Silage

 I walked about 100 yards down our road to take this shot the other day.  The farmer next door has just cut his grass, presumably for silage to feed his cows and sheep over the winter.  

FP4+ on MG Art paper.

I would have liked a bit of detail in the middle but I messed up me exposure.  Even judicious burning in at grade 0 followed by grade 5 failed to reveal anything.  Still, I like the way the heavier clouds were rendered on the Art 300 paper.

Blowy Day

It was quite blowy last week when my wife and I were out and about along the Antrim coast.  This was an old favourite - Magheracross, just outside Portrush, with it's funky new viewing platforms.  The lady in the shot and what looked like her husband spotted me composing on the 'Blad and were waiting for me to finish, but I shouted my thanks over the wind and waved them on.  The gentleman stayed out of shot so I snapped up the lady on her own.  I had been hoping someone would be kind enough to give the shot some human interest.

Blad, 150mm Sonnar.  FP4+ on Ilford Art 300 paper.
Looking west towards Portrush East Strand and beyond to the hills of Inishowen in Donegal.

I found a nearly empty box of Ilford's luscious Art paper lying around so endeavoured to use up the last few sheets.  It's the world's only black and white, silver gelatin coated, 100% Cotton Rag darkroom paper, according to the blurb, and it has a lovely heavy feel and texture to it.  Its warm image tone and eggshell finish gave a lovely subtle rendition of the sky in this print.   

Looking up

 I say looking up but I really mean pointing up, as in pointing the camera up to photograph the ceiling in the Chiesa di San Michele in Cagliari.  It was very much point and hope (hence the somewhat skewed orientation) but hopefully gives some idea of the ornate splendour on show in this lovely church:

HP5+ @ 1600; Foma 133, thiourea toned.

HP5+ at 1600 iso (I still want to write asa there but I'd be showing my age) and developed in Ilfotec HC 1:31 for 14mins is a great combination, by the way.  

Wall art

Trying to take photographs in the afternoon sun of Cagliari was challenging.  In sun, everything was bleached.  In shadow, well, it was just dull.  This shot of some wall art turned out OK, just.

OM4ti, probably 24mm Zuiko.  FP4+ on Foma 133 paper.

They want your money

Who wants your money?  Everyone, it seems, these days.  But especially the shops in and around Victoria Square in Belfast.  It wasn't my idea.  My daughter, on the other hand, had plans and that included a traipse around Belfast city centre a while back.  Oh well, it's not often her and I get a day out together so I shouldn't moan.  We had a lovely day even if I did get stung in a couple of shops for clothes which I'm 100% sure she didn't need.  

HP5+ on Foma 133.  Pentax Spotmatic, 28mm Takumar.

We had a bite of lunch in one of the eateries on the top floor.  I'd hesitate to agree with the sign in the photograph that labels them Restaurants.  Some fast-food chain I'd never heard of, selling various chickeny things and fries, milkshakes etc.  Better quality than the Golden Arches place but for the price I thought it was daylight robbery.  But then I don't eat out much so maybe I'm just behind the times.  

Stonework

This big lump of stone sits at the foot of the steps up to the Chiesa Collegiata di Sant'Anna in Cagliari:

OM4ti, 85mm Zuiko; FP4+ on Foma 133, toned in home-brew thiourea.

It's an impressive entrance to an impressive church, and if I ever get that film of HP5+ finished and developed then I shall endeavour to show you the inside.  

Not much else to report at the minute - I've not picked up a camera in a few weeks, due to the ongoing issue with mother.  She's making progress, which is good to see.  This week in Northern Ireland sees the culmination of the 'marching season', where hundreds of Protestant flute, pipe and accordion bands take to the streets to commemorate the Glorious Revolution of 1688, where the Catholic King James was deposed and the Protestant William of Orange and his wife Mary took the crown.  The marching is usually a good excuse for a bit of film-wasting and weather permitting I shall attempt to take a few snaps.  Today is a bit miserable here in the Liberties, with steady rain.  Hopefully Wednesday will be dry.  

Shabby chic

This old building was opposite our apartment in the middle of Cagliari so I snapped it up one evening while standing on our little balcony.  Unfortunately with high buildings and narrow streets it never really got the evening light as I would have liked though the old street lamp, when lit, was very pleasing.

OM4ti and most likely 85mm Zuiko.  FP4+ on Foma 133 paper, toned.

 

Back, just

Back, tentatively, after a busy month.   One from Oxford, when I did the old 'compose and wait' thing until something vaguely interesting appeared in front of me:

I think this is the famous Lamb and Flag pub on the left.  The ginnel takes you from St Giles towards Parks Rd. 
Spotmatic, FP4+ on Foma 133 paper.  There was a wide dynamic range in this scene - the sun was bouncing off the whitewashed wall on the left while the passageway itself was in deep shadow.   Tough to meter and tough to print - the detail has almost been lost in the shadows, as you can see.

It's a month since I was in Oxford, although it seems like six.  In that time mother had her fall and was hospitalised for just over a couple of weeks.  A few days after her fall I turned 60 and my brother turned up unexpectedly from the States.  That was good timing - he was a great help getting mother's house ready for her coming home.  I wrote last time there was some debate whether or not that would be feasible but true to form she decided to give it a try and so home again she is.  She's getting stronger, albeit very slowly - I guess the body doesn't heal too quickly when you are a nonagenarian.   For the moment she's accepting some help from a care team, who come in three times a day for help with personal care and meals.  The meal prep part is a 'heat and serve' service, so they don't actually prepare meals.  What they will do is make a cup of tea and microwave whatever food has been left out for them.  They are in and out in 15 minutes, max.  It is a good help, although obviously it could be a lot better.  The girls are all very pleasant but it's clear they are stretched to the limit - they don't have time to chat.  The worst aspect is the timing of their visits - there are no set times.  So they might come one day at 12 noon, two o'clock and then 4 o'clock.  The next day it might be 8am when they come.  Or noon again.  So there might be no help between 4pm and noon the following day - and that's a long time for someone who is virtually bed-bound.  Obviously I'm able to fill in the gaps but if I wasn't there, well, it would be worrying.  We'll see how things progress.