A model shoot

My wife dabbles with dressmaking and is always on the lookout for mannequins, so when she saw a advert offering a couple of freebies it wasn't long before I was dispatched to collect them.  Turns out there were 3 in total, two in a seated position and one standing.  They're weird things, mannequins and I did have a little laugh to myself when trying to get them into the back of the car - arms (theirs) ended up having to be detached while hands (mine) ended up, well, in places they shouldn't have been in order to manoevre them into the car.  Surprisingly heavy things they are, too.

Anyway, I got them home and my wife decided she only really had use for the standing one, which we have called Natasha as she has a bit of a Slavic look to her.  The seated ones, she decided, would be too hard to dress so they ended up in the garage until I got time to get them outside onto an old bench and point the Hasselblad at them, complete with 150mm Sonnar and 16 extension tube so I could get in close.

FP4+, on Fomabrom112 paper

I couldn't get the arms to fit very well, as you can see.  Awkward things to work with, truth be told - bits kept falling off.  Anyway, a few wigs came along with them and it was a bit freaky to see the difference when one was added - they suddenly became much more human-like:

Recognised

An apt post, I think, given Mr Peddle's comment on my last print.  I printed this one yesterday and only when I saw the finished article did I think, 'Hmm, I think I've seen that girl before'. 

150mm on the 'Blad, FP4+ on Fomabrom 112.

I think it's the same girl as in this shot, from last year's show.  Now given that there's a good chance she will be at next year's show should I perhaps take these prints along for her?  I think the only way it could work is if I took along a whole portfolio of prints and it just so happened there were the two of her - so that she didn't think I was targetting her specifically and get totally spooked.

What I might (might) do is see if there is a website for the show and perhaps send a selection of shots to the admin people.  But I'm not even sure about that.  Am I being too cautious?  

Kids with lamb

This was quite a lovely moment to witness. I spotted the older man (grandfather?) with the feeding bottle and followed him until he reached the lamb. What was nice was how he encouraged the two children to get involved - and the look on his face spoke volumes. I didn’t want to too close so the 150mm on the ‘Blad was perfect. 

Young farmers

Whatever these young people are doing, the sheep seem to approve - they look very calm.

FP4+ on Fomabrom112

Ewe looking at me?

Apologies for the awful pun.  And apologies for the lack of posting lately.  Events, dear boy, events.

Anyway, 'twas the time of year for the Annual Agricultural Shows and I managed to get to the Limavady Show with the 'Blad and a 150mm lens, so I got in closer than usual.  It was a very windy day and my hay fever was off-the-scale, so much so that I could hardly focus due to constantly streaming eyes.  No idea if I nailed the focus or not but I was shooting at f/8 so keeping the fingers crossed. I shot one roll - 12 masterpieces, naturellement - like this one!

Judging
FP4+ on Fomabrom 112 paper.

One, times two

 The twins turned one a couple of months ago and we had a little celebration.  I think this was on the Olympus mju.  It turned out a tad grainy for some reason but still, here we are:

On Fomabrom112

They are both doing great - toddling away and getting stronger on their feet every day.   Two distinct personalities are developing - the boy is quite serious&intense and the girl is a real live wire.  Both are, of course, doted on by everyone.

What's going on here then?

 A few weeks ago I hooked up with me old Uni mates for a couple of days.  I'm not saying where I was (just yet) but came back with this shot on some FP4+ courtesy of a little Olympus mju point 'n' shoot:

On Fomabrom112

At the time I thought there was a decent shot to be had but things were moving quickly so I had to act on the moment.  I was very happy with the outcome.

So, where was I and what on earth was going on?  The clues are all there so I'll let you think about it a bit.  Answers can be found by scrolling down.

So, let's see how y'all did with my little photo quiz.  

The girls (possibly from Japan) all had apples with them and as you can see, were busy trying to get the best shot on their phones with the aforementioned apples and the tree in the background.  The tree is significant and sits outside what was once a certain famous person's office in Trinity College, Cambridge.  OK I guess you're there now - that person was Sir Isaac Newton and the apple tree was grown, apparently, from a cloned cutting of 'the' tree from his childhood home in Lincolnshire.  You know - the one which he was sitting under when an apple fell and inspired his theory of gravity.  10/10 if you got it.