A Black Country Event #photography
There are many different types of photography. I’m currently doing a couple of photographic art projects that require high-quality images and I spend a lot of time on those. My print for an art competition is printed on canvas at 300 dpi and measures 20 inches by 16 inches. For that print, I went for high quality. For a Black Country event my priority is getting the shots and although the quality is important, there are many factors I can’t control and so image quality isn’t the top priority. I photographed the Black Country Horse Drive at the weekend and that was quite challenging but it was also enjoyable. Over 300 horses and their owners came to create a memorable event and raise money for Birmingham Children’s Hospital.
Taking springtime pictures #photography
Last weekend, I went out wearing a tee-shirt and my ‘sun hat’ for the first time this year, it was springtime at last! I had advanced knowledge of narrowboats on the canal and they make for a colourful picture. The light was quite harsh and you can’t always choose which way to shoot. I took some shots into the sun which isn’t always a very good idea.
Every cloud has a silver lining #ramble
Good morning, readers. It’s Sunday morning again and so I ramble on and allow you into the darker pathways of my mind as I share my thoughts. I’ve had a lot of ill-health. When I go to the doctor I have to take a list of the things that are wrong with me in case I forget anything. I watched Casualty last night and I try to figure out what’s wrong with people before the doctor tells us. That guy last night with the psychotic behaviour fooled me. I wouldn’t have guessed he had lupus. If I go berserk and start attacking people with a large machete, I have an excuse now; it’s my lupus. Every cloud has a silver lining.
Tipton Canal Festival #photography
I went to Tipton Canal Festival on Sunday and that was guaranteed to give me some multi-coloured shots as the brightly coloured narrowboats break up the dull canal scenes. It was quite a cloudy sky but the sun was breaking through at times. Mostly I was looking for shots where I could use a wide open aperture and zoom in on my subject. I used the 18 – 105mm lens to give me a little versatility when it came to zooming in.
Communication and other worries
It’s Sunday morning and so time for another ramble when I allow you into the deepest recesses of my mind and tell you what I’ve been thinking about this week. As usually, I’m concerned with the weather because I have washing on the line. I’ve also been concerned with my health and with communication.
Summer at last #ramble #Wednesbury
Yes, it’s summer at last here in the Black Country. My water pressure was down last night so either the water company is trying to save on water or my neighbours using more.
Black Country places #ramble
It’s Sunday morning and so as usual I’ll share my innermost thoughts and allow you into the innermost chambers of my mind. These are sacred places that even I’m still discovering. What’s on my mind this morning?
Summer in the Black Country #Wednesbury
I was going to write some satire this morning, but I get asked questions about Wednesbury and the Black Country so I’ll give you a glimpse of what it’s like in pictures.
Retirement in Wednesbury #lifestyle
This is where I live, it is Wednesbury, in the heart of the Black Country. It isn’t the prettiest place on earth but it is where I’ve lived most of my life. Now I’m enjoying retirement in Wednesbury.
Black Country Day
It’s Black Country aye it? I live in Wednesbury which is the heart of the Black Country. We have our own dialect and our own culture. We’re not much for messin’ about. The officious morons who ask us to fill in a shed load of forms just to get something simple done gets on our nerves. In the Black Country, you could just turn up at factory gates to get a job at one time. Now you have to talk to a bleedin’ computer online and if it dow like ya, yam buggered.
Darlaston summer
It’s Sunday morning and so I’m writing another, make it up as you go along, post. I went to Rough Hay Community Centre in Darlaston yesterday and photographed their summer fayre. There is no place in the country like Darlo, half the town is owned by the local slum-lord.
Summer days #thrifty
We are a week into summer and you can, not only find cheap days out, you can find totally free days out. The cost of transport will probably be your greatest expense. Look for summer days out in your community. I went to a great open mic evening at my local library and took photos on Tuesday.
Industrial Black Country
Industrial Revolution
The canals of the Black Country were cut through the landscape in the 18th century to carry coal and steel. This was the beginning of the Industrial Revolution. When Britain was great and had an empire that stretched across the globe. It was a pleasant time for the rich in their mansions but a terrible time for the poor who were exploited and deprived. (more…)
Canal thoughts #ramble
Canal boats
It’s Sunday morning and so once again I share my thoughts about my plans and life in general. The sun’s shining and so I intend to go out today and take photographs while there is less traffic. I think there might be narrowboats on the canal, they always make a good subject. (more…)
A walk in the park #thrifty
A Walk in the park
They have recently opened a new leisure centre complete with gym where I live and people are paying for membership to get exercise. You can do that by taking a walk in the park where there is also exercise equipment. (more…)
Can photo-blogging improve a community?
I went to a creative meeting last week and on the way home noticed there were no cars parked outside the Black Horse and took the opportunity to photograph it at night. Lots of pubs have closed down in the Black Country but this one is doing well because it’s run well. (more…)
Community blogger and photographer
Over the past few years I have slowly become a community blogger and photographer and since starting a Facebook page for A Zillion Ideas, I have been taking it more seriously. I’m now sharing art and music via Facebook as well as words and photographs. I am now asked to write for the community and organisations ask to use my photographs. (more…)
Monday Monday #life
Yes, it is Monday morning and I really don’t feel like doing very much. I imagine there are millions more like me, but we all make the effort. I’m going to rely on my photography today to get me out of trouble. (more…)
Black Country culture #ramble
It is Sunday morning and so as usual I will open up the dark passages within my mind and see what’s going on in there. What do I have on my mind this morning? Being typically English, I’m watching the weather. (more…)
Things in common #photo-challenge
It is important to have things in common. Common parents make a family. In a community, we need to have commonality to make the community like a family. We need familiarity with common landmarks, we need common institutions and a common culture. Even a common dialect aids community cohesion. The churches in this photos are a common community landmark. (more…)
Waiting for spring. #photography
Finding nice landscapes in the Black Country is a challenge at the best of times but harder in winter. It will soon be spring with better light and spring flowers. Industry can provide some interesting scenes and shouldn’t be ignored. This scene has actually changed from the first time I saw it. (more…)
Be like Mike #ramble
This is the latest Facebook craze. The ‘be like’ cards. I did my own, rather than have one made up for me. I do what I like… (more…)
A mad, mad world #life
Space junk
I read this morning that the rise in space junk could provoke armed conflict. This comes from the Guardian which is far more worrying than if it came from the Sun or the Mail. This space junk flying around could crash into a military satellite and be construed as an attack. (more…)
Talent town? #BlackCountry
I have talent on my mind this morning. Today’s picture is my great niece Megan who will be on The Voice (BBC One) this evening. The programme has already been recorded and so I think she did well. This photo was taken at The Vine in Darlaston, but she has also sung at The Black Horse and Horse and Jockey in Wednesbury so I hope they remember her. (more…)