Another for Urban Ugliness vol II

This is one I took a few weeks back that I finally managed to push through the DDR. I've called it Rubble To Be. The general decay of the building appealed to me - roof tiles gone with just the skeletal frame remaining but there was something missing...

After a wander around, I found the complementary element to the shot that I was looking for - the pile of stones and beams up against the building.

It seemed to me that it was "winding up" the decaying building - almost taunting it by implying that very soon, it too would just be rubble.

I often do that, paint a little story inside my head, imagining the conversation that might be taking place if the objects were animate. Ok, so maybe I'm a little nuts ;)

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Digital darkroom

I got round to one that's been hanging around in the ddr for quite a while. It's another from Royal William Yard, a really rich vein for me. I've made many successful captures there, so people tell me. This one's simply called Swing Bridge Detail.

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Bredbury Hall Fordson Tractor

I spent quite a while crafting this one during the week. It's a Fordson Tractor, (Henry Ford and his son) - shipped in huge quantities to post-war Britain to help in the recovery.

I was puzzled at first by the metal pole leanng against the tractor, but after some digging, found out that it's one of the chimney's - I think there were two on the model N (which this is).

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More from the digital darkroom...

I managed to squeeze a couple more through the digital darkroom - they'll be uploaded to the mono gallery on the next update.


I really liked the way that Rope Knot turned out. It was a chance find while taking some of the shot of the bands during the Intern'tl Barbican Jazz and Blues Festival.

It was a shame about the ugliness that was the vip and hosts' temporary pavillion - it wasn't so bad from the front but from the sides and rear, it was a real spoiler. I called this one Cut Facet Façade

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...and another from Bredbury Hall Hotel

So I managed to squeeze another one out of the digital darkroom - I was exploring the possibilities in PhotoShop and one thing led to another. I was done before I knew it! Always nice when that happens :)

This one's called Wagon Wheels - I liked the texture of the wood, showing all the signs of long use a long time ago. Getting up close and in amongst it has really brought out and emphasised the features I hoped I'd captured.

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Dedication...

Despite the tight time scales to complete a piece of work for my new contract, I managed to squeeze in some time for one photo that was waiting in the digital darkroom... there's dedication for you!

It's called Two Milk Churns and is one of a few taken while staying at Bredbury Hall Hotel in Stockport.

The brickwork and facade from the original Bredbury Hall have been restored and is the first sight to greet you when you come down the drive.

I wanted to capture a rustic look and the milk churns were an important part of that - and at the same time I saw lots of opportunities in the various textures and patterns.

I like the way the sky defines the edge of the building, revealing a little of its shape and distinguishing architecture.

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Four more from the DDR

Managed to push another four images through the digital darkroom. I used HDR on two and treated the others normally.

It's difficult to choose a favourite, so I'll put up two. Stella Maris is beside the RNLI shop on the Barbican and Great Cabin Architecture is the front of the Tourist Information Centre, a couple of doors down.

It's not often you'll see me do colour shots in this phase of my photography, but Stella Maris was so close to mono and I liked the effect of the blues and the flowers.

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The DDR door creaks slowly open...

A couple more have come out of the digital darkroom - the one I'm most pleased with is Sutton Backlane. To me, I've managed to capture this lost space in all its old glory. These back lanes seem to me to be the last of the recognisable post-war parts of Plymouth - well, at least representing them.

With those learnt memories of times long-gone, it brings to mind that we're losing some values of those times that are starting to be missed by society. Values of respect, self-discipline and sense of community are some that come to mind.

Of course, we're all quite happy to see some aspects of the those times left in the past where they belong.

Anyway, I'm starting to ramble, now... things to do, (like upload the latest photos to my mono gallery.

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Flickr absorbs so much time!

I managed to get one photo through the digital darkroom - Boxing The Sky. Not really an homage to "Boxing Helena" - but I did do some cropping!

Aside from the usual curves, levels and vignette, I did some d&b around the window frames and structure, treating the sky separately (curves and levels).

Then it was onto Flikr to upload it and generally improve my profile. I joined some more groups, and spattered a few images across old and new alike. Took ages, though. Still, I've started to get some awards, which is nice :)

I tried Panoramio a few times but it was down. I'm off to try again now...

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A few photos more...

I managed to chunter through three images today... I'm really pleased with the way one turned out, Building Corner. Someone mentioned that it was from my "Ansel Adams" collection :) - nice to have had the comparison made - but fat chance!

There's one other with great potential - Ageing Together - but I need to tone down some over-enthusiastic dodging I did before I'll upload it properly.

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Photos from the 11th March

I eventually got to this folder in the digital darkroom - it was the result of an exploratory trip around Stonehouse and the back of Cattedown. I was really pleased with the number that have made it past first selection - 14 out of 42.

The first one out of the digital darkroom (opp) is a simple shot of the side door of a factory / industrial shed / workshop. I'm more pleased with it than I thought I would be. Of course, I still have to check it out in daylight...

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Digital darkroom

I've worked up a few more images in the digital darkroom - some that had been gathering dust. One or two might make it onto the site - Exhaust Louvres for sure. This is one I took when the lovely ladies from the BBC team were interviewing me for the Urban Ugliness feature article.

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