still here

 

Kodak 250d. 

Not impressed - or is it just my scanning and post processing?

Go to Shadow

 

Oh, I think that's the name of Christine Morrison's lovely studio down at Vatisker. She is part of the Open Studio Hebrides which is still happening today and Saturday. Do go along.

have I showed you this?

 We went all the way up, or is it doon to North Yarkshire to snap up walls and all I have is this. Nice wall I suppose but not the wonderfulness I was hoping for. Still, the ice-creams we purchased near there were lovely. so there's that.

for some reason I am nearly always miserable at this time of year

 

Must be that I cannot for the life of me remember why I took this snap in Dundee. I mean I seem to recall a pleasant chap sat sitting on a bench near the entrance and, perhaps, just possibly something else interesting. Just cannot recall.

scottish wedding fun

 

Now don't get telling me this isn't a perfectly matched pair.

I mean, you can see all will be good, the sun will shine and everything.

down north

 

England, apparently.

It's not all as lovely as this.

weighing in the Goldsworthy

 

Shadow stone fold.

Moreosh

 These are those magnificent stairs at the McManus Museum in Dundee. We went there while we .... etc etc. Well worth your time with some great art inside. All opposite the DC Thompson building - home of the Beano and what have you.

And while I am mentioning ART, big up to Gill Thompson for getting the OSH going and doing all her lovely work too.

osh

 

If you want to see real arty stuff, get along to the Open Studio Hebrides on the island atm. We visited a few venues yesterday and had a great time. No, I am not involved.

on the travels

 

no, i don't know

 

first shuffle

 And back to the wedding. The Brides take the floor for their first shuffle around in public to the music of, of well music anyway.

I tooked this with the XA and polypan film don't you know.

meanwhile

 

 

The crofter is still doing crofter things like adding cow pats down the road outside t'house. Not sure why the crofter took them for a walk but he did. Perhaps the coow physician paid a visit. 

He has open croft for visits soon. Not quite sure of the details but Eric the bull is really looking forward to seeing you.

For the tech nerds, I used a camera for this shot using Fomapan 200 sloshed in Rodinal. The camera was Canon EOS something that a kind personage gifted me. so now you know.

Poly Diaphanous

This is Poly D being told in no uncertain terms that something is definitely interesting by some hand waving human men.

Poly was in pale greenish - but I am sure you tell from this snap.

The human men were in grey - as it usual on these occasions.

Grey and pale green should never be seen. I saw them

 

All gas and no gaiters

 

That's the sea behind. Scottish sea and all.

I took my inspiration for the image from the professional photographists who seemed keen on this scene outside the wedding venue. 

Obviously the snap is a masterpiece.

It was warm once here

 

The weather has gorn orff. I mean, it was warm when we went away but that has gorn sarf now and rain and coolness, the usual, has returned. 

See, this snap was one morn a month or so ago when I snapped one of the brave paddling sessions on a local beach [there's three round the village]. Only it wasn't brave at all as the over-warming climate conditions of the world has accentuated the sea temps so it was rather lovely. Mostly.

That's Eve by the way in her second best jeans.

The slurping of the rhubarb

 

If I'm honest I may not have been paying full attention at this point but somewhen did involve rhubarb. And this may have been that moment. It may not similarly. Whatever, the place was obviously shaking with the energy of the day.

I rather like the snap mind, rhubarb or no rhubarb. It reminds me so much of the happy couple. And their lovely families too. I have a particular fondness for the bridesman whom I have also known a long time.

Doing a Donata

 Donata Wenders! You know, she's that photographer lady with a superb vision. And style.

Well, I took this snap with her in mind. I might not have the vison she has - which reminds me to book the opticians soon-  or in fact any style but it is a snap - and that's pretty much the same thing.

This was a number 1 bride as well. Unless it was the bridesmaid or something. No, I think this was/is Jo who is not 13 now.

I'm warming to this

 The heating is on, Philip Glass is on t'radio and I'm liking some of the snaps I took at the wedding. One or two anyway. And this is the first roll of film I have looked at as well. 

I'm buzzing but probably going to sink into a depression later as the reality of my snap taking lack of vision kicks in.

In the meantime I shall show you a snap that I like from my short but uninspired Lillian Bassman period - now. No, then!

 I was remembering that this was bride number 1 but on reflection they were both number 1 brides.

Oooof, I so like this snap.

The happy couple walk into the whateveritscalled on the arms of their giverawayer.

 don't they look lovely?

Top snap: bride 1

Bottom snap: the other Bride 1.

There was a string quartet too - lovely mellow sounds and all. Lovely.

Oh, here they are.

I'm sorting things

 Yes I am happy to be home on the cold, wet and windy rock. But I am rather dispirited by the 40+ pilot whales that have died our on village beach yesterday. So very sad.

We were off the island to witness another marriage - this time two lovely girls one of whom I knew through cycling when she was about 13. She's older now - as we all are - and the marriage was near St Andrews. and no they don't play golf since you were going to ask. But yes, I did take some snaps. 

Here's one;

I do hope there are some more like this on the film. It seems most auspicious for the future of Jo and Katherine and their honeymoon to Grimsby of wherever it is.

back soon

 

I'll be tired though. And grumpy

not here

 

Something Charlie related

 

You know, that King fella. Some lovely gardens here and the ice-cream was nice as well wherever it was.

I went so you don't have to

 

apologies: I seem to have made a mistake. two actually.

 

 Not sure what happened here as you can almost see what's going on. I presume it was the wedding we went to not so long ago in the woods on southern Scotland. I am sure I recognise someone in the snaps - even if it is the two extras from a Tarantino film in the lower image. Anyway< post them here - because I can.

reminder

 I am reminded we are attending a wedding soon. ooof, none for years then two close together. SHould be fun, once we get there and once I have decided what to wear.

I can tell you with the utmost certainty the wedding will not be taking place here. I shall be taking a camera to make blurry images though.

I have not forsaken you

 

I have had things to do and things to moan about. I played lawn bowls and rested. Went to The Hub cafe too seen here downstairs since the upper bit was packed full. Lovely place all the same.

Preparing to watch the tdf as well. Not the best race of he year but can't be missed all the same

carnival. Somersetshire

 

Mondo

 

Not as young as we once were

I forgot you were waiting

 

yea, it rained

 

too hot and dry; send help

 

ride a bike

 

Riding a bike is wonderful, cheap, environmentally friendly and healthy - particularly if you use car free bike paths of which there are thousands all over Europe.

Yes, this snap was taken in Bakewell since you ask.

back then in Londinium

 

Back when I worked for a living and Londinium was my home for a while, I remember seeing the gentleman with a sandwich board strolling up and down Oxford Street declaiming "The End is nigh". He was wrong of course - proof is that I'm here today - albeit a few miles away in the Outer Hebrides. Only, the way things are going he is going to be right in some way soon.  [unless we will be eventually cleared for the proposed intergalactic bypass]

Granted the earth will survive but not as that comfortable place that humans have inhabited and gradually messed up over millennia. 

No need to repeat here the myriad of issues that are accruing atm. I do really despair. And yes before you say, of course i am just as responsible as most people. 

So sorry.

Is it too hot and sunny?

 

Of course it is. The Crofter can hardly cope in between sorting out the new piggies, the rabbit, gooses, sheeps and baby coows on the croft. Not forgetting to update his social media dn if he has time, earn some money making false teef.

Wedding

 

My diary is soon to be filling fast so if you'd like to book me for some snaps, then move quickly.

Wedding; and here's a dilemma

 

My unique wedding photographs have big following. Eve likes them anyway.

In have now shot a few such occasions in this style so can muster a full set of images without even having at attend any more. Much easier and much more environmentally effective than going around the country using fuel, film, chemicals and photo paper. I can just send them my set of images on email.

I'll just have to think about the costs for each booking .....

Wedding: flinging of the haggii

 

Oooft, the couple ran off no longer able to bear the grinning faces or the attendees to a barrage of freshly slaughtered Haggii and the strains of Beth telling them to get on with it. Probably.

Only freshly slaughtered Haggii are out of season, the whole humanist affair was Veggi so we made do with planting a field of Hemp in the glade with a shower  of bird seed. Needless to say the local duckettes were very contented.

Wedding: the viewing of the trees.

 

It was to all intent and circumstances an unusual wedding.

No-one fell into the lake. A herd of ramblets were seen in the area, things were drunk out of bent bottles and I can't tell you a great deal more as I wasn't quite sure what I was seeing. What was apparently was the newly married couple seemed happy enough. Boys in kilts strode hither and over there showing off their Highlandic knees. Ladies demurely slugged from tins of Watneys Party 7 beir - although I might have imagined that bit.

Meanwhile two extras from a quinten tarrentino film in dark glasses and dodgy suits surveyed the trees to see if they were worth pulping.

I stayed in the background, sat trying to retain enough energy to rejoin the real world at some point.

Wedding; the shaking of the fingers

 

Ah yes, the shaking of the fingers part. Maybe. I wasn't fully following proceedings fully as I was concerned about the creature walking through. Not sure if it was real or merely an artifact of the spirit world. I must ask Maureen my spirit guide for the day, that's her here on the right or was it the left? Anyway she was there along with Rona and lots of people. Lovely lady in a long white dress called Elissa [the girl not the dress]who seemed very friendly with Alex son of other people there. They might be in the shot too.

Nice eh?

This is my USP for wedding photos.  see here and here and here if you can be bothered.

The Wedding

 

Have I told you that we, that's Eve, my civilled up partner of sixteen years and I went to a proper wedding recently. The occasion meant we took a ferry from this here rock o'er to the mainland and traipsed down to Dumfriesshire where the event was taking place. Gosh the weather was warm down there. 

Anyway the betrothal took place in a wood by a loch [no midges either] near Dalbeattie. Lovely cool stroll in with the attendees, bride, groom and signified marrying person. I was overwhelmed with lovelee feeling of joyusness or something by the time we arrived at the 'venue' - a clearing by the lake.

Twas superb. The sun shone [as you may be able to see], the humanist personage spoke, rings were exchanged, a rambling group marched through [really] and we all laughed and applauded in near enough the right places. Best wedding I've yet been to. I wish whoever it was getting hitched the very best of happiness for the future.

here we are

 

Back on the island for a couple of days and I have two fleeces on. Bit of a shock after a few hot days down southern Scotland for the wedding.  A wonderful wedding it was too. I mention this again.

On the way down in our horseless carriage we or perhaps more accurately I lost my set of car and house keys. As it happens Eve had a set with us but not before we wasted some time at a much required ice-cream stop looking hither and thither for the things - which we never found.

However, on the way home at Inverness we called in a supermarket for cheap liquid horseless carriage oats and hey ho, the keys had been handing into the lost property. I immediately bought a lottery ticket for the second time in my life - the first being on the very first day when they were sold. Then my late mother decided we'd all buy one. Needless we didn't win then or this time either. I may complain as the odds are far too high.

don't expect much please

 

We have been away. Wedding and everything. Not sure if I took any snaps but had a lovely time, in the woods of Dalbeatie and everything celebrating two lovely peeps getting wed. That sort of thing.

Now I'll see if I have any films to develop [scrabbles round in bottom of bag]. 

ahha. 

I have found an exposed film and will set to developing the thing.

bicycling

 

we have trees

 The lovely castle grounds in Stormoway. nice to walk or cycle.

Alex was here

Alex Boyd.