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June 30, 2009
star gazing
Sitting out in a field in Derbyshire as the dark night clouds gathered
and strange men got up to no good on the hill, in the headlights of their 4x4s
the conversation turned to stars, as it is oft wont to do when sitting out in a field at night. We couldn’t actually see any stars due to the above mentioned dark night clouds, but we talked easily about the mysteries of space, the universe and infinity [and fractional divisions thereof].
Then someone, I forget who, mentioned that Huddersfield had an observatory. This was met with a measure of derision, it has to be said, as no one could recall seeing a large fancy domed structure around Huddersfield, its great telescope peering out of the peep hole at the passing stars.
Well, today, on my way to pick up some topsoil from Blackmoorfoot, I passed the Huddersfield Observatory.
I wonder if you can rent it for the night?
Posted by john at 11:49 PM | Comments (4)
June 29, 2009
don't get them mixed up
Posted by john at 10:52 PM | Comments (0)
June 28, 2009
Dangerous Shrubs of Derbyshire, part 1: The Hawthorn
Clearly you’ve got to be careful of the shrubs in Derbyshire:
an early morning, non-dangerous non-shrub
Posted by john at 11:09 PM | Comments (0)
June 26, 2009
make up on off
First we put it on
and photograph it
then we touch it up
and photograph it
then finally, after repeating the above umpty times, we take it off
and very often photograph that too
Posted by john at 05:04 PM | Comments (0)
June 25, 2009
Ruby Black
Went to the opening of Ruby Black's new studio in Slaithwaite last night, very nice - cheese and pineapple cubes on sticks, stuck in a tin-foil covered potato, and a friend of hers had brought her record player round so things were soon swinging.
guess which one's Ruby Black.
Posted by john at 09:49 AM | Comments (0)
June 24, 2009
The Snogging Bubble
In Germany they called them: die Knutschkugel, the Snogging Ball. We call it a Bubble Car – the infamous BMW Isetta. And here’s a Snogging Ball in Skelmanthorpe, near Huddersfield, UK:
[Photos::Freitag]
Posted by john at 12:52 PM | Comments (0)
June 23, 2009
Lurking emotions
Deep and distant memories surfaced yesterday as I was processing the pictures from the last shoot. Memories from when I was about seven and fell in love with a girl in a Tiger Tim Annual:
I realised I had unintentionally almost recreated the image:
Posted by john at 04:56 PM | Comments (0)
June 22, 2009
white on white
shooting white on white
against the light
with a tutu or two too
Posted by john at 01:38 PM | Comments (0)
June 21, 2009
Elodie's eyes
from a photoshoot yesterday, with Elodie - one of the dancers in TRAPEZIUS
the idea
the preparation
the result
Posted by john at 10:14 AM | Comments (0)
June 20, 2009
Puzzling
MC Escher spent hours trying to figure out how to hang up his washing
Posted by john at 09:05 AM | Comments (2)
June 19, 2009
The difficulty with mugs part II
I thought this was great. I liked the title. I imagined it would look good sitting on my desk. Inspiring. Enigmatic.
But it's difficult. It's tricky - I just can't bring myself to drink coffee out of a pale blue mug. I doesn't seem right.
OK, it's the same colour as the book:
so, full marks to the mug makers. But pale blue? I don't know. I can do dark blue, sometimes, when the mood's on me.
And don't get me started on drinking the morning tea out of a pale blue mug...
[part I here]
Posted by john at 04:05 PM | Comments (2)
could be- hope so
Possible swimming pool in a probable garden.
Actually it's a raised bed, for vegetables
photo::Freitag
Posted by john at 01:01 PM | Comments (2)
June 18, 2009
85mm marmalade
some more with the new lens
Posted by john at 03:09 PM | Comments (1)
June 16, 2009
Posh glass
Got a new lens for the camera today - an 85mm f1.8, for those who speak the language, a telephoto lens for those more familiar with the jargon. Now, time was, an 85mm lens on a 35mm camera wouldn't necessarily have been classed as telephoto, but due to digitalization, chip sizes and pixel-fixing, an 85mm lens on the D300 is equivalent to about 120mm on an old fashioned 35mm camera.
Nikon Nikkor 85mm f/1.8D AF
It's gorgeous, and there's plenty of polished glass in it if the weight's anything to go by, coming in at just over 400 grams [14.6 oz], it's not a lightweight. The auto-focusing is very fast and accurate, and at f1.8 it's good in natural light. For portraits it's excellent: it doesn't flatten features too much.
yours truly by Katrin
Basil, by yours truly
nothing like a bit of garlic with the basil
actual size detail of top left-hand corner of the above image, which, for the very edge of the lens, is ok by me.
all you've ever wanted to know about making a camera lens here and here and here.
Posted by john at 10:36 PM | Comments (0)
June 15, 2009
evolution
Greeves, trials bike 1955
Greeves, trials bike 2009
Posted by john at 03:56 PM | Comments (0)
June 14, 2009
Wrapped Mercedes Vito
I have to point out that it wasn't in fact my Vito that I wrapped, but a friend's.
Wrapped Van, 2009, Mercedes Vito, tarpaulins, rope
Posted by john at 09:19 PM | Comments (0)
June 13, 2009
Wrapping the Vito
come and see the Wrapped Vito [and other wonders] at the Holmfirth Arts Festival, from 12:00 this Sunday, 14th June, in [not unreasonably] Holmfirth.
Posted by john at 12:54 PM | Comments (1)
June 12, 2009
the desk this afternoon
Posted by john at 02:01 PM | Comments (1)
June 11, 2009
ex-chair, details
Posted by john at 08:49 PM | Comments (1)
June 10, 2009
wrapping
It would seem that two tarpaulins, 4.9m x 7.9m, would do it:
plus 70m of string
Posted by john at 03:47 PM | Comments (1)
Dear Christo
How much brown paper will I need to wrap a Mercedes Vito?
Posted by john at 01:41 PM | Comments (0)
June 08, 2009
clickerty-flash
thanks to Rebecca
Posted by john at 05:12 PM | Comments (0)
June 06, 2009
alternative chair post
Posted by john at 08:37 AM | Comments (0)
June 05, 2009
The Big Chair - naked
There comes a time in the lives all big old armchairs when fabric coverings must need be changed. Especially when said fabrics are infested with these little fellas:
The Webbing Clothes Moth, Tineola bisselliella
So this afternoon, after consulting an upholsterer, I set about it with a sharp knife and pair of pliers:
Hithertofore I’ve photographed it:
I’ve photographed people sitting in it:
and drawn it:
and drawn people sitting in it:
and painted people sitting in it:
and of course sat in for many a long hour contemplating the composition of pictures:
photo: Adrian Ray
And now, naked, it sits, stripped of its history, bereft of memories, waiting to be re-upholstered.
Posted by john at 10:07 PM | Comments (1)
June 03, 2009
shuffling ideas
Posted by john at 10:16 PM | Comments (1)
June 01, 2009
en provence
The whereof we were when we were painting the animals that are wont to lurk in sub-Saharan grasses
Posted by john at 03:07 PM | Comments (1)