I Couldn’t Hold The Camera

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.

86 comments

  1. 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!

  2. 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?

  3. 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…..

  4. 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.

    1. 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.

  5. 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.

  6. 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!!! 🙂

  7. 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.

  8. 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.

  9. 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.

  10. 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.

  11. beautiful shots despite the gloom and strong winds, Derrick! Jackie did a superb job in taking photos of you! delightful! 🙂

  12. 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 … *

  13. Wonderful captures by the assistant photographer. Jackie has shown us her expertise from kitchen to photography via garden.
    Stay blessed you both.

  14. 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.

  15. 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.

  16. 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!

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