Another Cyanotype

Here's one from a 6x9 neg enlarged onto OHP film and printed on watercolour paper and toned in tannic acid.

A Grand Day Out

Last Saturday Eve & I went over to South Lochs to attend a stroll with the island's archaeological society led by John Randall - seen here on the left talking to Piers from Edinburgh. Firstly we looked at an old cleared settlement and some surprisingly good house remains. Then it was off to look at the Ravenspoint centre where the Angus Macloed archives are held.
After this it was over to Cromor and Charley Barley's island - whose name escapes me - via a nice causeway that is exposed at low tides. It a wonderful place where an old chapel sits on the shoreline. A truly wonderful day.

Biking again

I have been out on my bicycle. First time for years since I have been recovering from CFS lately yet managed a couple of rides along the coast to Bac and back! Lovely to feel my old legs turning the pedals again - although not as fast as my dear partner Eve used to. Eve was World Masters track Cycling Champion in 2006.
Anyway, took the time to stop and chat to this chap who was planting down near the beach in Breavig - then snapped him wif my Zorki6 loaded with ilfordPan400. I had to distract the fine fellow with inspired questions about cabbage root fly and like - but he was quite happy to have me snapping away. Sadly the place is mired by old cars - this was one of two.
Found this nice scene on the way to Breavig too - looking out over Gress.

Textures

Old camera-1930s
Old film-1950s
Old place- Gress Fank
=Nice snap!

Playing

I have a new to me camera. In fact its a 1936 Zeiss Ikon folding camera and yes, I have already run a roll of film through it and printed some pics - which i will show later.
in the meantime, here's an old pic rejuvenated flikr stylee.

And here, after a frantic developing and printing session is the first pic out from the Zeiss Ikon 6x4.5 1930s folder

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.

Colour - again

This time a neg scan from a trip down Uig direction. Tis a lovely area and well worth the time to cycle down that way given half a chance. And since the weather is great again today, I shall be trolling out for a little bike ride as soon as I finish this. ByeBye

cuba

Eve & I went to Cuba a couple of years ago and wonderful people they are. Took a few snap while I was there and just decided to print this one as a VanDyke print.
This was a lovely hill village near Vinales a local lad took us to.

Peat-Bank Man

Hewn from the soil and snapped with my Ziess Ikon folder, this image of a fellow peat-cutter here in North Tolsta was taken one sunny morning. The print is a cyanotype toned with tannic acid.

Time for Colour

The sun has been out and the colour film nestling in my fridge wants to get out. Just for fun you understand - I feel that the colours in B&W are much better.
Anyway, Tolsta, where we stay on the island [live that is] is lovely. When the sun is shining it is superb! The beaches are very nice and a great place to while away a few moments while walking the dogs - or taking snaps. here's scene doing all three .

World Cup Winners twice over x 4

Images; Larry Hickmott for British Cycling

Jon Norfolk riding with Ant Jam-Man Kappes and Ellen Hunter[top riding with Jon Norfolk] riding with Aileen McGlynn MBE won their second Gold medals at the recent paralympic world Cup in Manchester today. Brilliant riding by the lot of you.
Oh, and it seem like Sharpie and Mr P Hunter made it both to the start and finish line in the puruit challenge where they recorded a fantastic time and were fastest.

Rock & Sand

Rock & Sand - Traigh Mhor

Sam on Strawberry Hill

The weather up here has been tremendous of late. Sunshine and a soft breeze has been making the place feel more like the Caribbean. In between cutting the peats, I have managed a little snapping. Her's a couple from the Zorki rangefinder. Film is Era100

Big up to Jon Norfolk [sen in yesterdays Van Dyke print] and Ant 'Jam-Man' Kappes who won the World Cup paralympic tandem kilo TT today with a world record time. great rides from members of Yasumitsu-Schlapp.
More Schlappers, Ellen Hunter who rides with Aileen Mcglynn MBE and Paul Hunter who rides the tandem with Ian Sharpe are riding thr World cup so we wait with anticipation.

later;
Ellen Hunter with MiLady Mcglynn took the womens kilo tt and yet another world record. Getting a bit boring now...

Van Dyke

Since its been so warm and sunny, going into the darkroom for long spells is less than appealing. So, been making van dyke prints which involve making the light sensitive emulsion, preparing then coating the paper [in the darkroom doh!] then exposing under sunlight. then there's the development in water and fixing in hypo. You can read more about the process here .

Painting

We are most fortunate in this village in having lovely neighbours - some of whom we know well and others less so. This delightful painting was created by one of our younger neighbours and presented to my partner Eve as she was planting the caulies. I think it may depict me :-)

Just before disaster...

I took this image. Then a camera on a tripod fell face first into the sand ! Not too good for the works me thinks! ah well, such is life. and the evening was superb as it the weather today. just like a summers day today.

Scalpay

There's an island down Harris way reached by a bridge and bathed in the most wonderful light sometimes. Don't miss the opportunity to go there should you be on the Western Isles. Go by bicycle.
This snap of a Scalpay building is for Donnie Mackay

I like this

... the glasshouse

Going West

For the last few days we have had the pleasure of Mr Paul West for company. Paul, with whom I used to work, has just finished working for British Cycling in Manchester and is embarking on a spot of travelling - and the Western Isles were his first stop.
After a spot of Peat Cutting - Paul had a look round the island in the wonderfully warm weather we have been having.
The nice thing is we saw about a dozen cyclists out riding on Friday - two here seen riding towards Floddabay on Harris.

For Barry

Barry asked me if i had taken any snaps of the courthouse in Stornoway - which I had not. I may currently work in that field but had no real reason till now to snap the place. So, here it is - the Court House that Barry's grandfather had a hand in building.

Pinholed

Twas world wide pinhole day yesterday so I took my much modified Franka folder [or non-folder now] out to the beach for a shoot since the sun was shining. This is the first I have printed - on Kentmere paper.

Talking political, I was wondering why, when wearing wellies [mine are green] why does ones socks get sucked off when walking. I had the great pleasure this morning of being taken to our new peats, and I noticed [in between falling over] that gradually but surely I could feel my little colourfully striped socks disappearing into the depths of the wellie toe. I would be most grateful if someone could come up with a reason for this.

Retro Jon

I love this image. Just does something for me. Mind you , Jon featured here astride his retro BMX bike that sits in his apartment in Salford, is a really nice chap. In fact you could not meet a nicer person - period. Eve & I stayed overnight here on our recent visit down south and we could almost feel the good vibes emanating down from an apartment above where an Olympic cycling champion resides.
All being well Jon will be steering a tandem for Ant 'Jam-Man' Kappes in Bejing later this year

Family

Its raining. So the neighbours peats we have been helping with till our new peat-bank finally gets allocated will remain un-cut today - or at least this morning.
Last week away in Somerset the sun did shine on our little family when we went to Broomfield and i took this snap of Mum with Lynne, my elder sister at the church. They like each other - honest!

Getting Physical!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

So, we get back from our jaunt to Ingrland to see family and friends and find that for a few weeks its going to be a slog. Firstly the veg patch needs to be dug and planted then the peats must be cut - or at least commenced. At least there are no midges - yet, the sun is shining and there is always the sea to gaze when you [Eve actually] gets tired. At the moment the ships of the European [and US now] navys are playing at sailors in the Minch so we keep a wary eye out in case they slip and press the wrong button. The fishermen have already scarpered to the other side of the island for safety!
As you can see, we share the load - Eve digs the veg patch - and the peats and I direct and take photos. Seems fair.

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.

Fyne court

The nice thing about trolling all the way to somerset, apart from seeing the family, is when Lyne, my sister comes up with a fine idea for a day trip. This time we went up to Fyne Court in the Quantocks - just near Johnny Depp's house as it happens. Here's a snap from the ilford Sporti of a folly in the gardens.

Back to Paradise

Mondo posing in Manc.

... or at least it seems like it. After a week seeing family and friends in Ingerland that necessitated loads of driving, we arrived back on this lovely island to quietude and sunshine. What more does one want? Despite that, it was lovely to see Mums and sisters/brothers.
One of the days we were in a village called Notton, in Yorkshire me thinks. Lovely area and the well-appointed room we slept in looked out over this tree.

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.

Getting Sporti

Peat track

Save Tibet

Not on Sundays

A walk on the wild-side [Stornoway!]

By that I mean my Ilford Sporti camera. Its simple and effective - when pointed in the right direction. I took it out for a stroll recently when the sun was shining and the place not overrun by tourists - as if! Anyway, used GP3 Chinese film.

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.

Callanish

I took a little ride over to these old stones things lurking over there on the west side. A hugely overdone photographic subject me thinks. Still, the cafe is ok and just along the little lane past the stones is this little pier.

Taken with the Kiev 6o and Shanghai GP3 film /R09

Relief

Sometimes, even in these islands, one needs a loo. Luckily, on many of the best beaches - like here in Tolsta, there are loos provided.

I must say I'm having a little crisis as far as my photography goes. I'm finding I'm lacking in some inspiration and a touch of enthusiasm. I used to shoot a lot of portraits - and I love doing that- but here I do find it difficult to find people willing to sit for me. Ah well, such is life.

The world cycling championships have just finished in Manchester and it was wonderful to hear that the GB team have dominated. since I used to work at the Velodrome with these people, I still feel very involved - in a removed sort of way. Well done all the GB team and especially Victoria Pendleton .