The winds coming off The Solent on this hazy morning must have been far stronger than the 58 m.p.h. that had been forecast. I say this because, for the first time, I was unable to stand still on the clifftop , and was constantly being blown backwards. I was forced to sit on a bench which was firmly rooted in place.
The Isle of Wight and The Needles were swathed in haze,
and I needed the security of the bench to photograph the choppy waves sparkling in the occasional shaft of sunlight
that also illuminated the Beachcomber café beside which a woman tossed a ball for her eager retriever.
In the opposite direction another woman walked alongside her canine charge.
Before collapsing onto the bench I photographed a couple’s progress along the promenade. Because I couldn’t hold the camera in the face of the fierce gusts I occasionally produced unexpected results, one of which is the black and white image above;
mind you, in this pairing you might think the shifted angle provided the more satisfying image.
Unbeknown to me the Assistant Photographer followed my proceedings.
She then drove us inland where we could expect the winds to be less forceful.
We followed lanes less travelled like Bennets, Anna,
and London, bearing its usual amount of fly tipping. On this particular corner beside a farm gate I have already pictured a burnt out car, and, further along a trio of abandoned fridges.
This evening we dined on cheese centred haddock fish cakes; piquant cauliflower cheese; firm boiled potatoes and carrots with which Jackie drank Hoegaarden and I drank more of the Cabernet Sauvignon.
Oh ‘lor! I see the wind I battled a couple of days ago finally reached you 🙂 Your Assistant did well to get the record of your progress.
She did, indeed, Pauline. Thanks very much.
Lovely photos, Derrick! A good choice to sit on that bench, I can tell in the photos how hard the winds were pounding you. That lens looks amazing, want one! We have the same problem with people dumping trash, rubbish around the city. Not good!
Flytipping seems to be the same the world over, John. Thanks very much.
Gloomy, moody opening photos could illustrate a gothic romance novel about a couple gazing at choppy waters and a lone lady with a dog. Can you see the plot unfolding, Derrick?
I can indeed, Dolly. I’m pleased to have spurred your imagination. Thanks very much.
My pleasure, Derrick.
It sure does look rough out there, Derrick. I thought maybe Jackie took pictures of you for the constable should the gusts take you out to sea!!
I like those 2 lanes, both look empty enough as to invite some investigation…..
Thanks very much, GP. 😉
Yes “alibi” was the word that came into my head too. Great minds… 🙂
Cracking pictures as always Derrick. That’s a serious lens that you have on DSLR – what is it?
Sigma 600. It’s a bit heavy 🙂 Thanks a lot, Stuart
I can imagine! A great sized lens though!
Oh, gosh! Glad you weren’t completely blown over.
For once I kept well away from the edge, Laurie. Thanks very much.
Phew! Good!
What a lens!! Enjoyed the shots your partner in escapes took.
Thanks very much, Cynthia.
Yes, great photos and also your assistant took some crackers! What lovely contrasts 😊
Thanks very much, Susan
heehee I love Jackie’s photos. They made the images you wrote about more real. I was imagining you being blown off the cliff taking photos on the way down.
Love your camera. I have a digital 650D Canon with a long zoom lens attachment but not as big as yours.
I love the ocean breezes.
Thank you so much, Chrissie. We both laughed at your image of me taking shots on the way down. 🙂 Jackie uses a Canon ZX740 with no attachments but a good zoom with which she took those close ups.
🙂
Looked very windy and inclement though it was good to see both sides of the story.
A good point, Sheree. Thanks very much.
The assistant photographer did a very fine job. Can we now have some shots of her taking shots of you to complete the picture. You took a good selection of windy shots yourself.
🙂 Thanks a lot, Tootlepedal. I have posted the odd shot of Jackie photographing me.
It looks so, so windy. Is it often like this?
It does seem to be – these last few years or so. Thank you very much, Amanda.
Funny you say that, as I feel the wind has elevated in our area in comparison to earlier decades.
Oh, gosh and golly, that is some strong wind! 😮 So glad you didn’t get blown away like Dorothy and Toto!
But if you had, Jackie would’ve captured you flying off in some splendid photos! 😉 😀 She would have had proof…”See, there he goes! Up, up and away!” 🙂
Love your photos, Derrick! Especially the B&W photos today! There is such character and texture and emotion in them!
And you know I always enjoy when The AP takes photos of The GP while he is taking photos. 🙂
HUGS!!! 🙂
Thank you very much, Carolyn. X
The two couple-on-the-hillside photos are my favorites out of this group. I’m glad the Assistant Photographer was there to look out for in that gale.
Thank you very much, Liz. I liked those, too – even the unintended focusses.
You’re welcome, Derrick.
You were lucky the wind didn’t change, you could have ended up in the sea! Great pictures from both of you.
Thanks very much, Sue.
Dramatic shots, Derrick! That’s an ENORMOUS lens you have there; bigger than my Instamatic, that’s for sure.
In truth, I don’t use it very much, Mike. Thanks very much.
Wow! I think you needed some weighted boots, Derrick. You and Jackie make a terrific team! Fantastic shots!
Thank you so much, Jill.
I’m not sure I could hold that camera on a mild and windless day; I might even need a windlass to lift the thing! All things considered, your photos are great, but I’m a sucker for water/ocean photos of any sort. When they’re good ones, like yours, it’s double pleasure.
I’m pleased, Linda. I couldn’t get near enough for really good sea shots, but the reason was clear. 🙂 Thanks very much.
I was thinking the same thing- that I would have trouble holding that camera on a calm day. I’m very glad the bench was there and that the assistant photographer was keeping an eye on you, Mr. Adventure.
Thank you so much, JoAnna
Ah! It’s a delightful series of The Shooter on the Bench! The Assistant Photographer has produced a rare gallery of the avid photographer on that blustery top.
Thanks very much, Uma. At least someone got some good pictures 🙂
😆
It upsets me when i see that sort of fly dumping/tipping Derrick….. I’m afraid it happens around Geelong as well…
Yes – the world over, I fear. I don’t normally photograph it but that broken glass really annoyed me. Thanks very much, Ivor.
I do not in the slightest condone fly tipping but the authorities seem bent on making it more and more difficult to get rid of things which are of a size which is easy to flytip, such as tyres, fridges and so on.
Here in Nottingham, gardeners like your Aaron have to make an appointment with the council people and then arrive on time otherwise they are not allowed to tip their rubbish. With things that are not bio-degradable, that kind of arrangement soon creates a problem for all of us.
I agree, John. Even domestic users here now have to register their cars, make an appointment, and pay to deposit some items.
A day not to stand too close to the edge of the cliff.
Absolutely. Thanks a lot, Andrew
beautiful shots despite the gloom and strong winds, Derrick! Jackie did a superb job in taking photos of you! delightful! 🙂
Didn’t she just, Lola. Thanks very much.
Amsterdam heeft handhavers aangesteld en die vlooien je afval uit. De boete is enorm: meer 150 euro’s of nog meer, was het weer vergeten … Maar, die boetes zijn niet kinderachtig. Die Handhavers hadden zichzelf in één dag al terug verdiend … Pak de mensen in hun portemonnee … Dat zal ze leren! Amsterdam! Wat één PUINBAK!
* http://www.friedabblog.wordpress.com * Amsterdam, zaterdag 22 – 8 – 2020, 11.20 uur … , Hollandse tijd … *
Thanks a lot, Frieda
Wonderful captures by the assistant photographer. Jackie has shown us her expertise from kitchen to photography via garden.
Stay blessed you both.
Thanks very much, Rupali.
Glad you weren’t blown away 🌬️
🙂 Thanks very much, Sherry
Oh take care, but thank you for all the photos 🙂
🙂 Thank you very much, Lakshmi
Wild weather!
Indeed – still going on. Thanks very much, Becky
That was a powerful wind along the shore, Derrick and Jackie. The photos of that wild grey water and shore are beautiful. Scenes like that always remind me of the “sea-grey eyed Athena” from The Odyssey”. I can see where that descriptor came from, and have always love the imagery.
I am sorry to see all the fly tipping in the forest area. We are lucky that our town transfer station will take most such items at no fee.
Thank you so much from us both, Lavinia. I think you are lucky that such refuse will be accepted free of charge, but the tipping has always been with us.
I love how Jackie documented your progress, and you look quite the dashing, intrepid photographer in the header photo.
I like how you included your unplanned photo–interesting, ghostly effect. I didn’t know the term fly tipping, but I hate when people litter or just dump their trash or junk.
Thanks very much, Merril. Maybe that is an English expression for dumping rubbish in public places.
I am glad you didn’t fly away :). The journey on Bennets, Anna, looks like a beautiful drive.
Thanks very much, msw
It looked extremely windy on the south coast, Derrick! I enjoyed seeing all the photographs you managed (with difficulty) to produce in the teeth of the gale. We have had such a lot of fly-tipping during this pandemic! I am glad the recycling centres are opening again!
Thank you so much, Clare. Our centres are also charging for such a lot that they would previously take free.
Yes! And some centres only accept things if we make an appointment, which isn’t always easy.
Wow what a big lens. I order a new camera this week.
I hope it serves you well. Thanks very much, Mrs W.
Thank you
Strong wind but wonderful photos including the ones of the Assistant Photographer 😉
Thank you so much, Ribana.
What a lens! I love it. I also appreciated the altered views caused by wind pushing you around. The black and whites here are wonderful.
Thanks very much, Crystal. I rather like the accidental views, myself
What a good job you did with the photographing, despite the strong wind! Thank you so much.
And thank you very much, Byung
Love those moody black and white shots and that Jackie thought to capture your escapades.
Thanks a lot, Leslie