A Little Bit of Nostalgia: 1981, SOS (Save our Steel), Scunthorpe

I recently came across some negatives I have never printed. The subject, a protest march which took place (as far as I can remember) on a cold day during 1981 in Scunthorpe; a North Lincolnshire town grown up with steel working.

Margaret Thatcher’s government was to announce the loss of over 4,000 jobs in the area.

A year earlier, fears had been raised about the long term plans for steel-making in Scunthorpe; now they were being realised.

By the end of the year, the Normanby Park site, after 69 years of steel production, would be closed down and demolished.

Despite the cold, there were brighter moments during the march and many in the community lent their support….

Steel is still being produced, on a smaller scale, at Scunthorpe today; as in the eighties, the future remains uncertain. We hope for a revival of the town’s fortunes…

Thanks for visiting this blog. The photographs were made using an Olympus OM1 with Zuiko lenses. Film stock was Kodak Tri-X Pan.

A school, an hour, an education

‘Education is the premise of progress, in every society, in every family.’ (Kofi Annan)

Having the correct documentation I had expected to spend a day at the Mae La refugee camp on the Thai/Myanmar border. As it was, I managed about an hour at a makeshift high school before the party I was with had to hurry off. And what a hugely rewarding hour that was.

It rains a lot during the summer months in Tak Province

I visited in June 2016. Mae La is the largest refugee camp of nine in Thailand; the latest figures (November 2018} show around 32,000 refugees live there, mainly Karen people, with around a third being of school age (5-18 years). The party I was with had helped in the provision of resources for this makeshift school and was escorted by a representative of an organisation that had set up a teaching English training scheme for displaced teachers.

Auxiliary staff at the teacher training facility

The school was well attended and I found myself welcomed into classrooms much like any classrooms, anywhere. The commitment to learning struck me immediately, though I did manage to disrupt that once or twice:

Some of the older students live at the school; I caught up with three of them at break time and they gave me a whirlwind tour of their quarters:

The boys pictured were keen sportsmen; the school has considerable success in sports competitions – as the trophy shelf shows – despite the small size of the school playground:

The child in the photograph above kept her distance but followed me as I made my brief exploration. One day she will be at school, though she has already embarked upon a life of learning and one which, as I know very well, does not stop.

Thanks for visiting my blog: as usual, the camera I used was an Olympus OMD with a Zuiko short zoom.

At the end of the line and what I saw there…

‘Railway termini are our gates to the glorious and unknown. Through them we pass out into
adventure and sunshine. To them, alas! we return.’

The above caption is an observation made by the English novelist, E M Forster (1879 – 1970). He knew a thing or two about travelling and his quote is very apt for the subject of this blog: Bangkok Railway Station.

People like having their photograph taken with trains here in Thailand. I have witnessed wedding shots being made at a couple of provincial stations, though never at Bangkok Railway Station – or Hualamphong as it is locally known – …yet.

I have visited the place many times over the years, looking for pictures. More often than not I don’t get them but the experience of being at this perpetually busy place is always an enjoyable one.

My favourite time for visiting Hualamphong is very early morning when the overnight trains arrive. The platforms become a hive of activity; passengers, still only half awake, alight, cleaners board, restaurant car staff finish up. Dirty linen is thrown from the train whilst maids and porters execute its transport to the laundry with military precision. By the time I have finished watching this fascinating process the laundry has already fired up a good head of steam.

Trains are well used in Thailand and offers a cheap way of getting around. The journey times are long (the trip from my local station to Hualamphong, a distance of around 24 kilometres, takes about 45 minutes), but I personally enjoy the leisurely pace.

The prospect of the journey ahead, Hualamphong

Monks frequently travel by rail and occasionally present an opportunity for me to flex my observational, narrative style. The presence of barbers on the platform at Hualamphong has always been a bit of a mystery to me….

I will doubtless return many times to these familiar platforms, coffee shops, ticket offices and washrooms before I head back to the UK. Perhaps I’ll step out into the sun or maybe just hang out until it is time to catch the train home. Either way it’ll be an adventure.

I remember wondering who left those shoes and gloves and under what circumstances, lol. The photographs in this blog were taken on my trusty OMD with a Zuiko short zoom on it. Thanks for visiting, I’ll leave you with someone who had obviously had a very tiring day….

Big Buddha and Other Monumental Marvels

When you are still a fair way off and this appears out of the distant haze, you know that you will soon be facing a statue of gargantuan proportions. Thailand has many such epic tributes to their Buddhist beliefs. And they are wonderful to behold.

Some of these sacred sites are old, some are new. Here is a giant Buddha that I came across last year, being built out of a cliff face:

More often than not, these immense constructions represent Buddha himself, others are effigies of revered monks or staues of mythological entities….

Many of these celebrations are the centrepieces of Thai Wats (temples), others are found in incredibly ornate Chinese Temples.

Some attract visitors, some (at least when I was there) stand alone. Gigantic sentinels overlooking a vast landscape. Harmonious despite their huge size.

Standing amongst these titans, how small we are in the grand scheme of things….

Thanks for visiting this blog. All photographs made using my Olympus OMD EM5 c/w Zuiko Digital short zoom lens.

Grandad! Take my picture!

Since the photograph above was taken I have gained a grandson.

I remember the day I first received the news that I had become a grandparent and how very pleased I was; I also recall a sudden feeling of growing old. This said, I have come to realise that the important things about my new role are the first five letters of the title; for the experience is indeed grand.

As a keen photographer I enjoy recording those moments I spend with my grandchildren; I find it interesting how sometimes the snapshot aesthetic combines with my own narrative style:

And this, below; at the time, my daughter was in an advanced stage of pregnancy:

Grandchildren are demanding; in fact, sometimes I get worn out just watching them:

I’ve come to realise that there can be a strong bond between those at one end of life and those at the other; it’s a good feeling, like being comfortable.

I don’t see my grandchildren as often as I like, so my collection of photographs is a constant reminder of how they were; I hope there will be many more photographs of how they are. I look forward to that…..

Wall, for wall’s sake

I’ve been trying my hand at this blogging malarkey for a couple of weeks now; the idea seems to be to maintain the momentum by publishing posts regularly… and often. But then, not to sacrifice quality for the sake of quantity; and so this morning I had that kind of feeling one gets when faced with a blank piece of paper, pencil in hand and no real idea of where to start. The first mark dilemma. A wall. Best ignore Eric Weiner when he said ‘nothing kills creativity faster than a wall’ and face up.

Looking through my files this morning it soon became evident that walls – as subject – have featured quite regularly in my life. I may be a wall lover, without realising the fact. Certain walls have stopped me – both in a physical and metaphorical sense – and I have recorded that moment.

There are walls that have had historical significance, constructed for protection:

Walls with great character:

And walls that have been used as a canvas for the street artist’s statement:

I guess (hope) there will be plenty more walls to come. Thanks for visiting; as usual the photographs were made using an early Olympus digital camera and my current OMD, except for the cute Portuguese wall which was made using an Olympus OM1, film stock was Kodachrome. I’ll leave you with a wall I found in Lincoln – I researched the markings and resolved the enigma, but that’s another story.

In Defence of the Irritating Photographer Dad

Ever since they were enabled – notably by Kodak – millions of people have made photographs of family members. My mother has her album of printed treasures made with various Box Brownies and Instamatics, my teenage daughter stores hers as files on her smartphone.

Some notable photographers have engaged with the genre of family: Magnum photographer, Christopher Anderson is one that comes to mind. Check out his book, Son. And me – though I’ve never been a professional photographer, I’m seriously involved with it – I’m no different from all those who find a great joy in recording my family life.

It is by being with the family that gives you access to the full range of human emotions, that familiarity along with close observation presents a marvelous opportunity to capture them – even though at times your subject matter may become a little irritated with you, lol.

Sometimes, it is grand to be able to step back; the following two photographs were taken from outside a restaurant, I’d nipped out for a cigarette (I know, my bad – it was raining, too) and watched through the window as my wife and kids made the most of my absence (‘be on your best behaviour, kids’ etc). The second shot was taken after they had spotted me….

Sometimes you get a photograph that goes beyond the snapshot. The two following photographs contain unexpected elements; in the first I did not know that my kid’s cousin would run into the frame and stick her tongue out and in the second I simply hadn’t noticed the image on a tv screen until I had downloaded the images.

And then there are moments when everything comes together just so:

The kids may even put up with photographer dad when he is in the mood to experiment:

Naturally, I will continue to make my family snaps despite the occasional flak. Thanks for visiting – as usual the photographs were made using my Olympus digital camera. I’ll sign off with one of my favourite photographs of all time. A candid shot – it seemed inappropriate to say ‘smile please’….

Early Doors, First Light

‘Then a change began slowly to declare itself. The horizon became clearer, field and tree came more into sight, and somehow with a different look; the mystery began to drop away from them.’

The words above are from one of my favourite books – The Wind in the Willows by Kenneth Grahame – and are found in the chapter, The Piper at the Gates of Dawn.

I have always been an early riser and wherever I find myself I will be up and about with my camera before sunrise. I love the way the scene – from city streets or country lanes – in front of me unfold; the deep shadows and the striking shapes they create, the slowly revealing detail, the sudden rustle that makes you start and the unseen population of all those who have been there, leaving their mark or a simple feeling of presence. The Maud Foster drain, cut in 1568 (when Boston was one of the wealthiest ports in Europe) and once used to transport corn and flour (the windmill in Boston still stands) is now empty of traffic. But with a little imagination…..

I’m a Lincolnshire lad and I love my home county. All the photographs here form part of my ongoing project: Notes in Passing, Lincolnshire. I’ve been tramping the streets and lanes for many years and this summer I aim to try and fill in some gaps and try to make some sense of what I have. The county town, Lincoln is a particular favourite of mine when it comes to exploring.

I don’t always get photographs, but my early morning walks are never unproductive; the experience of being there at that time is reward enough.

For the tech-minded, the camera used was an Olympus OMD (bar one, which was shot with an earlier Olympus digital) and a Zuiko Digital short zoom lens. Thanks for visiting and here’s a swan:

1984 and all that: Scunthorpe Free Rock, part two…

Continuing my story of when we were treated to a day of free music, laid on by the town council, I thought I would take a ‘behind the scenes’ look. It wasn’t difficult to access the dressing room of local favourites, Harry the Spider’s Coming Out Party; a friendly bunch, with an image that was both wacky and plausible (they had a strong set of original music), they were happy to have their big day recorded.

Harry the Spider’s was the brainchild of Sean Ingoldsby and his brother, Garry. Inspired by Sean’s idea of stories aimed at primary school children (or so I believe), the songs followed Harry and his friend, Elvis Goldfish through a number of scenarios (Wild Elvis Goldfish and Flies For Tea are two numbers I recall). The set was filled out with gothic parodies about Dracula and the like before finishing with a storming version of an old classic rewriiten as Ghost Spiders in the Sky.

Kevin ‘Finch’ Brown, who was also performing that day, pops in to say hello

I cannot find the pictures I made of the band on stage, so here is one that I shot on the day, downloaded from my facebook page, so apologies for the quality:

‘His name was Elvis Goldfish, Wild Elvis was his name…’

I remember that the band went down pretty well. A few more crowd shots to finish and thanks for visiting.

For the tech-minded, the camera I used was an Olympus OM1 with various Zuiko lenses. Film stock was Kodak Tri-X Pan.

1984 and all that: Scunthorpe Free Rock… part one

One day in May, 1984: I think it was a bank holiday. The inaugural ‘Scunthorpe Free Rock’ music festival took place at the Ashby Ville municipal playing fields, just beyond the steelworks and at the bottom of the interestingly named Mortal Ash Hill, the main eastern approach to this Lincolnshire town. The free concert was provided by the local council and was to run annually for a time; the last free rock concert took place in 1987. That last event was dogged by bad weather: not so, this one. It was a grand day out.

I don’t know exact numbers but it seemed to be a great turnout; most where regulars of the ‘alternative nights’ at the legendary Baths Hall but the event attracted a fair sampling of the rest of the local population.

Topping the bill that day were The March Violets, a ‘goth’ outfit from Leeds. I remember that the lead vocalist, Cleo Murray, was the object of desire for my pal Charlie. I often wonder about Charlie; I know nothing much about him except that at some time he introduced me to the music of Christian Death, but that’s another story.

Also on the bill that day were The Geisha Girls – who had some success with a single called ‘I’m a Teapot’ (check it out on YouTube) – and local heroes Harry the Spider’s Coming Out Party (they got their name from a Cadbury’s ad). The following year I joined the band as guitarist, but I digress.

The event was compered by deejay and local legend Steve Bird who maintained the tempo during breaks between acts with selections from his Baths Hall playlist.

I’ll end part one of this blog with a couple of crowd shots. In part two, I’ll be going behind the scenes and will include some more crowd shots. Later…..

For the tech-minded, the camera I used was an Olympus OM1, along with a variety of Zuiko lenses. Film stick was Kodak Tri-X Pan.