Knights of Royal England Jousting at Linlithgow Palace

Knights of Royal England Jousting at Linlithgow Palace, a set on Flickr.

This was a magnificent event full of pomp and pageantry. The venue of the open field below Linlithgow Palace was transformed into an impressive tournament arena. The brilliant costumes made a splendid spectacle and the performers gave a great display both enlightening and entertaining.

A Wander Around the Water of Leith

There is so much development in progress all around Leith that each time I take pictures I feel that the sites I have chosen to record may be altered again by the time I return to the same spot to take more pictures. Some of the apparent swift changes of scenery are brought about by the coastal climate. The sea and the land bring mist and fog together where the sun draws salt out of the ocean and the breeze wraps up the aspect into a subtly changing almost never repeating atmosphere. There is a great chance in Leith to let the light and history show you a frame which you can fill with your own pictures.

With great lighting and superb scenery Leith does offer much to the photographer. These pictures were taken on a single daunder around the harbour of the Water of Leith. From the same shoot I have three further sets of pictures still in development. The subjects I have released here show how my eye was drawn to the open waters and the closed docks. The gates and fences are raised in part to allow for new developments, but the sea has always been an open free-way for Leith. My wander took me from the redeveloped old docks now harbouring boats converted into restaurants out towards the working piers where vessels were being readied to put to sea. From intricate details to large scale vistas there are so many pictures in Leith waiting to be taken.

Photographs on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157626873490081/

YouTube film

http://youtu.be/UJsWxP3B99k

Late Night Leith with Gunella @ Elvis Shakespeare

There is no better way than to spend an evening than to daunder through the artistic offerings available during the Leith-Late art event. The main reason for my excursion was to take in photographs by Gunnella at Elvis Shakespeare. This book and record shop opened up to take part in the 2 hours of arts offering available after hours from the 2011 Leith festival. There were several bands playing in Elvis Shakespeare and the live music made a full night out along with the art works on show just for the festival. I was able to bend Gunella's ear about lightposition – the art of using light and composition as a single factor in determining whether a view is just a perceptive to enjoy or if it is a potential image to record. Not that I would ever suggest that I am available for elaborate expositions on an all topics when music and art are close at hand and also ready to roll off the tongue.

As the chatter is probably best unrecorded I will guide your attention to two less than stunning images of the crowd outside Elvis Shakespeare. If you wish to view better photographs than these two then please search the online content of Gunella's web site or pop into 347 Leith Walk and see if there are pictures still on show.

Gunella www.xanth.is

Elvis Shakespeare www.elvisshakespeare.com

Dr Neil's Garden Duddingston Village near Edinburgh Scotland

If you make your way to the foot of Arthur's Seat just by Duddingston Loch and pass the old kirk then you might miss out on Dr. Neil's Garden. Unless you are looking for this secret garden you can pass close by and never know what wonders you have wandered past. In 1965 Drs. Andrew and Nancy Neil set about turning a waste ground into what is now an idyllic haven. Their hard efforts have won rich rewards that are openly available for us all to share. Make sure that you take time to look in on this hidden gem.

Through a numbered but unsigned gate I stepped off the cobbled narrow street and was quickly guided off the drive on to the garden path. From the borders of a standard Edinburgh garden I stepped into a horticultural pleasure ground leading over terraced slopes to the marshy edges of Duddingston Loch. The paths looped round the hillside taking me on tours of open and hidden gardened spaces. The loch side is full of life. Where the water meets the land the two come together with extraordinary fertility bringing forth great blooms. The views over Duddingston Loch are fantastic. This open secret garden is a beautiful place to spend quiet time so close to Edinburgh and yet a whole world away from much of the city life.

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