Insects Crossroads Dodworth

These sparkling steel bugs weather out the year in Dodworth in South Yorkshire.  The pictures were taken on a snowy March day.  The simple effective designs have caught my eye on several occasions and taunted me when I have not had a camera to hand.  Whilst taking pictures of the War Memorial and the site to be used for the Mining Memorial I was happy to cross the road to capture something of the shinning insects.  I believe that these steel winged railing adornments with extended feelers are bees due the hexagonal cells that they are figured with. 

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157634803223764/

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

Inez Charlesworth Photographs from around Dodworth South Yorkshire

These photographs record an album and some loose photographs of Inez and Kathleen Charlesworth. Further information relating to the original pictures is most welcome. The scenes record details of the village Dodworth in South Yorkshire. The Charlesworth blacksmithing business was located in the village. Walter Charlesworth ran a motorbike and cycle business at the crossroads as well continuing the family business as an Engineer, General and Engine Smith and Pit Corf Manufacturer at Albion Forge and Engineering Works at Dodworth near Barnsley.  Several Charlesworth patented items were constructed at Hadfield’s Ltd Sheffield, the East Helca Works was cleared to make way for the Meadowhall shopping centre.

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157634643194795/

www.phhsykes.co.uk
phhsykes@googlemail.com

Please Don’t Stare

A lot of my test shots would satisfy the requirements of a podophiliac.  My feet are often the subject of shots taken to determine the setup of the camera.   Picturing feet can easily answer questions such as, is the flash working and if so at what intensity?  My toes may not hold the answers but usually a picture or three of them will show how everything is working with the camera.  Every now and again a test shot of an unchosen subject brings about strange results.  Here I was testing wireless flash after making adjustments and I did not look through the camera lens to choose the subject area.  To my mind there is a natural shape or two here evoking the art work of H. R. Giger.  If you don’t see it then all the better for you.  Sometimes the eye of the beholder does reveal the mindscape that only they create.  I am not a great fan of the grotesque in art but I do think that some of the best examples in that genre build on direct inspiration even reflection from nature. 

In the natural world around us we can find so much to sumptuously enjoy as well as some delicate intricacies that can tickle our innate responses into subtle disturbing reactions.  To my eye there is at least one peculiar monstrous shape in this image.  It is created by angle, perspective, lights and focus on a thoroughly non monstrous subject.  If seen by the eye there would be nothing to a second glance more than a natural plant form.  It is possible that there would be a lingering strange memory of a shape that triggered an automatic response.  Once you have seen and identified the strange shape it loses any ability to create an intense response at least for a while.  With the use of a single lens to record a still image the prevailing conditions have created a monster and I feel that I have unwittingly become a photographic Victor Frankenstein.  

Photographs and Words ©2013 PHH Sykes

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

Garden Pheasant Through Dirty Glass With A Clean Lens

Experimenting with the new Nikon D7100 lead to a series of pictures taken through dirty glass windows. The sharpness of the Nikon 18-300mm can still be seen in these exposures but shooting through a window with reflections and with considerable dirt is not recommended if you want to see how well your camera and lens perform. The autofocus performed superbly but again the shooting conditions create a challenge even for 51 focus points,15 of which are cross-type. The pictures were all taken as single shots to test the cameras capturing abilities from ISO 64000-100 using f 14-5.6 from 1/60th-1/640th- of a second.

These shots are loaded here to share with those that have experienced our bright coloured loud screeching garden visitor. His startling call and bright colours form quite a stunning greeting for our friends. He has moves like Jagger and a look of Stephen Fry about him from time to time. He was not at all disturbed by my taking these pictures. My only worry is that he might get too used to humans. Not everyone eyeing up a pheasant down the length of a barrel is a photographer. Over the last few years we have had a few relatively tame pheasant around our South Yorkshire village. The explanation for these visitors seems to be that they have been reared as stock for shoots. If the pheasants that we have now continue to visit I might get out from my centrally heated shelter and away from dirty windows to record our spectacular garden birds.

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

Dodworth War Memorial

TO THE GLORIOUS MEMORY OF

ALL THOSE MEN OF DODWORTH

WHO GAVE THEIR LIVES

FOR US IN THE GREAT WAR

1914-1918

The war memorial at Dodworth was first erected to commemorate those who lost their lives in World War I and it was later further developed to honour those who died in World War II. The figure stands atop an inscribed plinth in the Memorial Garden near the main cross roads on the High Street. The details on the figure are not only life like, but also appear to be very accurate. The helmet, rifle, water bottle, ammunition pouch, webbing and even the buttons and puttees all make for a compelling iconic statue. The figure is said to be in sandstone created by Tyas and Guest in 1923. The statue is designated under a Grade II Listing.

British Listed Buildings

http://www.britishlistedbuildings.co.uk/en-334262-first-and-second-world-war-memorial-at-j

War Memorial Clean-Up

https://www.barnsley.gov.uk/news-and-events/news/2010/november/war-memorial-clean-up

Photographs ©2013 PHH Sykes

www.phhsykes.co.uk

phhsykes@googlemail.com

Edinburgh Cityscapes by Night

Whilst engaged in a daunder through the capitol city by night a few sights were coaxing me to push my face into the back of my camera is search of a memorable image, or two. The evening was just setting in cold and the colours in the sky made it appear as if the sun's heat was setting far away with little in the way of a guarantee to return another day. The bright lights and city bustle were a growing counter action to the end of the day and the urban activity suggested that this was a positive beginning of a night full of promising potential.

These pictures were taken with a Canon EOS 550D camera and a Canon 18-55 mm f/3.5-5.6 IS Lens. The combination of these two lightweight photographic tools produces some great results. This compact DSLR camera and lens with image stabilisation make for great lowlight shooting. When shooting on the move in town the accessibility of a camera not only makes opportunities through quick access, but through usability. When a camera can be used with speed and ease there is more chance that it will be used and that it will be used more often so generating some better and some different results. Modern cameras make some picture taking more easy and that ease not only helps in the cold in winter in Edinburgh, but it allows for many more images to be created that would otherwise have been overlooked. Sometimes the convenience of digital photography gives us much more scope for picture making and those pictures can show us more of our world and open up new photographic experiences for us to explore.

Pictures on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157632943508109/

The compact size of this unit is a major attraction as are the two USB charging ports. So far I have had no complaints and so need to make a claim on the reassuringly impressive warranty. This unit fits in perfectly and works superbly well. If you need up to, but not more than six 13A sockets and two USB sockets then this might fill your needs as well as it fit mine.

The pictures were taken quickly with two softboxes. The Canon EF 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro lens is a great small lens that delivers brilliant results. As always light can be the key to get the best results from any lens.

Masterplug SRGD62PB-MP Surge Protected Extension Lead

6 x Surge protected 13A sockets with three channel protection and safety thermal cut-out

Powers and protects your home computers, printers and monitors from damaging spikes and surges

Supplied with 2 metre cable and 13 Amp fused plug to provide 4 convenient power sockets

Convenient space saving design with Power LED indicators

£10,000 Connected Equipment Warranty for peace of mind 

 

 

 

SANDISK 16GB Cruzer Edge USB Memory Stick

Fast and secure, small in size big on memory. I have been using this drive for a couple of months and find that it ticks all the boxes. The retractable design does make for a small size and light weight, it is also a little delicate in build. I have been using this memory stick very successfully with Windows and Ubuntu operating systems. This memory stick has been out for awhile and it can be found as a part of some superb offers.

With SanDisk® SecureAccess™ software you have the option of utilising secure online backup protection as you upload and store your files in another safe location.

These photos were taken using two softboxes for lighting to create a little sharpness for clarity without too much glare. Using a Canon EOS 550D EF with a 50mm f/2.5 Compact Macro lens and wireless transmitter made for brilliant light compact shooting. 

Pictures on Flickr

http://www.flickr.com/photos/phhsykes/sets/72157633026702826/