Frosty Morning

Cold and Frosty Jubilee Park

It was a bit cold this morning.  According to the radio it was around -2c - which is quite cold these days.   Anyway, I thought I would go out and capture the cold world as dawn broke.   I was hoping for some sun to help enliven the images but all I got was a frost mist.  Still this added to the atmosphere.

The new computer is slowly starting to bed in.   I am still building the software etc on the machine.   I am in the process of installing Acronis True Image as my back up program.  I am not sure why but I always have problems with back up programs - so much so I ended up writing my own.  It wasn't too sophisticated but it worked.  However, I have decided to take the plunge and use a commercial product - only time will tell if it is worth the money.

As for the new computer all I can say is wow.   The reason I bought this machine was to try and handle very large image files.   I have to say it is not disappointing me.  Lets hope this early enthusiasm is not misplaced.

And finally. may I wish any who is reading this a happy new year and may next be better this this one.

An Idea

Chaffinch Taking Off

I have been toying with an idea since shooting a series of images with my wireless remote.   Superimposing them to make a more impressive shot than one image.   I have done this before with such images as 30 minutes at Heathrow.   I have also made other images of birds but this is different.  This is a single background taken again and again from the same angle.   This has some interesting variations that is worth pursuing.   Only time will tell if it works.

30 minutes at Heathrow

The start of something new

Burrough Hill Iron age Fort

I have spent most of the day setting up my new computer.  To date only one set of software won't work - Genuine Fractals 5.   According to the web site this software will not work with 64 bit OS - see support website for more information.  This is a bit of a blow but one I'll get over.

It has been quite tiring slowly building up the new computer - I still have to install the scanner and printer - but these can wait.   I have to say I am impressed with the performance of the new computer.   I am now able to move seamlessly from Lightroom 2.2 to Photoshop CS4 in a blink of an eye.

The new Photoshop is a bit different from CS3.  I am taking my time to get use to the changes but the most important thing is the performance of the software.  The Burrough Hill image at one time was over 300mb in size and the machine/software didn't break into a sweat.   The new zoom facility on Photoshop take a little getting used to - it is so quick and smooth.   Overall, it has been a very enjoyable day.  Lets hope this continues.

Update from the Computer front

Well this hard drive has lasted longer than the last one!  This is not much to crow about but it is something I suppose.  The Dell engineer that came and installed the new hard drive also sorted out the printer problem 64/32 bit network problems.  This was easily overcome by downloading the correct drivers from Brother - now why didn't windows think of that!

The engineer did forget to install my anti virus software.  This left with the problem of getting him back or sorting it out myself.  I chose the latter and after a 15 minute virtual chat with a very helpful McAfee person called Sandeep I was able to overcome this issue as well.

I am glad to say that the install of software appears to be going along reasonably well (Experience has taught me not to be too over optimistic)  Hopefully, I might be able to get this best to start to work on my images tomorrow. Hopefully.

The computer is fixed??!!??

Well, as I type this I am using my new computer.  it was the hard drive so lets hope this one lasts longer!

Essay put to bed

That is it!  I have decided I am not going to tinker/change this anymore.  It is finished.  I am not going to make any more changes to my essay.  IT IS FINISH.  Only I now that this is not likely to be the end of the matter.  I am sure that the process will have more twists and turns until the damn thing is submitted in January.

Anyway on a more depressing note I am now writing the seminar paper.  As the seminar didn't go that well this is bringing back bad memories.  The good thing is that it is only 800 - 1000 words.  Lets see how long this takes to write.

Trial and error

Great Tit

Had a wonderful morning taking photographs of birds at Staunton Harold reservoir car park.   This is one the best places to take photographs of tree sparrows I know.   They hang around a feeding station and give you great views.  The best thing is that when the winter sun is out in the morning then they are beautifully lit.

I also want to experiment further with my new wireless remote control.   The set up was very simple.   Put some food out for birds on a wall and set the camera up to record what happened.  I initially used a very short zoom and this was fine apart from the sound of the camera going off spooked the birds.  I then changed to a long zoom lens and this seemed to over come the noise problem as the camera was further away.  This lead to other problems such as narrow angle of view which meant that I had to ensure I knew the spot where the focus was set up for.  I also wanted to use a fast shutter speed.  This meant that I had to set my 40D to a high ISO - in this case 800.  This caused problems as the camera doesn't perform too well at this speed - too much noise in the resultant image.   Anyway I persevered and appear to have captured some interesting images.   However, I need to reflect on the lesson from today and work out how best to use the remote set up.

A Bright and cold Boxing Day

Burrough on the Hill

I spent a cold morning at Burrough on the Hill iron age hill fort on boxing day.  I was trying out my new resolution to reduce the number of images I take at each shoot.  How did I do?   Well I am not sure as I still ended up with nearly 100 images from a 1 1/2 hour shoot.   Whether this was good or bad I am not sure.  However, I am still working on my own rule of thumb - I try and produce 6 good images from each shoot.   This is really what I am working towards.   The only problem I have with shooting so many is handling them.   This has meant that I have become pretty ruthless in my editing and out of the hundred I may take I only keep a couple of dozen or so.

In an attempt to try and reduce the verbiage from my shoot I decided to shoot using my trust old tripod.   This was useful as it did slow me down and think a little bit more about what I was shooting.   The problem I did face was that I lost some of the spontaneity of the shoot.   The little was so good that I didn't really need the tripod but it was a good exercise.   I gave my Lee Filters a good work out as well.  I have to say I do love the neutral density graduated set.   It was just nice to get out in the filed and take a few images.

This has made me even more frustrated with Dell.   I have not been able to process the images and possible print on or two up as my new dell is still awaiting the attentions of the engineer, and no doubt a new hard drive.   Still, Monday is only a day or so away and I must be patient.

Do I take too many images?

Is this going to be my new years resolution?   I must not take so many images.   Well the answer to this as with most questions is yes and no.   Yes when it comes to the majority of my photography - I think this is happening already.  No when it comes to wild life photography.   Much  wildlife work takes place in small windows of opportunity so you have to make the best of it when you can - hence a large number of images.   The only thing that goes against this is the fact that I do a lot of walking and I find that the G9 just too easy to snap the image.   Most of the results are less than perfect but with a bit of work in photoshop they can be lifted to an acceptable level.   

Given all this I should make this one of my new years resolution...only I am not sure I will!

A Madonna Image

Jeffrey Silverthorne - 1972

I know this is going to sound deranged but this is one of the most moving portraits I have seen in such a long time.  I came across this in this weeks issue of British Journal of Photography.  There was an interview with the photographer Jeffrey Silverthorne and one of the photograph was this one.  The caption  reads '...Woman who died in her sleep 1972...' and that's it.   What the photograph is is the body of women who has just been sown up after a post mortum has taken place.

So why is it so moving?   Well for me the reason is the relaxed nature of her face.   She seems to be sleeping, a very warm and happy sleep.  She does not have a care in the world, her inner beauty radiating through.  Now this of course is ruddily interrupted when you look down and see the industrial sewing that has stitched her mortal remains back together.  Perhaps the most poignant yet brutal aspect of the way that the woman's right nipple has been cut in halt by the insertion and then sown back together.   Given all this violence to the body the woman still possess a beauty and stillness.   The main question is who placed her right arm up to her head?  Was the photographer or mortuary technicians?  Either way it just seems to extenuate the beauty of the women.  Is she just waking and stretching after the most refreshing sleep?

The only down side to the copy of the image I have appended to this is that the copy is not very good.   It lacks much of the delicate shades that the copy in the magazine has.  I just wonder what a good quality print would look like and how this might change the appreciation of the women.   

Happy Christmas

Well christmas is almost over for another year.  I hope Santa brought you exactly what you want and that you didn't eat too much.  As for me it has been a reasonable Christmas.  My son reverted back to a seven year old and that was nice.   However, it has been a lonely Christmas in some ways.   Having lost both of may parents in the last two years, my aunt Mary and Mandy's mother this year it has made me realise how much my life has changed in the last two years.  No doubt in time things will improve but just at the moment I am feeling their passing, even Mandy's mother!

There is one good thing to come out of this.   It is a new year soon and an opportunity to move on with my life.   Time is supposed to be the great healer.

Anyway I hope everyone had a great Christmas.

The hard drive is no more

Its official - the hard drive has gone bang.   Not bad going 6 hours of use but to be fair to Dell they appologised , well their Indian technician did, and an engineer will be visiting on Monday to install the new hard drive.   But it has taken some of the fun out of Christmas for me.   Also it has put into doubt my submission for the RPS print competition.   I hope this is not the case.   We will see.

Disaster Disaster Disaster

Well I really must have up set someone!  After only 6 hours the hard drive on my new computer appears to have failed!  Now this is not unheard of - I have two previous failures but after 6 hours!  Tomorrow I will be contacting Dell and I will no doubt find out if the premium warranty I bought is worth the money.   I guess its going to be one of those Christmases????!!!???

The only good thing is that my lap top is working - hence I am able to write this.   If anyone is reading this there is only one moral of this story - backup and backup often.

Lets see what tomorrow will bring.

Install Continues

The install of software, backup etc continues.   One or two problems have arisen due to the fact that the operating system is 64 bit and the printer is on the network running 32 bit.   I am sure I will be able to sort this out tomorrow.   I have just tried to install my ancient copy of Visual Basic and this has failed,  fortunately I am able to write software fixes to overcome this.  Again this is more irritating than anything else.   I just wonder how easy it would have been with an Apple - perhaps the 32/64 bit conflict may not have arisen although I am not so sure.  

I am currently rebuilding my Lightroom catalogue.   I decided to take this opportunity to rationalise my under lying structure.  This should help in the long term.

Starting the set up

Just started the set up of my new computer.  This is acting as a test to see if the blog works...which it should

Oops forgot the Dell has arrived.

Almost frgot my new computer has arrived this morning.  I will set this up over the next few days - I have a number of items to connect i.e. printers scanners Wacom tablets etc and there is no rush.   Still I feel a certain amount of trepidation about the whole process.   Wish me luck.

Essay starting to congeal

I am getting sick of the whole process but I feel that the essay is starting to come together.   This whole process has been painful in many ways but also very interesting.  I just hope the result is worth all the heartache and suffering (still this is much better than working for a living!)

The Editing continues

Well I have redrafted my draft ( actually this is the 15th draft!) and now I will start to edit it.  No doubt it will create even more drafts.   Question - when does a draft become the final document?  I suppose I will find the answer to this over the next few days.

The re-draft of the draft of the submission of the draft

The process has started.  I have started drafting the final submission.  Crewdson is being placed in the essay to provide some 'context'.   This whole process is time consuming and yet very enjoyable.   By chance a couple of weeks ago there was I watched an excellent Charlie Brooker's Screenwipe about how professional writers write and how they use drafts.  In short they redraft and redraft all the time - even when the programme is being recorded!   This was encouraging but it also means that I may well be writing a lot this Christmas break!

Last day of the First year

I have just found out that the last day of the first year of the MA course is Monday 11th May 2009.   I have to say that seems rather early, that was until I realised that we are dealing with an academic year and if we were undergraduates we would send the last month taking exams.  The final day of the DMU academic year is early June 2009.

Crewdson Returns

I have started to include Gregory Crewdson into my final essay.   It is interesting how your views on images change over time.   By viewing Link's work through Crewdson's prism this does start to throw up new understanding or perhaps more confusion?   Only time will say.

Remote Flash

Robin taking off from feeder

I have a new toy - a wireless remote control for my camera.   I have been playing around with it today and the results have been mixed.   To be ell the truth I had no idea what to expect but it has given my some food for thought.   I used my flash and surprise surprise this spoked the birds.    I was able to capture some action but I need to do some thinking about how to improve the results.   Still this is a whole new enterprise and is fascinating.

Walking to University

Aylestone Meadows - Leicester

What a pleasure it was to walk to University yesterday.   It was a bit slippery under foot but that didn't bother me.   On the way I was able to do a bit of photography - see above - and also a bit of bird watching - saw a lovely Little Grebe as well as some nice views of Long Tail Tits.   We had a bit of a Christmas lunch/snack with some rather nice mulled wine and mince pies.   

The day was very short.   We had a bit of a discussion about next term/semester and the work we are likely to do...we are actually going to take some photographs yippee...   As I was not in last week I messed the second half of the seminar's and clearly there was some rumbling in the camp about the length that some of our colleges seminar.  Whether it was the mulled wine but we then some of our number decided to slag off men.   A catalogue of faults with men were then put out as though they were indisputable facts.   I am never ceased to be amazed at the sexist comments made by women about men.   This is not to say that men are without their faults it is just that it would appear that nowadays you cannot say anything about women but it is open season on men.   I also found out that there would appear to be a bias amongst some of my colleagues against long lenses and wild life photography.   This, however, was wrapped up into a general moan about men.   I did try to defend men but to no avail.   Clearly,  it is a proven fact that whatever men do is rubbish!   

The only formal part of the day was a tutorial.  This went well and the feedback I got from my first draft was very encouraging.   It looks like Gregory Crewdson will be resurrected to add some extra power to my analysis.   I intend to get this essay finish before Christmas as I want to go to Norfolk and get some winter shots of the geese and other birds.

Anyway, a merry christmas to all my colleagues and I look forward to working with them in the new year.

Should I walk in?

Surfers on the beach - St Brides Bay Wales

It is a lovely morning - the first in several days.   I am almost over the lurgy that has struck me down over the past fortnight so the question is - should I walk in to university?   It is just under five miles and I haven't gone for a nice walk for a few days.   I am tempted.

via devana

Whilst trying to answer the recent email about my historical research website my I started to reflect on the talk given by Nick Lockett.   His main assignment for his MA was about a Portway that ran across the central spin of Derbyshire.  We had a brief word about this and I thought nothing more of it.   However, having started to look through my notes, some quite dusty, it has started me thinking about this unfinished work, it has been unfinished for over 12 years now!   Perhaps this could form that basis of my main assignment?   Who knows but it has peacked my interest.

Digital workflow

Having spent the weekend thinking about the forthcoming upgrade of my PC I have come to some conclusions about my digital work flow.    The first is that this is an opportunity to refine the process so that it is as efficient as possible.   The second, and this is a linked to the first, is that I will build the work flow around commercially available software rather than using software that I have written for myself.

The nuts and bolts of the work flow will be built on two file formats.   DNG and TIFF.   The reason for this is because these are open formats and so should be immune to the vagaries of changes within digital file format.  They also represent the highest quality files for saving data.   Of course I will use small JPG files when publishing to the net or when required but the main file formats I will use are DNG and TIFF.

As for the software I will build the work flow around Adobe products.   The reason for this is simple - they are the industrial standard for photography and so should provide a stable platform upon which to build any work flow.    The only exception to this will be the use of Photomatix for generating HDR images.

History Website

I had a blast from the past the other day.    Someone had sent me a question after reading my local history website.   This came as something of a shock as I hadn't done any work on this site for over 5 years.   The question was/is quiet interesting and something that I will follow up but it is interesting how your old life does catch up with you even in a very small way.

Thinking about setting up the new computer

National Gallery - London

Having to undertake some interesting think about how to set up the new computer.   This wasn't too much of a problem in the past as I hadn't developed a significant digital work flow.   This time it is different and it is causing my brain to hurt.   It revolves around three applications: Adobe's Photoshop, Lightroom and Dreamweaver.   How do I set up these packages up on the new machine?   Equally, do I spend a some cash and buy CS4 - after all I am a full time student and so could get the web premium package for a significant discount.   This is probably the best way forward in the long term but just at the moment it may cause complications when I have an essay to finish.  Problems problems problems.   I suspect I will have to bite the bullet and set things from new and take it from there.   Should be an interesting few weeks.

The audit has landed

Oh the joys of replacing your computer.  I am now about to embark on an audit that I should have done a while ago to identify all the hardware/software that will have to be installed on the new machine.    This might seem straight forward but this usually takes all morning and I have found that if you don't do it then you miss something - something that may be important and very difficult to recover once your computer has been recycled.  Let the fun begin!

Latest sickness update: Now a slightly snotty nose - think I might survive.

Platting Fog

GGARGGHH! This is turning into one of those days. If I were paranoid then I would think it was caused by me bad mouthing Apple computers (perhaps it is some form of virus that is spread by Jobites across the world). Anyway, after announcing to the world that I had bought myself a new computer I then fell foul of well meaning financial security constraints. Cutting a long story short I have just spent the past hour or so ring different companies to smooth the way for my purchaise. Finally, it has been sorted out and I have to say that the one person who should be praised in all this is the account manager at Dell Srilekha Bhattacharya. She was more helpful that you can imagine and well worth a mention (although how worth being mentioned here is is another question!)



Anyway, I now have the documentation to prove it. My new Dell should arrive just before Christmas and all is good in the world. The only thing is my head is so thick at the moment that I am having difficulty thinking straight - indeed everything does feel like I am platting fog....now where is that Lemsip???

Well I've gone and done it

City of London 

After sitting on my hands for weeks I have finally taken the leap and replaced my trusty desktop computer.   For some time I have been toying with the idea of moving over to Mac but unfortunately  technology has moved on and the latest Mac's don't appear to be using it at the moment.  (I am sure this will be addressed in the future but I am replacing my machine now.)

Two questions, what new technology and why now?  The first is the new intel chipsets Core i 7.   I am not going to claim I know the technical specs about this new chip apart from the old trusted PCPro gave the thumbs up and I have always found their reviews to be very reliable.   New technology comes along all the time why replace the desktop now?  

Over the past few months I have started to work a lot of the time with very large digital image files (3oomb +).  This is because I have started to experiment with HDR panoramic images.  Needless to say when you work with files this size then it very quickly consumes resources and my trusted desktop was starting to run out of puff.  I have increased the size of the RAM to the max for 32 bit windows processing and this helped but nonetheless it was becoming apparent that I needed to boast the machine and the most cost effective way was to upgrade my machine.

When I came to compare any comparable Apple with Dell I found that the Apple machines just didn't have the latest technology.   This, of course, is not the only reason why I didn't go with an Apple and I have explained this in the past.  I am also sure that when Apple does implement this technology, some time next year by their usual model release cycle, then no doubt it will be well integrated into their system.  The bottom line is that the amount of processing power comparable with the model I have bought would have been almost twice as expensive.  Lets just hope that the results are worth the expenditure.

Cold now down graded to Man Flu

Thank the lord I survived. I am sure this is the cry from many a battlefield and so it is with me or rather my immune system. This has done battle with the the lurgy that invaded my body over the past few days and has prevailed. What a wonderful thing immune systems are and how we take them for granted most of the time. Well well done to mine - I've now only got 'man flu'.

What a strange phrase ' man flu'. What does it mean? More to the point what does it say about stereo types and the battle between the sexes? The reason why I ask this is because over the past few days I have watched an awful lot of day time TV (one of the best cures for all but the most malign disease as too much of it will surely rot your brain - what a snob!). Anyway, one advert stuck in my mind. It was for a cough/cold medicine which clearly said that men are wimps compared to the stoic woman folk. This may be true, it may not be true but it was an awful sexist stereo type which if the roles were reversed would no doubt, rightly, be attacked for demeaning women. It is amazing how it is okay to use a stereo type for one group but not another. Not a blinding piece of in sight but some thing that occurred to me as I was waited on by my wife!

Not going into University today mainly give myself an extra day or so to get over the lurgy. Hope the second half presentations go well

The dreaded cold

Boy I still feel rough.  After spending a wonderful day in London on Thursday last week I came down with an attack of the dreaded lurgy and have felt rough for the past few days.  I  am only just starting to get over it - must be an age thing as my son had a similar thing a week or so back and he was able to get over it in a couple of days.   Anyway, at least I am able to to write a few lines but that is about it.   The most frustrating thing has been the light has been exceptional over the past few days and all I have been able to do is sit and look at it.   Not one picture taken.   Lets hope I am better in a week or so's time as a I get my feedback on my essay.   If the presentation was anything to go by then I am in for a rough ride.   Now where is that Lemsip?

Harvard System of Referencing

I have just spent the past two hours trying to make my draft essay comply with the Harvard System of Referencing. This is the most frustrating thing I have done in a while! I am sure when you get use to the system it makes more sense but at the moment I am having difficulty understanding why this is the prefered methodology. I don't want to be too critical as I don't understand all the nuances but it goes make me shake my head with disbelief. Perhaps in a couple of weeks time it maye make more sense.

The draft is now complete. I have my seminar presentation tomorrow and then we hand in the draft. We should get them back by the 17th December. Then no doubt there will be some series redrafting to be undertaken! What a wonderful Christmas that will be.

Crewdson is no more

The creative process strikes.  Gregory Crewdson is no more!   Actually what it means is that as a result of the feedback I have reconsidered the essay and decided to concentrate on Winston Link.   As soon as I did this the essay started to take a much better shape and I have been able to make better use of the space available. 

Feedback

Had a tutorial yesterday and as usual it made me think.   I am in the process of writing my essay.  Now 3000 word is not the problem.  The problem is making the words cogent and fitting together so that the result works.   Anyway, the tutorial.   This has helped me junk a whole section of the essay, the one comparing Winston Link's work with David Shepherd.   Perhaps not the immediate comparison that might spring to mind but one that I thought had validity.   What I was looking for was a way of examining the meticulous prep that Link did when photographing steam engines.  Shepherd on the other hand didn't.  This wasn't due to any slovenly approach on his part but rather pressure of work and a realisiation that steam engines were disappearing fast.  

Having discussed this with Paul Hill, well argued it with him, I have decided to ditch this section.   First he is probably right, although I am not totally convinced yet it could not have been a valid point.  Second, it gives me some extra space to rework some of the original ideas.  By ditching the Shepherd section I saved 500 words.   Always very useful to have when writing. 

Having discussed this with other members of the course it is clear that we are all slogging through this process.   None of us are enjoying the actual writing but I think we are all gaining new insights from having to undertake this.    However, I am itching to start the real work of talking photographs,  after spending the last few weeks just sitting and listening to other photographers talk about their experiences I just want to get stuck into a practical module.  Still, I need to concentrate on the task in hand and get this essay finish.

Blogging a month on

St Martins in the Field - London

One month from the start of this blog it is time to take stock and see how things have shaped up.  Well from my perspective it has gone very well.   I have no idea if I have anyone reads this on a regular basis but for me that is not the point.  I enjoy the process of writing this and that is good enough for me.

One of the benefit I have found from writing this blog is that I can put some idea out and then read them back.   It helps me sort through my ideas and then come to some more reasoned conclusion (See all the posting on Crewdson).   I suppose the bottom line is that I enjoy writing this and if no ever reads this I don't care.

Annie Leibovitz

Patti Smith and Family

Annie Leibovitz

As promised my thoughts on the Annie Leibovitz exhibition at the National Portrait Gallery.  The overall impression was one of amazement.  Amazement not at the glossy Vanity Fair front covers but rather amazement at the images of her family and her long time relationship with Susan Sontag.  I really cannot say that I would have, haven't, taken images at such a distressing time.  And then to publish them for all to see.   Amazing!

As for the glossy end of the work well they are just that Glossy.   I am sure they pay the bills but they are not her best work.   To illustrate this there were two images of Demi Moore when she was pregnant.  The first was the famous one that appeared on the front cover of Vanity Fair.   The second was a much more personal shot of demi Moore and her then husband Bruce Willis.  This image was black and white of Demi's bump with Willis's hands around it.  This, to me, was more intimate   and loving whereas the Vanity Fair shot was just a publicity shot for a movie that Demi was involved in.   Interesting, the Vanity Fair shot was supposed to be private shot which Leiborvitz thought would have made a great front cover.  She was right, of course, but it still has none of the power of the more intimate shot.

Annie Leibovitz has always claimed that she prefers the images on the inside of the magazine, especially when at the Rolling Stone magazine, than the glossy front cover.  Her exhibition confirms this.   

The best display of the whole exhibition was the two walls which were like huge contact sheets.  They were made up of numerous prints which were probably no bigger than A4.    They were organised in some form of timeline and many were smaller copies of the large prints seen throughout the exhibition.   The small scale and relative relationship to time added to the effect of a great photographer working through her life.

One final question.   Why did Annie Leibovitz's mother insist on showing how flexible she was in many of the family shots?  The captions only explained so much but image after image there she was with one leg cocked up in the air.

Anyway, a very impressive exhibition and one that I was able to get a reduced rate as I am a student.   Now I knew there was a reason I am studying for an MA!

Walking Walking Walking and Titian

Diana and Actaeon - Titian 

- by the way I wasn't allowed to take any pictures - only the media were - there's encouraging the ordinary punter!

What an exhausting day!   I have just got back from London having spent most of the day walking around central London.   Oh I managed to see three exhibitions that I planned and two that I didn't.   More on the exhibitions I planned to see another day but as for now the exhibitions I didn't plan.

First Titian.   You maybe away that a very wealthy man who inherited some old masters has decided that he wants cash in on the paintings.   Now I have read an account of why he has to do this and I remember thinking the reasons appeared to be genuine.  However I can't remember what they are.    Anyway, we are in the current situation that he wants some money - £100 million to be precise or else he'll sell the paintings and we'll never see them again.   I am sure that this is being uncharitable but having been in the presence of two of the paints this morning I was underwhelmed.   

Perhaps it was because the National Gallery stuffed them into some dreary room.   Or perhaps when I went there it was full of artistic mafia and media types - apparently the big wigs of the National Gallery had decided that today was the day for a big media push.  Well, unfortunately I got into the room at the same time as these other people and looked and looked at the painting...I just couldn't find it in my heart to like painting.

I know that is some sort of mother load for western painting but I am sorry I didn't find it rewarding.    It should be noted that the lighting in the room was appalling.    You couldn't see the colours properly and the spots they were using kept highlighting the canvass pattern whilst at the same time obliterating  the paint that covered it.   Nonetheless, I can't say I think it is worth spending/giving £100 million pounds to a rich man for the privilege of viewing the paintings.   As my son has pointed out £100 million is the underspend on sciences and I feel that is were the money should go.   

On the train home I read that the Lottery heritage fund has decided to spend one year's budget on this painting.   I just wonder what is going to be lost to save the painting.   However, the Evening Standard did make a very interesting  point.   Over the past 12 months many of the leading lights of the art world have made a fortune from selling their back catalogue.   Perhaps they would like to donate this money to help keep this painting?

There that is better.  What I say won't in anyway change anything but it makes me feel better.

As for the other unintended exhibition I went to well I am sorry to say by the time I got to see it I was exhausted - all that walking you see.   Still it was interesting all the same.  The exhibition was the British sculptors’ drawings: Moore to Gormley at the British Museum.   I didn't stay too long but some of the drawings were breath taking.   They were just that drawings but they show why their creators are considered some of the best artists around.  I particularly liked the Anthony Gormley sketch of the angel of the north.   

Exhibitions

World Press Photo Exhibition

South Bank Centre

Well tomorrow I'm off to London for my six monthly fix of exhibitions.   This time I am hoping to visit the following:

Annie Leibovitz at the National Portrait Gallery

Taylor Wessing Portrait Photographer of the Year - also at the NPG

Landscape Photographer of the Year - National Theatre

World Press Photos - South bank Centre

Babylon - British Museum

If I manage to get around 3 of these I will be happy.

I would love to get out to the Wildlife photographer of the year but this is out at the Natural History museum - I don't think I'll have time or energy to get out there!   

I hope the weather is fine tomorrow as I prefer to walk around central London rather than take the tube.  I always take the train on these days as this also allows me to relax going to and from London.   

Newtwork Count:

Newtwork:   368k

Newtworks: 471k  

1697 Words

The essay writing has started in ernest.   1697 words written yesterday.  However, these will not last the editing and reediting that will take place over the next few weeks.  It just felt good to start the process.

In the beginning there was the word..

Red Deer Rut

The authors of the the King James' really knew what they were taking about.  Of course, they were translating the greek text of the bible into English  but nonetheless they were true.  In the beginning there is the word.

This is how I feel at the moment.  I need to find the word or to be more precise 3000 words.   I have started the essay writing process and like many creative processes it is 10% inspiration and 90% perspiration.   The problem is finding the first portion of that 10%.   I can provide the perspiration just were is the inspiration?

In truth I have just written 700 words of my first draft.  Actually, this is incorrect.   This isn't my first draft but rather the first words put down on paper to get me started.  I will be very surprised if any see the light of day beyond the start doc v0.2.  But you have start somewhere and this is where I have started.   

Having too much information is as much of a curse as too little.   How do you edit out the chaff so that you only include the wheat?   Time will tell if I am successful in this particular endeavour.   

Still its better than working for a living (Thats 33 years of experience talking!)   Now if I could only find that word...

Newtwork Google Count:

Newtworks: 193k entries

Newtwork: 464k entries.

More Crewdson Nonsense

Fireflies - Gregory Crewdson

The more I look at Crewdson's work the more I find I love and hate it in almost equal measure.  The hate comes from his corporate work of the last decade.  I just find Twilight and Dream House so depressing and yet so fascinating.   Love him or loath him you have got to accept that he insists on the highest production values for his images.   Note that I don't say for the images he makes because that would simply not be a correct statement.   I have spent sometime thinking about how to describe Crewdson and I think the best way to do this is 'an artist'.   I really do have difficulty seeing him as a photographer.   However, it can equally be argued that this is the point of his work - to be ambiguous and so his input and role are ambiguous.

And then I see the wonderful images contained in Fireflies and again I have to start to question my assessment of Crewdson.  These are a series of images of fireflies Crewdson tried to capture in the summer of 1996.   They are simple black and white images taken at dusk of the patterns left by the fire flies as they fly across the summer vegetation.   They are marvelous.  They look like fairies dancing in the warm summer evening.   Entrancing.   Gone are the obsession with precision and instead we have a more free flowing image of nothing more than white blobs.   They are the better for this.    I have been reading about David Shepherd's attempt to capture the last days of steam in Britain.   He claims that his beautiful oil sketches capture the atmosphere of the time in a way that photographs can't.  I am not sure this is entirely true but it does indicate what Crewdson's later images lack - atmosphere.

Newtwork  Google Count:

Newtworks 471k entries

Newtwork 369k entries

Long Live the Newtwork

What a wonderful word.  I thought I would google this and found that there were 464k entries!   The best link I found was for a Newtwork Administrator on the ITWire web site.   Google it its wonderful...it looks like I am not the only one who makes typos.   Long live the Newtwork!

The box is back - Hello to Newtwork

As I sit here writing this the box has returned.   This time it has none of its menace. Gone is its arrogant confidence replaced, instead, by a sorry gapping wound to the head.   This wound has proven fatal as the contents have been removed and now the box is just an empty shell.   I would like to make a crowing sound at this moment but unfortunately the war between me and the box didn't quite go according to plan.   Instead of having a fully functioning network printer we have had to settle for a printer share from my son's computer.    I am sure that if I was that motivated I could have installed it on the newtwork (This was a typo but I just love the word I will start using this in future instead of network) but I am not.

The box has moved

Today is the day.  The box has moved and we will install the printer.   Wish me luck

The box

It just sits there in the dining room.   Its portent mensing all who pass.   The box will not be ignored.   But why is the box sitting there?   It's all to do with the DMU I'm afraid ( well I would say that wouldn't I.)   To tell the story of the box is to tell the story of my son's master's course at the DMU.   Yes we are a family of two master's students at the same university.   Not sure how unique that is but there it is.

The other day my son announced that he wished to print off a 500 page govt. report that he need for his latest assignment and how much would that cost?   Once I had come down off the ceiling he started to realise that perhaps printing the whole document off was, perhaps, a rather expensive way of going about things and that he would probably find other ways of finding the information in the report.   This, however, made me start to assess our printing needs over the next 2 years.   He has essays to write and so do I.  His, however, can be submitted in electronic form, mine can't.   To obtain his MSc he will have to write a 15k word paper which will not be electronically submitted.  I will have to write a 10k word thesis.   My wife also wishes to use the same printer at the same time.  In short time has come to...well get a box.

The box, of course, contains our new colour laser printer and tomorrow I will have the pleasure of installing it on our network.  The salesman who sold me the printer said that it would be straightforward  to setup, which of course is short hand for not straight forward at all.   We hope that the printer should be far more cost effective than the current small inkjet printer.   This will not stop tomorrow from being a real pain.  I hope I am wrong but I have been here before and setting up anything on a network is always fully of unforeseen pitfalls.

Autumn Colour - Gallery on line.

I have just posted the new gallery - Autumn Colour

Autumn - a short project

I have been fascinated by the changing autumn colours locally.  As I mentioned previously on Saturday I took a walk through what remains of the countryside near to where I live.   I was looking for autumn colour.   I soon found it.  However, the biggest surprise I got was that most of it is provided by the highways agency.   It would seem that much of the brazen colours I came across were from trees planted either to hide the M1 or other main arterial routes.   This raises an interesting question about the environment of man's impact upon it.   If there was no motorway then we would not have such a vibrant autumn and yet the motorway represents huge environmental impacts.  Does one merit the other?   Of course motorways are not built for their aesthetic beauty but rather their blunt functionality.  None the less some small part of their impact on the environment has been for the benefit of humans.    This doesn't even address the issue of nature preservation i.e. motorways are some of the largest nature reserves in the country.  

Anyway, enough of this prattle I must go and start putting the autumn gallery together and publish it on my website .

Autumn

DMU Path

The season of mists and mellow fruitfulness.  What a wonderful day it has been.   The sky is full of character and mischief.   One moment it is dull; the next there are beautiful shafts of the cleanest light streaming across the countryside.    This might sound like I have overdone the grape juice but I just love autumn.   This also makes it sound that I live in the middle of the country but I'm afraid that is not the case.   Whilst I did take a walk in the countryside this morning I was never more than 400 metres from a motorway.   Still I was able to commune with nature - well have a chat with some non-plus cattle - probably the reason that they were non-plus was because a number of the compatriots were being shipped off to market and well our dining table.   Still, it didn't stop me spending a few minutes with a small herd whilst I ate a rather juicy apple.   This was not such a good idea in retrospect - as soon as I started walking again my aging joints started to complain.  Oh the joys of getting old!   Still this wouldn't stop my good spirits - especially after the mood I have been in over the past two weeks.   It really was a joy to be out.

The DMU path image was a follow on to another one I made last week.   I just love the combination of leaf, colour and the line.   My colleagues on the course wondered what I was doing but I just had to capture the image.   I am not sure what that says about me.

Bird watching

One the strangest thing about bird watching is that at times you end up watching clumps of earth.  This morning I was walking through fields and scanning them for returning Red Wings and Fieldfare.   However, every time I thought I saw a bird I checked out the sighting with my binoculars and was frustrated to find all I had seen was some suspicious looking clump of earth.   I could argue that the visibility  was really quite low, it was, but the truth is that my eyes are not as good as they were and I was a little too optimistic.   Perhaps my neighbor is right - bird watchers are twitters - well at least this one.

Hi Dynamic Range Images (HDR)

Noon Column

Castle Court - Leicester

(Examples of HDR Images)

We had a brief discussion between lectures yesterday about High Dynamic Range images (HDR).   I use this technique more and more in my photography but in a way that I think helps the creative process rather than over-blows it.  The technique is very seductive and it is very easy to apply the tone mapping in such a way as to make the whole thing look artificial more like a neon painting than an image.   However, if used in amore subtle way it can greatly enhance an image.  The technique I use involves creating virtual copies of the original image and using these to increase and decrease the exposure.   I have found this to be more successful than the more traditional method of capturing 3 bracketed images and then blending them together.   One final thought about HDR that I still have to clarify in my mind.  

It certainly helps me with my photography but I am also aware that this is not to everyone's taste and that is a good thing.  If it wasn't then we would not have the freedom's that we currently enjoy.

Gregory Crewdson

What can I say?   I am on the trail of this photographer - if that is what he is now - and the more I look the less I like.   I thought about this in the shower this morning, the place I always think about things, and the latest idea I have about Crewdson is that he somehow symbolizes big business America.   The analogy that I am currently working on is that of George Lucas and the latest Star wars movies ( Episodes I - III) .    Here you have visually stunning imagery and digital excellence with no real heart or substance.   You find the imagery breath taking at first glance and then realise that there is no soul or story other than a weak attempt to stitch a story together that enables another magnificent set piece of digital cinematography to explode on the screen.   In the end this becomes the only reason to watch the movie and really this is just not enough.

The same can be said for Crewdson.   His images are breathtaking in their application and technique.  However, once you scratch the surface you realise that there is nothing there at all.  The soul has been bleached away by corporate approach to photography.   perhaps the best way to look at this is that in his later works Crewdson not only had director's of photography and camera operators.   It no doubt was his vision but this remoteness to the process meant that ultimately the soul is missing.

I really wonder what I will think tomorrow?  It is a fascinating exercise to examine an artists ( I no longer think of Crewsdon as a photographer) and try and work out why his work does not do it for you.   A Ho....now off to lectures.

Gregory Crewdson - I'm not sure

Gregory Crewdson, Untitled from the series 'Twilight', 2001, © Gregory Crewdson

As part of the MA course I am taking I am examining the work of Crewdson.  In many ways his work is fascinating - the use of high production value cinematography techniques to produce ambiguous images is challenging and at the same thought provoking.   The images are almost a dreamlike world, perhaps a nightmare of frozen moments taken out of their normal reality and placed before you for you to dissect.   This, of course, is where my problems start with Crewdson.  Firstly, there is his method of production.  He does not actually take the photograph but rather directs the whole process.    This leads to the question - is he a photographer?   I am still grappling with that one and have no firm answer yet.   If he was producing a movie then he would be a director/producer but not the cinematographer.  Does this mean he cannot be the photographer?   I do wish I had answer to that.  Still this is the beauty of thinking about images and trying to work out what they say to you.

The second point which really is the more important of the two points is this - do I like the photographs?   At one level it is hard not to admire the images produced.   They are works of great craft and precision.   They are produced by a whole team of technicians coming together in way that is a marvel of organisation and creative endeavor.   But this is also where the images, for me, tend to die.   They are beautiful in their creation but remain too much of a pastiche of other works.  Perhaps the best way is to compare Crewdson's work with Edward Hopper, a painter he openly admits as one of his main inspirations.  Hopper's world is a dark and less well defined one when compared to Crewdson's clinical preparation.  The mood of Hopper's work is ambiguous in a way that Crewdson's is blatant.   Perhaps this is the difference between a painting and a photograph.  A photograph always implies a clinical record of events, even as in the case of Crewdson, the events are a pure fantasy - the product of the marvelous control he has over the creative process.   The photograph always implies it records the truth.  After all ' the camera never lies'.   Any photographer knows that this is not true and the only truth that a camera records is that that photographer wishes it to do, no more no less.

I guess the only way to end this ramble is to say that I am still not sure about Crewdson.   However, the journey to find out is what the course is all about.   Here endth the rant.

I have been lost today

Campus Centre

Arrghh!   The internet crashed today.  Having spent a wonderful hour checking the network it would seem that the problem was in 'the cloud' rather than on the local network.  To think one time I thought it was really interesting to know about http or TCP/IP - thankfully no more and now all I have to worry about is when the system crashes.

The good thing about this was that it gave me time to look over some of the books I've recently bought.  I have to say I am humbled when I look at the photography in the Wildlife Photographer of the year. Now interestingly I started to compare the photographs of a snow leopard and Gregory Crewdson -both elaborate setups and yet recording a beautiful creature the other ...well I am not sure yet whether I really like Crewdson's work. ( I know this is almost a heretical comment from someone studying photography but the artificiality leaves me cold - well that is the case at the moment and things may change! Watch this space)

Emma, one of my fellow students has circulated a set of mug shots of all my fellow students.   Interesting to see how each persons sees them self.

In search of the iconic

Is this an iconic image?

Paul Fusco - Magnum Photos

What is an iconic photograph?   I am not sure - are you?   I have spent the afternoon looking at imagery from around the world to try and come up with some guidance but all I have succeeded in doing was muddying the water.   However, I think that this actually may be a good thing as this is the start of the process and if I knew now what is an iconic image then the journey would not be worth taking.

Why am I concerned with this.  Well its my friend the MA essay.  I am comparing two very iconic images - well I think they are iconic (and so do most people if I am honest)  but that does not answer the question as to what is iconic?

I have done some very simple research and this would seem to leave more answers than questions.   The good thing about this quest is that I can spend time looking at some of the great images of all time.  I am surrounded by books full of magnum photographers, the best sports photographers and other unimpeachable photographers.   The initial litrature search has been inconlusive but to be truthful I haven't really tried to find any really useful text books yet. That joy is to come.

So what is iconic?   I would love to hear your views.

Finally got hold of the book!

Having fathomed out how to use the library reservation system I have managed to get hold of the missing copy of Steam, Steel & Stars.   This is a fascinating book about how & why O Winston Link took his series of photographs of the last years of steam on the Norfolk & Western railroad (it is in the States so I can call it this).  The more I read about Link he would appear to be a driven person - someone who must have perfection and will go to extraordinary lengths to achieve it.  Of course, the thing I have to remind myself is that the reason for reading the book is specifically to help understand the 'Hot shot' image (see previous posting for details) and most of the information I have gleamed will not have any direct relevance to this.

The Hard Work Begins

As with all my other colleagues I am now immersing myself in the research for the first essay for the MA course.   I have to say this is an absorbing activity.  However, the knock on effect has been that I am no longer paying as much attention to my own photography as, perhaps, I should.   This is not a unique problem.  David Manley on his blog as eluded to the same issues.   Trying to mix work with study is never easy.  I know this from personal experience when completing my degree with the OU.  I still have a second degree course started with the OU and I doubt this will ever be completed as my life has moved in new directions.  It is hard.

Now the good point for me is that I have recently retired and so have the luxury of being able to commit myself to the course full time.  I also live reasonably close to the university so can pop in to the library at short notice as and when required.   This is not the case for most of my colleagues, although some do work at the DMU but I am sure their day jobs get in the way.  I am not sure what this prattle is saying other than the course demands hard work and having to keep down a job at the same time adds to the pressures.

Back to the images.  I am not sure whether this is just the time of year/age or the course having an effect but I have noticed that I am starting to look at my photographs differently.   It is far too early to quantify this in any meaningful way but it is something that I feel is happening.  I will have to watch this otherwise I will start to be looking at photographs with the intensity and eloquence of Greg Lucas!

Entering the Lions den - should I convert to a MAC?

This really is one of those areas that you tread with trepidation - the Mac's v PC battle.   Both sides have powerful arguments to convince a customer to buy their product.  This of course is a misnomer as there no such thing as a PC side in the same way as there is a Mac side.  Only Apple makes Macs whilst virtually anyone can make a PC.   These are both the strengths and weakness of each product.   Because the Mac is essentially a closed system, i.e. only Apple built products running Apple operating system they tend to be far better coordinated and far less liable to vagaries of the PC world's wonderful driver set up.   To an extent this is now becoming less of a problem but it is still there.   This being said the Macs are more expensive to buy and the software tends to be more restricted and at times slightly more expensive.

So both sides have their pros and cons which leads me to why I am writing this.   I am in the process of replacing my PC.   It is starting to show its age and I am now demanding more and more of it as I deal with larger and larger digital images.  I have put some fixes in to help prolong my system but it is no longer cost effective to carry on this piecemeal  approach.   I am going to replace my PC.   So the question is do I replace my PC with another PC or a Mac.  I asked a colleague from the course his views about using Mac's and I think it is safe to say he is a very keen Mac user.  For him a Mac ticks all the boxes and this certainly gave me some food for thought.   However, having reflected on what was said and then my position I cannot see any sense moving to a Mac.   This does not mean that PC's are better than Macs but rather given my circumstances it is not a cost effective way forward.   The arguments behind this are twofold:

Hardware Costs:  Put simply the cost of a Mac is not competitive with a similar PC (You can say this this now even more so as the many parts within a Mac are the same as a PC.   I know that this is not the totally equation as to why Mac's are more expensive but it is a good place to start.)

Opportunity Costs:  (By this I mean the amount of time I would save and therefore give me the opportunity to do something else than tinker with a computer)  are greater with a Mac than PC.   Let me expand on this a little.   I have been using a DOS based operating system for over 20 years.   I therefore have a significant knowledge base of how PCs work.   This means I understand their little ways a lot better than I do a Mac.  I will give you one small example.   Right Click.   Now this has been a feature with PCs for years and has only more recently become a feature with the Mac.   This means that Mac users tend to use the keyboard and mouse together compared to the PC users, i.e. me.   This is but one example of how the small things make a whole lot of difference.   To a Mac user this is not an issue. To me it is.   This is the problem.  I would have to learn new skills.   These are only small points compared to the system integration that I would have to undertake.   I have written several bespoke programs for myself.  they are vital to the way I work and the thought of having to rewrite these is not worth contemplating.

So having given the matter some thought I cannot see the financial advantage of using a Mac compared to a PC.  This doesn't mean that Macs are bad and PCs are good it just means that for me the cost of moving to a Mac is just too high.

Let the sky fall in on my head.

On final thought.   The browser I use most of the time is Safari.  I think it looks great and most of time works fine.   However, there are times when a web site doesn't work with Safari.  When this happens guess which browser I use.   Microsoft's Internet Explorer (IE).   It is perhaps not as beautiful as Safari but always works.   The reason for this is really quite simple.  When you are developing a web site you have to optimize them for different browsers and guess which one is the default - IE.  This doesn't mean I like this it is just a fact of life and I am not that bothered about computers to do anything about it.

Few that felt better!

One final final thought.  I love the ways Mac look, I think they are beautifully designed - almost a work of art.  

On the trail of Winston

What a morning.   I have spent the time writing up my notes about the image I am researching and have got to strange and bizarre details.   I know that there were 43 flash bulbs used and I have been trying to locate each bulb - now that is really sad!   Anyway, it then struck me - link used flash heads that had multiple bulbs in them  - see previous blog picture of Link and his assistant.    Not sure whether I'll use any of this detail but it is interesting to know - well I think so.  What does that say about me?

Fascinating Talk by Roger Taylor

Being a bit of an amateur historian I found the talk given by Roger Taylor  about his work to support the recent major exhibitions and book on the 19th century British photographers fascinating.   I loved the wonderful image of the Houses of Parliament by Roger Fenton - again from a catalogue/book written by Taylor (Note:   Both the links take you the web sites relating to the major exhibitions).   You have to admire the determination and stamina shown by Taylor to finish these major pieces of work.   Overall, another great talk.   There seems to be a pattern forming here - the course staff need to be congratulated on their choice of guests.   Just hope my presentation next week doesn't stink the place out!

Norman Rockwell and Edward Hopper

Interesting morning trawling through their collective works. Both have given me insight into the work Winston Link and my other photograph by Neil Liefer. They are intended to examine the concept of the American iconic image. Of the two I have to say I prefer Hopper. His dark brooding images and use of heavy colours really does appeal to me. He was loathed to produce paintings with the detail of Rockwell.

Rockwell on the other hand just couldn't help himself produce a happy painting or print. Even when he was dealing with the civil rights movement, a subject he was passionate about, the subsequent image still has the candyfloss effect (see Southern Justice).

Anyway a good morning in the library - having feed my imagination it is now time to feed by stomach.

O Winston Link and Kite Surfing

(O Winston Link Museum - Property - Do not reuse)

O Winston Link

This man is starting to become imbedded into my psyche at the moment.   He is the photographer that I am researching for my first essay.   Yesterday I spent all the day chasing down facts about the man and his photography.   This was mainly successful - see 21st October blog for details.   Today I am back on his trail.   I will try and find the book previously mentioned but I will also start to research the similarities between Link's images and Norman Rockwell.

On a lighter note I have finally started to work on the kitesurfing  (apologies to kite surfers who I mistakenly called Wind Boarding.   What can I say I got it wrong - sorry.)   I have just posted a new intro image of a kitesurfer on my website.  Over the next few days I hope to develop a new gallery around this fascinating sport.  That is if O Winston Link does not get in the way.   Oh the joys of university life!

Frustration of missing book

The Missing Book

I've spent most of the day getting my research in some semblance of order.   After some initial miss steps I found this really quite useful.   I actually learnt a lot as a result of the process.   Anyway, as a result of this I identified that it would be useful to read/view a book.  I searched the DMU library catalogue and found that there was one copy in the library.  Great.  So I drove into town and went to the library.    You can imagine my surprise and frustration when I found the book was not on the shelf  (That's a polite way of putting it!)   Anyway, I decide to carry out some ancillary research about Edward Hopper and ended up with quite a bit of information and perhaps more importantly a better understanding of what I want to write about.

There are many things that could be written about Hopper's work but the one that really struck me was that much of his work was actually a record of the passage of time as shown on the features of his wife Jo.   Now I am sure this is not an original observation but none the less it was a very vivid revelation for me.   Only four weeks into the MA in photography and I am starting to think like an art historian - not sure whether that's such a good thing.

Another bonus from the trip to library was that I had at least two new ideas for projects/themes I could explore as the course develops.  It will be fun exploring these and many other ideas (both good and bad over the coming months)    Now if I could only find that book...

Back to the grind stone

After a week end spent taking or is that making photographs? I have the fun of having to get back to the research for the MA course.   Actually it is really quite interesting but just now it seems like hard work - especially as there is a beautiful sunrise outside just calling to me to get out and capture it.   Oh the hardship!

Twitching and Photography

Lapland Bunting

Lapland Bunting Twitch

This is not an attack on twitching or bird watching but rather to question what is the purpose of photography and what makes a good photograph.   Anyway to set the scene:  a glorious sunny autumn morning on the north Norfolk coast near to the Titchwell RSPB reserve; sea, beach and sky full of different birds and you come across a group of bird watchers and photographers pointing their cameras at a small patch of beach next to the dunes.   Their backs turned to the beauty all around.  Instead they were concentrating on this small patch of beach because there was a rare bird sitting there.   Welcome to the Lapland Bunting twitch.

The bird itself is nothing special ( I mentioned this to one of the volunteers at the reserve and was put in my place as to how beautiful/attractive/worthwhile it was to see the bird.  I don't think he appreciated my comments!)   This started me to consider why people take photographs and what they consider worthwhile and beautiful.  This is the subject of many books and thesis and I don't think this blog would be able even scratch the surface but it did seem strange to me that you would turn your back on the beautiful seascapes to look at some bird that is stranded a long way from home and most likely never to get back there.   I guess beauty really is in the eye of the beholder.

For the record I too went over to see the bird and captured the earth shattering image at the start of this blog.   Also for full disclosure I am a proud member of the RSPB and Wild Fowl and Wetland trust.   I love taking photographs of birds - in fact the reason for me being on that beach was in part to do just that. Its just I like to take images of birds doing something interesting rather than just because it is a rare bird.   I  am sure I am missing the point somewhere along the line.