Keose

 

Took the graflex 2x3 camera kindly gifted me a while back. forget how lovely the lens is even if it is  pain to use.

That artist at home

 

Here she is, the artist outside her gaff deep in the wilds of Lewis - back yonder as it were. It is if you don't know Sandra Kennedy  A lovely place to live, a lovely lady and great work. Her instagram is here.

in the artist's lair

 

 Sorry for the missing days. life eh!

A recent visit to  lovely artist locale the other day led to a couple of nice [to me] snaps.

Olympus om1n foma 400 @800 HC110. if you care about such things

pier

 

A fav pier of mine o'er on Bhaltos. A lovely spot for a hummus and olive sandwich and a cup of green tea. My fav wall is near here too. 

Of course I snapped it with the Perkeo and some FP4 - as one does.

lodge

 

home sand

 

Doon on the beach the other to paddle and everything and there was this tub bobbing around.

oliday

 

Know the Cathedral? 

lympics

 

Watching and everything. Rather disappointed to see fencing doesn't involve crofter types trying to keep their sheeps in.

By a nice wall

 

Yarkshire

 

@ Shap

 

two wires and a gate in a wall

 

Ahhtist

 

Tom Hickman at home.

Read his blog here.

rtist

 

machair

 

It was wonderful. smelt superb. looked delicious.

Three wires

 

showtime

 

it's different in England

 

A great evening here in Lewis. Firstly the opening of a fine exhibition of photographs and paintings by Calum Angus Mackay. Declared open by our new MP - whoever he is.

Then a fine artists talk by storyteller / author Ian Stephen followed by Deljeen Rai talking about his excellent exhibition at The Island Darkroom. Lovely

late again

 

The TDF is rather good atm.

neighbours

 

cafegate

 

Aye, it's at the cafe doon Uig way. Timsgearraidh actually. Ooh, tis a fine place for a cheese toastie overlooking Uig sands with an art gallery in an old church there too.

You might be able to see the main road in these parts sweeping it's way past Uig shop on it's way to a distillery and beyond.

missed it

 Sorry, late for today's post here but yesterday's TDF stage was so tremendous I got over-excited and overtired and went to bed early.

Before that we'd been out o'er Valtos way checking out if the Machair was in full bloom and I'm pleased to say it was.

Doesn't look so good in B&W so here's a general shot from that wonderful place.

Horses

 

It's raining btw and seems to have been for days. The bowling green is waterlogged and Keith has had multiple towel downs after his outdoor excursions.

However, the country does seem in a slightly better place than it was a couple of days ago despite not enough Greens getting elected.

Stirling

 

We often as not stay at the hotel on the campus of Stirling Uni when we venture down sarf. It's handy and pleasant and has a fine NOT TO BE MISSED cafe nearby in Corrieri's  . Oh my. How lovely to have a proper nice italian pizza there. And behind the cafe is a smooth looking bowling green where we spent a few minutes in the sunshine watching a match.

The morning has dawned

 

A rather secluded caravan of love here in Yorkshire.

Vote

 

Today is the day to vote in the UK. Don't forget your ID. And vote for the benefit of everyone.

This snap is my neighbour Bernard when we use to to live in England. Lovely chap and I snapped him up on a glass plate. Hey, I was really cutting edge in those days.

Toots

 

My good friend Ian.

I went down to his place to help finish a film in one of his cameras - a Mamiya c330. Never used a camera like this  before but I did take to it once Toots had finished taking his snap. The lens on this machine seems really nice. The film was FP4 and sloshed in Rodinal.

Manc

 

Yes we went to Manchester. Both Eve and I used to work there but that didn't help finding our way around. So much seems to have changed although the graffiti is still there. The Manchester Art gallery is still lovely as is the obvious visit to the Real Camera Co. I did manage to get out without buying anything despite Eve trying to fob me off with some old Leica she saw. Not a patch on the 1955 Minolta A3 rangefinder which is my current brick of choice. Ok the Leica looks like a jewel, takes nice snaps and everything but I can buy a lot of film from the cost of it.

I know where this is

 

A nice little place sadly overrun by tourists like we were. Home of a wonderful photog and darkroom worker and not too far from where we used to live before we were 'saved' and moved up here to this breezy damp rock on the edge of the Atlantic.

I might add here the TDF has started so expect a delay now and again on here.

A hair net

 Saw a lovely lady with a hair net whilst at Coniston on the Veloretro ride. I might add here I ride in a horseless carraige to arrive there whilst the riders rode their old bikes and a few tandems. 

This lady all done up in period dress like her companions was riding a sit up and beg type bike of the era. Not sure how she flatted the road cone to be honest

Lakes ride

 

Back to the Lakes retro ride where were greeted by bright sunshine and warmth.  Riders responded with smiles and miles not to forget the enjoyment of the free bear at the end. Here's Eve and Mr Windy chatting to Deanne while some erb is photographing his beer. The riders also got a chip butty in Ulverston but didn't manage to snap anyone photographing theirs.

More rock

 

Another snap from the old open cast coal mine / artwork. Scotland and everything.

 I almost like this snap

no, I cannot recall where this was

 

Suggest this is Yorkshire but it may not be. Does it look like Yorkshire? I'm not sure, Could be Scotland. Nice tough me thinks.

there

 This was that there place we visited in yorkshire with topiary and things. I rather liked it - as long as I don't have to do the controlling of the hedges.

bbq

 BBQ in the English rain.

Nice though. 

somewhere in East Yorkshire

multiverse

 Yes we went to another world. And it was nice.

Exhaustion

 

At this point of the day I was out of energy. I'd drooled over the Degas paintings, wondered over the magnificence of the building, downed my cup tea then sat here. Snapped here and there using up the last of the roll of polypan film and collected my senses. It was lovely.

tyre

 The car is currently on holiday as I write. It's down at Garry beach. I stupidly made way off the edge of the lane for some visitor in a car who would not back up to a passing place behind them. As a consequence, the side of my car tyre blew out. It's flat all the way round and a can of sealant and endless pumping did no good. After walking back to a spot where there was a phone signal, we called the good Crofter who came out to collect us and take us back home in his shiney land rover thing. Very kind as usual.

As I write, the day after we await the arrival of the local mobile tyre man who hopefully fit a new tyre and pump it up.

In the meantime do gaze at this snap of the west side of the island.

old

 

Taken with the old Minolta A3 rangefinder camera and old Polypan-f film.

At the Burrell Collection which, I may add is well worth a trip to enjoy. Lots of wonderful art works and a fine cafe.

not just the Perkeo either

 

Of course this was from the Perkeo but I did take a Minolta A3 rangefinder camera and the Hassie - although as I write I have not sloshed the films from the latter yet.

Obviously, this is Yorkshire in this snap. Near a place called Notton and everything. Paths everywhere which is nice. and horses. Yes horses all over the place - made me feel like home.

no idea

No idea where this is but there was a coop shop nearby if that helps. Seemed to visit so many places on our recent trip south and now I can hardly remember any of them. However, I do remember I used the Perkeo for this snap.

Had a fine time all said and done. 

post travel

 

This was at Brodsworth in Yorkshire somewhere. Apparently the Crofter went to school near there but no blue plaque I could see.

Lovely place to visit with Eve's sister Catherine. All flowers, topiary and a run down house. Scones were ok though.

I'd taken the snap with the Perkeo which is easier to carry than the Hassie. The result is fine despite my blundering. 

we are back on the rock

 

yes we are back on the rock, the cats are in and all is well. I have even developed two rolls of film.

sky

 

I have been using the old  Minolta A3 camera again. Made in the year of my birth and fairing rather better than me.

David

David drove his little white car to see his son and family. The sun was shining, the birds chirping and barking dog was doing his thing. all was good in the world.

Sea

 

Oh my goodness we are so brave. Been going wild paddling in the sea - this is a couple o weeks back. It wasn't raining and had been very warm with little wind. The sea was still cold though and here Eve is checking to see if her feet had not frozen in a block of ice. They hadn't and there was a person to our left swimming without a wetsuit.

focus

 Focus on the Perkeo is a bit tricky as it's just  scale focus and hope. I do have an old rangefinder but always forget to use the thing.

Still. managed almost to get Dad crofter in focus.

Miniature land ducks - or something

 

Small animules of some sort at Croft 2a. You'll just have to go along on their open days to find out what they really are.

I crept in through the fence whilst the Crofter was earning a crust making dentures so others can eat theirs. Paul is a man of many talents  crofting for example - sheeps, coows, goats, chickens and children. Or he can butcher your meats or shear the sheeps. 

I used to snap him and his crew up a lot but I had a falling out with one of his dogs .

meanwhile here's a snap of the great man little while back. 

William and Gemma

 

From time to time we visit Bill and Gemma at their lovely place in Cromor - the back of beyond. It's a bit of a trek but well worth it to see these two lovelies. However, recently they have been visiting Stornoway for various reasons so we have been having lunch with them at the Bridge Centre Cafe.

The snap is not good I know. A 20mm lens, Foma400@8-- does not make a good look.