Light

Sometimes there is such nice light in a photo you really don't need much more. I think this one is a case in point. Taken from the cliff looking over Garry beach near North Tolsta, isle of lewis.

Mum

The long trip south was to see our families and none more so than Mum in Somerset. We had a great couple of days particularly the one where we went to the Quantocks. Here we had lunch in the Blue Ball - and a lovely lunch it was too.
As it happens, I did take a camera - a Zorki 6 with Era100 film.

Strawberry Hill

Now this, is a lovely walk. In the castle grounds in Stornoway. The light among the trees is just lovely and i always want to take lots of pics - even if i don't like them afterwards. These two are quite nice. The second is Eve snapping a tree while Rocky the Terrible waits.

Trees

I like trees. Whihc is a pity really since we have few here in the village. however, up in Stornoway in the castle grounds are hundreds of tress of all ages. And, the make things even better, there are wonderful walks around the estate - the best of which for me is up over Strawberry hill.
We were up there recently and I had my little Zorki Rangefinder loaded with pan400 and took a few snaps in what was limited light - and hand held. These are neg scans with prints to come.

A few snaps

A new walkway in t/middle of Lewis. A lovely spot for a stroll [before the midges get out].

Up the track below twards the peat cuttings and a lochen, you'll find a few wrecks of vans and cars. i suspect they were taken here to shelter from the rain while the good people of Tolsta where cutting their peats.

Finally got round to scanning a few negs. This time from the Zorki 6 rangefinder which i have now grown to love. The weather is somewhat variable for those of you who are reading away from the Isles but with B&W there is always something to snap.
Since you ask, I'm not looking for that ultra-sharp, perfectly composed image but rather something that speaks to me, raises some sort of emotion.

Toe update

Down Meavig way

.. as if anyone was reading this!
Has a surprisingly good night with the toe shielded between two strategically placed pillows. Even been for a short stroll down the village in the sunshine. Just as well really since I have to do a little work this evening.
Have a new pic to show tho. A film-scan from a roll of IlfordPan400 that i ran through one of the kiev rangefinders.

My Neighbour

Passing the time of day

Inside the glasshoose

Glasgow

Been to Glasgow for a few days and stayed with MiLady McGlynn - whose info can be found on a link on this blog. Anyway, had a lovely time staying with Aileen and got to look around Glasgee a bit with Edwin a flickrer whom I met. Really nice time was had by all and many thanks to Edwin and Ailleen for making my stay so pleasurable. Having said that I was so pleased to be back on the island this morning to be greeted by a very hard frost, clear skies and my dear Eve. And I managed to have a little bike ride around the village to day as well - the first for months :-)
HEre's a snap of MiLady Mcglynn MBE on t'bus - or was it t'train??.
Kiev II IlfordPan400/ID-11

Its been cold

As you can see on the car windscreen. Still, the sheep must be fed and John the local councilor came along soon to do the business with his animals. Always a smile too :-) I presume that is a smile :-)
KievIIa IlfordPan400 / ID-11

Keen for surfin

I could hardly believe my eyes when I took off down the steep track that leads to our local beach. There is the make-shift car-park were two Irish surfer dudes awaiting the sea later in the day. It seems they had retreated here because of a big storm and this afforded some shelter for their van. They told me they had been surfin on the day of the storm and would again later that day. That's keeness for you!
Luckily they had a 4 wheel drive van to get out of the car-park otherwise they would still be there now.
Era100/R09 Kiev IIa

Usual stuff

Safe surfing
Traigh Mhor
Flying
I have this FEd rangefinder that only works on one speed. And rthe dials for the meter fell off. Stil, it works using the aperture on the Industar 61 lens. So, here's a few from APX100/R09 @ 1:200 for 2.5 hours.

Russian glass

I am so lucky to have been gifted a Kiev rangefinnder with a 85 portrait lens. Tis a wonderful piece of kit rthat in the right hands can produce some sensatinal images. However, in my hands the snaps are just OK. Here's a crofters dad. Efke100 APH09 1:200

FED up

Rocky being brave. Got caught out on the way back when the edge of the sand-cliff gave way but he still managed to scamble through without falling.



I have not been having too much success with the old picture taking of late. There are a myriad of cameras lurking around the hoose - plate cameras, folders, rangefinders, scale focus, slrs, medium, large and 35mm format - oh and 110; Colour and B&W film in the freezer. X-ray too. But can I take a decent snap???
So, I take out the FED rangefinder - the one with the dodgy film speed thing - it's stuck on around 1/50-1/100th I think. Loaded it with APX400 - the grainy one - and snapped away at anything using the aperture for changing the exposure - all guessed. Souped it in R09 @ 1:200 or thereabouts for around 2hours - well, just when I remembered about it actually. I didn't even take the temp of the water bt it was cold! And hey ho, its the best I have ever seen with this film!

Sunshine at last..

..but we had some shopping to do in the big metropolis of Stornoway. First we visited the village Post Office - busy for a small place too. Thena stroll looking in shop windows, walking along the harbour and drinking Mocha in An Lanntair. Nice. I played with the Kiev rf with 35mm jupiter [many many thanks to Monty /APX400/R09 - and then we met Windy; cyclist, photographist and racontour.