Tuesday, 22 June 2010
World Naked Bike Ride-Sheffield and York 2010
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Wednesday, 2 June 2010
Cycle ride-A timelapse video
This is a timelapse video of my cycle ride to work and back at a local college. The traffic hasn't been too bad recently, and this day it was fairly quiet, possibly due to road alterations in the area. I'd have loved to have done this in the middle of winter when the traffic was a nightmare, but i don't have a protective housing for the camera.
Also there's a cycle lane on the way home, part is a dedicated lane, and part is shared with pedestrians, but separated by a white line Often people walk on the cycle path. In this you can only see one person doing it, but students at the nearby university walk on it, and people using the park next to the path. It would have been nice to catch more of this........
When i work out how to fix the camera to the back of the bike i'll try a video with the rear view. It's not a view cyclists get to see, and it may show how close some motorists get to us on our daily commutes. Sometimes it's VERY scary!!
Music is Dance Parties by 65daysofstatic
Also there's a cycle lane on the way home, part is a dedicated lane, and part is shared with pedestrians, but separated by a white line Often people walk on the cycle path. In this you can only see one person doing it, but students at the nearby university walk on it, and people using the park next to the path. It would have been nice to catch more of this........
When i work out how to fix the camera to the back of the bike i'll try a video with the rear view. It's not a view cyclists get to see, and it may show how close some motorists get to us on our daily commutes. Sometimes it's VERY scary!!
Music is Dance Parties by 65daysofstatic
Monday, 31 May 2010
Castleton Garland Ceremony
The Castleton Garland Ceremony is believed to originate from a Pagan fertility right. Although keeping ancient traditions, it's celebrated on 29th May, Oak Apple day (unless that's a Sunday), to commemorate the restoration of the monarchy in Britain in 1660. The procession is led by the "King", wearing the garland, and his Consort.
The garland is a large beehive shape, and the frame is covered with flowers gathered from around the village. Traditionally it's the men who dress the garland.
The King and his Consort ride the boundary of the village, and then go to the host public house. The pubs take it in turns to host the ceremony. The Castleton Silver Band arrive behind them playing the Garland Tune. Also a group of village girls gather wearing all white with flowers attached to clothes and in their hair.
The garland is then placed over the head of the King as the band again play the Garland Tune, and the girls begin to dance the Garland Step.
The procession then heads to the eastern end of the village and turns to head back through, stopping at each hostelry along the way. At each stop the girls dance the Circle, and the Chain Dance.
Eventually after visiting all the hostelry's, the King and Consort ride into the church yard and to the base of the tower. A rope is lowered and the garland is attached and hauled to the top and placed on a pinnacle where it will stay until the flowers die.
Now the girls can gather around the Maypole in the Market Place where they entertain the crowds with six dances of varying complexity.
When the Maypole dances have ended, the King and Consort ride the short distance to the War Memorial followed by the band and the girls. There is a solemn ceremony and the King lays the Queen Posy to commemorate the dead of Castleton in the two World Wars. The band play the Last Post which is followed by a silence. Finally the band play the National Anthem.
As they leave, the band play the Garland Tune again as the girls dance the Garland Step, or the Cross-over Dance. And so ends the Garland Ceremony.
For more photos: http://www.expono.com/purple_t/album/9482
This year, 2010, was the first time i've been to the Garland Ceremony. It was a wet and VERY overcast day. I arrived early afternoon and walked around for a while. I met up with some old friends and together we checked out the Garland making, visited the tourist shops, and eventually the chip shop. When we saw the King and Consort walking around the town we followed so as to see them start their ride, then went to the host pub and waited.
The Garland is quite impressive when seen close up, and must weigh a considerable amount. It must also be difficult, if not impossible for the King to see through it. Fortunately his horse is well behaved and not bothered by the crowds. The Consort was a bonny lass with a bright smile and could be seen talking good naturedly with the villagers.
At each pub stop drink was brought out and handed round the followers, and the band members.
Although there are apparently only six pubs, it's still a slow process stopping at each one, and the band had to play as the girls danced. The King could be seen at least once without his Garland, and with beer in hand, but that's hardly surprising considering the weight, and the fact he can't see anything through it.
Probably the highlight for me was the Maypole dancing. It's a long time since i watched any, and was quite impressed with the complexity of it all. It's something i'd very much like to see more of.
Traditions such as the Garland Ceremony are what we should be supporting. It's part of our past, our heritage. It's what makes us who we are in England, and Britain as a whole. In this case it's the mixing of Paganism and the Restoration of the Monarchy becoming entwined that helps make it even more interesting. Everybody is expected to wear an oak leaf to show allegiance to the crown. People walk around selling oak leaves, and so i heard, sometimes they have a person with them carrying nettles to attack you with if you refuse, all good naturedly of course.
As i'm not exactly a monarchist i felt like an treacherous soul wearing a sprig of oak, but better that than be beaten with nettles, or worse.........
This is the sort of event that makes me proud to be English. Our ancient traditions being kept alive. Instead of screaming and shouting about us losing our heritage, perhaps people should get out and support these events, yet it seems those who make the most noise cause the most trouble, and do nothing to protect our heritage, and that sickens me.
Personally i look forward to the next event of this type i can get to, and to visiting our ancient sites and trying to learn more of our past, and what makes us who we are, English!
The garland is a large beehive shape, and the frame is covered with flowers gathered from around the village. Traditionally it's the men who dress the garland.
The King and his Consort ride the boundary of the village, and then go to the host public house. The pubs take it in turns to host the ceremony. The Castleton Silver Band arrive behind them playing the Garland Tune. Also a group of village girls gather wearing all white with flowers attached to clothes and in their hair.
The garland is then placed over the head of the King as the band again play the Garland Tune, and the girls begin to dance the Garland Step.
The procession then heads to the eastern end of the village and turns to head back through, stopping at each hostelry along the way. At each stop the girls dance the Circle, and the Chain Dance.
Eventually after visiting all the hostelry's, the King and Consort ride into the church yard and to the base of the tower. A rope is lowered and the garland is attached and hauled to the top and placed on a pinnacle where it will stay until the flowers die.
Now the girls can gather around the Maypole in the Market Place where they entertain the crowds with six dances of varying complexity.
When the Maypole dances have ended, the King and Consort ride the short distance to the War Memorial followed by the band and the girls. There is a solemn ceremony and the King lays the Queen Posy to commemorate the dead of Castleton in the two World Wars. The band play the Last Post which is followed by a silence. Finally the band play the National Anthem.
As they leave, the band play the Garland Tune again as the girls dance the Garland Step, or the Cross-over Dance. And so ends the Garland Ceremony.
For more photos: http://www.expono.com/purple_t/album/9482
This year, 2010, was the first time i've been to the Garland Ceremony. It was a wet and VERY overcast day. I arrived early afternoon and walked around for a while. I met up with some old friends and together we checked out the Garland making, visited the tourist shops, and eventually the chip shop. When we saw the King and Consort walking around the town we followed so as to see them start their ride, then went to the host pub and waited.
The Garland is quite impressive when seen close up, and must weigh a considerable amount. It must also be difficult, if not impossible for the King to see through it. Fortunately his horse is well behaved and not bothered by the crowds. The Consort was a bonny lass with a bright smile and could be seen talking good naturedly with the villagers.
At each pub stop drink was brought out and handed round the followers, and the band members.
Although there are apparently only six pubs, it's still a slow process stopping at each one, and the band had to play as the girls danced. The King could be seen at least once without his Garland, and with beer in hand, but that's hardly surprising considering the weight, and the fact he can't see anything through it.
Probably the highlight for me was the Maypole dancing. It's a long time since i watched any, and was quite impressed with the complexity of it all. It's something i'd very much like to see more of.
Traditions such as the Garland Ceremony are what we should be supporting. It's part of our past, our heritage. It's what makes us who we are in England, and Britain as a whole. In this case it's the mixing of Paganism and the Restoration of the Monarchy becoming entwined that helps make it even more interesting. Everybody is expected to wear an oak leaf to show allegiance to the crown. People walk around selling oak leaves, and so i heard, sometimes they have a person with them carrying nettles to attack you with if you refuse, all good naturedly of course.
As i'm not exactly a monarchist i felt like an treacherous soul wearing a sprig of oak, but better that than be beaten with nettles, or worse.........
This is the sort of event that makes me proud to be English. Our ancient traditions being kept alive. Instead of screaming and shouting about us losing our heritage, perhaps people should get out and support these events, yet it seems those who make the most noise cause the most trouble, and do nothing to protect our heritage, and that sickens me.
Personally i look forward to the next event of this type i can get to, and to visiting our ancient sites and trying to learn more of our past, and what makes us who we are, English!
Friday, 14 May 2010
Lensbaby
So i recently succumbed to buying a Lensbaby www.lensbaby.com/
I decided on the Composer as it seemed to be the best for what i'm likely to use it for. It's relatively quick to use, and fairly robust. I also bought the Pinhole/Zoneplate optic to go with it.
I'd thought of buying one for a while, but was finally inspired by Pirate Photography
www.piratephotography.co.uk/
piratephotography13.blogspot.com/
Her work with alternative fashion and art nude helped me see how i could use not only the Lensbaby, but the Pinhole/Zoneplate optic with my work.
At this point in time i've only had the chance to use it on a cold and very windy day out walking in the countryside, so i tried a few landscapes. Today i tried a few arty self portrait nudes, so here's a few examples of what i've done so far.
Landscape using the double glass optic supplied with the lens
B&W landscape using the pinhole optic
Landscape using the pinhole optic
Self portrait nude using the pinhole optic
Self portrait nude using the zoneplate optic
Self portrait nude using the zoneplate optic
I decided on the Composer as it seemed to be the best for what i'm likely to use it for. It's relatively quick to use, and fairly robust. I also bought the Pinhole/Zoneplate optic to go with it.
I'd thought of buying one for a while, but was finally inspired by Pirate Photography
www.piratephotography.co.uk/
piratephotography13.blogspot.com/
Her work with alternative fashion and art nude helped me see how i could use not only the Lensbaby, but the Pinhole/Zoneplate optic with my work.
At this point in time i've only had the chance to use it on a cold and very windy day out walking in the countryside, so i tried a few landscapes. Today i tried a few arty self portrait nudes, so here's a few examples of what i've done so far.
Landscape using the double glass optic supplied with the lens
B&W landscape using the pinhole optic
Landscape using the pinhole optic
Self portrait nude using the pinhole optic
Self portrait nude using the zoneplate optic
Self portrait nude using the zoneplate optic
Tuesday, 11 May 2010
A Walk Around The Roaches And Lud's Church
So whilst the country was stuck in turmoil about the elections and who was going to be our next, and no doubt very much disliked, Prime Minister (as i type it's announced Cameron has taken the position) a group of us did something far more important, we went for a walk!!
So off to Staffordshire to The Roaches we went. This is a place i used to go rock climbing many years ago and is a part of the Peak District National Park en.wikipedia.org/wiki/The_Roaches Due to the inclement weather conditions there wasn't much in the way of climbers there on Saturday. We saw a few, and there a few people bouldering, but the wind and rain in the air must have put most people off. It was not good weather for climbing!
Half a dozen of us, plus two children, met just below the rocks. The walk took us up up through the rocks and onto the ridge. It was very windy, and rather cold with a little rain in the air. But this just helped make it bracing!
The views were good though, and some of the rock formations were interesting.
By the time we reached a small road we needed to cross, we all felt it was time for a light lunch break. A dry stone wall gave reasonable shelter. A warm coffee went down very well indeed :-)
As we moved on we dropped down into some woodland. It was a little odd as it was almost all silver birch, but still very pleasant, and out of the cold wind!
After a short way we dropped down to what is known as Lud's Church. This is a chasm caused by a landslip sometime in distant past. It's said that it was sacred to Pagans as the sun penetrates into the chasm on midsummer's day. It was also used as a place of worship in the early 15th century by followers of the church reformer, John Wycliffe. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lud%27s_Church
I've known of Lud's Church for a long time, but had never visited it before. It's a very impressive place. I can just imagine Pagans seeing it as a special place, and also see how it would be used by Christians during a time of persecution as a place of worship. It has a good atmosphere about it, and quite peaceful.
As we left the "Church" we headed back through more woodland, this time more diverse, until we arrived back at road we'd crossed earlier. At this point it was decided we head back along the road instead of going back up into the wind. But it's a quiet road so not a bad choice.
After a walk it's always good to visit a pub, and just down the road is the well known Rock Inn. Unfortunately people wanted food, but they had stopped serving, so we headed back towards Leek (the nearby town) and stopped at another pub. Again they had stopped serving hot food, odd considering a sign outside said "All Day Carvery, 12-8pm". So off we went until we saw another pub. This time just one person went to see if the "Home Cooked Food" sign meant we would be able to eat..? Of course not! So we ended up in Leek. Not ideal, but at least we found an OK pub with food that was decent enough.
Eventually it was time to go our separate ways. It's always good to meet up with good friends, and to meet in good countryside for an interesting walk makes it even better. It was a lovely day indeed!
For more photos
P.T.
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