The fall and rise of the UW&S

You know the thing, my little 99p wonder of a camera I've had for 10 years or more. Thought I'd finally finished it off the other day. The shutter wouldn't shut or whatever it does. And the film wouldn't wind on. I was mortified and went to bed in a sulk. Then I thought about it, went down and realised the film was finished. Took out the film and all is well.

Gold star if you can tell me where I was when I snapped these up.

Somedays, one doesn't walk alone

Some days.

I went there and came back.

I took a camera with me too.
It wasn't the best day.

But yesterday was lovely.
The sun shone, there was no wind.
I made some lith prints.
Eve swam in the sea.
We fixed the topping lift on the boatee.
Enjoyed a walk and a lovely meal with friends at home

Who used to live here?

I even took a Mocha here.
No scone though

Not having much luck

Perhaps it's me but the camera I have been using of late - my little sister's OM1n with 50mm lens has just decided to play up. And that a mere month of so after having the seals done and the meter corrected ! Now, the film transport seems to have gone wrong allowing the film to slip at frame 20 or so causing the frames to overlap.
So annoying.

This was from the last film I used in the camera. In Harris.

getting lazy

To be honest, I always was lazy.

But I am getting worse.

It is so much easier to scan images from the neg than from a print.

In fact I have never managed a good print scan. How does one do it?

The year is going so quickly

The 3 rd already. And I've barely registered the year in.

Maybe another trip to the southern isles ??

This year

Ah ha!

This is what 2019 feels like then.

Pretty well the same as last year only more fuzzy and more achy.

I might have to go on the moor later to see if that's the same as it has been for the last few thousands of years.

And I may take the Zorki 6 with me again as it seems to work well, seeing nice things and the like.

Wishing you up

Wishing you all a fine 2019.

It is, I am sure going to be a fine year.

Many thanks for your visits. Please come again.

A little series

My pal the Coelyne is, I am reliably informed by the man imself, 'doing' a little series. Photographically that is. This could be but isn't one of the series. A very Hebridean fence-scape incorporating a bedstead.
Old bedsteads are no uncommon in fences up here. And I've seen car exhausts substituting for posts once.

dampish

From a recent Harris trip with Toots and The Coelyne. Lovely day out, snapping here and there. Mainly there as it happens.

Since I had a Hassie with me equipped as it is with a 50mm lens, I decided to make a gatescape. This is it.

Sometimes it does rain

Contrived, yes. But how it felt in the pouring rain the other day whilst working on the Southern Isles oop here on the Outer Hebrides.

This what happens when you snap up in pouring rain on a dark day in the winter on the isles with 400asa film pushed to 1600 asa  in a Kiev4a and develop it in PQ developer. Be warned :-) You too could be come a neo-pictorialist 

Near the end

Portrait of a wall

It;s not the end of the year yet so my new photographic direction has not come to full fruition yet. In the meantime a fine protrait of a west side of the island wall will suffice

21

Music here

Yeah

Thanks for coming here. I do hope you will come here again.

I just want to wish all those who have a birthday next year - have a fine year.

And while we are about it, have a fine Festival of Over-consumption.

it may have been a few years ago

We had a fine time in Tuscany at the Eroica bike event. The lovely Deanne doing the model-walk as Ian and Eve bake in the sun whilst riding their bikes.

Don't tell me

No, I haven't shown a snap of the peats recently. It's been raining and howling and I've not been inclined. I should go again  soon to capture its beauty while it is still there and not covered in windmills

It started with an idea

Should have left this black and white image alone but got carried away/
Ooof.

Apologies for the lack of the full visual experience yesterday. Got it all wrong and everything. I shall make up for it soon.

Hope you enjoyed Soltice. :-)

Not all bad news

I get to go around the islands on my little job. It's not all a jolly jaunt but sometimes, just sometimes when the rain isn't horizontal and wind calmish, it can be stunning

forgive me

I am away working. Down on the southern isles and hoping to be able to get back on time. The weather is improving thank goodness

Hope the Coelyn is not looking

Yes, it is a portrait of a road. Couldn't help myself.

"The Artist" formerly known as Jon

I bumped into the lovely man that was Jon MacLeod the other day whilst strolling the harbour and making sure our wee boatee Freyja hadn't sunk.

Don't seem to see the fine fellow too much these days as he's building his lego house on the west side of the island at present. I notice there's metal stuff up there in a vague house shape at the moment. Hopefully it will progress soon

Eat your hat RAX

I remember an image by RAX in the Faroes which prompted my response - although for the life of me I can't find RAX's image. But still, trust me there is a mild association.

I had the great pleasure of meeting Mr Axelsson when he came to an Lanntair [courtesy of Alex Boyd] to give a lecture in response to his fantastic images that were hanging there at the time. Great talk and lovely man too. I might add I have his books too - one in German although the images are in English - and if you like great black and white imagery, then these books are for you.

My homage to Rax snap was taken at Bosta beach since you ask.

Om1n/ Kentmere 400 / Rodinal for the geeks

Diesel [without the dead fish]

Diesel on the harbour's surface. The dead fish come later

this just might be boat art

There must a be a series of snaps in the subject as the boats litter the island as well around it.

You can't judge a cover by the book within it

But the Nutcracker ballet advertised in Stornoway was excellent in the watching. Populated by adultlettes and grown ups alike - plus mice and sheeps - I must say I enjoyed the experience greatly.

There was a certain amount hallucinatory story line/decor but the movement around the stage just dandy. Well done director Claire Whyman and all her little charges.

There is only one way

Kingdom Hall of Jehova's Witnesses, Stornoway

Shopping

Taken during the lead-up to the Festival of Over-consumption on the island where the religion of Materialism is all pervasive

Think they must have forgotten the mince pies.

There is only one way

Martins Memorial Church, Stornoway

The last parking place

Makes a change from the days when they drove them over the cliff - or left them out on the moor.

 Had the pleasure of attending the opening of Mhairi Law's Island Darkroom. Very nice setup, lovely lady and excellent work. Go, check it out now.

There is only one way

St Columba's old parish church, Stornoway.

I'm back home on the island after being stuck on South Uist during a storm that shut the ferry service and schools down there. All fun a games but home safe and happy now.

All change

Yes, there are trees on the island, particularly here in the castle grounds Stornoway.  You can read about them here.

The change is that this was taken through a nice Zuiko lens. Kentmere 400 film in Rodinal and scanned. I might do that again.

There is only one way

Stornoway Baptist Church

HHHCB

Her Highness Henrietta Cartier-Bresson takes a morning nap. HCB would have photographed her had he been here I am sure.
I have snapped her from time to time.

There is only one way

Salvation Army, Stornoway.

The Criterion

Majestic

I took this other night - or might have been morning within a dream I was experiencing. It all happened so quickly but I am very pleased I was able to capture the moment on film.

There is only one way

Our Holy Redeemer Catholic Church Stornoway

Bank Of Scotland

Grass circle

Looks like the Harlingtons have been work transforming the place into field art to entice the crop circle chasers no doubt. Or perhaps it is entirely 'natural' :-)
I like it.

Bit like my recent snap of the highland coow down at Bosta the other day. Not too close please.

There is only one way

Stornoway Mosque
A welcome addition to the lexicon of religious venues in the town.I don't believe this way either but it has made some people feel more embedded in the place and that's fine with me.

Associated Presbyterian Church