Bills Posts

118/366 Is there a good photo here?

I know this is not a good photo, so please don’t compliment me if you were even inclined to. But, I am convinced that somewhere around here, there is a good photo waiting to be found.

The building is White Lion Walk It’s quite long, I had to resort to Google Maps to measure it at about 393 feet, or 131 yards, or 120 metres. The only other fact I can establish is that was either built 34 years ago or, as seems more likely in the 1960’s. Things seem a bit uncertain, and I’m having no luck tracking down information on the Internet (admittedly, I’ve only tried for about 10 minutes). Lots of information about flats for sale, but that’s it.

I’m aware that I have put only minimal effort so far into finding that good picture. I may never even succeed. It’s likely to become a bit of a project that I will go back to over the coming months. At the very least, it’s another topic for the occasional post here. I need to try some different angles I think. Also, it’s the time day These are taken at around 0650-7AM ish, when the sky is only just beginning to brighten. So, different angles and different times of day. Some exploration I think.

117/366 Beamister Lane

OK, so apart from the Vision Express shop, and the electric lighting (could it be gas?) I wonder how close this street is to the way it looked in the 1800’s? I have mentioned Beamister Lane in previous posts. As a man, in the 1800’s walking down this lane was to put your way of life in danger. You were as likely to receive a bump on the head, and wake up on board ship, somewhere in the English Channel. Obviously, life on board ship wouldn’t be very nice. Apparently, you could get out of by having a “Not eligible for press ganging” letter. I don’t know if that’s true. Perhaps a bit of research might sort that out.

What I would quite like to have a go at is getting some people together, 5 or 6, a couple dressed in normal 18th century clothing, the rest in naval uniforms of the time. Then I’d like to film a couple of scenes one where a chap gets bopped over the head. The other has an exemption letter. How is that done?

Why wouled I want to do that? Two reasons; I’m a member of the Gosport Society. They are involved in all aspects of the town, it’s history and they are involved in the Heritage Action Zones. I think something like this, filmed properly would be a nice to have on the website – one of several ideas I’d like to suggest to the society. The second reason is for my vlog. I’d love to start one of those. Perhaps I might one day, who knows?

116/365 The Story of Art

Is it really almost three weeks since I last did a post about the book? Too long.

In that time we have visited Montmartre, in the book, but several years ago in real life. It isn’t the same now as it was in the 1800s2 (I guess that’s stating the obvious really). But, you can see why the artists liked it. And we have now encountered the the age Impressionists; Monet, Renoir and the like.

I am now on Page 522/645 (not including indexes and the like). I confess, reading the book at this point was a bit of a blinding flash of light, I won’t pretend that I understand The Impressionists, but I know why they are called such. It was fascinating to read about how their ideas & art were mocked. Gombrich wrote “All the old bogeys of ‘dignified subject-matter’, of ‘balanced compositions’, of ‘correct drawing’, were laid to rest”. But, not before the art critics let rip calling their first exhibition “a disaster”,”alleged paintings”, “something terrible”. The trouble is that whilst it took a bit of time to learn how to appreciate them, the public absolutely loved them. Of course, this seems to have permanently damaged the reputation of art critics. It was one of those pivotal moments, where art is freed from the strictures of tradition.

Some years ago, we embarked on a bit of a touring holiday, taking in some dear friends, followed by a tour of the Loire, we visited the home of Da Vinci, and before returning home, we visited Monet’s garden near Paris. What a lovely place. I can entirely understand why he liked it.

This is perhaps one of the parts of the book that is resonating with me more than I expected, I won’t wait so long before My next post on this topic.

115/366 The weekend

For several days my wife has been watching the long distance weather forecast with an intensity that isn’t usual – unless there is an outdoor Women’s Institute event scheduled, which there was, a driveway sale.

We had everything in place, during the week members of her branch have been bringing contributions. Every evening would watch at least two forecasts, with increasing intensity as the weekend approach.

By Friday, it was becoming evident that acknowledging a more than 50% chance of rain, it looked like there may be a window of opportunity. Saturday morning 0900 was the go / no-go point. The decision was; it’s a Go.

Everything was set up, volunteers turned up, and exercising the usual social distancing & PPE things were ready to go.

Luckily, the rain held off. It was a little bit busy, so it was lucky that nothing fell out of the sky. We did have parasols but we couldn’t have used them as it was a bit breezy. They would have taken off like rockets.

The ladies stuck at it for three hours, before deciding that it was getting too cold, with the usual efficiency everything was packed away just in time for the heavens to open. Short intense showers followed.

I decided to go for a walk during an interval between showers. It was a good job I wore my proper rain coat as that interval wasn’t very long. I got quite wet. I didn’t take the picture at the top though. I took that one this afternoon. Frustratingly yesterday I lost something, it only cost a couple of quid but I was frustrated and surprised at its loss. So I revisited part of yesterdays walk. I didn’t really expect to find it, and I didn’t. But I did take the picture and for some reason, I really like it.

114/366 The Starlings

Oh dear, what a dilemma. I am in the lucky position of having three blog posts lined up. It’s not that any one of them is time critical, it’s the excitement in the anticipation of writing them. I suppose the first thing I should say that although the post title is Starlings, the photo is absolutely nothing to do with the story. Which is, for the most part about starlings.

There are several areas around where large flocks off starlings roost, one of the main ones is underneath Portsmouth Railway station which a pier reaching out over the water. If you are travelling on the ferry, you can hear them fussing around.

Another favourite spot to see them, especially if you want to see murmurations, is the old gasometer behind Asda’s. I have no idea how many gather there, but it’s a lot.

It looks like, to me, the larger flocks break up in to smaller scavenger groups. It’s one of those groups which visits the garden. I always enjoy watching them and I’m glad that even if only in a small way, I’m helping them to live.

This morning I went out to load up the bird table, it was the last in the batch of mixed food (birdseed, mealworms, suet pellets & peanuts) I had prepared earlier in the week so just piled on what was left. I tend to only do it once a day, sometimes twice. That’s why (I’m willing to bet) the main group only visit once per day.

Anyhow, I had to return to the shed at about 0930 to get something. As I was in the shed I heard the characteristic shouting and arguing that typifies a squad of hungry starlings. Frustratingly, I couldn’t see the table from where I was in the shed and I didn’t want to move in case I frightened them away. Every few seconds something would spook them, and they would take off towards next doors roof. Only to return a few seconds later. At best guess, I’d say there was at least 50+ of them. Notwithstanding the lack of view of the bird table, to be this close to them (5 – 6 feet) was absolutely brilliant. Very nice indeed.

113/366 Technological Impatience

So I had this idea about technological impatience. Now, what I’m talking about is films. I sometimes find it difficult to watch some films from the 70’s and 80’s. I can’t help thinking that things like mobile phones and decent computers . I think it’s mostly in crime shows. That seems to be the area where my technological impatience comes to a height.

Now, you see. I have that thought out of my head, and it only lasted one paragraph. So this is going to turn in to one of those articles where pretty quickly I run out of something to write about. So perhaps one of the easiest things to do is have a bit of a look back, even if only a few days, to the beginning of the week. Monday was the day of the mist.

This is St Georges Barracks in the 19th century, around 1856 to house the Marine Garrison. Can you imagine the life to soldiers lived their? The 19th century wasn’t a nice time at all. But, the barracks are still there, and are not just a museum. The barracks are now people’s homes. They’ve all been converted.

I Love the way the building fades away in to the mist, and the lines. I’ve just had a thought – I wonder how it would look in colour? After a brief diversion, I went away and here’s the B&W version;

And I know which one I like, how about you?

This has given me an idea for my next post.

112/366 A ring or Bright Water

It was raining for this mornings walk. I got water on the lens. This was the effect.

You’ll be saying the pictures has no relation to the title of this post – that’s correct, I needed something to cheer me up. Why’s that?

I always look forward to the arrival of my magazines. This week it was the turn of Country Walking. I love the pictures and the articles about the different areas. I don’t expect to find an article which based on the title on the cover alone gives me distress. A Ring of Bright Water.

The book is a story about a relationship between people and animals. A Londoner and a tame otter. It was made into a film in 1969. I didn’t know the story, and it was one of the first films I went to see on my own. To say I was traumatised by the scene where Mij the otter gets killed is a massive understatement. I think it has probably affected my attitude towards films involving animals ever since.

The Country Walking had to be read, and of course it was heavily focussed on the book/film, and the part of the country where the story took place. Undoubtedly a lovely part of the world, but I don’t think I could ever visit there for pleasure.

I’m back now to reading the Story of Art

111/366 A busy Bird Table

OK, bear with me, I know the picture is unrelated to the title.

Firstly, the bird table. I came downstairs mid morning to make a cup of tea (I’m WFH). I had loaded the bird table early in the morning, and it appears that the starlings fly around different feeding points. There were easily a couple of dozen both on the table and on the ground, they stayed for quite a while. In addition there were at least four pigeons around. Also running around were two squirrels. They were dashing about the garden. I saw them burying things in the flower pots, obviously preparing for winter. I have never seen them do that before, even though I knew it happened. It was lovely and a real pleasure to watch. I just wish I’d had the nouse to go and get my camera, but I didn’t want to frighten them by moving.

The picture was taken yesterday morning, A grab shot, but when I saw it in colour I liked it, if I like it in couloir quite often I’ll try it in black and white. This one I liked even better. From a professionals point of view their will be issues with exposure, the low black building on the right hand side (but I wanted the moon) . I like the sharpness and the view of the receding blocks.. I just like the look of the picture. Even the clouds add to the picture.

110/366 Boats in the Mist

From Monday morning, I see this scene every morning that I go for a walk. The boats are always there, I can’t recall them ever moving.

This one morning, last Monday (30 Nov) was the first Misty morning for quite a while. I’ve been looking forward to seeing one, so I was determined to get out. I’m really glad I did.

I particularly like this image, it’s the sharpness of the boats against the mustiness of the lights of Gunwharf behind along with the red lights of the buoys. I know it’s not minimalist, but it’s close.

109/366 A misty morning

Or, should it be a ghostly image? This morning’s mist has provided a bunch of pictures that i quite like and which I can spin out over the next few days.

Take this one for example, a simple street scene but notice the ghostly apparition walking along the double yellow line?

How did I get it?

Easy really. The P20 Pro has a night mode. Long exposures. In this case, the exposure was about 15 seconds. Of course I timed that somebody would walk past me into the frame as the exposure was being made. Of course they weren’t standing still, and the exposure ended. It was a test, and I didn’t know how it would come out. I like it as a picture.

I broke my “not leaving the house after 0610” rule this morning. So I was a little bit later along all parts of the walk, and didn’t get home until about 0720. That was fine, it worked OK, except I didn’t allow myself time to do a facebook entry. I’ll have to one tomorrow.