Bills Posts

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.

For a change, here’s a picture of the bird table. Not at it’s busiest today. Visits by the birds are definitely on the up. The Sparrows appear to bee getting a bit more confident about using the feeders. We’ve put a couple more up. So, we’ll see how they go.

We had a bird in the Garden today that I had never seen before. I had to get the wildlife book out. It was a wagtail; it had a long tail and it bobbed in the same way as a pied wagtail, but it was yellow. Turns out it’s a Yellow Wagtail (not surprisingly). Why have I never seen one before? It was very distinctive. It appears that we are also getting blue tits, which all together is absolutely lovely.

It’s not writers block tonight, it’s something else. For most of the last 146 days I’ve sat and done this and the 365 project between 7 & 8 in the evening whilst watching Ghost Whisperer, tonight is the first night that in combination of not being very good of thinking of something to write about, and also feeling a little bit pressured to write. I’ve never felt like that before. Strange. So, One of the strategies that I have for dealing with writers block is to write about it. Now, it may seem to be a bit waffly, but at least there are words on the screen and I can say I have written something. Which is good. Sorry if it isn’t up to my usual standard.

The only link between the picture and the topic is that a lot of birds and squirrels gather here. Once again, I find myself. Impressed by the iPhone 12.

We watched the bird table this morning, on it and around it, there must have been at least a dozen pigeons, not only that the table itself was heaving with starlings. Now, I don’t mind the starlings at all, and I suppose the pigeons have as much right to the food that I put out, but I would much prefer to feed the smaller birds.

The sparrows have found the feeder, but they are very nervous. I suppose it’s because it’s quite close to the back door. The squirrel has found it as well. I don’t mind that either. I am wondering if there are pigeon proof feeders, I think the hanging ones might do the job, so I’ve bought some off Amazon.

Enjoyed the walk again this morning. I arrived home a few minutes later than I usually do, but I’ve worked it out. Next time I go for a walk during the day, I must take some food for the squirrels at the back of Trinity Church.

Usually, in each of the magazines I subscribe to there will be an article that drives me to write a comment here. This month’s issue of Country Walking though, is not bland, as I have enjoyed reading it. There was one article about the Pennine Way that did pique my interest. To me it highlighted that there are many places in the UK that are there to be explored.

The closest I have been to the Peak District is a working visit to Derby, that lasted all of two hours. I certainly wouldn’t be able to do the 260 odd miles of the Pennine Way, but there are parts of it, such as the High Cup Canyon. I was thinking about it today, and the best I can compare it with is when we went on one of the Levada walks in Madeira, I think it was the walk of the 25 fountains. It started at the head of an enormous canyon on the north side of the island. The walk stuck in my mind because it was a superb demonstration of the differences of the north and south sides of the island.

The north side is wet and cold, and very, very green. Towards the end of the walk, we went through tunnel, drilled to convey water from the north to south side. At about 800m long, it was cold and damp. But, when we emerged on to the south side, we were back in to the hot, dry sunshine. A most memorable event.

The picture is one of the first ones I have taken with the iPhone 12 in night mode. There are two things about the picture that I want to comment on; Firstly, I am amazed at the number of stars the phone has caught. I am very eager to try a bit of astrophotography. The second thing is I love it, the phone that is. I am very, very pleased with the camera.

I changed my route this morning. I think I’ve extended my morning walk by about a mile. This morning, it took me an hour and 11 minutes to complete. That’s fine, one issue is I know roughly what time I arrive at the waterfront, in sync with my first main over on the the #Breakfastclub. I need to get my weather report set up in readiness. I wasn’t quite prepared with the tidal app this morning. Also, I can’t linger like I used to. But I still walked out to the end of the Haslar Marina Pier Wall.

Two nights on the trot, I have included the term “Clipper Ships” in the title. Last night I forgot to say what I wanted. That is, I’ve decided which book I am going to read next. Last Christmas, my father-in-law gave me a book about clipper ships. Fantastic sailing ships that were the mainstay of global trade before the advent of Steam. I won’t be commenting on it for a while though,

That’s because on Saturday, the next issue of Country Walking popped through the letterbox. I’m about halfway through reading that. Nothing yet has made me go “I need to comment upon that” yet, but I’m sure it will.

Once I finish CW, I’ll be picking up Black & White photography, which landed on the mat today. Looking forward to that. I’ll let you know when I get back to the clipper ships, I only managed to finish the intro before the magazines arrived.