Classics on the Common

My photographic strategy at classic car shows tends to vary according my mood - sometimes I’ll go digital for the spontaneity; on others occasions I’ll take the slow route and use a pinhole camera. For Classics on the Common in Harpenden I chose the latter, using my 6x9 pinhole camera to capture the cars and the people milling around them.

Classics on the Common is an all day event, so lots of people bring their own seats and picnics along to socialise.

The interior of a Bond Bug

Trotters’ Independent Traders even turned up!

Photos taken 27 July 2023

Taking to the skies above Duxford

It’s been a long while since I had a proper chance to test my aviation photography skills but late in July one of the flying displays at Duxford coincided with some a dry day. The sky was grey but with some texture in the clouds and this set off the colours of the aircraft well.

Photographing aircraft in flight is always a balancing act. You want a slow enough shutter speed to capture some movement in the propellers, but if you go to slow it becomes difficult to keep the camera still enough for a sharp photo. I usually begin with a faster shutter speed and then gradually reduce this as I get back into practice with my panning skills.

A trio of different Spitfires…

Spooling up for take off.

Happy landings.

The Mustang ‘Miss Helen’ readying herself for the skies

Photos taken 29 July 2023

On the Cathedral trail

Every so often I get the opportunity to visit an unfamiliar Cathedral, although I’ve been to so many this happens less frequently these days. Back in July my work took me to the midlands so this was the excuse I needed to visit Lichfield Cathedral for the first time.

Things began rather inauspiciously. As I walked towards the Cathedral I realised they’d erected a swathe of scaffolding around the spire. Not a wonderful sight, but it was raining and the skies were leaden so my chances of taking beautiful photos of the exterior were always going to be limited. As I walked towards the west door I was met by the Dean - what a lovely welcome. Sadly not - he was there to greet an incoming funeral! Although I was invited to sit and admire the nave during the service I politely declined and went in search of a cuppa.

An hour later I returned. The funeral party had departed and I pretty much had Lichfield Cathedral to myself - that’s exactly what I had hoped for! I spent a couple of hours exploring every corner of the building, looking sweeping architectural shots and smaller details too.

In the choir I sat quietly on a step, aiming my camera beneath the rope which closed the area off to the public. One of the vergers spotted me and asked if I’d like to go inside - an offer I wasn’t going to turn down! This is the photo I was taking at the time, but being allowed inside the choir gave me opportunities I’d otherwise have missed and I was grateful for the verger’s kindness.

Behind the high altar I discovered this wonderful crown hanging from the vaulting. I suspect the candles are electric rather than wax, but that doesn’t detract from the design.

The beautiful arched stained glass window in the north transept.

And yet more arches from around the Cathedral…

Photos taken 18 July 2023

Classic motoring

We’ve had a busy summer with numerous car shows. At some I’ve used a digital camera to take pictures, but at Welwyn I plumped for my pinhole camera. The advantage of this is I have relatively few photos to select from when the films are developed so I’m not left wading through hundreds of digital files!

Photos taken 1 July 2023

Sunday activities

Last month we spent a Sunday at home, catching up on jobs around the house. I decided I’d document them using my pinhole camera, starting off with Kevin washing my car.

From there I did a spot of gardening, a huge pile of ironing and eventually we sat down to watch the Grand Prix on TV - an active day in slow motion, pinhole style!

Photos taken 23 July 2023

Storm clouds over Cumbria

I had a feeling I wouldn’t find too much time for photography during my flying visit to Cumbria at the weekend so I decided to travel light, using just my iPhone camera. Little did I know the weather would decide perhaps it was the autumn rather than summertime so what little free time I did have was mostly spent under leaden skies and heavy rain!

That wasn’t going to stop me though, so I grabbed a few snaps on my evening walks to the pub for dinner, including this rather forlorn looking tractor.

My journey home began at Grange-over-Sands and I was able to squeeze in a few minutes for a quick stroll along the promenade before my train left to capture the Cumbrian coastline’s big skies.

Grange may be a small station, but it certainly makes up for that with its lovely Victorian architecture.

A station with a sea view…

The train at platform 1. My first of six trains to get home and one of the few to actually run on time!

Photos taken 14-16 July 2023