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 7 November 2014

EXTREMES. (07/11/14)

I was supposed to be moving on today. A fellow old age traveller asked if I fancied meeting in Kullane. I did but fortunately she decided to come to Moffat so I’ll be here till Monday. It’s just as well as Kullane is not on any maps, Culzean is so I’ll follow her up there next week. It could have been equally confusing if she had picked somewhere else as there are dozens of places in Scotland that are called one thing and written as something completely different. She could have suggested meeting in Hoyck or less likely the posh suburb of Glasgow, Mullguy. These are spelt Hawick and Milngavie. It’s a good job I’m staying where I am. I could have set off for somewhere else and never been sure I’d found it even when I arrived.

Extremely Difficult.

I have been trying to get some sensible shots of St Andrew’s Church. It’s surrounded by trees._V0G7606_7_8_tonemapped   The front or a bit of it.

   _V0G7615_6_7_tonemapped  Left of front and a bit more. These are HDR and taken with a Canon 24mm tilt/shift lens. It doesn’t work this close in. To be honest this is just a really sharp wide angle lens the tilt bit of it is irrelevant. Corner to corner and front to back it is impossible to fault. I tried it against the Zeiss 28mm and 22mm before I coughed up for it, it is better. It is bloody expensive but I have never regretted paying for it. I just wish Canon had popped manual aperture on it like the old FD series lenses. It is like the MP-E 65mm, it’s manual focus. I am useless at birds and fauna so focus lock is not a problem for me. It’s a good job it’s only a hobby as it’s only earned a third of it’s cost in a year and a bit. Happen it’s me. HDR has now had it’s day. Sony are just spot on with their latest cameras. The sensors are as good as you can get. Unfortunately their lenses are crap.

_V0G7597_8_9_tonemapped     It didn’t stop me having another go. Right of front.

_V0G7600      The same view from a single exposure. An extreme view.                It is an impressive building. I suspect video is the solution. I still haven’t managed to get inside. I’ll have a go tomorrow.

Extremely Thin.

_MG_0788          The Star Hotel. The narrowest hotel in the world……maybe.

Extremely Efficacious.

_MG_0817

_MG_0821

_MG_0818      Scotland's oldest chemists. I would love to take the big glass amphora or whatever it’s called. Just borrow it for an hour or two and take views reflected in it. I don’t think there is much chance. I asked if I could shift the road cone in the first picture for a couple of minutes and they said no, it’s on a wobbly paving stone. I would have thought uneven and rocky slabs would have done wonders for business.

Extremely Shy. 

_MG_0816     Lurking behind the right hand doorpost is a lovely greengroceress. I call in most days as she is chatty, friendly, fit as a butchers dog and I like fresh vegetables. I ask her to pose in front of her wares but she either pulls funny faces or hides. Today I got some sweet corn and some chestnuts. Plus a couple of baking potatoes and a perfect cauliflower. I was knocking the muck of the spuds when she said. Now what are you doing? I said I'm not paying the earth for muck. Great she is; she said stop it and give them here. She gave them a seeing to with a scrubbing brush. I enjoy food shopping in proper shops.

Extremely Anachronistic.

I stopped and checked the little gravestones.

_MG_0815

_MG_0814        No Trevor the writing doesn’t go round the corner. On both sides he has carved these art deco thistles. He carved them a couple of hundred years before art deco was recognised. This stone is the gem in Moffat’s crown.

Have a great weekend.

48 comments:

  1. I am extremely pleased with this "theme" post of yours.

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    1. Bob, I'm extremely pleased that you are. Thanks.

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  2. A fascinating looking church. Really liked the second image looking into the heavens and the last image of the church.
    I like the hotel too as it has loads of character, I'm guessing only single rooms :-) The carving on the headstone is fascinating was it an important person in the village?

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    1. Douglas it costs a fortune in tripods and cable releases. It is a funny picture.

      Never been in the pub. Lot's of druggies outside at night. They can be unpredictable.

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  3. Great photos you have taken, the best is the 'Scotland's oldest chemists', astounding.

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    1. Bob, I like the window and the big glass jar. It belongs to the CO-OP now.

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  4. Excellent pictures of the church. Loved the big glass with red liquid?? :))) - a very beautiful design.

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    1. Ruby, I have yet to see a good picture of this church. It is beautiful, cost a lot more money than the people who paid for it could afford.
      When life is hard and folk are thick religion gets it's toe in and is as bad as government for stealing money.
      I have yet to decide how to constrain governments. I feel sad that nothing has changed much in my lifetime.
      Some things have colour of skin and funny hair don't matter here.

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    2. Completely agree, Religion must not exploit people especially, the already poor ones.

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    3. Ruby as we have become more secular it is now government that takes from the poor and gives to the rich.

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  5. Those Scottish names are like the Welsh ones; written nothing like they sound.
    Really like that second shot.

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    1. Keith, it is, but a bit of fun is blogging. I like the second but I like the tatty seller more.

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  6. R.Mac. thanks, many shots but few pay days.

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  7. HI Adrian That is a beautiful church and you got lots of angle shots of it. interesting narrow Hotel and I loved seeing the old chemist and green grocers. Not many left nowadays. To be they smell much better than the modern ones. Have a wonderful weekend.

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    1. Margaret, it is impressive. I may have to go on Sunday when they are singing and things. The Chemist is now part of the C0-oP.

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  8. Lovely tour around the town Adrian, it certainly has it's share of interesting sights.

    Is that the local photographer showing off his wares above the carrots?

    That headstone...If you squint your eyes a little and turn your head to the left... I'm sure that's a couple of E's lurking there?...[;o)

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    1. Trevor, yes it is his vignetting is a bit heavy.
      Es or 3s. one or the other.

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  9. The photos of the cathedral are beautiful, the sky is leaden, stunning! Love them

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    1. Laura, it is just a Parish church but very grand.

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  10. I like your extreme views. I will have to use my dictionary to figure out what some of the extreme views are. I wish we had small specialty stores instead of arena sized stores which sell crap.

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    1. Red, extreme words. I much prefer proper shops.

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  11. Adrian your photos here are just beautiful. How I love the architecture of the church and town shops. And I echo Red's sentiments about our shopping options.

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    1. Hilary, thank you. I enjoy food shopping in markets and small shops.

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  12. Now I know why you're not bad at Maori pronunciation, you've been practising on the Scottish. I like your photos of the grand church, hope you can get inside soon.

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    1. Pauline, I'm surprised I was even close. It will be open on Sunday.

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  13. What beautiful architecture Adrian, and interesting terms. I love the different angles.

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    1. Maria, the different angles were the only way to fit it in.

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  14. Wonderfull shots and love this architectuur, greeting from Belgium.
    http://louisette.eklablog.com/mes-autres-blogs-p842116

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  15. love the church shots, the angles are just right to show enough. it is not easy to shoot such tall building, surrounded by trees as you said

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    1. Annie, it is a video job. I've yet to see a good picture of it.

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  16. Preciosa esa torre. Ha quedado muy bien con HDR.
    Un abrazo.

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  17. Laura, es diferente. No consumo HDR muy a menudo ahora.

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  18. Love the HDR effect in those church shots. Marvellous.

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    1. Ladyfi, I used to love HDR but now I'm not so sure. I still have the latest Photomatix software as sometimes it is worth shooting for publicity shots. People have got used to it and tend to think it a bit passée. It has it's place in any photographers bag of tricks..It works well for cars if the background is converted to B&W. I will have to do some more of them.

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  19. Nicely done. Good story-telling photos. I really like the one with the green Chemists front door...I would have cheated and photoshopped the cone out.

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    1. Tabor, I am not that good at cloning. I am not happy taking urban shots and less so using paths as a selection tool.

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  20. congrats on your POTW! i like that narrow motel!

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  21. Hello Adrian, I like your perspective on the Star Hotel - I tried to enlarge because I was nosy about what the signs outside said - no luck. The multiple reflections on the glass apothecary jar and the window are also so interesting. I'm enjoying your photography.

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    1. Barb, it will enlarge with a lick but you will have to press Ctrl+ to get it bigger still. I can't read the menu and the sign either.

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  22. Great photos--I have only spent a week in Scotland--would love to go back.

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    1. Sage, I enjoy it. There is always something to see.

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  23. You are so much more observant than I. I've been in that chemist shop and never even realised its history.

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    1. Graham, I like the light in the windows. It is owned by the CO-OP now but they have preserved it well.

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  24. I'm really impressed with this series. Congrats on your POTW too !!

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