Monthly Archives: February 2007

Last Jazz Night in The Cow, Beeston




Last Jazz Night in The Cow, Beeston

Originally uploaded by rutty.

Tesco’s are killing The Cow in Beeston, Nottingham. They’re having the old pub torn down and replaced by cheap petrol. The bastards!

Tonight was the last every night that The Cow would have it’s regular Jazz Night and I figured it would be a good opportunity to take some photos for one of the assignments for “Take a Class with Dave & Dave” – Teamwork/co-operation.

It takes a lot of teamwork to play music, and more-so with Jazz I think.

I took over 400 (!!!!) photos, most of which turned out crap. It was far too dark in there for me to do much without a flash and even my nifty fifty struggled at ISO1600. They’re all grainy, but I figured that one or two might look OK if I converted to some Fake Lomo effect using the GIMP. I loved this one! It even has the Cow in the background.

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Chocolate chocolate chocolate




Chocolate coffee beans

Originally uploaded by rutty.

Who says that diamonds are a girl’s best friend? Bollocks to that. it’s chocolate. Ask any of those mysterious creatures what their favourite thing is and I can guarantee you that a significant number will reply “chocolate”.

Why? Well, why not? It’s delicious! It’s sweet and lovely and much cheaper than buying anything from Beaverbrooks.

Luckily I have an independent Chocolatier near to where I live called All Things Chocolate. All his chocs are made on the premises and his Hot Chocolate is just bloody lovely! He even does a dark chocolate version.

My personal favourite is the Mocha, which I have with an extra shot of espresso. I love my chocolate but I love coffee more!

A week or so ago I was in there with my girlfriend and I asked if I could take some photos. He seemed interested and brought out some part-made coffee truffles so I could take a few pics. He liked them, and so invited me back to take some more “official” ones.

So, I went back yesterday and took even more photos of chocolate. Not all came out as I wanted, but I got a few decent ones. The chocolate covered coffee beans here aren’t as sharp as I’d like, but then I had to use my longer lens as I don”t have a lens capable of doing a decent macro.

Still, hopefully Phil will be using some of these in his shop. I may try a few “artistic” versions too and get some printed out at Photobox – I’ve already ordered a 20″x16″ version of the truffle photo so I’ll see how that comes out.

It’s great to try out my photography on a such a fabulous subject. And it’s a great local business too, so don’t forget to drop in for a Mocha if you’re passing!

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Eating fruit and veg is good for you

I’ve been eating far more healthily over the last week or so. I’ve decided that I need to get loads more fruit and veg in my diet, along with more (some!) exercise.

So far I’m yet to do any exercise, but I have been eating an increased quantity of fruit and veg. I bought a large bag of grapes and some apples last week and I ate those rather than snacking on some other, less-healthy crap.

I’ve also been eating large amounts of Mediterranean-style roasted veg, although there’s some swede and parsnips in there too. Lovely it is.

So, today, I decided to get fruity for lunch. I bought an apple. That’s one serving! I also bought a packet of pickled onion flavour Monster Munch – onion is a veg right? Another serving right there. Add to that a Dark Chocolate flavour Bounty – is coconut a fruit? – and a “Burst of Berries” tracker bar and you’ve got one healthy lunch.

Today’s exercise will consist of me walking back to my car to drive home.

I’m feeling better already!

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Famous at last!




Famous at last! Day 62

Originally uploaded by rutty.

Hurrah!

A little while ago I left a comment in a discussion on one of the Canon groups. A guy from What Digital Camera Magazine was asking people’s opinions on the Canon EOS 400D.

Luckily for me, my comment was chosen to be in the mag, and here it is! They even sent me a free copy! Plus, they used one of my 365days portraits as my little icon thing!

The bridge picture there is one I took of Pulteney Bridge in Bath. One of my favourites – going to have to do a load more long exposure shots like that.

The magazine looks really good too. There’s a whole section devoted to Flickr, including some profiles of a few Flickrites.

Did I mention that I’m in it too?

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links for 2007-02-20

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Fame at last!




Pulteney Bridge, Bath

Originally uploaded by rutty.

A little while ago I took part in a discussion on Flickr. It was in one of the Canon-related groups and it was related to views of my new camera, the Canon EOS 400D.

The guy that was having the discussion works for What Digital Camera Magazine and by some stroke of luck has decided to use a comment I made in the March 2007 edition!

Incredibly they’re also going to use one of my pictures – the one featured here. It’s only a small version but it’s great to be included!

I’ve seen some scans of the pages in a group on Flickr. Some of the other photos in there are amazing! There are some seriously talented photographers around using this very camera and I’m feeling particularly inspired to improve my photography to try and match them.

I’m not sure when the magazine’s out, but I’ll be sure to grab a copy as soon as it does

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"Dr" Gillian McKeith – bad science bites her in the rectum

The Garudian has a fabulous piece on the recent ASA announcement that “Dr” Gillian McKeith has been misleading the populace by using the title “Doctor” in her advertising.

Ben Goldacre pretty much spells out how ludicrous some of her science is.

She’s pretty convincing on the TV, but to the scientific community she’s a laughing stock. I’m sure some of her advice is good common-sense stuff but when it’s not backed by good science then you really have to wonder how she can get away with some of the things she is saying.

I shall not be following her advice, no matter how sticky and smelly my poo is.

Thanks to Gary for finding this one

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The Lace Mill




The Lace Mill

Originally uploaded by rutty.

Ah, once again I find myself taking photos of The Lace Mill.

I’ve said it before, I love this building. I’m utterly, utterly jealous of the people lucky enough to have bought apartments in here. It’s a magnificent building and a wonderful reminder of the manufacturing history of Beeston.

I get to see this every day. I walk (or, more recently because I’m getting lazy, drive) past here on the way to work and I live only a minute’s walk away. I can’t help but want to take pictures of it, especially when the weather is nice.

In fact, apart from the CN Tower I think this might well be my favourite building that I’ve photographed so far.

I’ve got a while set on Flickr that’s just chock full of photos from here.

Many of the photos in that set were taken in the Marketing Suite. I was lucky enough to be asked to take some photos of the Suite due to a lucky accident in Google rankings. I had blogged about this building back in May last year and Google had placed my site right under the official site. When the people selling the apartments saw my photos they figured that I might make decent enough attempt at some marketing photos for them.

So, I turned up and took some photos of kitchens, bedrooms and various other aspects. They’re are some large images on the front of the Lace Mill – not all are mine but there’s a couple that are, plus I’ve noticed that they’ve used a couple in some leaflets.

I felt very honoured to be picked to do this and it’s spurred me on to improve my photography skills. I’ve since bought a digitial SLR camera (Canon EOS 400D) and took this image last week. I’m sure I’ll have a go at a few more too!

I’ve not given up hope on buying an apartment in this complex. There are two further phases being completed – one new build and one conversion – and I’d just love to move in here at some stage. Finances permitting of course.

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Trent Bridge




Trent Bridge

Originally uploaded by rutty.

It’s been a bloody gorgeous weekend. We’ve had constant blue skies and mild temperatures and I’ve taken the opportunity to get out and about.

Yesterday we visited Crich in Derbyshire. I’ve visited Crich quite a few times – we used to have a Brass Band contest at the Tramways Museum – and there’s a lovely monument up on Crich Stand. You get some lovely views from up there.

Today was spent visiting the lake around Highfield Park on Nottingham University Campus and also a quick trip to the Victoria Embankment. I’ve taken quite a few pictures and one of Trent Bridge is shown here.

It wasn’t all joy this weekend though. We’ve both been infected with the lurgy. We assume that we’ve contracted a strain of the flu from the daughter of a friend of ours who had her inoculation recently. Probably just a cold though, neither of us are really that bad.

We also had a rather upsetting experience at Trent Bridge. We noticed this old guy heading towards the riverside clutching his chest. He was carrying a plastic bag which clanked when he put it down so we thought he was just a drunk, but there was something about the expression on his face that suggested he was really ill.

We went to speak to him to see if he was OK. It turned out that he was having severe chest pains but he’d taken some medication to combat it. He’d had two previous heart attacks and suffered from angina. Jo was particularly worried, being a nurse and all, and thought that an ambulance was in order but it turned out that this guy just didn’t want to go to hospital.

“I want to die” he told us.

We’d phoned for the ambulance but because he didn’t want one they wouldn’t come. He looked awful but he thanked us for asking after him before wandering off further down the riverbank. There was nothing else we could do for him.

We watched him for a short while, along with a couple of other people that had seen him earlier. In the end we just had to leave him to his own devices.

I don’t know what happened to him but I hope that his inhaler had the much needed effect and that he’s OK.

Poor bastard

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Oh no, what if the wind changes?




Googly Eyes – Day 41

Originally uploaded by rutty.

I love pulling faces. I have quite a rubbery one and I seem capable of contorting it into all sorts of amusing and embarrassing shapes.

I’m also nearly 38 years old. That’s not far off the big four oh. That’s middle-age land isn’t it? Isn’t it about time that I forsook arsing about started acting my age?

Well, sod that. If I’m going to grow old then I’m going to do it disgracefully, kicking and screaming all the way – while crossing my eyes and sticking my tongue out. I’m actually a rather sensible fellow but I do like to mess about. I love to play. Life is fun and I’m going to enjoy it.

I shall continue pulling stupid faces until I’m unable to do so, or until one sticks and I have no choice but to keep it.

Sorry mum and dad!

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