Unguarded off Parade Coldstream Guards Officer's Tunic

Just as the sun streamed down on parade grounds all over the world it also shone on this photo shoot. There was a chance to be unguarded off parade and stand to attention for fill-in flash. The shutter clicked harmlessly as poses altered and images were created. The Coldstream Guards motto is “Nulli Secundus” and they are proud to proclaim themselves 'Second to None'. On parade the guards take position on the extreme left so they stand second to none. Here the subject stands in front of the camera and a silver birch tree and so is in front of both at the same time and behind nothing. The portrait setting is in front of all, but it is not intended to be second to none. The buttons on the tunic all show an equal arm cross, as a part of the Garter Star with the motto "Honi soit qui mal y pense." Some believe that the founding of the Order of the Garter has roots in English folklore and even witchcraft. There are several ways to translate the motto some indicate "Shame be to him who thinks evil of it", but a more direct translation reads "Let he who thinks ill there be shamed." Sometimes it is rendered as "Evil be to him who evil thinks." Hopefully no evil thoughts have been created here. The finished images were set in to square frames featuring a tight crop of face, cuff and buttons. Some photographic witchcraft was applied and a stiff collar helped set the correct tone.

These photographs feature a tunic from the battalion but apart from the uniform there is no other link to Coldstream Guards.

Dryburgh Abbey in the Scottish Borders

The rambling ruins of Dryburgh Abbey could not be more beautifully dilapidated. The grand scale and intricate structure show the great historical significance of this site. The abbey at Dryburgh became the premier of the 6 Premonstratensian houses in Scotland. Once the abbey had ceased to function it still held religious status to such an extent that it attracted several prominent internments. In 1150 Hugh de Moreville the Constable of Scotland invited Premonstratensian Canons from Alnwick Priory to take residence at Dryburgh. On the banks of the Tweed the Abbey grew and expanded, but by the protestant reformations reduced the abbey so that by 1584 there were just 2 brethren recorded as remaining here.

The acoustics inside the 13th-century Chapter House are superb. Any recognised speaker could have risen from their stall and held the floor in this meeting room. A spoken voice can be clearly heard in part of the stone chamber. If you bring voices together in harmony the reverberations created here are superb. On the walls there are the remains of the plaster decoration and some surviving paint. This gem sits in the heart of the complex and it gives us an aural gateway back in time to a world that we can almost still hear in the timbre of our voices and echo of our footfalls.

The abbey is close by several other historic monuments and all of them enjoy the tranquil surroundings of this now quiet haven. The locality must once have been a hive of activity but the ruins now rest in peace. In 1322 the peal of the abbey bells is said to have attracted the attention of King Edward II's troops who set fire to the property. There are signs of much development in the extant structures. David Erskine, 11th Earl of Buchan purchased Dryburgh House and began construction of Temple of Caledonian Fame. This extended temple was to stretch out like a park with monuments to Scotland's great and good, but it was also set to include references to worthy figures from abroad. The structures standing close by deserve a visit and it easy to see how the fortunes of Dryburgh rose again during Buchan's building works only to ebb back to the contemporary level where the monuments are being preserved for tourists but not further extended.

Inferno Chilli Noodle – Hot Pot to Trot?

Please allow me to set the scene. After two nights of shallow sleep and shady dreams in a large castle close by Hadrian's Wall I was presented with an Inferno Chilli Noodle breakfast. There had been too many photographs taken to keep an accurate count with tired bleary eyes. Unable to focus clearly on printed instructions or the day ahead I was fortunate to have spoken commands to follow. This beast of a snack just needs boiling water and two minutes in order to be ready to brighten your day. The warmth of human kindness can be approximated in many fashions. When the force of fire takes ahold of your soul from within you can raise your praise to the heavens that formed chilli peppers in gratitude for nature's abundant bounty. The Inferno Chilli Pot Noodle soon had be me bright eyed and bushy tailed again as we packed up lights, cameras and costumes beating a retreat in due form fuelled by infernal internal delights.

My novitiate is not yet served in the Pot Noodle Preceptory so I have no detailed information to impart on how much water to add, when to stir and to stand still before stirring again and at which point exactly to add the sachet of spicy mango chutney. I have seen noodle guru's at work and I have seen them enter into strange Zen like arguments to reveal and conceal their science and art. Personally I like the chilli pieces and I am proud to worship the temple of my body with this dehydrated manna from heaven.

Hamlet with and without Yorick close-up modelled indoors

In the gravedigger's scene Hamlet exclaims;

“That skull had a tongue in it, and could sing once:
how the knave jowls it to the ground, as if it were
Cain's jaw-bone, that did the first murder! It
might be the pate of a politician, which this ass
now o'er-reaches; one that would circumvent God,
might it not?”

“Alas, poor Yorick! I knew him, Horatio: a fellow
of infinite jest, of most excellent fancy: he hath
borne me on his back a thousand times; and now, how
abhorred in my imagination it is! my gorge rims at
it. Here hung those lips that I have kissed I know
not how oft. Where be your gibes now? your
gambols? your songs? your flashes of merriment,
that were wont to set the table on a roar? Not one
now, to mock your own grinning? quite chap-fallen?
Now get you to my lady's chamber, and tell her, let
her paint an inch thick, to this favour she must
come; make her laugh at that.”

The Tragical History of Hamlet, Prince of Denmark

Act V Scene I. A churchyard

William Shakespeare

Hell Fire Caves West Wycombe

The Hell Fires at West Wycombe were extended greatly by Sir Francis Dashwood between 1748 and 1752 . They are noted as a meeting place for The Hell Fire Club which first met at Medmenham Abbey about eight miles from West Wycombe. The club's motto "Love & Friendship" seems to have confused many. The original names for the members of what later became known as The Hell Fire Club include The Brotherhood of St. Francis of Wycombe, Order of Knights of West Wycombe, and The Order of the Friars of St. Francis of West Wycombe. It is interesting to note that the naming of the group as the Hell Fire Club has been a considerable factor in maintaining interest in the club, but this name was not used by the original club members. Around the same time as he constructed the underground meeting chambers Sir Francis Dashwood was also working on Saint Lawrence's Church and The Dashwood Mausoleum above the caves. Even as he carved out what has become known as the Hell Fire Caves Sir Francis was also building a Christian church above his speleological creations. Saint Lawrence is a noted defender of the poor and it said that the extensions to caves brought about well paid work in West Wycombe during hard times. Sir Francis may also have pondered on the martyrdom of Saint Lawrence which involved him being burnt to death on grid iron which would resemble a scene from hell and yet this fiery torture was a route to heaven. Maybe the most hellish pursuits undertaken by the group that never called itself the Hell Fire Club were only ever followed as routes to heaven?

To date I have discovered only one apparition in my exposures. To my eyes it appears as a body of light. Please take a look and form your own impressions. The figure in the image has not been created by me. The shape as seen in this picture was not seen by me in caves. There were some peculiar moments and I am glad to have this record of the more ephemeral events.

 

Hair Today School Tomorrow

Amongst my most sacred duties is that of child care. My willingness to care for the next generation is also a scary duty. If the ones that I have the perilous pleasure of caring for are a measure of our future society then I am glad that I don't sleep well as waking up screaming is not my idea of a good night's rest. Despite being unable to fathom the logic of youth I do enjoy being confudled by childish perspectives.

The crux of this piece is that my child caring duties lead me into great situations that I would not be encountering without interaction with those whose perceptions have not been stifled by adult attitudes. My own inner child is very happy and likes nothing better than to be left alone to read in the quiet corner on sunny afternoons. When taking care of children I tend to allow them room and space to express themselves - within obvious limits.

Whilst looking after one delightful bundle of youthful joy recently I was treated to a coiffurist experience of excellence. Well they thought that their talents excelled and I agreed as the head torture progressed so as to bring the painful process to an end. On a more positive note I can state that I enjoyed practising my self portrait camera phone picture techniques and was pleasantly surprised with some of the results.

Furthermore I am now readying myself for bit beard parts, part beard bit parts as a walk on Viking or Celtic warrior type character. My acting roles are so far very amateur and my vocal and dramatic training is rarely called upon these days. So if bit part success does not call me back I shall have to wait until another home from school day before I get chance to see how the beard looks in pleats.

Please Note: that all child labour used in coiffure productions was safely within World regulations and guidelines and that the only slight damage done was to my follicles.

May Day Forget-Me-Not in Midlothian Scotland

The sun was shining brightly as stalked the small flowers with a 180mm lens and 1.4 converter. I came at them from the shadows and they never had a chance to hide their blooms before I had manually focussed and depressed the shutter release. Twin flash heads fired and the image was captured. That is how I got my May Day garland this year.

May Day is a time to celebrate the return of flowers and the warm vibrant months. There is supposed to be a link with Juniper and May Day rites in Scotland. The Juniper was burnt for purification, but I was only wanting to take pictures of flowers. My garland for May Day predominately featured Forget-Me-Not. There is a garland rhyme which is said to be traditional for the day;

The first of May is Garland Day
So please remember the garland.
We don't come here but once a year,
So please remember the garland.

Next year maybe I will light a fire or two in remembrance of times past and to light my way towards all of my tomorrows.

Yellow Poppy on May Day in Midlothian Scotland

The Yellow Poppy seems both strange and familiar altogether at the same time. These pictures were taken on a warm May Day eve. The brilliant glow of the petals hid the delicate details within. Just a touch of fill lighting was used to set the scene.

Some how the Yellow Poppy had me reaching for my lens cap. Capturing this bright yellow bloom had brought an end to flower shooting for May Day. The sun had featured in my exposures and it had lit my way to several several that were completely created by the warm lighting. With my camera stowed away there was plenty of time to enjoy the sunset.

Midlothian & Yorkshire Cherry Tree Blossom

When the Cherry Trees burst into full it is obvious that Spring is here. Warm winds filled with returning scents carry aloft the hopes for a vibrant Summer. Suddenly the memories of Winter are banished as the fresh blossoms fill rich blue skies. The ever changing seasons offer us a brief tableaux that capture the essence of the moment. In just a matter of days the fantastic full bloom of the tree begins to wan and the cycle of life moves ever onwards. It is a great point of perspective to be able to take in the transient fragile images that natural growth give us knowing there is no way to halt the moving images set by the action of seasons.

Early Esdi Easter Eggs

If you're in luck it might be duck. These early Easter eggs came my way from Esdi the duck keeper. Apart from rearing livestock Esdi Leanne creates fashions and fashion creations. Her dressmaking skills are a wonder to behold and her hand reared duck eggs are a delight to sample. My fresh supply came in a sealed Ziplock bag. This was my first ever egg delivery in a plastic bag. I can only hope for more of the same as these bagged deliveries were the finest eggs that I can remember having on my plate. It is often said that home reared produce is superlative and in this instance I can heartily agree. The only possible complaint that I could have is that I had to make my own breakfast and to clean up the crumbs too. 

Sylvan Tangles

The extraordinary transformations of plants are testament to the fantastic forms that come naturally into existence. Held within the shapes of growth are the many varied patterns of life. There is something spellbinding about the slowly formed images set in tree growths. The time it takes and the shaping forces of many seasons matures the Sylvan Tangles into wondrous forms. It often appears that the tree spirit will not give in to obstruction and that the force of turgor pressure will prevail against encumbrances.

From dormant buds a burr can bloom. This collection of small knots can blossom into a large outgrowth which is highly prized for the beauty of the natural grain formed in the making of the burr, bur or burl. Gnarls and burrs may look like terrible traumas but trees exist with them for many years and seem to grow past or through the knots. The slow growth of trees gives us an impression that they are a near constant presence in our view. A felled woodland looks like devastation and the memory of a single fallen tree can create the perception of a loss for those that still remember the absent tree. Yet the Sylvan Tangles of continued growth and fresh tendrils of new saplings keep on reaching out for soil and air. So there is hope of many more Sylvan Tangles for us all to follow if we choose to seek them out. If we wish to follow their example then there will always be worthy encumbrances for us to ignore as obstructions and instead for us to take on as fitting challenges.

Photos on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157626287571767/

YouTube HD Film presentation

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=bofAn1Rzifg

PHH Sykes

©2011

www.phhsykes.co.uk

Newhaven Harbour Edinburgh Scotland

Newhaven close by Leith and Granton offers up a photographic opportunity at almost every angle. The old harbour has historic beauty and the natural attractions of the sea and sky make superb backdrops and foregrounds depending on how you frame the scenes. This is a wonderful place to visit and to take pictures.

Newhaven is only two miles north of Edinburgh city centre but the harbour is striking different to the metropolis of Scotland's capital city. The sea views obviously make a great deal of change but the whole calmer atmosphere of the old stone set waterfront has a different rhythm to bustling town just a couple of miles away. On the banks of the Firth of Forth you can let the motion of the tides carry you away and the historic settings can drift in out of sharp focus allowing a sense of time to alter in the perception of the viewer.

In 1977 the Newhaven Conservation Area was established and it is one of forty conservation areas in Edinburgh. The existence of so many conservation areas around Edinburgh is no surprise as the city poses many remarkable historic survivals. Newhaven is a site well worth meandering around as the tidal rhythms shift slowly they will carry you out into a sea of your own thoughts, so do take note of the lighthouse as a guide not just to this district but as a marker to steer by as you travel on the flows of the seas in the Firth of Forth and in your self.

Magical Pinhole Portraits

Pinhole apertures can be used to form stunning images of many subjects. When the pinhole is placed in front of a digital sensor it can create some startling records of light and motion. The digital sensor can record the subject in a plain and simple manner or the ability of the digital sensor can be used accurately to record minute differences in light which give a sense of texture and of movement. These tones and shades can be accentuated by photographic development techniques. The end results give a rendition of the moment that is often overlooked. Pinhole photography frequently delivers a less than sharp image which may have taken longer to create than most photographic images we see. The techniques that form the pinhole image may not be recognised by the viewer but the end results are unmistakably enamouring. The simple hole through which the image is created is the source of many aberrations which form a sense of alternative beauty. The smudged looks and universal focus form an image which requires the viewer to take more time and effort in their appreciation of the finished work.

PHH Sykes ©2011

Soundtrack

Pensive Piano

Jason Shaw @ audionautix.com

 

Pinhole pictures of Warriston Cemetery Edinburgh Scotland

The former final grandeur of Warriston Cemetery in Edinburgh has been allowed to decline. Once the well to do of the city were quite literally dying to get in here. It is still possible to see the formal layout through the wilderness that has been allowed to take over. The main paths are clear, but mature trees have now grown tall enough to shroud many of the still impressive monuments. Once upon a time Warriston Cemetery would have presented a prime location in which to feature your monumental mark for those that recorded your life in a few brief stone cut lines. This was at one time a premier place to lay your head to rest as you awaited the rousing call of the Last Trump. Unfortunately it now it looks like the dead have been too shallowly buried and that they have been staging an uprising throughout the cemetery.

Some stone monuments are said to have been altered whilst the cemetery was still in private hands, but many of the stones that have been laid low were toppled on council orders. The current trend for ensuring safety is maintained does not stretch to repairing the striking burial markers, but there is little hesitation in having them pushed over to form a fallen forlorn grave stone littered confusion. The social history shown by the fashion of the stones and documentary evidence delivered through the inscriptions is a vital part of the heritage of Edinburgh which seems currently to be undervalued, but this whole site may one day be seen as a rich resource worth investigating, recording and using.

There is something very pertinent about looking into the final rest which awaits us all. No matter how or where we come to be at the point at which we finish this life our final statements give eternal insights. There is almost nothing as enduring and as intriguing as the pyramids. Here at Warriston several grave stones take on Egyptian styles in homage of the history of earlier funerary monuments. Even today we follow earlier customs and in our way we continue traditions often more so in death than in life.

In an attempt to align these pictures with some of the traditions presented in the Warriston Cemetery pinhole photography was chosen to capture the contemporary scene. The simple pinhole lens seems to record historic sights very evocatively. The pictures presented here cover up a little of the dishevelment and mask some of the detritus now allowed to remain in the cemetery. Through the pinhole lens we are shown an image of how things might have looked, or at least of how a camera might have recorded them when the monuments here were proud statements set out in an organised formal garden of remembrance. By creating old style, or retro photos it is possible to look back at a time when these imposing granite stone seeds were planted on the manicured surface as lasting tributes to those that lay beneath.

PHH Sykes ©2011

Soundtrack

Before Dawn

Jason Shaw @ audionautix.com

Scottish Snowdrops

Spring is never far away from our hearts when we see Snowdrops. True there could be frost and much snow yet to fall but Snowdrops show us that the life within the ground is shooting forth and that there is much natural vibrance just waiting for the longer warmer days. Snowdrops appear quite delicate and yet they are robust enough to weather the harsh end of winter. They keep on flowering through snow and frost and year after year they resiliently return to show us all that Spring is on the way.

The brilliant white petals of Snowdrops present some problems for the photographer. Their natural sheen renders the flowers into a highly reflective bloom. The flowers often grow in the darker areas under trees where their stunning white appearance attracts the viewer. The only way to ensure good pictures involves the photographer discovering just how wet the winter has been. Good pictures of Snowdrops may well be brilliant white. In capturing the pure clean image of the Snowdrops the appearance of the photographer can become somewhat less than clean and far away from pure.

PHH Sykes ©2011

Soundtrack

Everything Begins Instrumental

http://www.danosongs.com

 

Amaryllis Hippeastrum The Belladonna Lily & The Horseman's Star

The Amaryllis flower is known as the Belladonna Lily or Naked Lady. The botanical name is said to derive from Virgil. In "Eclogues", a shepherdess is named Amaryllis.  This name is reminiscent of the Greek and Latin words meaning to sparkle. The Amaryllis does indeed sparkle and the flower is a beautiful bloom so the names it has have been bestowed upon it by merit. It belongs to the Hippeastrum group of flowers named in 1837 by the Honourable Reverend William Herbert, Dean of Manchester. Some think that the name is inspired by the Morning Star, a medieval weapon and a name for the planet Venus as the brightest star in the night sky. A version of the morning star weapon was called a "holy water sprinkler," which could have figured in the Dean's musings.

PHH Sykes ©2011

Yuck at Sneaky Pete's Cowgate Edinburgh 22 Feb 2011

It may have been raining last night in Edinburgh as I left Sneaky Pete's in the Cowagte but I was too full of Yuck to feel it.  There was great deal of bass and enough reverberation to shake my soul free from it's material mountings so as I phonically trembled on my journey home I was not hindered by the rain.  From the first blast to last subsonic echo I was enthralled by Yuck.  Three guitars and one drum set can overwhelm you with sound.

Yuck were front mounted to the stage from where they projected forth strong rhythms and gentle tones.  The sound system was stretched to captures the high pitched lyrics and the awesome range  of guitar effects.  In this bijou venue they seemed to stir the crowd and shake the room, being a part of the resulting cocktail was worth shaking, stirring and savouring.

Yuck were formed from behind the curtain that fell on Cajun Dance Party.  Guitarist Max Bloom and singer Daniel Blumberg have come long way since then.  They have toured with Yuck for one year releasing singles and accumulating praise.  Their guitar driven style is a new angle on Indie Sound and it echoes Grunge but reaches beyond both.  They could be described as a brighter The Jesus and Mary Chain with Sonic Youth attitude.  The grunge stylings of Yuck take their shoegazing roots to new heights with fruit blossoms and bitter/sweets fruit treats alternating along every bough.

The subtle nuisances of Suicide Policeman were lost in the mix but the band put on a great transformation giving their album sound a major shift to create a stunning live performance.  Coconut Bible was announced as a B-side and it is free to download from their website.  This might explain the Coconut explosion that covered the audience as as the front row sang the lyric back.

The album Yuck was on sale on the night in vinyl format.  A good sign that traditions can be kept and that retro is not redundant.  The band have well set roots but they are progressing forwards releasing new tracks aiming to find future classics.  Some bands are well worth braving the elements for.  Yuck gave me elemental emanations in their sonic soundscape that has left me inhabiting my own micro climate.  Their finale Rubber left me bouncing of the inside of myself long after the sun came through the curtains.