ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Thursday 6 February 2014

INUNDATED. (06/02/14)

I had a fairly good run south yesterday. I was thinking of splitting the journey and having a night in Montrose. I felt fine so carried on down to Stockton-on-Tees. What with the wind and rain it took the best part of eight hours.

I took the dogs a walk down to the Tees Barrage this morning and there was not as much water as I expected. It was then back for breakfast and an hour on the phone trying to find a couple of rear light clusters for the van. One was broken already and super glued together. The other I broke yesterday on a sticky out bit of fence post.

“Bless My Soul.” I said.

They should arrive tomorrow. I suspected it would be a longer job but if the correct ones come then I should be away again on Monday. If not it will be back on the phone. I had a friend call round for coffee and then after a trip to Asda I have all the ingredients for a Beef Stroganoff for tea. I forgot to get wine so I hope the guest got my text.

‘No cheapo five pound a bottle love. I’m making an effort here!’

panfebmidd2 Middlesbrough Skyline. I don’t know how much time I’ll have here but if I get the chance and the light I’ll go and have a snap or two at the two towers breaking the skyline to the right of centre. This is Tees Newport Bridge. It is a magnificent lifting bridge. I have spent so much time in the area and never got round to taking it’s picture. It really wants taking at dusk but I have become just a little wary of walking round here with a load of cameras in the dark. Like many places ninety nine percent of people are friendly and honest. It is probably just me being paranoid. I don’t feel at home in urban areas.

panfebmidd1 A19 Skyline. I may stop a couple of days into next week as if I can get close enough a few night time shots here would add to the hundreds of images I have of the area. The ponds in the foreground are Portrack nature Reserve. Home to many disparate forms of wildlife. I never travel without a monopod in this area. I use it to threaten the wildlife; genus ‘Snotty Nosed Hoody’.

I generally dislike taking pictures in company. If it’s a little strobe job then another pair of hands are great, it saves having to work out how to sync the light meter with Pocket Wizard, with the camera, with the laptop.

I have sold my printer to a lass here who will come out snapping with me for my not adding in the price of nine spare ink cartridges. She also demands the loan of the Bronica plus two rolls of film. She is young, fearless and quite intimidating. She drives a hard bargain but unfortunately not an Aston Martin.

I hope she goes far as an artist. Her hair is all the colours of the spectrum and shorter than mine. She is a lovely wee lass and attractive if one ignores ears and eyebrows covered in chainmail…..I would be delighted if my son brought such a specimen home. She is a bit gobby but I suspect that is her covering her insecurity…I’m like that.

She is currently into Lomo. It’s crap and cheap but it is film, it’s like a knackered Box Brownie. So if you buy one then expect blown skies or black foregrounds, also buy a roll of insulating tape to stop light leaking onto your precious 120 film. I’m thinking of a lad I know here who only shoots film; we could make up a threesome. His manual Hasselblads, backs and lenses are also vulnerable. I’ll ask Graham if she can play with his. Graham is only thirty and much more able to cope should she agree. He owns three Hassy’s.

I am busy. I only came down for a birthday on Sunday and much like Somerset, Devon and Cornwall am inundated.

Have fun.

 

38 comments:

  1. Night time shots of this place would surely look great. Or maybe during dusk, when the sky is not completely black yet. But these here are perfect too!

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. Mersad, I only ever shoot night time at dusk. I do use an ND grad upside down to darken the foreground. I spot meter from the middle greens or guess with film.
      These are HDR and stitched and just snaps on the way to the shop. I didn't use a tripod or anything.
      They were shot to give you an idea where I am.

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  2. Adrian siort you in your great adventures, so keep you young

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    1. Bas,it isn't 1600h yet and I feel old. I need to feel something younger.

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  3. Looks like you're going to have a busy few days Adrian.
    Have fun hanging out with the young ones....but be wary of that lass, it seems that she knows how to wrap you around her little finger.
    And be careful of the feral wildlife there's a lot of them about just lately...[;o)

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  4. Trevor, the young ones know PS backwards and forwards or like to think they do. Their peers use Apps. the true rebels use film.
    Not because it's better but because it doesn't use an Appp.
    The ferals are a problem up here. No worries I'm away snapping with a pocket tornado.

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  5. Sounds like you're having fun there Adrian.

    Hope you got the wine.

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    1. Keith, I like the North East but will be glad to get back to Scotland.

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  6. Everything rings true except the "Bless my soul" part.

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    1. Bob, the language was a little stronger and longer than Bless My Soul.

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  7. "Grab your monopods and tripods for those who can, no more hugging hoodies I know declare Hoddie Bashing Season Open"..it's a great sport "Bish-Bash-Bosh" though do take care Adrian.
    It's a weird combination of industrial and wild scenery, though it looks quite good.

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    1. Douglas, it is a place of wonderful contrast.

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  8. It looks really as a great adventure! Fantastic! I hope all goes good with the things that must come tomorrow for your van, certainly you will do a great job

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    1. Laura, I hope the correct ones come. Then it's head back north next week.

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  9. Adrian, I have been given the compliment of having "an old soul" before, and I took it as such, so I hope when I say that you are "young at heart" you will also be complimented. I've known many such girls, and you are absolutely right. The metal in their face is armor, against the fists (either corporeal or emotional) that they fear are soon to fly. If only more people could see past surfaces!

    Great pictures; beautiful melancholy.

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    1. Nathaniel, artistic people are usually very sensitive. Looks can be deceptive.

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    2. I have a feeling that if anything binds bloggers together, it is that we feel our appearances and our inner selves to be more out of sync than the rest of humanity. Then again, that's probably how all of humanity feels; we just can't help but write about it!

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    3. Nathaniel, I try and be realistic.....I'm a vanity self publisher and self publicist for that matter.

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  10. Sorry to say that this isn't the usual beautiful areas you usually find. Is this an old quarry of some kind?

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    1. Red, it is where the river Tees used to flow. The river was straightened a long time ago and these pools are what is left.

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    2. Just like engineers to straighten out a perfectly good river.

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  11. "Bless my soul"? Ah so you are a believer after all. I'd have said...........on second thoughts.

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    1. Graham, even I managed to restrain what I said I said. It can be a nightmare finding where they sourced things like headlamps and rear lights. It is a problem.

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  12. I must remember to say "Bless my soul" next time I have trouble with a fence post. They are a bit of a bother around here. Sound like you are having fun, Adrian. The company of the young is good for that.

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    1. Pauline, when something really annoying happens I use : 'Send me to the bottom of my grandma's stairs.'
      That's really rude.

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    2. I've seen you got the lights.
      I hope that you changed;)
      A Kiss.

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  13. It looks like you've achieved something here I haven't seen before. Maybe it's my imagination but these two pictures look almost like oil paintings with really soft edges. The objects' edges blend smoothly with its surroundings. These are so good.

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    1. David, my sharpening can be a bit aggresive. These are much softer.

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  14. "I’ll ask Graham if she can play with his"....Oooo err missus!
    Note re political correctness - it is highly offensive to refer to prospective daughters in law as "specimens". You might have to give specimens but you wouldn't be called one! This advice is provided gratis.

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    1. Sorry YP. She is a character.
      My son is all for the quiet life he seems to be settled with a nice enough lass who is into dementia in a big way. I've done it again. She looks after demented persons. I can see me needing her care in the not too distant future so will shut up before I get more confused.

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    2. Ta, that's cheered me up.

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  15. I've seen you got the lights.
    I hope that you changed;)
    A Kiss

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    1. Yes Laura. All twinkling away and legal.

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  16. I know you come here a lot and I get used to the ... errr .... beauty that you show here in Smoggieland but as a viewer, it's a harsh reality check from Aviemore to industrial Teesside & some of the local wildlife you describe. Montrose might have broken me in gently :-)

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    1. Jay, a change is good for the soul. I know you think it's a dump but there are worse dumps.

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