Working through the back catalogue...what to do about FlickR?...

I have been working through the huge number of images I never developed into photographs from my recent visit to Pembrokeshire. It is fascinating to revisit these images - even after such a short amount of time has passed - and realise that one views the images in a different light. I seem to be going through a sunset on the beach phase at the moment. I have not found a better place for sunsets than St Brides Bay. I am sure there is a perfectly rational reason for this but the sunsets are superb.

Now onto FlickR. I really don't know how to progress this. I wanted this to be a cheap and simple way to bring my work to a wider audience and to a degree this has worked. However, there is something missing and I am not sure what. Whilst it is nice to get feedback from other photographers it just leave me feeling a little empty and unsatisfied with the whole experience. I am sure that I am not doing certain things right. I need to work out exactly what I want to do with FlickR but this is the problem - I don't really know what this is. More frustrations.

The iPhone is dead - long live the iPhone

It had not been well for a few weeks now but finally it has died. My old iPhone is no more. Not bad going - just over 3 months of use and it dies. However, the good people at the Apple store quickly checked the machine out and replaced it straight away. Now that is what I call service.

So as usual the truth is not as straight forward as it seems. The iPhone still worked perfectly well - apart from the fact that the machine, for reasons passing comprehension thought that the head phones were attached and so the speaker for the phone wouldn't work - a bit difficult when trying to take a call.

The iPhone itself had been brilliant on my recent trip to Pembrokeshire. This is way beyond the reaches of 3G but the phone still worked a wonder as an Internet browser. All your really needed to do was set your favs to their low graphic option and away you go. In fact it is interesting that the BBC news website is much better without all the razzmatazz of web 2.0 design and functionality. It just gives you the news reports and really what do you want. Perhaps there is a moral there?

One final thing. Upgrading to v3.0 of the operating system. This works really well apart from those of us on pay as you go. We have to fiddle around with the data network settings. It is not difficult just tedious.

So the king is dead - long live the king.

Beach and Sunsets - Pembroke

Is it really a week ago already? Where does my life go to? - I have no idea. Well after a uneventful drive out to the far west coast of Wales at Broad Haven I spent what was left of the day wondering around the beach and taking in a wonderful sunset. I don't know why but St Brides Bay seems to specialise in memorable sunsets. I am sure this is something it shares with many other places but in the British Isles I have not found anywhere quite like it.

As for the photographs they are a strange bunch. The sunset set really move me. Not sure whether they move anyone else as they could be seen as cliche - which they may well be - but I love them. The beach shots have a feel of LS Lowry. At the moment I seem to having very small people in large canvasses - I know this is not exactly Lowry's style, especially as there is not one 'dark satanic' chimney in sight but it is how it makes me feel. Anyway if you want to see the full set then click here.

On a personal note I have found this whole week very exhausting. It was supposed to be a break but I found myself working really hard. I know making images is not physically hard, although when you see how much kit I insist to take with me sometimes I am not sure, but emotionally is another matter. Hopefully, the results will be worth the hard work. Only time will tell.

The first photographs...

I'm tired but feel satisfied. I have now been able to produce some photographs from my Pembrokeshire sojourn. To see the three photographs click here. Tomorrow, I will produce my first detailed blog entry.

Back home - now the hard work begins

Well I have just got back from Pembroke and what a wonderful time I had. Much more on this over the next few days. For now I am uploading the 4000 images to my system. Once this is done then battle will commence and no doubt I will publish some of the results of this hard work over the next few weeks.

Maybe the last post for a while???

Newgale beach at Dusk - Pembrokeshire

I know the last post was supposed to be the last post before I'm off to Pembrokeshire but...I was going through lasy year's photographed and found a few more that I liked and hadn't processed so I spent a few hours putting this right. I have added them to the Pembrokeshire set on flickR and if you want to view the rest click here.

Another reason for going through my back catalogue was print out some contact sheets that were representative of last year's efforts. The idea that it should help me with this year's batch.

The final post for a week?

Bull Ring - Birmingham

Just posted the final two photographs from my Birmingham Set. It is unlikely I will post anything again for another week or so as I am off for a weeks photograph, sand, sea and relaxation in Pembrokeshire. Needless to say there is a huge amount to do and prepare. Hopefully I will come back with some interesting photographs.

Preparing for Pembrokeshire

Newgale beach

Less than a week to go and I'm off.   To the sun sea and sand of Pembrokeshire.  I know it doesn't have the same ring as Miami or Bondi beach but it is in many way better ( all thought that assumes that I have visited both and I haven't - I just haven't got any inclination to do so).  Anyway back to Pembrokeshire - what is so special?  Well for a start going out of season you usually have the place very much to yourself.  The beaches are broad, wide and as can be seen above golden.  Now the downside, it's Wales and so you have to expect rain and cold weather.  None of these things really bother me.

One of the peculiarities of Pembrokeshire is that it is not really wales at all.  I know this is going to get many Welsh men and women up in arms but in their heart of hearts they know this is true.  Even the locals call it little England.  What does this mean?  Well around the coast and much of the western part of the county all the towns and villages have English names.  Whilst I was there last year I undertook a place name survey and the south and west of the country is all English names.  The further north you go the more welsh the place gets.  Even the local accent is different - more west country than west Wales.  So why is this?   Well I think we have to place the blame squarely on the shoulders of Edward the first (always worth blaming for such things!) who suppressed the Welsh principality and planted south west Pembrokeshire.  Now I am sure there is lot more complicated reasons than that but this will do for now.

Photographically Pembrokeshire is a wonderful place.  To see some of the photographs I made last year click here.

So the planning goes on and I can guarantee that all the planning won't make the slightest bit of difference to what I finally produce.  However, there are three projects I really want work whilst I am away.  The first is 'Birds of British Coast', the second is Landscape Photographer of the Year  and finally the 'British wildlife Photograhy Awards'  (in truth the first and last are very much the same thing) I know that there is great potential to add to all of these - lets just hope that things work out alright.

More tails from the river bank...

Not sure how long this has been in the river!

Went on my warbler hunt this morning - still no signs.  However, there are signs that winter is now a distant memory and that summer is on the way.  I saw my first Swallow this morning.   I always find that this is a real tonic for two reasons.    First, it is the continuing example of how powerful nature is.  Here is a small bird that has flown all the way from Africa in just a few short days.   Second, it means that the opportunity for great bird photography is increasing - it is now just over six weeks before my first bird expedition of the year to Pembrokeshire - can't wait to be reacquainted  with the puffins.

Whilst I enjoyed my walk along the river bank - the best bird I saw today was a kingfisher, as usual all you see is a iridescent flash of blue.  I spent most of the time rummaging around the scrub trying to make photographs of the ordinary.   The patterns of bark, the new growth on brambles and the like.   Whilst going through the hedge bottom I found more signs that the local sparrowhawk has been busy.  There were 3 separate sights where the hawk had plucked an unfortunate woodpigeon.  Anyway, I was trying out different techniques to capture the first signs of spring growth.  Not sure how well this has worked but you have to try.

As I write this it is a lovely sunny evening, the skies are clear and the sun is starting produce the wonderful evening light loved by landscape photographers the world over - myself included.   However, it does prove one thing.   That when I wish for some form of weather the exact opposite happens.  In truth I am not complaining.