That Tree, always in Black and White…

Part of Cee’s B&W photo challenge  – Open Topic

I have photographed this tree at the Giant’s Ring Belfast a number of times, of course at different times of year and in differing lights, however, I have always turned it into varying B&W effects. Perhaps my first attempt was “the original and best” but I am posting a selection of them as it seems to me that this tree naturally tells me that it needs to be in B&W to do it justice and create the atmosphere. For that reason it seems to me to be the obvious choice for Cee’s B&W Challenge Open Topic this week.

needless to say the little boy and his pup make the photo for me

same tree, different angle

don’t know just decided to take this with the tree and the stones as background rather – was enjoying the meadow that they have allowed to grow up in recent years

the original

a different day, different light, like the sky

 

YES!!!

This is my entry for the Daily Post Weekly Photo Challenge: Jubilant

I’m not the most exuberant person (and anyone who knows me will have no argument with that!) and indeed I lack self confidence in many ways that inhibits me from outwardly expressing myself fully and hiding behind my camera has become a godsend in some of these situations.  Other than ‘losing the rag’ at a bad umpiring decision whilst at the side of the hockey pitch or having tears running down my face when I witness first hand the suffering of some of the dogs arriving in at the shelter, I tend to feel more than I show. That being said, I do not feel nearly so much as I used to…

Since a diagnosis of Multiple Sclerosis about 10 years ago, I take various medications one of which helps to keep my stress levels down and depression (which I experienced in the first two years of my illness) at bay. The down side – although at times it is incredibly useful – is that I have become a rather unemotional person. Nevertheless, that is how I am now and because of the benefits, I have no desire to change. On an intellectual level I know that there are times when it would be helpful to others if I were more emotional and felt more, however, thanks to the meds – I don’t let it bother me too much! It seems to me that I have become a more selfish person, perhaps that is what is needed when living with a chronic illness and I think of it as a price worth paying. However, no matter how my behaviour is interpreted I also know that in many ways I am also a selfless person and I now, I live with the benefit of being able to chose whether to be selfish or selfless.

So, whilst it seems that I have digressed from the subject of this post is “Jubilant” what I am actually saying is that being jubilant or showing jubilation is not something that I often show outwardly. Nevertheless, as I said in my previous post, it really doesn’t take much to please me. They tend to be simple things such as finding a forever home for a dog, watching my boys have a good game (they play field hockey) or taking that photo that captures exactly what I want – whether it be a beautiful view or the character of a dog.

For this photo challenge, however, I have selected this photo which not only pleased me but which also expresses jubilation.

Whilst most people would look at me and assume that there is nothing wrong with me, as anyone with a chronic illness knows, things are rarely as they seem. I used to really enjoy skiing, however, a couple of years after my diagnosis I hung up the ski boots for the last time and swapped them for a camera. Having 3 boys who were all keen skiers, I either joined them where I could on the slopes with my camera or stayed at home. This year, my middle boy Mark, has been studying at the University of Calgary so we joined him at half term break up in Whistler for a ski holiday. Have to say, compared to some of the European ski destinations access to many parts of the slopes are not easily accessible to non-skiers. In order to get to where I could take an action photo was a bit of a struggle. Trudging through snow especially up hill was a personal Everest for me to be honest and I had to think very carefully before going down hill as each step down equated to maybe ten steps up – and especially at high altitude this hurt. So, I had to compromise in my position. Yes I wanted to be below the action to have a clear sky background and increase the height perspective but thanks at least to having a decent lens I shuffled down into a safe place and sat in the cold snow, contented myself and did the best I could. I managed to photograph a number of boarders and skiers attempting and succeeding with various tricks and jumps which gave me that “yes!” feeling when I looked at them later. However, this boy who was simply wanting to “get air” celebrated mid air and was clearly happy with his efforts.

My own “yes” feeling from the few times I sat patiently trying to capture that moment came with these photos…

Ok so I would have preferred a blue sky background but for them but for me it was capturing them right at the top of their jump through thick heavy snow (for two of the shots at least) at a distance of maybe 50 yards, camera covered with a towel and me shaking with cold that pleased me. Usually I was putting my time in waiting to have lunch with the others between their ski runs. As I struggled back up to the meeting point zigzagging to reduce the incline and one step at a time I saw my husband looking over the balcony – he captured this of me, yes I’m smiling but oh boy my legs were complaining terribly!

So, that is my entry for ‘jubilant’. Yet again after intending to enter only one photo, I have included a few more besides and extended into a bit more of my bio so you all know me that little bit better 😉

Thank you for reading. As ever, I really appreciate feedback and comments jx

Cee’s oddball photo challenge: week 20

Saw this and thought of you….r photo challenge Cee!

Went venturing out one day in the hope of finding vultures on the ground to photograph and had stopped in area where we had spotted them on passing. Unfortunately just as we stopped to turn the car around a motorbike revved passed and they all took to the air thus my opportunity had passed. Nevertheless we got out of the car and had a wee walk around hoping they might reappear. They did not. However, I did find this loo perched neatly under a bush, completely undisturbed by the motorbike and passing photographers (me). My husband never understood why I photographed this but for some reason I did, and now I know why… it has it’s place in Cee’s oddball photo challenge

And whilst on the subject of facilities in odd places… I photographed this bathroom sink in the narrow streets of Castellar de la Frontera, Andalusia Spain

Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge: Distance

I do like these photo challenges! This one is part of Hugh’s Weekly Photo Challenge – Distance  and it has inspired me to post two very contrasting images on that theme.

The first is “Rhianna’s Tree”… This tree (now sadly deceased) made the headlines here in Northern Ireland when the farmer, having previously rented his field to Rhianna for her to film her latest music video, discovered that she was ” was in more of a state of undress than a bikini top” in his field. When she appeared to be topless (she may indeed have just been wearing a bikini top unlike any one he had ever witnessed) he drew a close to proceedings and sent them packing, after telling Rhianna that she and her film crew should become acquainted with God.  The filming later appeared in Rihanna’a We Found Love video which went on to win the best video of the year award at the MTV VMAs.

Rihanna’s tree: This tree makes for a peaceful scene itself, however, when I stopped by the roadside to photograph it one day (with a long lens at it is quite some distance from the road) I was delighted to be able to pick up the little old tractor sneaking up into view, for me making the picture and wondering if it was “the farmer” who didn’t quite realise that his actions were about to give him his 15 minutes of fame. I love the simplicity of this photograph, there is no foreground distraction, nothing in the sky, just three simple attractions.

The second is a view of downtown Calgary, Alberta Canada taken from the Olympic Park Calgary, a distance of approx 15km.

Even though, like the photo of Rhianna’s tree, there is no distraction in the foreground, the greenery somehow does create that sense of perspective. Yes you would never guess that the City Centre is 15km away but it is. 

Huge, I hope you like my first venture into your world of blogging. I’m just in the early stages of blogging and trying to learn and build.

 

Poppies…

Part of Cee’s fun foto challenge: single flowers or bud

The word ‘single’ in this challenge has helped me to focus, I have chosen single flowers but also varieties of a single type of flower – the Poppy. Being a less wordy blog, I have simply put a caption with each image.

(Photos copyright of Jenniferwillisphotography)

 

The ‘original’ red poppy growing wild in a Flanders’ Field. Photographed in the evening sunlight hence it is closing up for the night

True blue flowers are rare in the natural world, but the Himalayan Blue Poppy is an exception. Precise growing conditions must be present to produce the blue color of the Himalayan blue poppy. Obviously the gardeners at Mount Stewart Co. Down have achieved those conditions as the Blue Poppies are delicate, beautiful and very blue!

Orange Poppy. Growing wild Andalusia, Spain 

Incredibly delicate Purple Poppy – or is it Pink? Growing wild, Andalusia, Spain

Morning dew drop on a White Poppy. Growing wild, Andalusia, Spain

Hanging, headlands, hockey and many more ;)

Lori’s Weekly Letter Challenge: Letter H

So, this is my first adventure into Lori’s weekly letter challenge and I see that I am joining rather late – perhaps I can fill in the letter ‘a’ to ‘g’ in due course, although with the letter ‘d for dog’ I just might get stuck in there for a while 😉 Nevertheless here I am. As usual I have difficulty focusing on and staying completely on one track on my blog and I, therefore, tend to diversify but I do offer variety I HOPE some decent photos for everyone to enjoy. I am consistent, however, in that I usually include something of my home land, Northern Ireland, trying to show it off in it’s better light, and also my love of animals, in particular dogs. I’m a keen photographer with a huge archive of photos and I admit to enjoying having the opportunity to share a few of them in these challenges.

OK so, the letter H… I came across a photo that inspired me to choose a few others on the same theme – Hanging!

Yes, it’s a Hangman’s noose! Crumlin Road Gaol, Belfast. The Crumlin Road Gaol dates back to 1845 and closed it’s doors as a working prison in 1996. It is now a very popular tourist attraction and believe it or not well worth a visit. The Gaol played a significant part in the recent history of Northern Ireland. The last Hanging at the Gaol took place on 20th December 1961. 

Having at last found a use for this photo I then found a few others along the same theme albeit much more fun than this kind of Hanging 😉

The first was taken through the railings of a skate park in New York, this little lad pictured Hanging from the the edge of the bowl, maybe 5 or 6 years old was there with his dad. Clearly neither of them had any sense of fear. The second is one of my boys at this point Hanging during pull ups whilst training at the gym.

Below, just some scarfs and safety gear hanging…

SONY DSC

And back to promoting ‘our wee country’… the beautiful Headlands on the North Antrim Coast – photographed from the west and then the east

Headland from the west looking over Benbane Head, Dunluce Castle, Runkerry Point and Giant’s Causeway Headland beyond.

View from the east of Whitepark Bay, Portbradden and the reverse side of the Giant’s Causeway Headland beyond 

So now some animate ‘H’s from home and beyond…

SONY DSC

SONY DSC

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Some of the connections to ‘H’ are obvious but for the sake of indulging my fastidious nature let me say in the above collection I have a pet Hamster I photographed many moons ago, a rider on Horseback, Banff Canada, a Hare, Calgary Alberta, swans in Hillsborough Lake Co. Down NI, Heron Strangford Lough Co Down NI, a Hairy chimp, a very Happy wren on my Hedge at my House, a Hawaiian Goose a lady Hunting in a bin for food Calgary Alberta and two beautiful Horses San Roque, Spain.  Fairly random selection.

So now a few inanimate ‘H’s…

The cranes you could not miss if you ever visited Belfast. They are Harland and Wolf gantry cranes, previously used in shipbuilding, now more for heavy lifting during the building of of wind turbines and refurbishment of oil rigs. Then there is a very sad Headstone for a baby, St Andrew’s Scotland, a collection of cowboy Hats on sale Downtown Calgary a Hand-knitted Hat on a Head in St George’s market, Belfast – (another place worth visiting) and finally Stormont Building known colloquially as “The House on the Hill” (where all our politicians work). I have blogged previously about Stormont if you would like to read more. Again, worth visiting.

And finally for my indulgence, no selection of ‘H’ photos would be complete without a of one of my boys playing Hockey, in this case for a team called Harlequins!

I hope you have enjoyed my first entry into Lori’s Letter Challenge. I would love to receive feedback,

Jennifer

Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge: the Colours Red and Yellow

My first entry for Cee’s Fun Foto Challenge

The Colours Yellow and Red

I relished the chance to photograph a firework display last year in Calgary. Having travelled from Banff (about two hours drive) just for the event, we got caught up in a long traffic hold up so at the risk of being late for the display we tried to bypass the traffic only to realise we were trying to cut through a First Nation Reservation. It was reminiscent of the time in Northern Ireland where the Orange Order blockaded roads in protest against the rerouting of one of their parades. On meeting one of those road blocks it was prudent to turn the car around and not engage with those involved 😉 I have to stress that the the First Nation blockade was a rather more simple, civilised affair – no bonfires, balaclavas or lorries requisitioned for the purpose – just a couple of First Nation men leaning menacingly against the hood of their car with their arms folded ensuring that the world and his wife did not drive through their protected land. The effect, however, was the same. We promptly turned around rejoined the traffic jam and our two hour journey turned into a four hour endurance. We arrived at the park in Calgary (hungry and busting for the loo) with only minutes to spare before the start of the display. I had no time to make any preparations for my camera before the start so just had to guess shutter speeds, exposures and began shooting.

We all agreed that it was worth the effort. The display was put on by the team who did the Beijing Olympics, it was a feast of wonderful colour, choreography and of course themed to some beautiful music. The combination of sight and sound was a quite emotional jaw-dropping experience.

As most of my photos were taken using my rucksack as a makeshift tripod, I hadn’t realised that the couple in front were in shot. Lucky break and thankfully they sat pretty still on most of the long exposures!

A bit of ‘life imitating art’ or some version of that saying! On trawling through my photos I saw this and it struck me how alike it was to a couple of my firework photos

I have lots of red flowers and yellow flowers, however, I decided to post these two instead. Yes, I do realise  that the daisy is well past it’s best, but there is still beauty there, something akin to photographing and old beat up car I suppose. The leaf stood out to me one day as the sun was shining through it.

And from the natural to mechanical…

Medical aid snowmobile off to the rescue. Not something you ever want to have to call into service but these guys do great work on the mountains.

 

Harland and Wolff cranes – Samson and Goliath dominate the skyline in Belfast. They are twin gantry ship building cranes, but since the cessation of ship building in Belfast they are in dry dock and are engaged for heavy lifting, in the repair and reconditioning of huge oil rigs and building of wind turbines. When you fly into George Best City Airport they are the most notable and impressive sight and whilst not ‘listed’, the Northern Ireland Environment Agency recognises them as “buildings of architectural or historic interest”

 

Cee’s Black and White Photo Challenge: Roads of any kind

Random Roads from home and abroad…

I am enjoying these challenges as I find myself perusing my archives and reminding myself of photos I kept simply because I liked them, but never had reason to show them to anyone. So, for this challenge I have a little selection – the first three from my archives and three that I took this morning specially for the challenge. I hope you enjoy.

‘The Road Below’ – through the glass floor about 6ooft up in the Calgary Tower, Downtown Calgary, Alberta, Canada. 

‘The Road to Rhonda’ province of Malaga, Spain

‘Old Access Road to Spelga Dam’, Mourne Mountains, County Down, Northern Ireland               Cold and exposed, as we say here in NI… “It would’ve blown the head of ye”

‘From across the Road’ – looking straight down my favourite residential road from across the road and though the traffic. Taken 22/04/16

‘Crossing the Road’ – Malone Road, one of the main arteries into Belfast city centre. My settings were set before crossing the road so I did not need to stop, therefore, no photographer was injured in the taking of this photo 😉                 Taken 22/04/16

‘Road to Parliament’, Stormont Estate, Belfast, Northern Ireland                                                        Taken 22/04/16

Normally the Parliament Buildings (home of the Northern Ireland Assembly) at the top of the hill would be my focus for the photo, however, taking up this challenge to make the road the main subject of a photo I revisited these beautiful grounds this morning and returned with this image.

 

Belfast ‘born and bred’

Belfast, the home of many a bakery, was famous for it’s bread. The proliferation of the different types of bread that you see now in supermarkets all around the UK was something we always knew here – potato bread, soda bread/farls, wheaten bread, veda bread etc etc., yes before it became trendy in mainland UK we took it for granted here.

Born in 1964, pretty much all of the childhood that I can remember (i.e. from the age of 6) and well into young adulthood, was a life surrounded by ‘The Troubles’. Don’t worry, I do not intend to be political in my posts, however, there is no doubt that living in Belfast during this time was a different and often difficult way of living, but life it was and we just had to get on with it. Perhaps sometime I will write about some of the very negative things we had to live with as a matter of routine, but not now.

Since the whole ‘peace process’ thing, life here has certainly changed for the better in many ways. For me, one significant improvement is to be able to have much more freedom to safely enjoy the lovely little country in which we live. In the past we were often compared to Beirut, ironically now with everything else going on everywhere else in the world perhaps we are one of the safest cities/countries to be in.

As a keen photographer, I am happy to go off with my camera most places and try to capture the atmosphere of what we have on offer in and around Belfast and other places in NI. Actually we are such a small country that almost everywhere is ‘on our doorstep’ – an hour and 15 minutes will take me from Belfast to the furtherest point on the beautiful North Antrim Coast, home of the Giant’s Causeway, Dunluce Castle, Royal Portrush Golf Club, filming of The Game of Thrones, not to mention the Titanic (we like to remind people that it was fine when it left Belfast!) and many of the most beautiful beaches in Europe.

One of the places I have enjoyed exploring over the last couple of years has been St. Georges Indoor Market, right on the edge of Belfast City Centre. I had always known it was there but until my son began to frequent it for the fresh food on offer I had never been. Having benefited from one of the National Lottery Heritage Projects it was named UK’s Best Large Indoor Market 2014 by the National Association of British Market Authorities. So, I took the plunge (and my camera) one Sunday morning to see what all the fuss was about…

I discovered that it is a vibrant, happy, cosmopolitan place, busy with traders, eateries, musicians, locals and many tourists. A place that underlines how far we as a little country have come in the last number of years.

A place with colour and vibrancy, local crafts and food from all over the world

Browsing or buying local fresh food and crafts and enjoying cooked food from all over the world (including Belfast Baps (aka buns) filled with a mountainous supply of bacon, sausage, eggs and of course ketchup) to the sound of a live musician is a real pleasure.

The opportunity to browse with my camera is what I tend to do there – other than maybe buying a ball of wool or two every now and then ;). I always liked to photograph the mundane and see the beauty in it…

 

As a photographer I always prefer to capture the candid, and what a great place to do this.

However, what strikes me most when I pop down to the market is that the range of both stall holders and visitors make it a truly cosmopolitan place. Tourists from all over the world, China, Germany, America – everywhere, huge countries coming to ‘our wee country’ to to enjoy what we have to offer. Perhaps this is one of the biggest changes our country has seen since the ‘peace process’, not only can I, who had to endure the many years of The Troubles, enjoy life here but so also can so thousands of visitors from every corner of the world.

Inspired to blog again

It is quite some time since I wrote on my blog, actually I only ever wrote 4 despite the very best of intentions! However, two things have inspired me to return, firstly, in the last couple of weeks a few people have suggested that I write a book. Well, if I can’t manage more than 4 blog posts in a row then I’m not too sure about whether I would ever succeed in writing a book. However, the comments set me thinking. Secondly, when photographing the starling murmuration in Belfast recently I spotted a fellow female photographer… 

The rails over which the drunk woman climbed threatening to jump.

Im always glad to meet ‘regular’ people and especially those with a common interest in this particular event. Standing at dusk alone on the Albert Bridge Belfast, with expensive camera equipment can make one feel a tad vulnerable. In fact one night at the same location I was somewhat distracted from my task by a woman, with a substantial amount of drink in her, deciding she wanted to jump into the River Lagan. She got as far as climbing over the rails (the ones you see in the above photo) and was wavering over a sheer drop into the river -a critical situation for sure and no matter what I said didn’t seem to make much sense to her and indeed none of what she said made any sense to me. The alcohol had taken over. She then became rather aggressive at my attempts to intervene which actually had the effect of her storming off – relief. This was only a temporary aversion of the crisis, however, as she returned a number of times and stood on the inches of concrete on the wrong side of the rails. That night I found myself relocating myself, my tripod, camera and lenses wherever she went to try to ensure she was safe. Albert Bridge is literally a “stone’s throw” from one of the more difficult areas of Belfast and in truth many stones have been thrown right there. Nevertheless, it is a sight of one of most dramatic of nature’s phenomenons. In fact, it is one of the few remaining city centre murmurations in the world.

This is as close as I have come so far to taking the photo I really want – a pattern from the starlings, some colour in the sky and of course the bus crossing the bridge

Anyway, I digress (a regular problem of mine – a bit like Ronnie Corbett without the humour!). As I loitered by the Albert Bridge I spotted two people including a lady with camera. My assumption due to the timing of their appearance was that they were walking towards the bridge to view the murmuration. So, I spoke to them only to find out that they knew nothing about the murmuration. Certainly this was going to be an opportunity for a photographer and traveller to Belfast not to miss. So they waited around for the murmuration to begin. It really is mesmerising although an umbrella is often recommended! I’m pretty sure they enjoyed it thoroughly and I was glad I had been able to introduce what seemed to be seasoned travellers to something almost unique to Belfast and a very dramatic event of nature. So, we parted company after the murmuration and the partner of the lady with the camera happened to mention that she had a blog. Needless to say I went home and looked it up only to find out that Debbie Smyth is quite a prolific blogger and a pretty impressive photographer to boot. That night, because of the lenses we each had on our cameras, we each took completely different images of the  murmuration. How lovely it was to chat to a fellow female photographer with not dissimilar interests, connect with her through wordpress and that I am now inspired to restart blogging and share some of my pictures.

Lift off – during the murmuration the starlings roost a few times on the top of this residential building. The sight of them taking off is pretty impressive

I now have to figure out how this blogging thing works and try to improve my following etc. Thank you for reading and all positive advice welcome!!

Jennifer 

A different night, different lens, a concentration of a few of the thousands of starlings that gather

Sharing the experience with another friend not from Belfast – another first