Photographing engineering models at exhibitions

Photographing models at engineering exhibitions is a frustrating business. Each model is labelled by the organisers and the owner - these get in the way. The backdrops are broadly the same for all models and take no account of the model's colour. Lighting levels are usually low in exhibition halls. Each model is very close to its neighbour making for overlap in shots. Often alarm wires are threaded though models to discourage theft. But, occasionally, as with the beam engine shown above, you come across a model where most of these restrictions don't apply, the lighting is (accidentally) very effective, and fortune smiles on the photographer.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Miniature traction engines

A few days ago I was involved in a task I've undertaken for the past four years - photographing a model engineering and hobby show at Spalding, Lincolnshire, for some friends. One of the attractions that happens on each day of the weekend event is a miniature traction engine "road run". This involves a procession of twenty or so of these vehicles (all hand-built, usually by the owners) from the event centre car park , through the woodland and gardens adjoining the Springfields Shopping Centre, to a point near the shops themselves. For fifteen minutes or so they rest, let off steam and sound their whistles as they provide an unexpected attraction for the shoppers.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Pilot Street, King's Lynn

Prior to the renaming in 1809 Pilot Street in King's Lynn, Norfolk, was called Dowshill Street. It lies at the northern edge of the medieval town near the church of St Nicholas, now well within the much larger built-up area. It also used to be longer than it is today: road schemes of the twentieth century truncated it. However, it still offers interest to anyone with an eye for architectural history, featuring buildings of the 1400s, 1500s, 1700s and 1800s. The photograph above complements one I took in 2012 from the other end of this curved street.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

More typical avocet

For anyone unfamiliar with the avocet the previous photograph must look decidedly odd, and possibly indecipherable. So by way of illumination for anyone who doesn't know the bird, and to compensate for my uncharacteristic shot, here is an avocet in a more typical pose as it steps out of the water to rest on the adjacent mud bank.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Inelegant avocet

The avocet (Recurvirostra avosetta), a black and white wading bird with spindly legs and a curious, long, upturned bill, has for many years been the symbol of the Royal Society for the Protection of Birds (RSPB). They brought it back from near extinction in the UK to the point where, in some locations, it is now relatively common. This photograph was taken at Frampton Marsh RSPB reserve in Lincolnshire, a place where they breed and where there were a few dozen birds on the day we visited. My photograph is taken from the "wrong end" and though characteristic of the species as it sweeps its bill from side to side feeding, the shot makes a quite elegant bird look decidedly awkward.

 photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Nikon P900

Greater periwinkle

Now is the time of year when the greater periwinkle, Vinca major, flowers in profusion in the ground cover under the trees and shrubs in our garden. We have a couple of varieties but the one I prefer is the most common, the example in the photograph. At the moment its pale purple flowers are showing like little stars in the shade of its surroundings. Though it is currently at its best the greater periwinkle can flower at any time of year, even duringa mild spell in winter.

Bleeding heart

What was once Dicentra spectabilis is now, for botanical reasons, re-named as Lamprocapnos spectabilis. I'll continue to call it by its common English name that derives from its appearance - bleeding heart. Interestingly the former Latin name translates as double spur spectacular (or "showy"). When it was discovered not to belong in the Dicentra genus its name was changed. What the Greek (?) Lamprocapnos means I don't know and haven't discovered.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Diagrid structure, King's Cross, London

Being a relatively regular user of King's Cross railway station in London, I often pass under its new diagrid structure roof support above the new concourse. And, it being such an interesting piece of engineering (well, to me anyway!), I often try to get another (and better) photograph of its lattice work tubes and beams. Here is my most recent, and possibly best photograph, one that shows off the dramatic purple lighting as well as something of its symmetry.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Stigma, style, stamen and petals

It's remarkable how episodes from childhood can pop up in your memory as though they were yesterday. When I was looking at this photograph on my computer of an open tulip bloom I mentally checked off the botanical names for the parts of the flower. In so doing I was transported back to the time in school when I drew a labelled diagram during a lesson about plant reproduction. As a botanical illustration this photograph lacks clarity. However, the contrast between the sharp centre and the soft surround gives it qualities that I like.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Purple tulips

I've said elsewhere that tulips re probably the flower that I have photographed more than any other. That's partly to do with the shape of the flower, its leaves and its stem - it's a beautiful plant. But it's also it appears in spring at a time when I'm ready for its deep, rich colours after the drabness and monotones of winter. This circular bed of purple tulips caught my eye because of the perfection of the plants and the overlapping bamboo arches that had been fashioned into a low fence to surround them.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Ropes

There was a time when ropes made of natural materials were central to many businesses and practices. At that time Lincolnshire grew thousands of acres of hemp out of which mile upon mile of rope was made, usually in a very long building called a ropewalk. On a recent visit to the Cutty Sark sailing ship in Greenwich I came upon ropes of all sizes that were essential to the sails of this famous clipper, of which this is an example.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10

Roof tile wall

If you make roof tiles and you have damaged or otherwise superfluous examples that won't sell, and you need a wall, what is more reasonable than to make a roof tile wall. Or is it? The example seen in the photograph is at The Old Tileworks, the business premises of William Blyth, at Barton upon Humber in Lincolnshire. It isn't the strongest of walls, it lets the wind through, and it doesn't prevent prying eyes from seeing something of what is beyond. But, if none of these deficiencies matters then it is a perfectly serviceable barrier and certainly an eye-catching construction. I liked the contrasting and complementary colours of the sky, wall and broken tiles on the ground, with the weeds that are bravely establishing a foothold in this inhospitable location.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

The tile drying shed, Barton upon Humber

On the Lincolnshire bank of the River Humber, near the south tower of the Humber Bridge, is the Barton upon Humber firm of William Blyth. This company makes hand-made tiles and garden pottery at this location and has been doing so since 1840. These are made from the abundant clay of this area, and over the long period of its work clay extraction has created several large pools and reed beds by the river that are now havens for wildlife and a centre for dinghy sailing. Above is a long drying shed with rows of slatted shelves where clay tiles are placed to harden. It is a simple building designed to harden the clay in a controlled way by the careful adjustment of the plywood shading.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

The Geffrye Almshouses

The Geffrye Almshouses in Shoreditch, London, were built in 1714 by the Ironmongers Company with a bequest left by Sir Robert Geffrye. He was twice master of the Company and a former Lord Mayor of London. For nearly two hundred years the almshouses provided homes for about fifty poor pensioners. In the early 1900s the buildings and site were bought by the London County Council who wanted the land for a public open space in this densely populated area of the city. However, they were persuaded to develop it as a museum and it continues to be one today - The Geffrye Museum of the Home - describing Britain's homes from 1600 to the present day. It also has a restored almshouse, gallery, cafe and herb garden, as well as the extensive lawns and trees before the imposing three sided facade.

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Sony DSC-RX100

Evening, King's Cross Station, London

If we travel to and from London by rail we arrive and depart at King's Cross railway station. This wonderful, essentially Victorian building, stands next to St Pancras railway station, another Victorian masterpiece that has quite different qualities from its neighbour. I've photographed the main entrance elevation of King's Cross before in the evening, though on that occasion it was somewhat earlier. So, for this shot in full darkness I stood a little further back, opened the 17mm (34mm/35mm equiv.) lens up to f1.8, and relied on this together with the effective image stabilisation of the camera body, to keep my image sharp. The camera chose ISO 2000 which is quite reasonable should I wish to print from the image

photo © T. Boughen     Camera: Olympus OMD E-M10