Bills Posts

Out for a walk today, just under four miles. That made for a (for me) not bad 23.5 miles walked this week. At the moment my morning walks are happening whilst it dark, so it is very nice at the weekend to get out for a bit. I had the thought today “It’s nice to be out in the sun” – I’m sure that’s a line from a song, but I can’t think what.

In 2019 I discovered the walk1000 scheme. I think it was through getting the Country Walking magazine as a subscription for Christmas. The target is to walk 1000 miles in a year. That means walking 2.78 miles every day. There were some days when for what ever reason (mainly chuckling it down) I wouldn’t go for a walk. Luckily I was able to clock up the 1000 miles.

I signed up to do it in 2020. I was doing OK until March. Then the family insisted I didn’t go out. Rather than cause an argument, I didn’t. That meant I lost at least 6 weeks That’s nearly 120 mile I lost. I just thought there was no way I was going to make that up, so I just gave up really.

I haven’t formally signed up to do it this year, but I am trying. Hence I am happy to mention the distance I have walked. Which is more than the minimum, so I’m happy with that.

A couple of days ago I wrote about how my interest in photography grew. It wasn’t just still images. I bought a super 8 movie camera in the mid 70’s. I shot many rolls of rubbish, and some (what we now consider to be) classic family film. I’ve had them converted to digital images. It was lovely to see them again after nearly 50 years.

I hadn’t touch the moving image scene until the last few years. Once again. It was the move to digital that did it. It is just so easy now. Too easy? I watch YouTube a fair bit, I’m subscribed to several channels, from an American entrepreneur who is very keen to ensure that if you want to set up your own business, that you get it right to a Scottish lady who is very into landscape photography. As usual, I’m thinking “I could do this” – well, I could if only I think of something to vlogg about.

Now, I do have an idea, and I happened to run it past a complete stranger, and he said that sounds good, he actually said he’d watch it. Well, it’s certainly not going to be one of these high powered I want to sell you something “Shows” oh no, something very different (I shy away from the term “something completely different” for obvious reasons).

As it happens, I have pretty much all of the equipment I need, I have an idea, I have even shot some video in relation to it, and I am now learning about editing video, and also about GarageBand for adding some sound. I have one thing left to work out, and then I will be ready to go. I’ll keep you updated.

It’s not that I have writers block tonight, it that I am not sure where to start. There’s a thing that I am doing that is writing related, but which at the moment I don’t want to write about – perhaps in a couple of weeks, by which time, you might even pick up what it is I am doing.

It may be the case that today’s writings might be little more than a review of the week. There has been only one day when I have not been able to get out fora walk because of the weather.

Now here’s a thing – I’m thinking am I going write about the week, or write about writing? I’m thinking that I might do the latter. This was another thing that I was reluctant to do, but I don’t know why. I have been writing for years. I’ve reporters notebooks full of rubbish and a journal and a half of slightly more coherent notes. I’ve done a creative writing course. I kind of did, and didn’t enjoy it. I don’t want to write fiction, but I don’t know what I do want to write. There is one thing however that I know I don’t want to write about, so I shall simply stay away from it.

Now, when the lockdown is lifted, I might go back to the course but on the understanding that I write what I want, based on the exercises given. Will that work? I’m not sure.

I always try to look at the weather forecast on TV the night before. The local forecast always strives to give a good picture over what will be happening the next day. I must admit that I don’t take it as gospel, it all depends on what it’s like when I get up. I look out the window. If there is clear signs that it is raining, the chances are I’m not going for a walk. Sometimes though, it can be difficult to tell. That means I need to go down stairs for the next steps. Going and standing in the conservatory. Can I hear rain pounding on the roof? Well, even if I can I still stick my head out the back door. I have a level of rain tolerance. If it is what I call water in the air, rather than any kind of heavy rain falling I may put my rain coat on and go anyway. But that rain tolerance is quite narrow.

Still, it wasn’t raining this morning, so I was able to go for my walk. If you were to see me out on my walk, you might wonder what I was up to, quite a few people do. This time of year I’m carrying a tripod on my back which I open up when I get to the waterfront. From here I do my weather report to the #Breakfastclub (I’m going to have to explain that at some point, not today. The tripod has a dual flash bar mounted on it, one is for my phone, the other is for my handheld anemometer, which does much more than just wind speed; temperature, atmospheric pressure relative humidity (although I’m not convinced that sensor is accurate), I don’t do a forecast, I report on what the weather is doing at that point. It could change as soon as I finish.

Not surprisingly really, considering how much we pay for the Met Office and its computers, the forecast from the night before, and what I am experiencing, usually at the end of the Haslar Marine Wall regularly bear close similarity to each other.

It was a misty morning, but the mist wasn’t at sea level. It was though, sufficiently low as to obscure most of the Spinnaker.

The picture above was taken with an iPhone, with a 12 megapixel camera. Not the biggest sensor by any means, but more than big enough to produce a picture with a quality to make it as big as I’m ever likely to need (famous last words)? To me the quality of the picture is excellent. I am sure that there will be people who disagree. What I am trying to say here is that I am very satisfied with the tools that I have to hand for my photography.

Do you have a digital camera (including your phone)? I will be amazed if you don’t. When did you get your first one? Was it the ease of digital photography that brought you in to taking pictures? I bought my first camera (my, not my family’s) it was a basic point and shoot, but it served a purpose for a while. My first “proper” camera i.e, a Single Lens Reflex, on which I could use different lenses – if I could afford them. It took me a few years to move to the Canon AE-1. Possibly what I would call a semi-pro amateur camera. My time in Berlin gave me access to the East German Praktica BX20 and the range of lenses. I had a bit of fun with them, including doing my own black and white processing. I must admit, I never really enjoyed that side of it.

I went for several years without a camera. Acquiring my first digital camera probably around 2003/4. I’ve never been without a camera since then. Even more so today with my phone rarely leaving my side. I think that first camera might have been a 256k, What a world of difference between then and now. Going digital has been the best thing ever in the hobby, in my opinion – and I accept there will be people who disagree. I do remember the thrill of loading a film, being limited to 36 exposures, costing £’s to get processed and then waiting for the pictures to come back, and groaning when they hadn’t turned out like I’d hoped.

Would I go back to film? Nah! I don’t think so.

Most days of the week I take a walk to the waterfront. I must have done this a couple of hundred times a year since we moved here. Why do I keep going back there?

Well, for a start, it’s lovely. I enjoy seeing the water, the ships, the weather – well, the sky behind the Spinnaker. If I go fora walk, and when I arrive at the front I see this, then I think of myself as being rewarded. I learn things, for example about the term “Bunkering” an activity conducted by ships like the Janee W shown above.

The harbour is controlled through a Civil Servant, because the main purpose of the harbour is as a Naval facility, the controller is The Queen’s Harbour Master (QHM). QHM is responsible for all safety aspects of the harbour; buoys,controlling shipping etc. QHM publishes a list of shipping movement every day. Anyone can subscribe to the list, I do. Today’s was a little bit unusual, there was a fair bit of movement of naval vessels and the international ferries. What it doesn’t do is show the movement of the local ferry services.

Then there are the small vessels, Haslar Marina can take over 600 boats. Gosport Marina, just to the north can take 500 boats and there is a dry stack, which can take nearly 150 boats. We aren’t taking into account the marinas at Port Solent or Fareham. As you can see, there are a lot of small boats. They even have a route out of the harbour called the small boat channel.

Then there are things like Cumbrian Fisher, A 12,000 ton oil tanker than spends most of its time berthed at a terminal in the harbour. Not quite sure who it services; the small boats or the navy. Haven’t looked in to it.

As you can see, there’s a lot to be interested in at the waterfront.

Clippers, The ships that shaped the World by Daniel J Nolan

Given to me as a gift. I must admit, it’s not a book that I would normally buy. I understand the link though, living in Gosport, I have seen several tall ships come in to Portsmouth Harbour, and they are a magnificent sight, but they represent an era that is long gone (although we may see modern sailing ships in the future, plying commercial trade).

Clippers, as the title says is about the Clipper ships that plied trade around the world in the 19th Century. They were sleek and designed for speed, conveying cargo from China to the USA and Europe. They were renowned for delivering their cargos within record time.

I started reading the book last week just before my monthly magazines arrived, and resumed today. I’m only on Chapter one, the book is discussing the development of the Clipper Ship as a class. It is using many technical terms that I don’t understand, and am not bothering to look up as I don’t feel I need to have that level of understanding. The trouble is, how much will that detract from my enjoyment of the rest of the book? The story sounds interesting, but I’m not there yet.

That sounds like I’m on the verge of giving up on the book. Not quite. But it could be on the cards. I’m going to take it chapter by chapter, notwithstanding that Chapter one is a primer. I’ll report again on Chapter 2.

I was about to do this evenings post, and having written the title I suddenly thought that perhaps I should have a B&W picture lined up. This is one I took earlier today. It was a cold and misty day, as you can see with a fair bit of the Spinnaker missing. As I arrived at the waterfront, the Janee W, a smallish tanker used to refuel the Brittany Ferries, and other commercial ships. Refuelling is called Bunkering. It appears that the name of the process is a hangover from the days of the coal fired steamships, when the coal for the ships was stored at the harbour in Bunkers.

Anyhow, today’s post is supposed to be about the latest issue of the B+W Magazine, which I finished reading on Friday. I’ve noticed with both this months B+W and Country Walking Magazines there is a lot of talk of the pandemic and how it is affecting the contributors. That they are able to produce an entertaining and educational publication during these awkward times is a tribute to them.

A common theme amongst several of the articles of this months issue of B+W Photography (Issue No. 248) is the suggestion of having a plan or a project to encourage people to get their camera out (doesn’t matter what camera, the phone is very much an accepted tool amongst professionals). The idea is that getting people to indulge in something that they enjoy doing, with a bit of a challenge aids mental health especially at the moment. I get the logic of that. As it happens, I think I’m OK, but I must admit it would be interesting to try something like that. I’m thinking about it, and may come up with a plan.

Some of the suggestions, such as going on a photography workshop were slightly impractical, but worth bearing in mind for the future. In the meantime, it was once again, a very nice & interesting read. The photos especially are always enjoyable. I do like the B+W medium.

I went out for a walk today, not far only 4 miles. I went down to the GAFIRS station at Stokes Bay (Gosport And Fareham Inshore Rescue Service). The walk down was pleasant enough, along the cycle track. I always enjoy going this way, there are a couple of nice views along the route. Something for a change I think I’ll give you a few extra pictures, something I don’t normally (don’t know why, just habit I guess). The cycle track is the old railway. At a point, we go over a railway bridge, the old iron bridge. I always look to see what a couple of views are like from here;

whether or not I get a good reflection for these three houses. It’s rare that the water is still. But I think it’s always a nice picture. Pity about the cars though. Then, from the same spot;

St Mary’s Church, Alverstoke. I’ll be going past that on my way back. On then down to the sea front. I have to wait occasionally, there are a few people about and I don’t want to get too close to them, so I pause to let them pass. Eventually to arrive at GAFIRS;

No Lifeboat outside at the moment unfortunately. It’s a big rib, brought out on a tractor & trailer. On the way back, I had a couple of encounters with Nature. The Squirrel and what’s appears to be a gang fighter between about 10 magpies, spread over four trees all shouting at each other. Quite entertaining. A very pleasant walk.

The Dilemma, actually two of them. One resolved easily – which picture to use, the other settled. This post, rather than one of the other three or four which I now have lined up. Very happy with that.

My apologies for last nights whinge about writes block, and writing pressure. None of that tonight. I have two or three articles lined up.

I am not quite ready to do an article from the B&W magazine, although I do have an idea for one piece. That’s what’s driven this evenings picture. It’s either abstract or light & shadow, depending on your interpretation.

The thing is, should I have a goal or a project for my morning walks. Sometimes I have an idea about a particular picture I want to try and get. More often to not it doesn’t work. One good example is White Lion Walk here in Gosport. I’m not sure how you would describe is it a condominium? It would appear to match the description, a number independent dwellings, grouped in a single building. I’ve always thought of a condo as being an American tower block, perhaps not.

Anyhow, at three stories high, and just under 400 feet long I walk past it nearly every time I go out for a walk. I’m reasonably convinced that there is a good photo there. It’s going to be a combination of light, time of the day, colour or mono, light and shade. It’s almost like I need to see the building at different times of the day under different lighting from every angle. So, I don’t think I’m going to commit to that. It sounds a bit too much. But I think I will take the occasional walk around the building. I’ll let you know how I get on.