UnaOculusAperta

colourphotography

I was browsing the PentaxForum online which in-turn spurred me to retrieve my Pentax K-5, with a HD Pentax DA 40mm f2.8 Ltd lens, from its [storage] case, install a battery and shoot this photograph!

The rose being naturally lit from a window and a straight out of camera JPEG file, which I then opened in GIMP 2.10.34. Cropping the image to retain approximately 75% of its area and framing it, as you see below, and that’s all I’ve done. Nothing more. The output results in an 8.4Mb file.

An orange-pink rose with greenery and small white flowers

I've resolved never to sell this camera body and associated lenses, even though I rarely shoot with it nowadays and indeed, haven't for years, as I have other systems and formats which I currently use. Nevertheless, I believe the resulting evidence speaks for itself.

The fact is this camera is compact and light weight, pretty well built and with Ltd lenses has an almost Leica type vibe to it. By today's standards it would likely be considered a little pedestrian, alright then comparably slow, in operation, by most photographers, I reckon. However, with a modicum of patience and care it can still produce good quality photographs.

Ricoh-Pentax superseded the K-5 with the K-5ii [sans AA filter and better AF], though I've have never tried one. I never felt the need.

As Ricoh/Pentax produce cameras, in the era of SLTs [mirrorless or MILCs or ETVs or whatever], I wish them well as they consider possible options for new DSLRs and maybe even build SLRs [film] cameras again. Who knows, they may just carve out a unique market sector all their own. Here's hoping – with fingers crossed. Discuss...

Buy Me A Coffee ? https://i-davis.carrd.co https://snap.as/unaoculusaperta https://unaoculusaperta.weebly.com

#Pentax #PentaxK5 #ColourPhotography #Rose

Metal Ring, Chain and Clasp

Bristol Harbour – 13th January 2023

The history that has traversed the cobbles of this quay at Bristol Harbour has been written and is out there for all, who wish, to see. Both the triumphs and tradegies of times and people. The metal ring, chain and clasp in the photograph is relatively modern so, probably, has been employed only in the tying off of harbour boats. In the past such a fixing could well have been used to tie off small ships or restrain animals; live stock; prisoners of war and other human beings, travellers and the trafficked!

Such is Bristol's long and chequered history.

Discuss...

Buy Me A Coffee ? https://i-davis.carrd.co https://snap.as/unaoculusaperta https://unaoculusaperta.weebly.com

#BristolHarbour #ColourPhotography #MetalRingChainAndClasp

In the 1960s Bristol was subject to an idea, a new way of thinking, at that time, about town planning and there being an over-arching need for new and improved road networks. Areas of Hotwells and Totterdown were in the forefront of this movement and marked for clearances and demolitions. Consequently, whole streets, houses, even libraries and schools were to be, and indeed were, knocked down to make way for the modern era of by-passes and flyovers! The open space created in the Hotwells area, as a result of the above planning policies, was named the Cumberland Piazza. Dame Sylvia Crowe was then commissioned to design and build the Piazza.

Dame Sylvia Crowe (1901-1997) [RHS Chelsea Flower Show Gold Medalist 1936 & Awarded CBE 1967]

A Personal Connection

A photo walk around Cumberland Basin

As the Covid pandemic abated across the UK, I sat in an upstairs seat on a 'double decker' bus travelling to Bristol. I forget the reason for the journey though remember it was a super day weather-wise and my first trip not driving. I was quite surprised at how much one can see when not tasked with paying attention to the road and having such a relatively high viewpoint at the front of a bus. Both the outbound and inbound legs of my bus ride from Weston-super-Mare to Bristol took me over the Plimsoll Swing Bridge and Cumberland Basin. I thus decided there and then I'd return soon with a pen, paper and camera to write about and photograph this place.

Forward to 25th November 2022 and the start of a project that I have had in mind now for a year or more – indeed some people may even consider this story itself a journey of sorts. In any case it will be my story of an area that holds many memories, both for me and for others I’m sure, as part and parcel of Bristol's history.

I alighted from a First-Bus X1 Direct at Trinity Church, then made my way from Hotwells Road, via Bristol Gate, back toward Cumberland Piazza. I then passed by Dowry Road, crossed Faraday Road – under the exits from Bennett Way/Bristol Gate and entries to Bristol Gate/Cabot Way to the Plimsoll Bridge on the Hotwells side – and accessed the Piazza area. I had arrived!

Photograph: Entering Cumberland Piazza, taken under Cabot Way, looking towards Bristol Centre. First step into the public area now known as the Piazza

First steps into the Piazza and I just about remember this area before the flyover was constructed and the Plimsoll Bridge was installed. When the scheme was completed back in the 1960s, the structures and basin itself all seemed so grey and industrial. Yet, here it is full of colour – vivid colour – on this a bright, warm and uncommonly summer-like, November day! I step a little further into the Piazza and turn to face in the opposite direction.

Photograph: Entering the Piazza, taken under Cabot Way, now looking towards Avonmouth. A little further in to the Piazza and facing in the opposite direction

So much of the visual appeal of the area is now provided by street art; this isn't simply graffiti or slogans, but painting with a purpose: a desire to lift this place out of mediocrity.

Progressing toward the Cumberland Basin side of the Piazza, the high-contrast low-angle sunshine makes for little detail in the highlights or shadows. Of course, there are slogans and tags, daubed here and there, as is the nature of these things. Licence is simply taken to add to, change up, or cover over, that which is in situ and this is often done without any sentiment.

Photograph: Note the decreasing clearance as Bennetts Way 'lands' joining Cabot Way and the Portway. Progressing toward the Cumberland Basin side of the Piazza - high contrast leaves little details in the high-lights nor shadows

However, there are some artworks that seem as if they are protected, respected maybe, watched over perhaps or looked after by the local community even.

Photograph: Taken under Bennetts Way. A mural showing 'Women of Hotwells' painted on the side of Bristol Gate. Cabot Way is beyond, where it joins with Humphrey Davy Way.

Walking on under Bennetts Way across the public space, I come to an information board titled 'Ebb & Flow' which refers, I think, to the tides and how the lock gates are used to manage water levels for access to and from the dock. Also, it appears to lend its name to a housing development in the area.

Photograph: Taken next to Bennetts Way. An 'Ebb & Flow' information board and a pedestrian stairway up to the elevated road level. Out from under Bennetts Way in the sunshine looking a 'Ebb & Flow' notice board on the left

Turning around and walking out from under the flyover, whilst still standing in its shadow, I see where the three roads – Bennetts Way, Bristol Gate and Humphrey Davy Way – join.

Photograph: Painting and colouring aside – rarely is it a good idea to build a road over peoples heads. In the shadow of being under the flyover where the three roads - Bennetts Way Bristol Gate and Humphrey Davy Way join.

Back underneath Bennetts Way flyover again, and there is a stairway up to one of the bridge control booths situated on Bristol Gate at the Hotwells end of the swing bridge. Also, across Cumberland Basin Road we can see the water of the basin itself for the first time.

Photograph: Across the Piazza towards and beyond Cumberland Basin Road. Leaving the Bennetts way Flyover where there is a stairway up to one of the bridge control booths.

Discuss... Buy Me A Coffee ? https://i-davis.carrd.co https://snap.as/unaoculusaperta https://unaoculusaperta.weebly.com #CumberlandPiazza #CumberlandBasin #Bristol #Hotwells #ColourPhotography #Graffiti