Geese

Back on The Beat with a new Dog

WPC Katie Jones (formerly Johnson) is back on the beat with a new Dog, detecting Explosive devices to protect the UK population.

Katie was featured in the news in Apr 09 after an incident that had occurred whilst on duty with her Police Dog on 01 Jan 07. Whilst attending a call-out she was shot in the leg and when attempting to release her dog to apprehend the gunman, her canine saviour attacked her instead of chasing the shooter.

I call that bad luck! Bummer!

Today Katie is standing to represent Hounds for Heroes

at DFS Crufts 2011 along with Veteran Allen Parton:

The purpose of "Hounds for Heroes" is to provide specially trained assistance dogs to injured and disabled men and women of both the UK armed forces and civilian emergency services.

Through this provision our aims are to provide help and practical support leading to an enhanced quality of life for our clients.

(Extract from their Web-Site)

Lets hope Katie will have more luck with her Explosive Detection Dog.

A feature will follow on Katie's story.

DFS Cruft 2011

Its the time of the year again to make the annual pilgrimage to Birmingham's National Exhibition Centre for the UK's biggest Dog Show. I haven't managed to visit this event for two years running due to assignments in sandier climates.

In this space I will be reporting directly from the venue's press centre.

At this point I would like to thank the staff of the Kennel Club for their immense efforts in preparing for members of the international press to make this event as productive as possible.

The day started early for me, having to leave home at 0430hrs this morning. Luckily the M6 was clear and I got there in good time. Meeting friends and acquaintances in the dog world again was a must before getting 'down and dirty'

Worst case scenario: losing my locker key to the storage box that secured my camera kit.

Guess what?

I lost it...or more to the point, I locked the door and left the key in the lock!!!

BAD, BAD MISTAKE!

Luckily a member of the security staff recovered it before my kit was nicked!!!

Grateful thanks go out to the kind and honest man who literally saved my life.

Now I have to wear a chain around my neck with a teddy bear attached to it signifying that I am a LOSER!!! (A key loser that is!)

Images to follow, covering the main events' activities.

Full Frame

Had to dig out my office today.

By pure coincidence I came across my very first full frame Polaroid!

Not a 'real' one though. Its a fujifilm instant image.

However, its the first I took that filled the image pane fully, without cropping!

Its a new Dawn

Got myself into trouble again!
I spent some serious money on a Carl Zeiss lens for my olde Nikon FE and now I am 'In the Dog House' with 'her indoors'!
My digital cameras are getting dusty. I'm just not motivated enough lately to shoot on digital. I've leart to love film. The use of a fully manual, non-electronic lens is much more exciting than fussing around with the 'big guns'. I spent thousands on the most modern D-SLRs and I am having more fun shooting on TMax 100/400.
This space will excibit the results when I get around to processing my negatives.
Just have to wait until the wife has calmed down.

Waiting.....


Still waiting......


Well, maybe not today.

Been and gone...?

Somewhere in Wales in 2008 (Polaroid)

Dogs are better than women, they come but they never go...they don't run away,they don't moan, lie or treach on you and they are always there when you need them most.

Lucky me...

Scared!

The end of the year is nigh and with that come Fireworks.

This little critter is s**t scared of the noise and is currently hiding in the cats' basket.

Anyhow.... Happy New Year everybody!

The trusted friend...

Somewhere in Wales

2008

Christmas has gone...

Being a self-made Christmas Grump, I am glad that the festivities have passed. Essentially its a holiday for those that want to spend time with the family and especially have some excitement for the kids.

Well, the family didn't visit and I ain't got no kids. So, I despise the money-spending and shopping for stuff that eventually nobody wants or needs and blame the rising personal national debt on traders and advertising campaigns.

Best place to be on Christmas is out walking the dog!

I need a pair of decent boots though.

Here they are.

"MY BED!"

"This is my basket!

Please tell the cats to STAY OUT!"

Bath in the Pool

Somewhere in Afghanistan

Afghanistan

Camp Bastion - Not much there, I know. Just hot and dusty!

New Studio

Moved into a new studio, today.

Been waiting a long time for that.

At least I will not be hindered by the snow of this winter.

There is plenty to shoot indoors.

The State of Affairs

Oh Yeah?

Is that what its like then?

Dirty, filthy habit!

Smoke anyone?

I don't speak that language!

Who is gonna stop me?

(somewhere in Germany)

Back in Civilisation

I am back. Thank God I was able to leave Afghanistan behind. Thank God I didn't leave my life there! Phew!

In a short while you will find the fruits of my labour here on this blog. As I shot everything on 35mm film it will take a while until I have processed everything and prepared it for viewing.

Also, the wife and her needs come first or else I am in the dog-house!
Naturally!

:-)

Fat Cat

"My peoplz 'av gone shoppin' for some scoff!"

"They were supposed to get Lasagne! Why do they not listen to me? So unfair!"

Butterfly

A few days ago I met a gentleman who shares my passion for film and Black and White Photography. Deep in conversation I realized that I have all this film and equipment lying at home and do not use it enough to make it worthwhile. Essentially I talk, write and think more about taking good pictures than actually doing it.

The conversation we held over a cup of coffee remained with me for that evening and I decided to make an effort and... be inspired.

The result is shown below.

Let me know what you think.

Butterfly

(Nikon F6, Nikkor 105mm F2.8 Micro, Kodak TMax 100, 1/125 @ F8)

A new Dawn...

In the spirit of making it in B&W Photography, I have joined an online forum called the Film and Darkroom User (FADU). Its great for gaining further knowledge and developing skills in the area of B&W Film processing and printing. I shall follow it with interest and ample contribution.

www.film-and-darkroom-user.org.uk

Check it out and you shall be enlightened.

Therefore today's images:

Dog and Ball, a natural connection.

However, it will become a challenge if the ball is bigger than the 'gob'.
'Drop it!' is out of the question.

(Nikon F6, Nikkor 50mm 1.8D)

Fancied a play with a macro lens.
(Nikon F6, Nikkor Micro 105mm G, F2.8/3s)

Going Digital....? NO!

Most photographers that have been around for a few years started with film, transparencies or even Black and White Film. The challenge to go digital occupied photographers greatly in order to move with the markets and customer requirement.

I was fortunate enough to, or at least I had the money, start out with digital photography.

I have learnt to hate it.

I now spend far too much time in front of the computer and too little time taking good quality images. I never used to place enough effort into getting an image right in the first place and relied far too much on computer generated manipulation.

I have the honor to announce, on this very day, that I have given up digital photography! My Nikon F6 with its fantastic features has become my best friend and 'special' images will be shot on my trusted Mamiya RB 67. Quality will be placed at the forefront and quantity is a banned word.

So, if you want masses of pictures quickly: GO AWAY and don't come back!

If you want quality, be prepared to wait, as film processing takes time and effort by a specialist.