Remembrance Sunday - Harry Patch 110 years old

A cold and windy morning with a wintry feel didn't deter War Veteran Harry Patch, aged 110 years from attending the service at St Cuthbert's church in Wells today. Apart from the local dignitaries, Royal British Legion, ROAB and members of other services, this year photographers from the national press were there and TV cameras too, mainly because of the presence of this remarkable old man.

Harry is the last surviving British soldier to have fought in the trenches of the Western Front during the First World War, and one of just two trench combatants still alive. He published his autobiography at the age of 107, the Poet Laureate wrote in his honor in 2008, and he was also awarded the Freedom of the City of Wells. You can read more about Harry here.

It felt just a little intrusive to be part of a group of photographers all snapping away at this frail old man in his wheelchair, he seemed oblivious to it all, he's been the focus of much media attention in the last few years. Whatever, I'm pretty certain that we all felt we were being given a very special opportunity to photograph this amazing gentleman and I will treasure my images of him.

SmugMug/Dgrin a Rant

Recent postings on the Dgrin forum, mainly in the Pro Sales Support list seem to be full of whingeing, whining and even bullying posts - When is this happening..... ? I want......, Tell us now ......, Why not......., OR ELSE...... etc, etc.

Folks if you want x,y and z, and its not available through SmugMug right now then get off your butts and go find someone who can give you what you want. Of course in the meantime you won't find anywhere better to host your photos, for customer service, value for money and good decent people who put up with your incessant demands. The latest request I've just noticed is for calendars for the holiday season - it's 8th November !!! you should have thought about calendars way back in September. Its impossible for one company to be all things to all people, get real and give the rest of us a break from your self-centered, ungrateful posts, and while you're are doing that throw all your toys out of your pram, scream and scream, stamp your feet and the guys at SmugMug and Dgrin will still reply in their usual helpful, courteous way.

Winter ?

The weather today has been horrible, it started off with a bitterly cold wind and fog, then rain and very stormy winds. I've actually worn some thermals that haven't seen the light of day for a couple of years, and there have been several mornings this week with frost which I love so much. As the sun breaks through everything seems to covered in tiny jewels, its a challenge to make a photograph before the sun starts to melt them away. I'm hoping that we really will have crisp and bright winter season and not endless days of rain and grey skies, followed by the inevitable mud. Today however was dark and gloomy so I took the opportunity to begin using my close-up lens, this also meant getting to grips with a tripod - all good fun and practice of something I haven't spent much time on for several years.

My Pics for Sale at RedBubble

This is a widget available from RedBubble, I like the way it looks and it was simple to add to the blog, unfortunately the images seem to have been oversharpened in the process but I like the principle of it anyway.

Wesson Clipper

Rees Wesson playing the Bristol Hornpipe on my Clipper

Remembering

Today would have been Mum's 97th birthday, its almost a year since she died and even though she was confined to bed for the last couple of months, I still miss the little things we did together and of course her wonderful smile.

Autumn

The stormy winds that have been blowing for the past 36 hours have battered trees everywhere, leaves are falling fast, making any prospect of rich autumn colors an unlikely prospect. There is a chill in the air too, could it possibly mean that we are going to have a cold winter ? It was cold and blustery when I walked this afternoon - hailstones, grey-black clouds and deep puddles.

There are many photos still to sort from my Lake District holiday so I was reluctant to take anymore, but suddenly there was a tiny delicate fern growing in the top of a rotting fence post right in front of me. So instead of 'taking' a photograph, I 'made' this picture. The difference between 'taking' and 'making' a photograph was discussed last week during the seminar. The term 'taking' somehow conveys an impression of carelessly snatching something with little care or thought, whereas 'making' feels more considered, giving more importance to subject.