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

Friday 28 March 2014

THE BELLS AREN’T RINGING. (28/03/14)

Up with the lark as usual it has been a busy day. I washed and I polished then got fed up and just swept ten days of sand out of the door. The cooker is clean; so is the shower and the toilet plus it’s mirrors and wash basin. Perfect. The bed I left as it is an art form. I like easy art.

Last evening I spent a good three quarters of an hour trying to capture an amazing sight. I thought that we may be in for an aurora. I checked Aurora Watch UK. They were showing nothing unusual but a good hour before sunset it went awfully dark and an orangey colour.

_MG_3285 All I got for an hours playing were these crepuscular rays. They weren’t even that good so I converted to B&W.

The Road to the Isles is a real pain from Fort William to Arisaig. It then transforms into a proper two lane highway as it wends it’s way to Mallaig. Why is beyond me. Folk have managed to Arisaig from Fort William. I can only assume that the last seven miles was a real horror of a single track road. There is a middling CO-OP in Mallaig and a bank but the place isn’t good. It is a local hub and good at what it does. I got a new gas bottle, food, tobacco and met Mandy from the croft two south. I wish I hadn’t, I forgot the Bells. I ran out over a week ago and didn’t suffer two much. So it just goes to show that drink is in the mind and a well filled pair of jeans will save an alcoholic. Mandy could pose on my mucky bed for ‘Boudoir Snaps’. Dream on Adrian; she said why didn’t you tell me on the beach this morning you were going into town. I did not dare say I was too busy admiring you. Her husband is obviously a tosser but he is a Caber Tosser. Frightening they are. She says he wins money tossing, I shut up but did think; I wish I could.

_MG_3288   The easterly winds are here, it is cold and dry. The snow isn’t melting too much so the Cuillins on Skye still looked fine.

_MG_3290    The view from the Layby on the new road to Malliag.

_MG_3295    This probably the best view of Mallaig. It is functional rather than picturesque. The view from the car park on a clear day more than makes up for what the town lacks.

Untitled_Panorama1    I Cuckooed. I have never had a stitch in Photoshop give me a join mark for ages. I tried painting in the masks, I tried cloning with a soft brush, I even resorted to the Blur brush. All to no avail. It is frightening as the light was on my back so a front lit subject ought to be perfect. It was good to be here and see the area in good visibility.

Have fun and have a great weekend tomorrow it’s the pits of Ardnamurchan.

30 comments:

  1. I love seeing you use B&W in that landscape image. It came out great. How is it exactly that you deal with stitches in a panorama? I suppose the only way to get rid of them is by cloning out, isn't?

    ReplyDelete
  2. Maria, I shoot Raw so convert them all for exposure then just drop into PS. Should be no problem and it hasn't been since Elements 7. I have run the set twice. Out of interest I'll run it again.
    No Maria the cloning would be all too obvious but you have made me think that the patch tool is worth a try. It is good at high contrast I'll give it a whirl.

    ReplyDelete
  3. That's lovely scenery Adrian, especially with the sunshine. I like the b&w image, excellent work. (what's that in the bottom right corner?)
    The panorama is a cracking image, I bet there's not many days when the view is as clear as that?
    It's strange how PS can work wonders for most of the time and then it throws a bit of a brain fit for no apparent reason? Maybe you should have gone back for the Bells, a small dram might have helped with the blurring effect?
    As for your other 'occupation'...I've been employing the same system for ages and haven't made a penny yet!!
    Have a good weekend...[;o)

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Trevor, I hate to recommend it for a holiday as you could come here and it would be pissing down with a forty knot westerly helping it on it's way. It is what I have wanted all winter it is cold and dry.
      God knows what shite got on the prime 50mm. There is salt spray here and sand blowing. I use cool kettle water and a damp rag. Harrison Cameras can clean them right, drop dead perfect but I think the 50mm may need a new front element.
      My occupation is fine. I'll not marry another unless she is drop dead gorgeous like Uma.
      I am still having trouble with the panorama. No difference in camera settings but I'll try and hand stitch. I still have some eight year old software somewhere that will do the job.

      Delete
  4. Love the B&W, it is superb. And the sunshine, plays with you, and makes excellent photos.

    ReplyDelete
  5. Bob, the black and white i quiet like. It is just brilliant that we have summer.

    ReplyDelete
  6. Hi Adrian I also love the B & W shot however I was wondering how it looked in colour. HAve a great weekend.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Margaret if I remember I'll post them side by side.

      Delete
  7. It all looks rather picturesque; especially like the second shot.

    I'm not so good at tossing as the years pass by. A good firm caber isn't as easy to find these days.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Keith, the countryside is great the towns leave a bit to be desired.

      Delete
  8. The stunning Ardnamurchan peninsula is the most westerly part of the British mainland and is quite literally the end of the road. This is a beautiful but unforgiving and remote corner of Scotland, with amazing seascapes over the islands seemingly around every corner. The harsh landscape is relieved by a whole series of superb sandy beaches, whilst the peninsula ends with an elegant lighthouse.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. YP, I have seen the lighthouse. I have had mixed reports but will go and see for myself.

      Delete
  9. Adrian what lets see you again. Stunning area

    ReplyDelete
  10. Adrian, it was awfully dark here yesterday morning at sunrise and even up until about 8:30am. It was very unusual ~ so I believe you ~ there was something strange happening.

    ReplyDelete
  11. Don't get carried away with those house cleaning tasks!! Once again , you're in a very scenic area. I think I know what a layby is. Interesting word.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Red, all done now and we are ready to roll. A layby is a parking area at the side of the road.

      Delete
  12. Me gusta el B/N con esos rayos de sol entre las nubes!! Y también la tercera.
    AquĂ­ volviĂł el frio y la nieve a la sierra:((
    Buen finde semana.
    Un abrazo.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Gracias a Laura. Me gusta pasar el tiempo viendo la luz.

      Delete
  13. I've always thought the bed should just "be" - clean sheets and all that, but making it up day after day..why the bother? Nice shots- the b/w shows off the rays perfectly.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Sheets Terri? They are just more laundry. I can live in a night shirt and hat. I ought to get the dogs a set of night attire and then they would maybe think twice of joining me.

      Delete
  14. I love the village with the boats.. so nice

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. It used to be a big fishing port mainly for herring. It is a good area.

      Delete
  15. You undersell that first image it looks pretty good to me.
    You know in a previous post you were talking about no Moto GP to watch, I know it's not the same as watching live but on the Monday after the race ITV4 show the highlights, not sure about your tv situation with the van but you might be able to catch up with it via ITV's version of the i-player on the net...if it shows ITV4 programmes.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Douglas, It is okay.
      I have never used ITV I-Player I will investigate it many thanks. I miss my bikes but couldn't hold a candle to the current crop of riders. Their bike control is just mind boggling.

      Delete
  16. I'd have been excited and disappointed by the aurora news. It's years since I saw one.

    ReplyDelete
    Replies
    1. Graham, it was a very strange afternoon. We were enjoying a period of easterlies. I guess it could just have been muck blown over from Germany. Sorry I meant the lesser Germany....the EEC.

      Delete
  17. I remember the first couple of times I went into Mallaig on the train, the coastline was magnificent, then they built a road on the same spot and the view was never the same again. Maybe they are going to start "duelling" the road from that end ... either that or there must be a hungry fish eater in Arisaig that needs immense amount of supplies. With the A830 being so difficult, maybe they have just given up and accepted that the far west end is a community on it's own almost like an island.

    ReplyDelete
  18. Jay, it is a most peculiar bit of road. It really doesn't make any sense at all.

    ReplyDelete