A Flash Of Inspiration, Well Lightning & My Epiphany With Twitter

Some of you may have already seen  the photo that follows, but this little blog explains just why that may have happened.

Those that know me, are aware that I had always resisted taking the plunge into facebook, twitter or the like. For me there are too many examples of people who play out their lives through these forms of social media, especially facebook, often airing in public things that should remain private, misconstruing whats others mean or simply typing drivel for the sake of it.

Whilst you may argue that I'm part of the later by blogging, I have no desire to -

• Tell the world I'm having a garlic mayo moment
• Announce what I'm having for tea and how I'm cooking it step by step
• Multitask by typing that I'm eating my tea at the same time as I actually eat it
• Setup a facebook page for my goldfish
• Announce when I'm off on holiday so that some scrote can pay a 'visit' while I'm away! 

In simple terms this blog was as far as I was prepared to go with social media until.........

Saturday 25th January and I called into Halfpenny Green Airport for a quick cuppa with the fire crew during their break. As we sat in the crew room enjoying a brew I thought I saw a flash of lightning through the window but with nothing forecast it was simply dismissed. A few minutes later and a second flash caught everybody's attention and a quick step outside revealed a very dark sky and a storm to the East. As I was only on a social visit and hadn't ventured out to take any photos I didn't have much camera kit with me but I decided to take a chance at photographing the storm with the minimal kit I had. I managed one photo before the rain and winds arrived and I had to retreat indoors.

In short I managed to capture a lightning strike photo which I simply thought was ok, but nothing special. I had my lighter tripod and no cable release, the wrong lens and no ND filters so the exposure was shorter than I wanted, the sky brighter and it was slightly soft due to small camera shake. The one thing the photo did have going for it was the timing, an aircraft was repositioning on the apron and the lightning struck the ground directly inline with it, albeit about 600m beyond it. At first I didn't do anything with the photo, but as we had just started using twitter at Halfpenny Green I was persuaded to pop it on there just as something a little different.

Unknown to myself some friends at Westbeach Aviation had seen the tweet and decided to retweet it both generally and @ various other sites, all I can say is that it simply snowballed from there. As well as traveling all around the world via twitter it appeared on both BBC and ITV national news on Sunday night, made plenty of local papers, made plenty of national newspaper websites and some of the national daily newspapers this was my epiphany moment with twitter. It was only an average photo, but thanks to the efforts of the guys at Westbeach Aviation this was the photo that made me a convert to twitter.

Parked For The Night

Contradiction !!

Not a photo by me, simply a screen grab with a couple of explanation marks added....

We Will Remember Them

 

Light It Like Daylight !! - 2

Once again its that time of year, and once again I ventured off to the Severn Valley Railway with one aim, night time photography.

I won't go over old ground (please see an earlier post - Light It Like Daylight 1) but the use of flash seemed more extreme than ever, with drivers openly complaining about the amount of flashes in their eyes and the amount of red autofocus beams.

Perhaps I just picked the wrong locations, but this year I wasn't able to capture as many pleasing images as I have done in the past, however just attending the event was worth it, as 'steam through the night' still provides a unique and magical atmosphere.

Cheshire Cat ? - No, Cheshire Dalek !

Surprising what you can find in the Cheshire countryside on a Saturday evening.

For the story behind the Dalek take a look here

'My, What Big Eyes You've Got'

For some years now, I have owned a macro lens, a 100mm macro to be precise. the lens was originally purchased for a job photographing some specialist decorative items, it has subsequently been used on a number of commercial jobs photographing small components / products but only once have I ventured outside with it.

Well last week whilst sat in the back garden I noticed how many hoverflies were visiting a plant adjacent to where I was sat, so I decided to get the macro lens out and 'give it a go' on a live subject for once. The shots were all taken handheld and without a flash so the success rate or reasonable images was only matched by the depth of field - low!

 

For less than an hour in the garden I was quite pleased and have vowed not to leave it so long before I venture back out with the macro lens.

  

Taking A Backseat - And Im Not Talking About A Photographic Project

Well the blog truly has taken a back seat due to other work / social commitments, but if you have stuck with it and popped back to take a look, thank you.

Military Vehicle Trust Weekend - Halfpenny Green 2013

Tight Lunchtime Circuit - A 22 Photo Sandwich

Just going through some old folders on the computer and came across the image which is displayed below from 2011.

Like my previous post 'BTCC Thirty Photo Sandwich' this is also a composite of a number of images, in this case twenty two. The original composite contained  a further ten images but they ran off to the right putting the photo out of balance, plus a number of the shots had fencing and poles in the way.

Anyway the results of a little bit of fun with an obliging C42 owner, fixed camera position, manual setting and some time in photoshop...



Ikarus C42 - Tight Circuit



Last Chance Tempete

Although we had chatted for some time about doing some aerial photos of G-ASUS, one of only two Jurca MJ-2 Tempetes on the UK register, we only finally achieved it with minutes to spare.

Roy, owner of the Tempete, had stated in mid 2011 that whilst he really enjoyed the MJ-2 the time had come to sell it, so that he could buy a two seater that would enable him to go flying with his son. Like alot of things with distant deadlines, though we talked regularly about doing some Air to Air photos there appeared to be no urgency as there was plenty of time!

As the second half of the summer of 2011 passed by, the non existant nice evenings were replaced by shorter days and less opportunities to get airbourne. Everytime we tried to arrange a sortie either the poor weather, pilot or aircraft unavailability put a stop to the proceedings.

Before we knew it, we were in late May 2012, Roy had just struck a deal to sell the Tempete but had already been invited to display the aircraft in the static at the RAF Cosford show. The new owner had kindly agreed to let Roy honour the Cosford booking, but would be collecting G-ASUS on the Monday after the show.

With time now rapidly running out we tried to arrange a flight on the Friday before ths show, but busy diaries meant that this wasn't going to happen, there was only one thing for it, Roys last flight in the Jurca Tempete back from Cosford to Halfpenny Green on the Monday following the show.

The weather wasnt the best, but, at last everything else fell into place and Roy enjoyed a fitting end to his association with G-ASUS, a photographic sortie on his last ever flight in the aircraft.

Light It Like Daylight !! (Frustrations Of A Night Shoot)

2012 had been a busy year with very little time for 'leisure' photography but following on from previous visits to the Severn Valley Railway Autumn Gala I was determined to pop along in September to do a little bit of after dark photography.

Unlike 2010 and 2011 my 2012 visit would be limited to a shorter single night trip, so I decided that I would probably stick with one location, Bewdley Station on the Friday night, at least there was always the chance of an engine or two being parked up on the rock sidings.





' The Rock ' at Bewdley Station SVR

 

Arriving around 9pm, later than planned three things struck me, there seemed to be less passengers / general enthusiasts present, there seemed to be a lot more photographers around and it was pretty overcast and damp compared to previous years.





A Quiet Bewdley Station Taken In 2010

 

Making my way across the footbridge to the centre platform many of the photographers were busy shooting the two engines that were already parked on the sidings. Now there were obviously quite a few different techniques being used, flash, long exposure with flash, painting by flash and painting by torchlight but my personal choice over the last two years has been to simply rely on ambient light, be it artificial or natural and long exposures.

As the number of flashes diminished I had a quick walk along the platform to get a feel to see if people had finished for now, most had or at least they indicated they had.




'Hot Spots Galore'

 

Right, set the camera up and lets get on with it. Bang, forty seconds into a two and a half minute exposure and I suddenly feel like I’m in the middle of an electrical storm as the 'mad flasher of Bewdley' races past me apparently firing his flashgun off in any and every direction feasible. I close the shutter early and review the image, as I suspected the engine in question has a number of hot spots along its tank, like white polka dots where the undiffused flash has reflected.



Well I thought, its a free world, everyone to their own and at least its only pixels and not film I’m wasting.

So I waited for a good ten minutes to see if there was any repeat activity, nothing, so I tried again. This time it felt like the shutter had only been opened a few seconds when a torch came on and started to sweep across my subject. This wasn't so bad as the torch appeared to be moving across the engine in even sweeps, quick guesstiamte and I thought Id simply close the exposure about 20 seconds earlier than intended, a bit of painting by torch wouldn't hurt. With about 15 seconds of the exposure left to run the 'mad flasher of Bewdley' made his return, another one ruined.





I don't know if I was now starting to get paranoid and feel I was being targeted or if my timings simply coincided with these other photographers but over the next hour a pattern seemed to emerge, no activity, then as soon as I started an exposure, pop, and the flashes would go off. Despite getting quite frustrated I didn't say anything as I had no more right to be there than anyone else and in fairness I did manage a few half decent exposures, but I think this was simply because 'Hot Spot Billy' had run out of batteries.



Bewdley Platform In 2010



Sitting on the platform taking a break and waiting for everyone else to get bored I noticed the group who had been using the flash were putting their kit away, an opportunity at last. As I was getting the tripod into position my viewfinder was filled with goods wagons, a train was now parked between myself and the rock siding, blocking the view of both the parked engines and an engine taking water...ahhhhhh. To make matters worse the mist was dropping and condensation was now starting to form on the camera, at this point I decided to call it a night and head back to the car.

As I headed back to the carpark I got into conversation with a guy who was obviously a train nut as well as an enthusiastic photographer. After a comprehensive lesson on what the different engines were he asked me how I had got on with my photography. I explained that it was the night photography that was the attraction for me and told him my frustrations of long exposures and the number of missed shots.

"Well, you know the answer to that" he said, "get your ISO as high as it will go, fire a flash off on its maximum setting and like it like daylight, you won't miss any shots then"

My scream was silent but I bet it could still be heard in Bridgnorth.

With the lack of reaonable shots in 2012, Ive added a further three from a moonlit night in 2010.... 

Sparklers & Orbs

Its not Christmas Eve, its not New Years Eve night and for once its not raining, so I deceided to head out with the camera for an hour or two after dark.

After much messing about and driving around (I hadn't scouted a location in daylight) I finally found a point where I thought my antics with the camera and steel wool wouldn't be disturbed. I know its all been done before but after a couple of hours up a dark country lane miles from anywhere, I came away with a couple of results I'm quite happy with.

There Is Something Hot Down The Back Of My Neck !!!





Ghosts Of December Past - Well 2010 At Least

Two years ago this month, 15th December 2010 to be precise, is now firmly etched in the minds of many aviation enthusiasts as one of Britain’s finest aviation achievements made its last flight in British military service.

I suppose we need to thank the previous Government for screwing the economy to such an extent that Defence cuts of such a scale were required, but one of the actions identified from the Strategic Defence and Security Review of May 2010 was that the Harrier fleet was to be scrapped.

It wasn't until October of 2010 that we found out how quickly the axe would fall, with all Harrier operations to cease by the end of the year and a fleet of nearly 80 aircraft to be withdrawn from service.

Like a lot of enthusiasts I intended to get and see the Harriers a few times before they were finally withdrawn, but before I knew it, we were in mid December and I hadn't ventured to Wales, Wittering or Cottesmore.

Despite the many rumours circulating, the planned last day of operations was to be Wednesday the 15th December with a 16 ship of Harriers flying over several locations and RAF Stations before arriving back at Cottesmore and shutting down infront of the gathered press for the final time.

I was fortunate to have an invite for the 15th, but unfortunate that I had a previous non transferable engagement for that day...!!!

At Cottesmore the plan was for a practice of the formation on Monday the 13th with a fall back / reserve day of the 14th. This in theory provided two opportunities to catch the Harriers for one last time, but of course, stupidly I only had one day free, there was no option, I had to gamble on 13th.

For most of my 100 mile journey over to Cottesmore the mist hung low until I got to within about 10 miles of the airfield and then it got even thicker, just my luck. After meeting up with some friends who'd made the journey up from South of London we elected to head off to the 22 threshold end of the airfield. With visibility dropping even further and mist becoming freezing fog, we stayed put in the cars with little prospect of anything taking to the air. Then, just after 11am, five hours after arriving at Cottesmore I received a call off base, probably what I was expecting but not what I wanted to hear, the 16 ship had been cancelled.

That appeared to be it, but as we said our goodbyes the phone rang again, unbelievably the met for late afternoon had changed and there was a slim chance that a short window of reasonable weather would present itself. The plan on base was now to fly the four specially marked jets with a two seat acting as camera ship.

 

 

 At just after 2pm the distinct sound of a Harrier winding up could be heard and the rest of that afternoon, well, it provided a little bit of history as we were treated to an hour and half or excellent Harrier action topped off by the most amazing sunset.

Just to complete the story, they did manage to carry out a 16 ship rehearsal the next day but come disbandment day the weather once again closed in and the Harrier crews were restricted to flying fourship formations in the vicinity of Cottesmore only. OK I hadn’t seen 16 Harriers on the Tuesday or Wednesday but my hour and a halves viewing of sunset action with the specially marked jets was simply magical.