LOVE, CECIL

There is a new book out about Cecil Beaton, the photographer. Author is Lisa Immordino Vreeland.

He photographed all the great and the good as well as historical events.  Museums are full of thousands of photographs.

He talked about photographing Marilyn Monro:  "With the possible exception of a Scottish landscape there has seldom been such an ever-changing subject for the photographer."  Indeed!

Ever changing landscape photos from my files:

Kilmardinny Loch - John Albiston

West of Scotland - John Albiston

Ardnamurchan

Ardnamurchan

Galloway

Kyle of Tongue, North of Scotland

 

Local:  Milngavie this week taken from our local supermarket carpark looking east at 4pm

EDINBURGH SKYLINE AUGUST 2015 (EDINBURGH FESTIVAL)

I have been to Edinburgh to enjoy various bits and pieces to do with the Edinburgh Festival.

The city is really looking lovely especially as the weather was warm and sunny! 

Walking along Princes Street looking up to the castle over Princes Street Gardens I took this photo of the castle skyline. It must be on every chocolate box since the time of Sir Walter Scott but here is my take on it.

Original

 Photoshop altered using cutout filter

Photoshop altered using 'glowing edges' stylize filter

GLASGOW'S GREEN COUNTRYSIDE

I made a trip to fetch some home brew today. I only had to drive a mile but it is a part of the surrounding area which I seldom visit... Baldernock, northeast of the city of Glasgow. These photos show the countryside one mile from where we live on the north side of the city.

The countryside is very green at the moment (including pools of water evident in low lying parts of pastures).

This is Bardowie Loch in the distance with the dinghies out for the summer sailing courses.

The weather continues to be cloudy in the west of Scotland while England and the continent are having a heat-wave. Tennis has started in Wimbledon and it is very hot on the court.

Curious lighting at 1 pm today. It was like when we had the eclipse ... a bit eerie.  But the interesting thing I notice in this photo of the garden (taken on my iPhone) ...  the colours have turned out very strong - lots of different rich, deep greens and reds.

ECLIPSE - GLASGOW MARCH 2015

In Scotland the forecast cloudy weather was less dense than predicted so it meant that lots of people got a reasonable view of the solar eclipse today. Breaks in the cloud cover or blue skies in some areas gave lots of us a chance to photograph this phenomenon.

Outside our back door (Milngavie) at 9:20 am as there is 20 more minutes to go before the sun is completely covered (well, nearly completely).

The eclipse, in all, lasted 2 hours.  That meant that when I travelled to my home to a music class I attend on a Friday morning I was able to continue to see it. I park in a churchyard and so nothing for it but out with my iPhone to try a get a shot.

With a little help from Photoshop I was able to see the sliver of sun in this blue patch in the photo.  It is basically the above photo with adjustment of the exposure.

I tried using this pinhole technique to see the light shape on the rear piece of card.  It didn't really show up.  However another time a good trick would be to do the same thing but use a colander. It gives multiple images!

The BBC website shows this photo "Rebecca Beevers from Rugby, England, opted to observe the eclipse using the projection method - her pinholes marking out the date 20 March 2015."  It is the pinhole method as above but she dotted them to write this date.  Clever!

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Before the eclipse started I took a shot of shadows in the garden in order to see what would happen when the sun was blocked.  Here is Mairi's clematic gift for Mother's Day awaiting planting. It is placed on the east wall of the little woodshed.

Daffodils - before the eclipse.

 Daffodils - as  eclipse where sun is 3/4 obscured.

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I said to Ishbel and Alastair that they should note the shadows on the morning of the eclipse before it started ... and then see what happens when the moon starts to cover, then completely cover the sun.   Response:  "What's a shadow?!!!

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John was out today with proper glasses and photography equipment for taking photos.  With the task of looking after 2 wee ones today he was not able to venture further than the backyard.  Harriet, 1 and half years and wee Baby Ellie (2 months) were part of the photography expedition!  Even with is hands full he was able to obtain good shots; here are 2 taken from his Facebook posting.

I hope the photo of Ellie with her solar glasses is going to be kept for her 21st birthday!

One television reporter stated when talking about the eclipse tonight on the news that it was "the greatest show on Earth!"  For once, I agree with this use of the superlative!

GLASGOW CITY CENTRE WINTER LIGHT

I was  in the city centre today to buy Iain a radio. He is recovering from having cracked his ribs so is spending a lot of time resting.

The sun shone all day making long shadows along Buchanan Street absolutely packed with shoppers!

 

 

Geein' it laldy (laldie?) were these lads all kitted out in their 'Highland' gear.  They joined a few other street musicians playing their guitars, drums or whatever along the precinct.

This character usually stands on a plinth as a stationary statue and shocks the likes of me by a sudden movement when you pass by... to a gathering crowd's great delight!   (I was caught out by him once so I always feel he sees me coming!  I was glad to skirt around him this time!) He looked like he was getting ready to be the Duke of Wellington statue, complete with traffic cone on his head.  I guess that is his horse he about to mount.

 

Just around the corner from Buchanan Street is the site of the terrible traffic accident last week.  There were fresh flowers piling up.  Earlier bouquets get removed and carried to a location a block away namely the Museum of Modern Art where the runaway vehicle first started to go out of control killing 6 people.

This bouquet is from "All the girls in the Flower Shop Helensburgh".

A MOMENT CAPTURED AT DAWN

On Sunday morning I was up early (as is my habit) when I had been staying overnight in the Erskine Bridge Hotel down on the Clyde (west of the city of Glasgow).

I looked out the window at about 7:15 am and noticed fog on the river below me.  I got out my iPhone and held it up to the glass to take a photo.

This was the scene below: my first shot of a series.  The city of Glasgow lights are shining in the distance as I faced east over the River Clyde below.

I took a notion to see if I could open the window to get a second shot. It opened without difficulty and I held my camera up to the edge of the frame to give it stability (being careful not to lose it 'overboard'!)

Suddenly I became aware of a low, rythmical splashing sound coming from my left out of sight ... and look what came into view ... the (paddle steamer) Waverley ... heading on up the river. Perfect timing!

And here are a few more shots and all from my wee iPhone!

ISLAY AND JURA: CATCHINIG THE LIGHT

Having been away in Islay and Jura on holiday we are now home and back into our normal routine.

This photo of Saligo Beach on the west coast of Islay is exactly as it was on the day ... quite stunning!

And here is another photo of the same location taken at the same moment. Both photos look like paintings; they are not.

Evening light on an adjacent farm taken from Ballinaby farm where we stayed for a week.

The Eda Frandsen about to tie up at the Caol Isla distillery.  The Paps of Jura are in the background. The website for this lovely traditional wooden sailing boat is here. We remember her from a good few years ago; it's nice to see she is still taking visitors on special sailing holidays on the West of Scotland.

Port Askaig pier while we wait for the ferry to Jura.

 

Bunnahabhain distillery barrels out in the yard.

SHONA CATCHES THE LIGHT

Another day, another publication off to the printers.

This stunning photograph of a yacht on the Clyde taken this year by Shona Shields was my absolute favourite of all the photos that were submitted by the Clyde Cruising Club members for the 2012 Photo Competition.

I use it as my screen saver on my computer; I think it is fab!

"SB 20 raising as the sun sets on east patch" by Shona Shields

YACHT CLUB PRIZEGIVING

Last night I attended the Clyde Cruising Club's Annual Prizegiving and Dinner Dance. This yachting organisation is one of the few groups of people who are still running these big events.

This year it was in the Grand Central Hotel in Glasgow's city centre. This big hotel is typical of the ones built in the early days of railway travel. Last year it had an expensive refurbishment and it really is lovely! Modern hotel ballrooms can really be a bit like dining and dancing in an airplane hanger; not this place. It was tastefully decorated to highlight the Victorian elegance of the building.

Furthermore it is located in the Central Station itself so I was able to travel to it by train and not have to go out into the lashing rain and high winds tonight by simply walking through the concourse. I don't know the cost of the rooms or conference arrangements but I was very impressed with the service, food, and all the facilities.

One of the winners of the photography competition was Shona who gave me permission to print this photo (which is done as a cut-out). It was my favourite of all the photos submitted.

THE ZOMBIES HAVE ARRIVED

The Duke of Wellington (or "The Jooky" as he is known) is looking in the distance at a sight due east of where he is astride his horse: it is an American film company transforming some Glasgow streets in order to make a Philadelphia street film set for the Brad Pitt blockbuster £80 million zombie movie World War Z. BBC TV coverage of it is here and here. American cars, street signs and lighting have be specially brought in. Can you credit it?!

It is going to bring lots of money to the city and furthermore local people have been drafted in for some of the parts. A friend of Mairi's is one person, for example. I am afraid that when she told me about this in June all I could respond with was ... "Who is Brad Pitt?!!!!

Never mind ... I might just pop in to the city centre to see The Jooky and take a few photos on my blockbuster iPhone (like this one I took on a wet day in May)!

CATCHING THE LIGHT!

After dinner this evening I strolled out to the garden with the camera because the sun was showing up the flowers rather nicely. The photos are "as is" i.e. no adjustments made by Photoshop. (I'm actually quite pleased with the outcome of this humble subject matter!)

Companulas

Cornflowers

Edelweiss

Gentians at evening time, i.e. closed.

Pansy

Nasturtiums in full sunlight

Nasturtium in the changing light