all that, but I just don't want one. However, Ms Gemma Crofter has one so there's going to be a new Crofters blog with digital snaps by Erself. Gemma already has a cooking blog ! Eh?

All the while I shall continue my film-based odyssey. I might even add a snap or two to The Island Crofters site when I feel the need.

It's easy to get crappy quality snaps with little old film cameras as these two 'through the windows' snaps show you.

 early one morning - from the bedroom

from the car in the rain

Actually, the sun is shining

But I can't resist posting of a snap of Eve all dolled up in her best wet weather gear - even if it from a few weeks back.

Many thanks for the book suggestions John & Bosse. Have passed the info over........

I think I'm hurt

Thanks everso Mr John for the book suggestions. Too expensive for my tastes sad to to say but thanks all the same for the ideas. Anyway, all the rest of you go and have a look at some proper photos here from Mr John.

I just thought I had a few more photographically enhanced visitors that might leave suggestions :-(.

Still, I raise you a gull.

Wishing you all a lovely Festive season - whatever your tastes. Here's to a fine 2015

Books with snaps [or Schnapps!]

My dearest Eve, here inspecting The Croft of The Crofter a while ago.  Sheeps, tractors - they are all there printed on this darkroom print thing. Nice eh? I like it anyway.

Eve was hoping to get me a small photo book for the festive season [other seasons are available] but as yet I have yet to come up with something that tickles my fancy. I mean, you know my likes, my proclivities and my foibles - possibly - so can I have a suggestion or three please?

A little bit of life

Saw this moment. Snapped it up and everything. Sat down at the time - and that makes all the difference. If I was stood up I couldn't have taken it since I'd probably have a cup of green tea in my hand or even a tray with a pot of hot water, a green tea bag and a cup. Obviously there would be a spoon as well. The staff are very conscientious here don't you know. And sometimes even conscious.

This is a little bit of life. On this island that is. It didn't happen everywhere. That just wouldn't be right although, now I'm mulling that statement over, I don't suppose I could even know that this didn't happen everywhere. I was here, obviously. Not everywhere.

Coffee time

On a Monday lunchtime, Mr Toots meets Mrs Toots in An Lanntair, the local arts centre and Toots marinates himself in coffee. Sometimes I tag along and have a mocha or green tea. That's the sort of person I am

Mrs Toots is happy and shows it with a smile. How lovely.

And believe it or not, I have a snap of Mr Toots smiling. Or maybe he had wind. Either way, I captured the moment on the Soviet wonder that is the Zorki4 / Jupiter12. Now I think of it, he was probably savouring An Lanntairs' warmth and thinking of his gaff in Spain where it's probably 20c - or so he tells me. A lot.

This is Eve, post curry

I think it was post curry anyway. Might have been before the excellent vegie curry we had in The County in Stornoway the day after the anniversary of our civil partnership that was some eight years ago. Eh? How did that pass so quickly then? Must be because I love being with Eve, love everything about her actually. Bin coupled up for fourteen years I'm told. How good is that? Very good, trust me.

As for the snap here, I think I may have taken one too many photos of Eve this day - like you do. I only got permission to post this one. But that's Ok since I know she's lovely.

This is Royston, pre cup of tea

We both had tea . Just before, I had noticed this composition, shouted 'stop' and he did.

It was taken with the Zorki4 Soviet camera with the Jupiter12 lens. And Czech Foma400 film rated at 800 then dunked in Rodinal. I love the effect!

The weather has been a tad breezy of late I must say. Wind, sleet, hail, cold, rain, rough seas, ferries stopped for a few days, HHHCB the cat not too happy with the thunder and lightening and sleet. Did I mention the sleet?

Even the sheeps of The Crofter weren't chuffed either. I found a few of them lurking behind a neighbours wall.

Too much too often

Like this time of year - Festival of gross over-consumption - these snaps taken with the Recesky plastic Tlr camera. Wit polypanf film too. That way you can open up the aperture to the full - whateveritis - and shoot at will. Like I did.

I rather like these.

I'm still here

Here with the old Retinette 1a in my hands having taken the Polypanf film out of it and then doused it in some old Perceptol.
What a masterpiece. If I could raise myself, I would take this to the darkish room and shine a light through it onto paper. But the warm has seduced me while the wind and rain rage outside!

It's been that sort of day

Not THIS sort of day but that sort. You know, the sort of day when it's cold, the cat - Her Highness Henrietta Cartier-Bresson - looks at you askance, sidles close for a cuddle then swipes you across the back of the hand with her claws. She didn't do that [today] but I thought I could tell that was in her mind - such as it is.

No, this sort of day when it's windy and wet is when one takes a stroll along the road to nowhere with Toots or whoever. Whoever being Toots in this case. That sort of day - like today is when it is cold wet and sleety and one has to drive the length of the island in the dark to earn a crust. I'm back now sat in the Summer Parlour, heater on, HHHCB curled up on the Chaise Longue with her backside towards me. Eh? What's that all about then?

BTW. Listening to fine radio programme by Paul Jones on Jack Bruce. here.

And now go and look at boats here where there's a little mention of this blogette too. :-) Many thanks Sir.

From another day

My last sailing till now with David, the village person from the village. He almost looks happy despite this being after the sail. Perhaps it's because we'd just got out of the wee-blow-up after the trip back from the tub Freyja. It was, as you can see a majorly stormy day.

I took the snaps with the XA2 I had about my person. Here with the Sgoth lying alongside the marinar thing opposite the castle. I don't live there.

David does live in  a Castlely place. In the Village.

Dancing on my darkroom

We'm having the house wrapped. Not quite like Christo but all nice and cosy will be the result we hope. Here's Oscar dancing on the darkroom throwing marble bits at the wall - as one does. Oh how lovely the house is beginning to look - and feel. Soon we'll be able lay all cosied up in bed, gazing out over The Minch and thank Oscar and the boys for their excellent work. When they have stopped drilling, banging and playing RADIO2. Loudly.

I've noticed a lot of those lovely little rabbits around where I'm travelling to work at the moment and I notice those wildish rabbits have been consorting with other types. That's probably why those brown rabbits are sometimes black, black and white, have long ears dangling off their cute heads and sometimes are wearing corduroy waistcoats, smoking cigars. Of course I have no photos- I was working at the time!

The lost post

Here it is; the lost post and everything. Life has been busy, builders moving the broadband satellite thing and something else.

Ah yes, I had no snaps to show you for a change. No snaps to show you, not, no snaps at all. I don't post everything I'll have you know - even if it does seem like it.

There's been a bit of a rumble in the Road to Nowhere area with some local person of ill repute dumping bush cuttings and cushions from what looks like a caravan. As we speak, investigations are happening!

I was out on the road to nowhere with Mr Toots, totting his camera bag and film - although neither saw the light of day despite the lovely weather

Now, I don't do this very often

Sleep evaded me the night before last so, once the shop van run thing had been completed I retreated to my bed and slept. For a while you understand. Not all day. Oh no. I later looked and found this 'stuff' via various sources [http://www.jeromelorieau.com http://www.caferoyalbooks.com ]. Stuff so engaging that you simply MUST drop everything and go and watch these short videos by Daniel Meadows. And then go and peruse his website. It'll be good use of time, trust me.

http://www.photographyresearchcentre.co.uk

I can't even think of a title today

What day is it today? Eh?
Friday!

It is Friday when I write this anyway. The sun has been shining, my head banging - must have been the sailing that did it!
Anyway, I have this little snap
Here it is.
I like it.
Do you?
Please tell me.
Please write something. Pretty please.

There I was sitting in a boat

This is not me I might add. It's Captn Eve looking for the the ,,, whatever one looks for in a boat.

The weather has been unseasonably good of late. The sun has been shining and the wind a mere little breeze - although coming from the east. I took it upon myself to sail the Atlantic. Went out early and everything with a village person. Only the sea stuff was a bit swelly out in the outer harbour and, I'd forgotten to make some sandwiches, so we came back after playing sailing for a couple of hours and had a green tea in the Bridge Centre cafe. As one does.

I have not forsaken you

Ha!

Donald strolls purposefully to get his kippers from the smokery.
It looks like that anyway. He might have been going somewhere else for something else I suppose. But most unlikely. It might not have been a Donald, but likely it was. Eh?

The weather has been lovely

If you are a duck, the weather was grand. Hopefully, you are not a duck now. Can you do that? Transfigure from duck to almost human?

It's been raining but it didn't stop Victor from getting out for his stroll along the road to nowhere.

The new house

There's the New House. It belongs to Wilma and her husband Donald. Only Wilma has got the hammer so it's Wilma's house.

I met Wilma again whilst out taking the air one afternoon - an afternoon by the look of it, not replete with light. Oh well, the little XA2 camera did the job. Nice isn't it? Not sure why I lug around anything bigger really. I know, it must be so I look proper and all.

Did I tell you we have had visitors?

We have had visitors staying. There, done.

Yep, that's Victor and his World Masters cycling partner Gwyneth here visiting The Crofter to see how the other half lives. Actually, now I come to think of it they didn't get to meet Gemma. Ah well, another time. I took them sailing though. And somewhere, if all is well and I don't mess up the developing thing, I might have a snap of that!

Taken with the little Olympus XA2 camera, it really is quite nice. Simple is better eh?

I've been dreaming of a warm clime

It's not some thing that troubles me usually. I blame it my pals who have been enyoying the sun variously in Cyprus, Malta and Lanzorote. Oh sorry, now I come to think of it Mick & Bee said it was raining in the Canaries! Poor them. Should be ok though when they arrive in Martiniique.

Anyway, here is a memory photograph. I mean, it is a real snap but from some months ago. In northern Spain and everything. Was too hot as well. But nice enough with the cyclists from the Tour of Spain rushing past in a right old sweat from time to time. We sat down a lot. Here was nice. Does it look nice?

Was nice enough to snap up with the Olympus OM1n.

Look at the state of 'our' roads

I know, I know, it's not really our roads. Merely one of 'our' tracks round about the village. But what am I supposed to whinge about if I can't make this stuff up? Eh? Tell me that?

Anyway, I'm going mainstream soon so I need to do what the rest of the media does from time to time - make it up.

I am a portratister

Granted I haven't taken too many portraits of personages of late. That must be on account of my inherent grumpyness, lack of talent at taking portraits and something else too.

I like fences though. That stand there all full of character and individuality. They don't complain too much and do not ask to see the results. I'm beginning to think I might specialise in fences. We have a lot of fences here after all - even if there's a 'what-ever-it-is' towering over this one.

Fankinstein

I really wish our village fank was made of wood. The sort of wooden fank that shows its age, deteriorates wonderfully and has character. Then the Bodach would look more,,,, more something when they inhabit the place with their sheeps. Instead we have this breeze block monstrosity that, I do admit, is functional but has little charm. At all.

This is not the fank. I couldn't bring myself to snap it up. Trust me, it is there nestling adjacent to the village barn full of ... stuff.

Have you noticed I have said very little? Nothing in fact

Posting every day or thereabouts has its problems. I can't always think of something to say - sensible or not. I could have told you about the sailing we did last weekend but I'm not sure you are really interested. I could have told you how grumpy I got - but if I told you that every time it happened, you'd be bored. Or I could have told you about the friends that are coming to visit.

Instead I have been thinking. Mostly because sleep hasn't been coming easily so I had plenty of opportunity. Unforetunately, the thinking hasn't helped a great deal but the snaps I have been posting are merely a non-verbal story about the island. Do let me know when you catch on to the plot-line.

The village is here bedotted with new kit homes all over the place. That's the sea out there, just below the clouds and all that.

Half-warm

Bird on a pole

Birds on the water

Birds in the air

Jack Taylor passes away

Found film

Well, it was my film all along but I found it lurking somewhere in the box room already in-camera as it were. Rated at 1600 asa, I assumed it was Foma400 but after I had exposed the rest of the roll I found it was Rollei/Agfa400s. Eh? Nevertheless, it was ok in Rodinal, good old Rodinal @ 1-50 for an hour while I meditated.

Grainy I grant but Ok all the same. Gives a fine impression of the island on a dim windy day.

Yet another kit house rises from a croft. 

More village houses of the typical nondescript nature that is prevalent round here.