Nabs Woods by night

These pictures were taken in and around Nabs Woods in the Parish of Silkstone Common in United Kingdom.  The former owners of the woodland lived in Knabbes Hall and the Knabbes name link to the woods comes from the name of the hall and of Knabbes Road.  The hall has been reputed to bear the Royal Coat of Arms in recognition for the allegiance shown by the owners of the hall.  The family is said to have helped to hide the Prince who was later to become King Charles II when he was a fugitive on his journey to France after the English Civil War.  This story has been printed in several histories and it is a pleasant historic tale to share whether it is true of false.  The English Heritage description of the Grade II listed building does mention the Coat of Arms.

Kanbbes Wood, or Nabs Wood is the recorded site of the House Carr Colliery drift mine.  The sloping drift entrance is sometimes called an adit or day hole.  The local accent rendered the colliery’s name as Huskar.  The Huskar pit is remembered for the disaster of 4^th July 1838 in which 26 children died.  The mine where the children were working was flooded after a great deluge of hailstones melted quickly.  A memorial to commemorate the mining disaster is situated close to the roadside entrance of Nabs Wood.  It is said that there are two capped mineshafts and the drift mine entrance present within the wood.

These pictures were an absolute pleasure to take as the woods offered shelter from the harsh winter conditions that night.  Some of the pictures combine ambient lighting and fill in flash.  The two lighting sources help to create more colour combinations within the finished images.  The street lighting near the Huskar Colliery Monumuent casts a red and yellow glow on the trees and on the snow.  The flash when used brings a clear white light on to the snow.  The light from the flash illuminates the foliage close to the lens and helps to build the perceived depth of the images as the more distant trees are darker.

Silkstone - The Wiki

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Silkstone

Silkstone Parish Council History of Silkstone & Silkstone Common

http://www.silkstoneparishcouncil.gov.uk/Contents/Text/Index.asp?SiteId=936&SiteExtra=19148120&TopNavId=464&NavSideId=13210

The Woodland Trust - Nabs Wood

http://www.woodlandtrust.org.uk/en/our-woods/Pages/about-this-wood.aspx?wood=4155

Knabbes Hall

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-334295-knabbe-s-hall-silkstone

©2010 PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

A comparison between Under the stars in the snow 101 and 102

The first two pictures of my Flickr set titled Under the stars in the snow are a comparison of photo editing techniques.  Under the stars in the snow numbers 101 and 102 were created from a single digital photographic exposure.  After the camera sensor had collected the light on the scene for 30 seconds an image file was created on my CF memory card.  The details of the creation of the image are recorded in the Exif data.  The Exif details are available to view in Flickr if the photographer has allowed them to be seen.  The details for my images are available on Flickr if you use the drop down menu from the, “Actions,” tab you will see the option to, “View Exif info.”

Under the stars in the snow 101 - Exif details - (some not all)

Camera Canon EOS 5D Mark II

Lens EF16-35mm f/2.8L II USM

Exposure 30 seconds

Aperture f/9.0

Focal Length 16 mm

ISO Speed 800

Exposure Bias 0 EV

Date and Time 17 December 2010, 9:47:31 PM

This original image was then processed in two separate ways.  Under the stars in the snow101 has had Vibrance, Gamma and Brightness increased to create a greater glow all along the horizon than that presented in Under the stars in the snow 102.  In the midst of the dark night scene the glow of Under the stars in the snow 101 is rather bright indeed.  Under the stars in the snow 102 has had less of increase and it more closely resembles the view as seen by my eyes.  In general I only load one version of any single exposure.  Often I will show more than one exposure when I have altered the camera settings between exposures.  It is good to compare the effects of shutter speed, light sensitivity and aperture settings on pictures that are taken in a single photo session.  Sometimes it is also good to see just how basic differences in photo editing settings completely change a scene.

Pictures on Flickr

Under the stars in the snow 101

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/5270538537/in/set-72157625623425930/

Under the stars in the snow 102

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/5271137360/in/set-72157625623425930/

©2010 PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

Under the stars in the snow Dec 2010

The snow always transforms a landscape and makes many wondrous changes that you cannot imagine.  The familiar view is altered and that which you have previously overlooked takes on a new prominence.  These few shots are part of a series that were taken on a single journey through the snow. Although I have seen these scenes many times before they are made magical by the snow and the stars.  Not everyone takes to the road when the snows fall and even fewer venture forth when the stars are sparkling.  Some of these pictures may form a view of the other side of the page, they are the hidden underside of the day lit snowy landscape photographs.

On a cold frosty night I was thrilled to be under the stars out in the snow.  Each stop involved a quick set up for a few long exposures.  As I waited for the light to form an image I took to my heels and toes to dance a warming jig.  Each exposure was between 10 and 30 seconds long and the dances of were each terminated by the awakening of the preview image.  If you should happen across a well wrapped man dancing strangely in the frozen landscape who stops to view the images being created by his camera don’t pause to see if the dancing gets better.  The dances are not of any great artistic merit I hope that the pictures make up for the bad shuffles and the icy stumbles.  Without the dances I would not have stayed out so long so these images are my record of my dancing under the Stars in the snow.

Pictures on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157625623425930/with/5271199764/ 


©2010 PHH Sykes
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 
http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

Snowy Silkstone December 2010

Here are a few examples of the glorious images that the snow creates.  I have chosen several compositions here that are made into photo opportunities by the snow.  Without snow and icicles some of these settings would not being photographed and uploaded.  I enjoy recording something that would often be overlooked, or undervalued.  When the snow falls it creates great vibrant images in so many unusual places and it also enhances scenes that were spectacular before the snowfall.  I am sure that most people want to see the stunning snowscapes that show us the splendours of the winter landscape.  I am not so sure that there is a wide audience for my less breath taking images.

The snow does pose several challenges and I am trying to preserve my delicate health so I have not ventured far into the white wonders that have been beautifully laid out all around me.  It is quite frustrating to be missing out on some of the stunning scenes that have been so close by but just out of reach for me.  I do however enjoy offering up my photographs of guttering, soffits and fascias as these would not have been my chosen subjects without the snow and ice.

If you are struggling through the winter conditions and not enjoying the cold snap at all then I still hope that you can see the beauty in the seasonal transformations.  I have some big journeys to make soon through the worst of the snows soon and I am not looking forward to those planed work trips that are becoming expeditions.  Instead of a packing extra fruit and a drink to make sure the journeys are going to be good I am packing crampons, sleeping bags, arctic stoves and ensuring I have food to last for a few days.  Right that’s me off now to test out the mobile electrics and see if anyone has hints on husky powered locomotion, or tips for troika steering.

Pictures on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157625550097674/

2010 PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com

Gnosis Dance Class 2010

Some say infamous I say legendary.  The legendary Gnosis Dance class deserves the reputation that it gets.  It has attracted an ardent following of rhythm loving fans some of whom are aware that they have left and right feet but they are not claiming to be capable of putting them in the right order at the right time or to the right places.  It is a fun dance gathering for all levels of ability to enjoy moving to music.  After a Friday night partying in a huge castle involving elaborate costumes and a total disregard for the need of sleep the one thing guaranteed to rouse the weary revellers is a Gnosis Dance Class.  The first spark to light the dance class tinder is the bright eyed and bushy eared Flopsy.  His sparkly efforts are bright enough initiate the ballroom preparations and folklore states that, “If you clear the floor and crank up the sound system then they will come.”  So we built the dance class scenario in the ballroom and the dancers came.

The Saturday dance class was so successful that the attendees of the class stepped to it to put on a display in the Sunday night Gnosis Variety Show.  One spectator did say that the dance performance on Sunday was like watching dance bingo.  Flopsy called out the singles and doubles from the front and the dancers marked their dance cards behind him.  My score cards for the class and the performance were very high indeed with a great appreciation for the effort from all.  Next year, if there is a next year maybe we could have a live internet feed with a scoring system for the viewers at home.  No one should be voted off; maybe higher votes could lead to dancers stepping nearer to the front?  Please send all suggestion for the dance class to the Gnosis Committee marked for the attentions of, “The Tango loving Flopsy.”

YouTube videos edited by Flopsy

Gnosis 2010 Dance Class No.1

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oki0Ayae46E

Gnosis 2010 Dance Class No.2

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Aea75ZqjaZ4

Gnosis info

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=122620187766202

©2010 PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com

Andrew Macpherson Blue Room Studios Gnosis 2010

So there you are with your checklist making sure that you have everything needed for your event and in the case of Gnosis it may run a little like this, “13^th Century Castle – check, room for 100 attendees – check, groceries to feed everyone – check, special dietary requirements catered for – check, entertainment prepared – check,” and then you have one very important final ingredient to ensure that the whole recipe is magically brought together, “Master of Ceremonies able to cope with all eventualities,” and this vital element to your event design can be given a, “check,” once you have secured the services of Andrew Macpherson. 

These pictures were taken in the Blue Room of Featherstone Castle on Saturday 20^th November 2010.  They show Andrew in just one of his many guises that he donned to complete his duties in the castle.  It appeared that he slipped from one outfit and corresponding role into each successive appropriately attired creation as he seamlessly smoothed the events at the castle into a happening worth remembering.  There were many great moments at Gnosis this year and Andrew was one of many to provide entertainment.  He told stories on Friday and hit the decks as a DJ on Saturday.  He took the reins on Saturday to guide the unfolding evening events and on Sunday he compared the Gnosis Variety Show.  He is I am assured a man with a jacket for every occasion and a personality that can fit each jacket to ensure a performance set to meet the occasion.  Without a doubt he is an accomplished Master of Ceremonies.

These photographs were taken using two studio flash units.  One was reflected on a silver brolly and the other was reflected through a translucent white brolly.  The two light sources were set to gently overpower the ambient room lighting and to generate a crisp but warm light.  I hope that the rich tones come through and help to show Andrew Macpherson’s finery in a fitting a light?  These poses were set to the most amusing banter and I am pleased if the joy of taking these pictures comes through to you in the images presented here.

Photos on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157625493370090/

Gnosis info

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=122620187766202

Andrew Macpherson further info

http://www.fuzzbomb.net/category/master-ceremonies

©2010 PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com

Gnosis Caterpillar Dances 2010

Having arrived early on Saturday morning we were able to avail ourselves with relevant permissions of the Friday night caterpillar mask.  This mask seemed to our Saturday vision to inspire a dance.  This footage is taken from Flopsy’s camera and he has edited the files into the films presented on the Wyrd Web Wonders YouTube Chanel.

The ballroom was in a state of post enjoyment having been the venue for the Friday night formal opening of Gnosis.  There were signs of merry making still evident in the ballroom when we began to prepare for the dance class on Saturday morning.  The opening performance had been completed many hours before we arrived at Featherstone Castle, but we were keen to give our belated and unrelated additions to the opening of Gnosis 2010.

Gnosis info

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=122620187766202

Gnosis 2010 Caterpillar Dance No.1 Production Credits

Dancer  - PHH Sykes

Camera - Flopsy

Editor   - Flopsy

Gnosis 2010 Caterpillar Dance No.2  Production Credits

Dancer  - Flopsy

Camera - PHH Sykes

Editor   - Flopsy

PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com

Gnosis celebrated on Film

Just last night a series of uploads were completed which resulted in 22 films being uploaded to YouTube featuring something of Featherstone Castle and of the event Gnosis.  The castle dates back to the 13^th Century,  Gnosis is just a little younger by more than 800 years, or so.  Gnosis has taken well to the castle and the famous Bloody Bride has welcomed us to share the home she grew up in and now continues to occupy rent free in her after life.

These 22 flickerings of Gnosis and the castle form a picture book that can be read like the Major Arcana of the Tarot, or simply watched for pleasure.  Last night’s uploads were a group of very short peculiarities that were intended to illuminate the echoing virtual halls of YouTube with animated pictures related to Gnosis.  All of the 18 short performances were filmed in the Blue Room at last year’s Gnosis held in November 2009.  There are several strange occurrences in the films some evidentially natural such as when the wind howls outside and there are some others which make it harder to form a rational explanation for such when the recorded images show a disturbance or two. 

Having not being able to contact the event organizers I have to state that these productions come with the following modest warming.  These productions have been undertaken by those that appreciate Gnosis these are not officially sanctioned products.  All comments and postures are made, set and served cold to you by Wyrd Web Wonders and do not represent the event or the organizers opinions in any weird way or even in a shape shifting form.

Not usually one for excess I will have to hold up my hand and say that I am very happy to broadcast these 22 films and I hope that they only generate a positive reaction.

Gnosis info

http://www.facebook.com/#!/event.php?eid=122620187766202

©2010 PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com


Gnosis Agenda

Gnosis Beginning light show


Gnosis Come to Gnosis to find out which hat to wear


Gnosis Dancing like this is banned at Gnosis


Gnosis End & beginning light show


Gnosis If you want to see


Gnosis Ending 2009 beginning 2010 light show


Gnosis Handcuffs


Gnosis If you want better


Gnosis Just getting ready for 2010


Gnosis Just say NO


Gnosis Needs You


Gnosis Quiet night in


Gnosis Release


Gnosis Schedule


Gnosis the whole picture


Gnosis There's no no in Gnosis


Gnosis Thought about it


Dancing with the Bloody Bride of Featherstone Castle


Frank in the woodshed


The Bloody Bride of Featherstone Castle Part the First


The Bloody Bride of Featherstone Castle Part the Second

Lucky Buddha

This afternoon I have rushed outside to capture some autumnal sunlight.  Some months ago I froze my subject ready for a warm day to make beautiful pictures.  With recourse to two lenses I was able to get some of the shots that have been tickling my imagination for months now.  My model was frozen in a minor disaster when I forgot about beer that was being quickly chilled in the freezer.   I let a small catastrophe develop when the beer was damaged beyond enjoyment.  My thrifty nature could not bear to stand a lost beer so I decided to use the frozen bottle as a prop.  Luckily for me this beer was a Lucky Beer and the ornate bottle worked as an amazing subject for these pictures.

I first found this beer quite by accident, I was looking for traditional tipple in a standard bottle when my eyes were drawn to this sculpture containing alcohol, I was surprised that it was so good.  I had expected to find that the price I was paying had been all directed at producing the ornate bottle not the beer inside.  My only problem with this art work and beer combination is that I have not found it in a small independent retailer and so cannot claim how scarce and how difficult to obtain it is.  Having found it in ASDA I am able to hand out a stunning bottle and have to sheepishly reply to urgent questions about availability that this wonderful art piece is available from a well stocked supermarket.  I could easily get away with claiming that this design masterwork was sold in straw packed wooden cases from a specialist retailer that would only release a crate of 6 per customer per visit.  What I am saying is that this is a great product but don’t believe me try for yourself.

Lucky Beer can be found at

http://www.luckydrinkco.com/

PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com

Aleister Crowley on The Royal Mile Edinburgh 2010

It was my great good fortune to meet up with John Burns at the Edinburgh Festival this year.  Before he took to the stage at the Carlton Hotel he was willing to pose for three sets of photographs and to share his experiences of dramatising the life of Aleister Crowley.  Over a Turkish coffee and baklava he gladly shared how the role was emotionally consuming and revealed that he had taken out some of the more extreme episodes for the Edinburgh audience.  I was able to take in the show twice and can say that the younger members of the audience were looking concerned at mum when a real person so close in the small theatre was saying certain words and performing quite intense acts.  The reaction of mother and child was I am sure a comment on our television tamed culture where we see too little live performance and do not know where and when to suspend rules and regulations when live action seemingly steps out of the television and becomes more real.  It was never going to be easy bringing the Great Beast to Life and the reaction that Crowley generates would always leave a recognizable fall out zone.  There is no great fear to be attached to Crowley and his extraordinary exploits but he did search for enlightenment from darkness and on stage John Burns stands out as a bright figure taking on the shadows that still shroud Crowley’s reputation.  This play is a revelation of the recorded acts of Crowley and it is John Burns’ own vision that we get on stage.  These pictures and the YouTube animated slideshow of them is my own addition to this venture.  I was glad to meet Mr. Burns and to stage three distinct photo shoots to record him in the guise of the Wickedest Man in the World.

John Burns has written and stars in A Passion for Evil.  This one man play explores the man, the myth and the beastly legend of Aleister Crowley.  Love him, leave him, loathe him or lionise him Crowley does have an enduring appeal.  His reappearance in Edinburgh in 2010 follows his dramatic persona being given to popular acclaim in 2003 by Periplum Tree.  John Burns offers an intense performance that reveals the ritual and the rigmarole of Crowley’s life.  If there is way to step inside the consciousness of Aleister Crowley then watching John Burns take on this role may allow the audience to become the Beast.  If you decide to take your seat in the auditorium and to take on the challenge of, “Being Aleister Crowley,” then be ready for an eventful inventive ride with the wickedest man stripped bare and ready for action.

HD films on YouTube

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=G1uy6Lxffww

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jFuOJgvEEgo

Pictures on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157625378680182/

More info on the play

http://www.thebeastreturns.com

PHH Sykes

Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies

http://www.phhsykes.co.uk

http://phhsykes.blogspot.com