This is the sight that greets you as you leave the train station...
Wednesday, July 25, 2007
Cruising Around Venice...
Day Duo Thursday 12th June
Rising late we missed the coach load of American 18-30 year olds and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of six cups of tea (they were tiny) and a piece of toast. Feeling like ‘olds hands’ we set off for the station clutching our train tickets purchased from the hotel and arrived in plenty of time to ‘activate’ them using the machine on the platform. Half an hour later we were marvelling at our first sight of Venice looking as it always does – as though straight out of the holiday brochure. Pit stop at the station toilets (they’re very few and far between in Venice), photos of the undercarriages of trains (I try to be patient) and off on the No 82 water bus to Sans Marco. Strangely, this year we seemed to go the wrong way round and were treated to the sights of industrial area of Venice, but we did see the huge cruise liners (which did look just like the images in the Sunday Telegraph magazine) waiting to transport their expensive cargo on to the next resort.
Rising late we missed the coach load of American 18-30 year olds and enjoyed a leisurely breakfast of six cups of tea (they were tiny) and a piece of toast. Feeling like ‘olds hands’ we set off for the station clutching our train tickets purchased from the hotel and arrived in plenty of time to ‘activate’ them using the machine on the platform. Half an hour later we were marvelling at our first sight of Venice looking as it always does – as though straight out of the holiday brochure. Pit stop at the station toilets (they’re very few and far between in Venice), photos of the undercarriages of trains (I try to be patient) and off on the No 82 water bus to Sans Marco. Strangely, this year we seemed to go the wrong way round and were treated to the sights of industrial area of Venice, but we did see the huge cruise liners (which did look just like the images in the Sunday Telegraph magazine) waiting to transport their expensive cargo on to the next resort.
New Take On Scene At San Marco Square...
San Marco was as photogenic as ever, but this didn’t stop me taking loads of photos, but I did try to think of a different angle. We sat outside and had our lunch which seemed a snip at £22.00 for two chicken burgers – the drinks costing as much as the food!!
Vivaldi, One Of Many Sons Of Venice...
Miniature Violin Next To Full Size, Vivaldi Exhibition, Venice, Italy
Originally uploaded by Geraldine Curtis
View From Ponte Dell'Accademia
Everything about Venice is beautiful, the buildings, the canals, the gondoliers, the list is endless. Although we left hot, very tired and our feet hurting, I’m now planning our route for when we come back next year.
Ponte Di Rialto, Venice, Italy
A trip to Venice would not be complete without visiting Ponte Di Rialto - best shopping area too. I bought my third Murano watch there this year!
Night Time Excursion...
We arrived back at the hotel about 8.00pm. I washed my hair, Graham answered some emails and at 9.00pm off we set again in the car in search of the seaside. We knew we had little chance of finding it, especially in the dark, but hey, we were trying to make the most of the time we had. We ended up in a place called Jesolo, it had a river and a tower and a very ambient atmosphere. As we made our way on foot to the centre, we thought we could hear the sound of live music. Except this wasn’t just any old music, it was a brass band and it sounded wonderful. Pity was we arrived just as the final chords were struck – but it was wonderful even so- and the musicians, they were teenagers from Weymouth!!
We did get rather lost on the way back as it was so dark. We eventually arrived back having travelled the 'quick' route back via an Autostrada.
We did get rather lost on the way back as it was so dark. We eventually arrived back having travelled the 'quick' route back via an Autostrada.
Sunday, July 22, 2007
First Photo, On Holiday In Italy
Day One: Wednesday 11th June
It’s a funny thing about holidays, the day before you go you feel as though any time away cannot be fitted in – there is just too much to do. But having turned the key in the door, stepped away from your responsibilities, you know you can become someone else for a week (or 10 days) face adventure and believe in your dreams. For all too soon it will all be over! Lucky I can savour it by writing this blog and sharing the experience…
Stephen (Lucy’s friend) collected us from home and took us to the airport. Lucy came too for company.
No hold-ups, and 4.15pm (3.15pm) saw us safely in Venice awaiting our baggage. The first year we came to Italy (three years ago), we had a diesel Fiesta which was ideal for pulling up steep hills and hugging the tight corners – and it was very economical. Last year’s car was far too big, but then we had Robert and Lucy with us, so we were looking forward to a small car again. I wasn’t quite sure what we’d let ourselves in for when Graham announced we’d been allocated a Ford Ka. OK it was small, but would how far would we get in this bubble car!
It only took us 15 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel and we were ready to go out by 7.00pm. This year instead of catching the train to Venice, we decided we’d ‘head for the hills’. We’d only travelled about 2 miles when I called a photo stop. I’d seen an impressive tower with the sun on it, backed by the clearest blue sky you could imagine. Stopping did involve going round a round-a-bout and retracing our steps, but it was well worth it.
It’s a funny thing about holidays, the day before you go you feel as though any time away cannot be fitted in – there is just too much to do. But having turned the key in the door, stepped away from your responsibilities, you know you can become someone else for a week (or 10 days) face adventure and believe in your dreams. For all too soon it will all be over! Lucky I can savour it by writing this blog and sharing the experience…
Stephen (Lucy’s friend) collected us from home and took us to the airport. Lucy came too for company.
No hold-ups, and 4.15pm (3.15pm) saw us safely in Venice awaiting our baggage. The first year we came to Italy (three years ago), we had a diesel Fiesta which was ideal for pulling up steep hills and hugging the tight corners – and it was very economical. Last year’s car was far too big, but then we had Robert and Lucy with us, so we were looking forward to a small car again. I wasn’t quite sure what we’d let ourselves in for when Graham announced we’d been allocated a Ford Ka. OK it was small, but would how far would we get in this bubble car!
It only took us 15 minutes to get from the airport to the hotel and we were ready to go out by 7.00pm. This year instead of catching the train to Venice, we decided we’d ‘head for the hills’. We’d only travelled about 2 miles when I called a photo stop. I’d seen an impressive tower with the sun on it, backed by the clearest blue sky you could imagine. Stopping did involve going round a round-a-bout and retracing our steps, but it was well worth it.
Church and Tower Near Quarto D'Altino, Italy
I think we managed about 3 more miles before the same thing happened again! Not such an impressive tower, just part of a church, but right next to a very picturesque river bend. As we snapped our way to the riverside, we stumbled upon a water clock. I wish I could have transported my dad there to see it, he would have loved it.
Fitting End To Our First Day On Holiday
Next we headed past Treviso with its impressive city walls (must stop and explore there next year) and on up into the mountains. We didn’t get far, but as the sun was setting at 9 o’clock, we were standing above a water treatment plant on an untarmaced road trying to capture the last rays of the first day of our holiday.
Returning in the dark on the ‘wrong’ side of the road wasn’t easy, but after just one “but I think we should be going that way”, we were back at the hotel, glass of wine in hand and steadily emptying the vending machine of its crisp-like offerings.
Returning in the dark on the ‘wrong’ side of the road wasn’t easy, but after just one “but I think we should be going that way”, we were back at the hotel, glass of wine in hand and steadily emptying the vending machine of its crisp-like offerings.
Sunday, July 08, 2007
IN BRIEF
Monday 25th June
Not particularly busy. Two piano lessons. Went to Rycote for a meeting about 'Embedding RARPA'. For those of you not 'in the know', I won't bother explaining what it means, merely point out that every job has it's own jargon - worse than that , it is changing all the time. You just get the hang of the last Acronym and it changes and you're back to square one! Only six people attended and of those three had attended the previous tutor meeting. It just seemed a shame for the managers who had organised it...
Severe overnight rain.
Tuesday 26th
Lucy off to spend the next three days in Manchester, accompanying Ben who is taking part in a Trading Standards Quiz. Set off to take her to the station and soon got stuck in the gridlock around Derby due to the floods. Had to deposit her round the back of the station, but decided to return to the city centre to take pictures of the floods. Eventually found a parking space and armed with the Olympus E44 and my Canon off I set on my adventure. The Derwent was incredibly high, only just able to force itself under the arches of the main bridge by the Council Offices. Had great fun snapping away, although with an Easterly wind, it was incredibly cold. On the way home stopped off at some flooded field just as someone decided he had to collect something from the waterlogged field. Was pleased that I've lots of hits on Flickr showing the chap walking away with the water at the top of his wellies.
Beginning to think I can can now 'take up my bed and walk', with every old routine that I attempt I know I am getting better. Today I decided it was time to return to tap lessons. Everyone was lovely and supportive and asked lots of questions. When you're incapacitated as I was, you desperately need the support of other people, but it's so difficult to make the effort to return to your 'normal' life. Five minutes before the end I felt I'd had enough, but I felt a great sense of achievement from having gone and joined in. (I hurt less than after every lesson in the last 18 months!)
Thursday 28th
Graham working from home in the morning and left about 1.00pm. I was busy making up a sample of felt for my class tomorrow - trying to remember the sequence of things I'd learned from a course I'd attended a couple of years ago. Collected Lucy from the station just before 2pm. Delivered parcel to Graham (only they'd sent the wrong stuff) and did the food shopping on way home. (Lucy was not happy as it turned out she'd not gone to bed until 4.00am and she'd not had any lunch)
Friday 29th
Postal strike on, so the wool for felting I'd ordered from Wingham Wools and pleaded with them to deliver by Friday failed to turn up. Luckily I had ordered some more from eBay 'just in case', but the colours weren't the best. Lesson went well for most. One of the students who has a helper, decided she'd get upset because she found the technique of teasing out the wool a little difficult, but everyone else was happy enough and I was plaesed with the results. Had another session in the afternoon making felted balls for a bracelet next week. Took a break and looked at some felted websites on the internet which worked very well.
Met Lucy in town afterwards and had a look round the shops. Took Lucy over to Ben's (she's going on holiday with him and his family for the week) bought fish and chips from Heanor for tea (quite a rarity). Because the evening was sunny and mild Graham and I went to Duffield for a photo jaunt. Got some lovely photos of reflections in the flood waters etc. Quite a full day all told.
Saturday 30th
Graham at work until 3.30pm, then we had a quick visit to Ilkeston and back. Robert had spent the day travelling to see his mate Warren in Uttoxeter, then on to Sherwood Forest with lots of other mates (in two cars) to see Travis and other bands perform in the pouring rain. We were well asleep by the time he 'rolled' in.
Sunday 1st July
Graham busy being a professor in the garage for most of the day. Took Robert to the open day being held at Banks Mill Studios in Derby where the two jewellers I tried to organise a trip to see are. Very interesting to see all the craft units and the activity going on there. Surprised at the standard (not good) of some people's work compared with others. Gave me hope to see people working there who were older than me, perhaps there is hope yet...Had a pang of the green eyed monster on finding a tutor I vaguely know obviously pally with one of the occupants. Felt a bit put out when she was exceedingly 'arsey' (as Robert would say) when I tried to make conversation. Found a chap there who is a Product Designer and left Robert to chat with him for an hour. Had a surprise encounter with Juliette Hemmingway - famous for her amazing ecclesiastical robes (she designed the ones for the Bishop of Canterbury when he was inaugurated) as I knew two people in her employ and had often wondered what she was like.
Came home and then put Robert on the train at 6.00pm
Monday 25th June
Not particularly busy. Two piano lessons. Went to Rycote for a meeting about 'Embedding RARPA'. For those of you not 'in the know', I won't bother explaining what it means, merely point out that every job has it's own jargon - worse than that , it is changing all the time. You just get the hang of the last Acronym and it changes and you're back to square one! Only six people attended and of those three had attended the previous tutor meeting. It just seemed a shame for the managers who had organised it...
Severe overnight rain.
Tuesday 26th
Lucy off to spend the next three days in Manchester, accompanying Ben who is taking part in a Trading Standards Quiz. Set off to take her to the station and soon got stuck in the gridlock around Derby due to the floods. Had to deposit her round the back of the station, but decided to return to the city centre to take pictures of the floods. Eventually found a parking space and armed with the Olympus E44 and my Canon off I set on my adventure. The Derwent was incredibly high, only just able to force itself under the arches of the main bridge by the Council Offices. Had great fun snapping away, although with an Easterly wind, it was incredibly cold. On the way home stopped off at some flooded field just as someone decided he had to collect something from the waterlogged field. Was pleased that I've lots of hits on Flickr showing the chap walking away with the water at the top of his wellies.
Beginning to think I can can now 'take up my bed and walk', with every old routine that I attempt I know I am getting better. Today I decided it was time to return to tap lessons. Everyone was lovely and supportive and asked lots of questions. When you're incapacitated as I was, you desperately need the support of other people, but it's so difficult to make the effort to return to your 'normal' life. Five minutes before the end I felt I'd had enough, but I felt a great sense of achievement from having gone and joined in. (I hurt less than after every lesson in the last 18 months!)
Thursday 28th
Graham working from home in the morning and left about 1.00pm. I was busy making up a sample of felt for my class tomorrow - trying to remember the sequence of things I'd learned from a course I'd attended a couple of years ago. Collected Lucy from the station just before 2pm. Delivered parcel to Graham (only they'd sent the wrong stuff) and did the food shopping on way home. (Lucy was not happy as it turned out she'd not gone to bed until 4.00am and she'd not had any lunch)
Friday 29th
Postal strike on, so the wool for felting I'd ordered from Wingham Wools and pleaded with them to deliver by Friday failed to turn up. Luckily I had ordered some more from eBay 'just in case', but the colours weren't the best. Lesson went well for most. One of the students who has a helper, decided she'd get upset because she found the technique of teasing out the wool a little difficult, but everyone else was happy enough and I was plaesed with the results. Had another session in the afternoon making felted balls for a bracelet next week. Took a break and looked at some felted websites on the internet which worked very well.
Met Lucy in town afterwards and had a look round the shops. Took Lucy over to Ben's (she's going on holiday with him and his family for the week) bought fish and chips from Heanor for tea (quite a rarity). Because the evening was sunny and mild Graham and I went to Duffield for a photo jaunt. Got some lovely photos of reflections in the flood waters etc. Quite a full day all told.
Saturday 30th
Graham at work until 3.30pm, then we had a quick visit to Ilkeston and back. Robert had spent the day travelling to see his mate Warren in Uttoxeter, then on to Sherwood Forest with lots of other mates (in two cars) to see Travis and other bands perform in the pouring rain. We were well asleep by the time he 'rolled' in.
Sunday 1st July
Graham busy being a professor in the garage for most of the day. Took Robert to the open day being held at Banks Mill Studios in Derby where the two jewellers I tried to organise a trip to see are. Very interesting to see all the craft units and the activity going on there. Surprised at the standard (not good) of some people's work compared with others. Gave me hope to see people working there who were older than me, perhaps there is hope yet...Had a pang of the green eyed monster on finding a tutor I vaguely know obviously pally with one of the occupants. Felt a bit put out when she was exceedingly 'arsey' (as Robert would say) when I tried to make conversation. Found a chap there who is a Product Designer and left Robert to chat with him for an hour. Had a surprise encounter with Juliette Hemmingway - famous for her amazing ecclesiastical robes (she designed the ones for the Bishop of Canterbury when he was inaugurated) as I knew two people in her employ and had often wondered what she was like.
Came home and then put Robert on the train at 6.00pm
Trip To London 24th June
Great day out with Robert in London viewing this excellent photography exhibition.
Highlight of the day was lunch - Salmon and haddock fishcakes at The Tate!
More photos of trip on Flickr
Highlight of the day was lunch - Salmon and haddock fishcakes at The Tate!
More photos of trip on Flickr
Thursday 22nd June
Eight photos published in the Derby Evening Telegraph since February, time perhaps now to capitalise on the situation. So it was that a couple of weeks after my hernia operation, I gathered up all my courage and made a phone call to the paper. What to say?: "Do you ever let people come and shadow one of your photographers?" I asked tentatively. The voice on the other end was very calm and understanding and luckily didn't think my request at all strange. "Yes," he said " we get requests from students all the time, just send in an email and we'll get a date fixed up" Sending in an email was the least of my concerns, it was the word 'student' which really worried me...
Date arranged, I rose early and arrived with minutes to spare. I was greeted in the foyer by Steve, the same chap whom I'd spoken to on the phone. He was really great and spent the whole day explaining his work to me to the 'Nth' degree. We got on like a house on fire - I don't think he even noticed I'm probably old enough to be his mother...!
Eight photos published in the Derby Evening Telegraph since February, time perhaps now to capitalise on the situation. So it was that a couple of weeks after my hernia operation, I gathered up all my courage and made a phone call to the paper. What to say?: "Do you ever let people come and shadow one of your photographers?" I asked tentatively. The voice on the other end was very calm and understanding and luckily didn't think my request at all strange. "Yes," he said " we get requests from students all the time, just send in an email and we'll get a date fixed up" Sending in an email was the least of my concerns, it was the word 'student' which really worried me...
Date arranged, I rose early and arrived with minutes to spare. I was greeted in the foyer by Steve, the same chap whom I'd spoken to on the phone. He was really great and spent the whole day explaining his work to me to the 'Nth' degree. We got on like a house on fire - I don't think he even noticed I'm probably old enough to be his mother...!
First task was to catch a photograph of the person who'd been a 'bit naughty', outside the Magistrates Court. Steve attached his biggest lens to his camera and we set off on foot in hot persuit. It wasn't the easiest thing to do when you have no or little idea of what the person looks like. Steve had been told the man resembled Mr Burns from The Simpsons, so there was no way I'd be able to help in the identification! As time edged towards the court appearance time, it looked as though we were out of luck, so we made our way into the Court - bags had to be searched, cameras left at the desk and you had to go through a metal detector. Having never been inside a real life Court Room, I was surprised how small the space was - there seemed to be screens everywhere (perhaps for people giving evidence from other rooms) As we sat there in hushed silence, I was suddenly overcome by an attack of the giggles. Being there reminded me of a television programme being shown currently where couples accuse each other of things they'd rather not do in the bedroom and the jury has to decide who is guilty (or not). Luckily Steve realised that as the man was up for sentencing (a) he wouldn't be getting a photo of him leaving the building and (b) it was getting dangerous close to our next appointment time. So we gathered our belongings and headed back to base.
The next assignment was to photograph a cyclist who was going to take part in the Welsh Tryptk and raise money for the Derbyshire Association For The Blind. The distance was only as far as the Court House, but to have walked would have meant crossing over a dual carriageway. Steve had spoken to the chap before we left the office to ask him to come prepared looking as though he was just about to depart. He managed to bring his bicycle, but no helmet or rucksack etc! It was here that F-numbers were explained to me. It's not the first time by any means, but perhaps the first time that it registered exactly why you would want to dictate your depth of focus. If you widen your aperture to a low number, taking care to check that your film speed doesn't fall below, say 100, then the background will be out of focus (smaller depth of focus), thus highlighting your subject by being in focus! (It's only taken me 30 years to get the hang of F-numbers)
Next up was the yard of a pub, transferred into a paradise of pretty flowers and wanting promotion for its entry in 'Derby in Bloom'. Steve mentioned that this would be a good opportunity for me to take the photo with my camera and have it printed in the paper. But as he took it out of the camera bag and handed it to me he must have caught the look of panic on my face and instead, set it up for the lighting conditions and handed it to me to use in any case, but without real instruction. I thought my photos came out really well!
Then we grabbed a sandwich (there isn't really a lunch break as such) and returned to the office where I watched and tried to take note of what Steve was doing. Basically, he downloaded the photos, choses three or four from each event, tweaked them, saved them in a certain type of folder which was then send to Victoria's computer and saved in another folder showing the date. (All photos had to be named and allocated a number which denoted the photographer by initial and included the date) A black and white picture of the photos was printed to show roughly what they looked like. Another thing, all photos had to be taken in both portrait and landscape mode to make such one of them would fit the space earmarked for the photo. I then sat with Michelle, who along with three others was responsible for the layout of each page. It looked highly complicated, but as she said, once you know how to do it, it's more or less a case of copy and paste as everything goes to her fully written, all she has to do is pop it in and sometimes resize the images. The good thing about her job was when you've finished for today , you really have finished!
Things had slowed down a bit by now, which was good as it meant there was time to get to know the other photographers. Jon, who as I said " looked as though he'd done a full day's work by 1.00pm (he'd been on a 'stake out' at Wirksworth since 5.30am - something about a man and his dog...) and Ian who had years of wisdom stored up, but seemed only to be able to take very dark photos - well it was a rainy day...Adam popped up sometime later, the joke on him was that he was fresh out of college, which of course he wasn't he just looked (as they all teased) about 12!
Victoria spent all day disappearing into important meetings and never spent more than a few minutes in the same place. She buzzed with the same amount of energy whether the clocked showed 9.00am or 5.00pm and she was great fun too. Things had now ground to a halt and then Victoria found she needed one last photo to go with a story of someone who had received an on the spot fine for dropping litter. Steve collected up all the empty containers he could find and the rain having eased off we headed off for a likely location (about 10 metres away!) He staged the photo with litter strewn about next to a plastic bag. He then posed me to look as though I was walking away dropping an empty can from my hand. The shot was taken. Then I pointed out that the person fined was male, so shouldn't I take a photo of him as the culprit. As he'd already set up the photo, all I had to do was press the shutter... success... 'My' photo credited with my name appeared on page 14 of the DET the following morning.
The start of a new career...?
Then we grabbed a sandwich (there isn't really a lunch break as such) and returned to the office where I watched and tried to take note of what Steve was doing. Basically, he downloaded the photos, choses three or four from each event, tweaked them, saved them in a certain type of folder which was then send to Victoria's computer and saved in another folder showing the date. (All photos had to be named and allocated a number which denoted the photographer by initial and included the date) A black and white picture of the photos was printed to show roughly what they looked like. Another thing, all photos had to be taken in both portrait and landscape mode to make such one of them would fit the space earmarked for the photo. I then sat with Michelle, who along with three others was responsible for the layout of each page. It looked highly complicated, but as she said, once you know how to do it, it's more or less a case of copy and paste as everything goes to her fully written, all she has to do is pop it in and sometimes resize the images. The good thing about her job was when you've finished for today , you really have finished!
Things had slowed down a bit by now, which was good as it meant there was time to get to know the other photographers. Jon, who as I said " looked as though he'd done a full day's work by 1.00pm (he'd been on a 'stake out' at Wirksworth since 5.30am - something about a man and his dog...) and Ian who had years of wisdom stored up, but seemed only to be able to take very dark photos - well it was a rainy day...Adam popped up sometime later, the joke on him was that he was fresh out of college, which of course he wasn't he just looked (as they all teased) about 12!
Victoria spent all day disappearing into important meetings and never spent more than a few minutes in the same place. She buzzed with the same amount of energy whether the clocked showed 9.00am or 5.00pm and she was great fun too. Things had now ground to a halt and then Victoria found she needed one last photo to go with a story of someone who had received an on the spot fine for dropping litter. Steve collected up all the empty containers he could find and the rain having eased off we headed off for a likely location (about 10 metres away!) He staged the photo with litter strewn about next to a plastic bag. He then posed me to look as though I was walking away dropping an empty can from my hand. The shot was taken. Then I pointed out that the person fined was male, so shouldn't I take a photo of him as the culprit. As he'd already set up the photo, all I had to do was press the shutter... success... 'My' photo credited with my name appeared on page 14 of the DET the following morning.
The start of a new career...?
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