Toots

 

No doubt Toots will be doing his back exercises ready for the new year and some more LF camerawork.

Wishing you all very a very good 2021 and a sod-off to 2020.

the Crofter

 

Whoa! Wonderful, it's nearly the back of 2020.

When you are searching your files

 

I found this snap taken with a Balda 6x6 camera. and Foma film. 

Yes, it's the Castle grounds where one walks from time to time.

Parked

 

Best seen small

 

Much the case for most of my snaps.

Having said that Michael Kenna doesn't print big and neither does Pentti Sammallahti and it doesn't do them any harm. I am suggesting you keep this image small because it's not good though :-)

yep

 

Well, that's it then

 

Is it over yet?

The ducks think so in this still damp lith print on Kentmere Art Document.

I'm still here

 

A very happy whatever this time of year means to you.

Stay safe and well and come and visit again. Next year is bound to be better. Surely?

Just before......

 If you don't already know it, try looking at https://www.591photography.com as it is a fine photo site to while away a few moments while the world tries to destroy humankind with The Festival of Over Consumption..

In the meantime, here's a ray of pixel-based sunshine. Apologies.

Please bring 2021 soon

 

I have had enough of 2020. Please let 2021 start soon.

Thankyou so much if you have visited here. I'll do my best.

That was to be

 

Yesterday me 'ed started falling off. It'd been wobbling a bit recently what with this and that. No enthusiasm left for much at the moment. No energy either. had enough. you get the drift.

So I posted yesterdays post with it's obtuse headline not realising that overnight a trawler sank in the harbour in Stormoway. I had nothing to do with it and luckily no-one seems to have got hurt.

I had to post today to explain myself.

I think I'm sunk

 

Yes, they play football there

 

Poland Eh?

 

Ok, where is it?

 

Oh, of course it's a masterpiece. You just hadn't realised it yet.

And where was it taken eh?

No.

Katowice. Obvious now isn't it!

another

 

Another of Victors snaps from a yer or three back. No idea who the rider is.

A year or two ago

 

 A couple of scans of slides belonging to The Pirate [aka Vic Possee ] seen here in a continental race a year or three back - when he was in the Forces. He's in the grey jersey and on the Euroba that currently resides in our loft for some reason. 

Vicotor appears on his wife's excellent blog ook.

Yes, I found that button

 

Of course i use a little computer aided adjustment. Why wouldn't I? When you mess up the film and want to show it here one has to. 

Bear with me please, I took a few snaps

 

We don't often get light like this a few days ago. Hardly ever in fact. It's not my thing - good light that is as I have little to whinge about. But I'd offered to take dearest Eve out to North Lochs for a little cycling on less than well known to us roads. Only, that morning, me hips weren't what they could have been, I had a touch of whingitis after aa bad night so I omitted the bike for the back of the horseless carriage and took a camera instead.

The light was lovely. And clouds too. With NO WIND. Whoa! Eve was going to have a great ride home and I wasn't going to get eaten as the midges are all off on their holidays at this time of year.

So I snapped up what was there.

A day the sun shone

 

I know, I just needed to get out and take a snap. So I did while the sun shone. That evening the wind and rain came back.

I'm beginning to really like this area of the island - overlooked as it often is.

There again

 

We had planned to go here again. Not too far away down the road a bit and right. But stuff happened and we didn't. We shall go again soonish.

If you have a mind to, you can announce yourself below.

How very dare you ....

 

No, I have not forgotten you although having said that I'm not sure anyone is reading this now anyway.  To celebrate that fact I'm posting a special snap - of which I know little apart from I took it in 2012 and has been waiting for this moment to show itself.

Sunny day

Yes it was a sunny day yesterday. With a little rain - as per normal really. We didn't walk here but took to a local beach for a light stroll. Lovelee.

 

Yes, I forgot !

I don't usually forget to post but, it is strange times and what have you. So apologies, I shall endeavour to keep regular.

In recompence here is another masterpiece for back then. Whenever, whatever.

Snow

 

It has snowed a little recently but not as much as in this colour film snap. We don't get much snow usually even if the mainland mountains some 40 miles across The Minch are covered in the stuff.

And that's wot happened MiLaud

 

I was over at the Toots' darkroom with the man 'imself. - seen above in his best bib and tucker from a year of two back when he wed the lovelee Anne. And yes, I did take a few snaps.

I know you are not going to believe this but we were printing Edge related images. Yes siree. 

Winter potter

 

Spirits

 

Some days a little stroll up an old village peat track with a camera in hand is all that's needed to lift the spirits.

Some days it's just not enough - especially when you have just broken a tooth and a tooth filling has fallen out.

wood

 The Crofter is fine as are his family.

I check from time to time.

Swithering

 

I love this sort of imagery. You can make of it what you will and I prefer that. However, I do rather like the documentary type of snap too. 

Just for the record, Eve and I had a little ridette yesterday on the bicycles in Stormoway Castle grounds. A lovely time was had despite getting covered in wet muddy stuff.

I don't miss it

 

No, don't miss it.

All the rush, the cold windy pavements.

The snow and cars.

I don't this place at all.

often visited

 

Dearest Eve at an oft visited [by us and others ] location here on the Western Isles.

often seen

 

two oldish snaps from often visited and snapped up locations here on the island. I shan't insult you by inferring you don't know where they are by telling you.

N+1

 

I had a period when I was attending a fine qigong sesh every week with the lovelee Walter up in the smoke of Stormoway. Loved it even if I was going through a phase of ..... well never mind. I did take a few snaps once though - with the Voigtlander Perkeo. Long exposures and everything. Loved these snaps so very much.

Since the festival for over-consumption is coming ever closer, I was wondering what photo books are a must these days. For you and me :-)

Yes, I already have a lot but I do like them. Hoping some of the image heavy magic might rub off.

North and South

 

I may not have mentioned this here - often. But the good Mr Toots Wilson is still continuing his project "the Edge". Now 15 years on from it's fruition I think we now MAY be at the point when he prepares to think about the possibility of the second phase of planning for the next shoot. Wonders will never cease. Just as well he doesn't read this.

Anyway, some while back, back in the good old days when one could wander hither and thither without a care in the world, a mask, hazmat suit and a bucket of anti-bacterial gunk, I challenged Mr Toots to take some Edge snaps whilst he was at his Spanish estate. After a heart to heart and s few moans about luggage and camera not forgetting A ROLL of film, he did do just that. This snap was not one of them. 

This snap was one of mine for the project which I think we called Edge to Edge or some such nonsense and duly had a little booklette printed to celebrate the occasion. Edges; north and south apparently :-) [DON'T buy it please.]

Of course I still have the booklette - even if I couldn't find it straight away. Our filing system has become a little strained over the years - especially since we got rid of the old settee.

spots

 

Had the delight of a hospital bottom tickle yesterday - and what seemed to be my tonsils too at times :-) . Thankfully all good apparently so I can sit down happily. I hate having the things but then it better to be sure and I am everso grateful to the kind and skilled peeps at the WIH.

Now, if the rain ever stops and the winds stops howling I might be able to turn the pedals on the ebike.

Horses

 

These are island horses. Or were. Haven't seen any down this way for ages which is a pity. I like Horse as they populate the snaps nicely without posing, pointing fingers in stupid ways [on account they have not got fingers ] or gurning. Well, not usually gurning.

This was way way back when. When I didn't have a sore hip etc. When the world seemed a safe and wonderful place and we hadn't heard of Trump and actually liked Tong. Not that we don't really like Tong but you get the drift. In fact it's a regular cycling loop for Eve and I - when it's not blowing a gale, snowing or raining too much. There's a breeze and it's wet as I write but it hasn't stopped dearest Eve from going cycling.

It was early evening

 

Does this look dark?

It was early evening on a dullish day. Probably around 3 oclock in the afternoon. That's what it is like at this time of year. If it were raining the light might not get better all day. Still, it wasn't raining rhis day, but I like the shapes and the place so I snapped it up.

Just so you know [if you care] I rather like the Bellini Duo Step developer [ a Diafine clone]. You can shoot 400asa film easily at 800 and still get great negs.

in the darkroom

 

I was printing this the other day. On RC first then some Ilford Warmtone FB that Toots let me use. He still has the print as we were in his lovely darkroom [masked I might add] and I haven't been back yet. I am sure it will be a masterpiece - or at least an acceptable print. Yes, it island roads and everything. I might have to do some more of these since I am enjoying hem.

I'll wash my mouth out with soap and water now .......

Eve made a wonderful baked cheesecake the other da. I might add here, it has all gone just in case you were thinking of booking a ferry and coming to have some. It was, as you might expect, lovely. 

There is a nice little cycling cafe in Stormoway which we used to frequent [ and did do briefly last week] that seems to specialise in cheescake. I saw a light lemony affair lurking in the cake stand tempting me while I drank my everysowonderful flat-black coffee - the best in town I reckon. The air was full of temptation, but Eve was there so I resisted.

two

 

Lockdown couture

 

Mr & Mrs Toots enjoying a lockdown cup of tea - en pleine air

A grand day out

 

We are almost hibernating at the moment. What with the colder, wetter windier weather and the covid19, we have been doing our bit staying at home.

But the other day we had a day out in North Lochs with a camera and time for a wee stroll.

We saw this.

Portrait of a place

 

I know you have been waiting for this one. Another of my image of a place so you don't have to go here on the island. As you will be aware, it's nothing but beauty here.

Keith the cat wished that was the case for him too since I took it while awaiting his catships appointment with his physician to conclude. Keith is ok, just had his jags topped up and he teeth looked at.

EurOClEAN

 

Mining

 

The weather has not been good - as well as my hip so not been out strolling too much of late so I have taken to mining the archives. Surprising what one comes across/

The old days

 

Found this lovely film image of my former work mates William and Alec, here enjoying putting the world to right in An Lanntair back when.

Oh what fun we had. What a team. We sometimes knew what to do and how to do it as well.

Luckily I am still in touch with the fine fellows. Alec lives just over bay outside our house and William lives in the virtual paradise of South Lochs,