Rydal Recce

 

So we have a massive. joint project on the boil with our friend over in Ambleside, for the Lakes Collective.  We'll go into more details about the part we will be playing in their "Alice in Wonderland" themed show, but for now, some pics of our recce to this wonderful place.

 

 

These formal gardens are where our soon-to-be-revealed sculpture pieces will be located...

 

 

 

 

Then it was off for a wander around the grounds, for some more monochrome, arty shots. 

 

 

 

This show is going to be taking up most of our effort in the early part of 2016, so we'll have more details to follow...

 

Scalextric Velodrome

 

Bit of a rush job towards the end of the summer, but a possible shoot we were trying for, which involved the use of Amy's Scalextric Velodrome set.  Just trying some arty shots really.

 

The shoot didn't really amount to anything, but then we'll never turn down the chance to play with a Scalextric...

Up on t'moors...

 

Another family day out to Blea Moor (the days of going places to just do photography have long passed, any landscape and train pictures having to be built into forced-exercise and sneakily-educational trips out for the kids).  More rubbish weather, but a few pictures nevertheless. 

 

 

I'm [Ben] struggling to find ways of photographing Ribblehead Viaduct nowadays, so may well stop on future visits. 

 

Oil in the water.

 

Unintentionally nice composition, as the jogger ambled into shot.

 

Not bad a selection of pics, considering it was done in the company of two of The Childs and we were rushing to avoid the impending rain.

Welsh Night Landscapes

 

One of the things we wanted to have another go at was long-exposure pics at night.  We did a few starscapes some years back but didn't get chance for a reshoot until this summer, when we mugged Bens parents into watching the kids in the evening.  First location, back when Ben was shooting the Dalek short-film (see previous posts), was the beach at Llandanwg.

 

 

First evening was a bit of a disaster- strong onshore breezes, and the tripod dismantled itself into three or four components.  We elected to come back the next night.

 

 

The next night was a bit better, though it took a while for the sun to set.

 

 

The moon over the breakwater.

 

 

 

It wasn't too bad, but not the sea was a little boring.  So we had a chance, towards the end of the holiday, to go up to Criccieth instead.

 

 

Few more people around (including the token drunk wanting to swim to Ireland).

 

 

The shots were nearer what we wanted though.  Maybe returning to this next year...

 

Tanygrisau and Llanberis

 

Still in Wales, and a recce for a possible future shoot at Tanygrisau, where the Hydro-electric power station and dams are located.

 

 

Out along the dam wall...

 

 

Maybe some potentials for a miniatures/sculpture shoot here.  More on the project they're intended for in the new year.

 

And now a little visit to the National Slate Museum in Llanberis, mainly to get some shots of a crane for a sculpture project (again, more on that in the new year).

 

 

We decided to do a few arty shots inside the museum/old works buildings...

 

 

Then outside into the flooded quarry.

 

 

 

The restored incline is rather impressive.

 

And finally, a shot of one of the nicely restored Quarry Hunslet locos on the adjacent railway.  Because it wouldn't be a Ribbon Art and Photography shoot without a shoe-horned-in railway picture.

 

Previously on Ribbon Art and Photography...

 

Previously on Ribbon Art and Photography...

 

So, real life rather got in the way of posting on the blog.  A combination of New Day Job, stress with the kids, a couple of holidays, a lot of meetings, a few commissions, a hard-drive fail, power cut, dead laptop and the dreaded Self Assessment rather put the stop on updates.  So going back in time without the aid of a tardis to the summer holidays...

 

First up, a few misc. train pics from the Ffestiniog and Welsh Highland Railways. 

 

Proof that the summer wasn't all that bad, at least weather-wise, and the "Earl of Merrioeth" at Harbour Station.

 

 

I probably ought to stop taking such low-angle shots...

 

A more typically Welsh day, and grey overcast, with a Welsh Highland Service arriving.

 

Same loco, different location, this time just outside Beddgelert.

 

Later in the holiday, it was off out to Tanybwlch station on the Ffestiniog, principally to get a shot of the locomotive "Linda".  On arrival, we got a pic of "David Lloyd George" (the loco, not the late politician, which would be a tad odd) from the new footbridge.

 

 

Wildlife on the footbridge, more interesting than a train receding into the distance.

 

The shot I went for, though the lighting was a little on the too-bright side.  We need a new camera...

 

Train gone, time for a few landscape shots.  Or treescape at any rate.

 

Token monochrome shot of the shoot...

 

 

And the underwater camera, out for a brief play...