From my Library .... Spa Franchorchamps Formula One

No, not what you're thinking!  I didn't get to Spa for the recent Grand Prix (pity!).  But in 2009 I had a weekend watching the historic Grand Prix Masters Series at the famous circuit, and a cracking weekend it was too!

This is your Captain speaking ....

I reached one of those milestone birthdays back in May - yes, the big Five-Oh.  Hard to believe given my youthful looks!  

Anyway, having arranged helicopter flying lessons for my 30th and 40th birthdays, my Wife surpassed this and helped me realise what has been a lifelong ambition ....

Black Weekend for Air Displays

This past weekend will be remembered for all the wrong reasons following a trio of fatalities at air shows here in the UK and in the US.

Flt Lt Jon 'Eggman' Egging from the RAF Aerobatic Team The Red Arrows, seen here leading at the Cotswold Airshow, lost control of the aircraft after the main display, the risky stuff, was complete.  There is much speculation as to the reason for the crash but some sort of catastrophic failure of the aircraft seems probable.

As we were coming to terms with this tragic news reports began to filter through of the death of a pilot in the USA.  Bryan Jensen, flying a biplane at the Kansas City Air Show, was doing a series of aerobatic moves but failed to recover from a downward spiral.

Then on Sunday we heard from the Selfridge Air Show in Michigan, USA, that daredevil wingwalker Todd Green fell to his death as he tried to transfer from an aircraft to a helicopter.

All involved knew, and accepted, the risks, and there is perhaps some solace in that they were doing something they loved.  My thoughts are with the families and friends of Flt Lt Egging, Bryan Jensen and Todd Green.

From my Library .... Vulcan XH558 - yet again!

Sad news for anyone heading to an airshow this weekend (Bournemouth, Shoreham or Oxford), inclement weather notwithstanding, as XH558 has developed a fuel leak and will not be flying for the next two weeks.

Bad news for those who wanted to see her fly; bad news also for the Vulcan To The Sky Trust as this is bound to adversely impact fundraising (the weather looks like it's going to dampen spirits as well). However, for the enthusiast don't be downhearted...

National Memorial Arboretum

I took a day out to head up to the National Memorial Arboretum near Lichfield, Staffordshire and was quite surpised by what I found!

To quote the website "The National Memorial Arboretum was conceived as a living tribute to the war time generations of the twentieth century and as a gift to their memory for future generations to reflect upon and enjoy."  But it's so much more ...

First thing to say is that visiting any memorial on this scale is a humbling and sobering experience.  To walk through The Armed Forces Memorial and to see all the names engraved on the walls ...

TP Day 2011 - The Challenge ....

I'm a member of the 'Talk Photography' online forum and as in previous years they held a 'TP Day' where you were challenged to take one picture that represents your photographic passion.  This year I decided to give it a go, though the result was far from successful ....

British Grand Prix!

It was a spur of the moment thing ... driving to work on Monday morning I thought about going to the British Grand Prix at Silverstone on that Friday, practice day.  "Why not" I thought, after all I haven't been to a Grand Prix for many years.  So I checked the weather forecast and it wasn't good - rain all day.  A good omen I thought, after all, they usually get it completely wrong!  Onto the Silverstone website for a ticket - 50 quid, just for Friday! Ouch!  But hey, it's not every week is it ...

From my Library .... Simply Magic!

It was one of those chance meetings - I was assisting at a wedding where a close up magician was performing.  I took some photos of him doing his thing and he asked me for some copies to use on his website.  I offered to do some studio shots for him - so here we are!

Undecided on style we shot a variety of formal, informal and many different poses - some very cheesy magician-type photos, some more subtle.  This one was chosen by the magician from the many which he used on his website and posters.  Cool!

The magician is Stephen Seabourne and his website is here - he is very, very good!

Vulcan Returns Home!

As the UK Airshow season gets into full swing it's fantastic to see the Avro Vulcan take to the skies - here returning to Bruntingthorpe last month - but for how long?  With a shortage of funds and a deadline of July to raise the money, there's a big risk it may be prematurely grounded.  Your help could make the difference!

From my Library .... Channel Crossing!

In 2007 a group of boats from RIB Shack Marine took the plunge and motored over to the Channel Islands - and the weather could not have been any better!

The English Channel was like a mill pond - smooth as a mirror the whole way across. And the return journey was much the same - here's another boat (can't remember which) around mid-channel. 

Returning to Donington Park ....

That's to say it was my first visit since the circuit's been 're-worked'; also the return of Truck Racing for the first time in ten years.  So, how was it?  Well, mixed really!  There were some good points and some bad points but overall - better or worse?  I've not really made my mind up! 

British Drift Championship - Donnington Park

For those petrol heads amongst you who have never been to a drift event I strongly suggest you get yourself to one this year!  I was a drift virgin until yesterday - but it's fantastic fun to watch and just what you'd love to do in your own car round your local Sainsbury's car park!

From My Library .... Brigstock International Horse Trials 2010

Here's a different sort of horsepower to that I normally shoot, and rather than having four wheels these have four legs!  For a treat last year I took my sister to the Brigstock International Horse Trials - she's the horsey type and has owned her own horse for many years so she loved it.  For me it was an interesting photo opportunity but I'm not sure about things that have a mind of their own and don't have an effective brake pedal!

Awesome Pictures

Every now and then you come across a picture that quite simply takes your breath away!  Today this happened to me with a picture from The Guardian Eyewitness app (one of my 'must have' apps - see my previous post).

From My Library .... A Big Cat!

Sorry if you've arrived here through a search engine looking for big cats with fur and tails - but we're talking about the Broadspeed Jaguar XJ12 Saloon, seen here at Mallory Park in the Top Hat Historic Racing series.  It was an awesome beast when it first hit the tracks, and it hasn't changed much since ...!!

Another 'Boys' Post .... Boys Toys

I'm heading quickly towards one of those milestone birthdays that includes a zero, in my case preceded by five ... yes, the big Five-Oh. Hard to believe given my youthful looks!! Anyway, my beloved has offered to splash out on a radio controlled aircraft, something I've wanted since I was a lad, but never got around to. So I popped down to my local club to get the lowdown on starting this new hobby, but of course I took my camera along ....

Look out for .... Jade Ferreira Jewellery

A quick turnround on these images as they're for a client!  Jade Ferreira is a young, up and coming craftsman (or should that be craftswoman?!) who hand makes unique and unusual pieces of jewellery.  She needed some unusual and dramatic pictures of her work for a portfolio and to send to a top jeweller in London - so she turned to me ...

Ed Verosky's 'About Photography' Podcast ... With Yours Truly!

Yes - Me!  On a Podcast!  Well I never !!  I was delighted to be asked to participate on a podcast with Ed Verosky, a professional photographer based in New York City who writes eBooks on photography as well as his Blog and Podcasts.  And this despite me having a moan at him ...!!

From my Library .... Santa Pod Drag Racing

As a lifetime fan of motorsport it was a real omission that I had never been to a top-flight Drag Racing event - until last year!  I toddled off down to Santa Pod last September for the 'FIA European Drag Racing Championships Finals', and what a fantastic day it was!

The Old and the New - Manchester Photography Walk

To buck the trend of recent posts, this one is bang up to date! Yesterday I went for a wander round Manchester on an organised photographic walk. And it was a real mixture, from the new chic canal-side apartments to the derelict factories of a bye-gone era. But this gave some fantastic opportunities to show the juxtaposition of old and new ....

What Value Copyright .... ??

I've just been having an exchange of messages with other users in the 'Talk Photography' forum over the real value of copyright when it comes to photographers and their images.  And I have to say that as a result my views have changed!  Will I be doing things differently now?  In my personal work probably not, but in my business life, maybe!

I don't mean to be controversial, but ....

Is the London Art Scene so far up its own backside as it appears to be?!  First we had the Turner Prize, so-called contemporary art depicting, well, anything BUT art in some cases!  Now the National Portrait Gallery is getting in on the act with a double whammy on the Taylor Wessing Photographic Portrait Prize!  Is there no such thing as bad publicity …??

Lens Comparison: Canon 100-400mm Vs Sigma 150-500mm

I've recently bought myself a new lens, the Canon EF 100-400mm f4.5-5.6L IS USM, to use instead of my trusty Sigma 150-500mm f5-6.3 DG APO OS HSM.  I love the Sigma lens, so why the desire to change ...??

Wishing Robert Kubica a Speedy and Full Recovery ... a personal perspective

Like most F1 and motorsport fans I was saddened to read of the horrific crash suffered by Robert Kubica on the Ronde di Andora rally on Sunday morning.  Progress reports give cause for optimism but you have to wonder, given the extent of the injuries reported, if he will be able to get back into F1.  I do hope so.

From my Library .... Westonbirt, The National Arboretum

Well, it's raining again! After a beautiful sunny day yesterday, today we're back to another grey day.

Is it me or is winter just dragging on ...

and on .... ?

Arrested for Sitting by a River!!

Well, not arrested exactly.  In fact not even close!  But, there I was, quietly sitting by the river, sipping my cup of tea, when two West Midland Police CSOs deemed it necessary to enquire as to the nature of my activities!

Let me point you to an interesting article ....

"The iPad, One Year On" although, to quote the article, I'd have prefered to have called it "The iPad - the great love/hate device where both sides are equally right"!  Anyone who read my post 'iPad - big iPhone or small Laptop?' will understand when I say ..  

Marmite!

The Spirit of Great Britain ... One of a Kind

  

I visited a childhood hero today!  The Avro Vulcan V-Bomber

 

Watching The Sun Rise .... Portland Bill, Dorset

Although the circumstances of our recent trip to Dorset was not what you would wish for (funeral of a close and much loved Uncle on my wife's side of the family), staying overnight and being a natural early riser gave me the opportunity to head down from Dorchester to Portland Bill to watch the sun rise.

From my Library .... 1959 Vauxhall PA Velox

One of the benefits of working at Millbrook is that now and then I have the chance to get involved in some pretty interesting stuff! Most of it I can't talk about, but on this occasion ....