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

Wednesday 18 June 2014

HOME FROM HOME. (18/06/14)

I arrived safe and sound in Durness as readers of the last post know. I have a grand spot for what will be a six week stay. I’ve paid for a month but Ishbell or however I’m supposed to spell her name lets me wander off and come back. She keeps track on a really old fashioned machine. It’s called a Ledger. It’s a posh book with columns printed in it for her to write things.

_MG_2382    This is the view from the van. I could move to the cliff edge but for some reason it isn’t as windy one row back. I’m fine on pitch four. I’m fine here till the end of July when I will go to the Gathering and take lots of snaps of folk doing silly things in the rain.

The light is back to front today. I like the light behind me and the big black clouds in front.

_MG_2379   This is the site pond which does have Dragonflies and frogs. None about today.

James, the owner, rattled my cage last night and invited me out for a drink. A drink would have been fine. I had a hangover this morning, not something I usually suffer.  Apparently I am well known in the pub. Jane the bar lass said Ow yew doin. It’s a greeting, a friendly one. Half a dozen folk were Ow Yew Doins. I did wonder how everybody remembers me from a year ago. I’m sure I never did my White Eared Elephant impersonation in the land of the Wee Frees. I donated a picture of big clouds to the pub. They tell me I also played the penny whistle while Jane did that funny hopping dance they do here. Very good it is, they jumps up and cross their ankles and uncross them before they land, good ones can keep it going for ages without falling over. They had a crap fiddle band on and I got up full of Stella and was the star of the show. I’m a bugger with a beer or two inside me.

This morning I went to the shop.

_MG_2383    Yet more ‘Ow Yew Doins’. I do remember that I asked if he could order some campanology brand whiskey. He did and it came in at fifteen pounds a bottle. I bought the last three bottles as I left here last year. I also gave him a photo of his grand daughter coming second in the running at the Gathering.

It is nice to be remembered and even better to be remembered as a harmless fool.

HELP.

Does anyone have a cheapish manual lens. I want it clear of defects, I want it to be 28mm to 35mm. It doesn’t matter what make it is, If it has a leaf shutter in, which in all likelihood it will, no problem. I want it for time lapse video. Canon cameras can be set to manual but the aperture I dial in resets every shot and can cause an annoying flicker. I’m going to shoot a good ten minutes of time lapse whilst I’m here and edit it down to 90s. I should have asked weeks ago. I am just praying for six hours of clear cloudless sky at night. I’ll wrap up warm, take a flask of coffee and a bottle of Bells and see in the Soltice.  I’ll endeavour to film a proper dusk till dawn video. With the tide coming in or going out. I hope the waves play ball and frolic. I realise that this year I only have a couple of weeks to get the shots I want, find a lens and get an adaptor made at Griturn. Nothing is impossible but it is improbable. I’ll use the 50mm Canon lens this year.

image      The sun barely sets here. I must get better organised for next year.

Have fun. I’m off to find young Jane, to see if she fancies being silly. We could have a séance and try and wake the dead.

23 comments:

  1. That's a great view you've got from your living room Adrian.

    I'm not sure if it's a good or bad thing to have your reputation precede you? Seems like the locals have been waiting for you to return and brighten up their lives once again!!

    Sorry I can't help with the lens, all mine are of that newfangled 'I'll do it for you' design! What about your favourite shop, I'm sure that they'll have an old lens, and maybe an adapter, kicking about on the shelf somewhere that they could post on to you?

    Take care and watch out for those hangovers!!...[;o)

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    1. Trevor I can see Orkney on a fine day.
      Yes they have an28mm FD lens which I will probably try SRB Griturn do an adaptor for about £45.00p. It will be around 33mm with the glass in the mount but that should be okay. It will be worth giving it a try for an outlay of £70.
      I didn't go out last night as they were having a Wake and I could see that being a recipe for disaster.

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  2. Good to be remembered; for whatever reason.
    Looks a fine place to spend some time.

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    1. Keith, it's always slightly worrying when one can't recall what one is being remembered for.

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  3. Yea, I agree with Trevor and Keith, lovely place you are in.

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  4. Hey Adrian, it's nice to be welcomed to the place, and that you know some people when you visit. Hope you find the lens you want. Cant wait to see some images of this place.

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    1. Horst, the light is very flat and it is too windy for macro. It will soon alter.

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  5. It's a wonderful place to visit Adrian... I've only been once and that was way back during 1993.

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    1. Andrew, if I get the light it is a stunning place.

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  6. They sound a friendly bunch no surprises you booked 80 for a month great views, friendly folk and ladies doing fancy dancing

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    1. Douglas, the locals are all related so I have to be a bit careful. I enjoy the area. They must learn the dancing in school.

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  7. You are close to the end of the world! The landscape reminds me of the Arctic, but the Arctic is more severe and brown. where you are looks lush and green.

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    1. Red, good to see you back I was starting to worry. It is warm here, warm and wet.

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    2. Thanks. I took a break and went to the west coast...Vancouver B.C. It was a pleasant break.

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  8. Sounds like you are having a grand time in the land of the midnight sun.

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    1. Gillian, I will have to pace myself. It can get a bit silly here.

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  9. Heavens! It must have been a serious evening for you to have a hangover.

    I've got a 1:2/35 Pentax lens with the old Pentax screw thread if that's of any use.

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    1. Graham. It was serious. I'm going to limit myself to once a week. Professional quaffer they are round here. I am a mere amateur.
      I am sorted with a lens now. 35mm is a bit wide on full frame. If the 28mm is too wide I'll be in touch. It's only for video. With an adaptor ring it would push it to over 40mm which I suspect will be too long .
      Many thanks though. I'll remember you have it.

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  10. Nice place you have chosen Adrian, and great company;)
    a hug

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    1. Laura, it is a happy place. I'll have to hide away a little.

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  11. Good that you were welcomed, the donated picture would be a help, they wouldn't forget that. I'm sure it would be a stand out from the crowd one. Too many wall filling objects doubling as pictures in pubs these days.

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    1. Jay, it is nothing special. The folk here are friendly by nature.

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