Category: Colour

Neon Sign – Good Vibes

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rpphotographer
murpworkschrome - Neon Sign - Good Vibes - Good Vibes II iamge

I had passed the neon sign – Good Vibes several times before I actually photographed it. It resides in a male hairdressers, in Norwich.

There’s something about a neon sign. They are old technology yet for me, they always manage to convey something very modern. A glass tube, housing a noble gas, through which a voltage is passed and depending upon the gas, a colour is produced. neon is the classical glass but neon is a ‘cover-all’ name for various types of glass tube lighting, using different types of gas.

The resultant glowing 3-D light seems so much more alive that a simple 2-D painted sign.

I want to return and photograph this sign, purposefully in black and white. Although colour is a very big part of neon’s reason for being (although there are ‘white’ ‘neon’ signs), I think the gaseous nature of the glow will work well in monochrome.

I also have my eye on another neon sign, in the same street so look out for that one in the near future. This is the beauty of wandering the streets, there is always something to find and return back for.

Take a look at murpworkschrome to see a the neon sign Good Vibes ‘colour’ photographs I captured…

Peace and photography

rp

Winter Sunset

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rpphotographer
murpworkschrome - Winter Sunset - Sunset I crop image

Here in Winter, just shy of latitude 52.398056, it may not be the coldest place in the world but it is cold and the only thing that mitigates it is a beautiful Winter sunset.

The second of February brought wondrous skies and set against the backdrop of the river Great Ouse, I managed to capture something. Orange gave way to magenta in a spectacular fashion…

murpworkschrome - Winter Sunset - Sunset I image
murpworkschrome - Winter Sunset - Sunset VIII image

I’m still finding my way around the Fujifilm X100V but I managed to capture what I wanted; a feel for the Winter sunset. Head on over to murpworkschrome to see more images from the evening. Let me know which one you like best.

Peace and photography

rp

Contact Card

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rpphotographer

I’m creating a contact card for murpworkschrome.

I don’t think of it as a business card, although I’ll be using Moo Cards and they’re very business focused. I’m keeping it simple . I’ve chosen two of my images; one for each side. Upon deciding, I immediately found another I’d have liked to use. So, it may be the first of many.

There’s a front and a back, a logo and a URL; that’s it!

It’s purpose will be threefold

  • It will point people to murpworkschrome
  • If someone stops me in the street, it could disarm any conflict, ease any tension. I’m very conscious of this when out photographing and you’ll probably notice a lack of people, more often than not anyway
  • It will be something of mine ‘printed out’

The second point was drawn to my attention by Faizal Westcott and watching his YouTube post: Street Photography Tips [Part One]

As I mentioned earlier, it could be the first of many. I like the idea of a changing card; a limited edition run if you will.

Here are the images I chose for the first contact card

Front

murpworkschrome - Contact Card - A Foggy Morning - Marina image
A Foggy Morning – Marina

Back

murpworkschrome - Contact Card - Mist image
Mist

I’ll post when I get a copy back from the printers.

Peace and photography

rp

Ely Cathedral Photograph

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rpphotographer

My Ely cathedral photograph – the cathedral must have been photographed millions if not multiple millions of times, like many other sites of interest; in Britain and around the world. So, with that said, how do you take a photograph and make the subject look different, or fresh or up to date?

I approached this from the perspective of, a forced perspective.

murpworkschrome - Ely Cathedral - Ely Cathedral I image
Taken with Fujifilm X100V using Classic Chrome film simulation (post-processed)

The cathedral is imposing and one thing that people do when they visit is look up. Driving toward Ely, the cathedral presents itself, in its entirety but from a distance, its true nature is not revealed. It’s only when up close that the vast stone building shows its splendour. However, up close when having approached from High Street, the human eye cannot take in the whole. And, while the walls of cream stone are interesting, especially as some have stood since 672 AD, looking up to one of the two towers is a natural thing to do.

So, I’ve added to the millions of photos of another site of interest. I like to think my Ely cathedral photograph of the West Tower as a positive addition.

murpworkschrome - Ely Cathedral - Ely Cathedral II image

Peace and photography

rp

Boat

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rpphotographer
murpworkschrome - boat - GRP Cruiser Boat crop image

I live on a boat. A narrowboat called Silverdale to be precise, along with mu. We float on water and there are boats are all around us. The marina, we live on, just off the River Great Ouse has Narrowboats, GRP Cruisers, a tug, and a working boat with a dredging device for cutting down weed. There are also rowing boats several times a week as the local school and Cambridge University have rowing clubs located here.

It’s currently Winter, so there is little movement. Many of the Cruiser-style boats have been lifted out of the water to prevent damage from ice. They are placed upon blocks and sitting upon the grass around the marina, echoing the ducks and swans, doing the same.

I’ve just started to appreciate the unique nature of the place. I need to make more of the opportunity and take more photographs of boats. At this time of year, I’m normally walking head down, against the biting cold wind. Then, occasionally, the sun comes out and if feels a little less like the inside of a fridge. With my latest camera: Fujifilm X100V, I take a picture.

murpworkschrome - boat - GRP Cruiser Boat image

Hopefully the first of many.

Peace and photography

rp

Jumping Back in to Photography

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rpphotographer

Jumping back in to photography? Well, how do you start after such a long break? I suppose you just jump right back in. I have been photographing but it’s been a strange time.

My talk about not using my phone in One Last 11 Shot proved premature. I used my iPhone 11 quite a lot, especially on our adventure on the rivers. It proved easy to use the phone and ‘click and shoot’ rather than real photography. I should have used the Ricoh GR III but I didn’t. Well, I did but not exclusively. I have, as of January this year stopped using it. I’m using my Fujifilm X100V.

The Ricoh GR III is an excellent camera, perfect for the street, taking everywhere and a whole lot more. If I had one negative about it, I would sat it was a little small, for my liking. I sold it after realising I hadn’t even switched the X100V on, since I got it. I take it everywhere now and with the start of a new year, I have some projects planned. The X100V is gorgeous both to use and look at. I got the silver one as I invariably get black. I thought a change was in order).

Ely, in East Cambridgeshire will provide the main backdrop to my photography moving forward as that is where mu and I are living. However, Norwich will provide an alternative location. It’s the reason we moved to Ely; to be near family – the nearest point on the river system to Norwich we can get our narrowboat Silverdale. See murpworks Afloat for further details.

I am happy with my first few images but I’m still playing around with the simulations and getting to grips with the buttons and dials. I’m happy after jumping back in to photography.

Jumping Back in - Ely doorway image
Jumping Back in - Ely Tiger image
Jumping Back in - Ely WGA image
Jumping Back in - Ely railings image
Around Ely

Short and sweet and just like like that, I’m back in.

Peace and photography

rp

A First Few Photographs

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rpphotographer

I took a first few photographs with my new Ricoh GR III camera yesterday.

I went into Northampton as lock down easing is in place. It was mid-morning and the sun was out but I hadn’t planned on going specifically to photograph. I found an out of the way location, en route to Yellow Bourbon Coffee Roasters. Everything is still pretty quiet at the moment. It was nice to be out in amongst buildings & shops.

murpworks - murpworkschrome - A First Few Photographs - Street I image
The Location
murpworks - murpworkschrome - A First Few Photographs - Street III image
Stand and Wait
murpworks - murpworkschrome - A First Few Photographs - YBCR I image
Waiting to Enter

I’ll be returning to Yellow Bourbon for more coffee as it was excellent and the knowledgeable Barista meant I can choose some beans next time..

You can see the best two photographs I obtained here and here

I’m really, really pleased with the Ricoh GR III but it’s early days and I’m still getting to know it. I post processed the above (and linked) images as I was using the Standard JPEG pre-set but I’m now exploring the Positive Film pre-set.

Peace and photography

rp

One last 11 Shot

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rpphotographer

OK, so I said in A New Beginning “…my iPhone 11 but I look to leave this behind and use the GR II exclusively.” but I thought I’d post this one last shot. Well two, actually.

The reason for this is that it is one of those shots where I can’t decide whether it should be in colour or monochrome. So I’m posting both – Street Lines in the Wet

Colour Image

murpworks - murpworkschrome - One last 11 Shot - Street Lines in the Wet colour image

Black and White Image

murpworks - murpworkschrome - One last 11 Shot - Street Lines in the Wet black and white image

The colour image carries important information as it shows the yellow of the line marking and immediately triggers a recognition. The black and white image gives a graphically strong message. The lines being white could work as white lines are used in this context. So, although not conveying the same information as the colour image, it works visually.

I can’t decide between the two. A dilemma for One last 11 Shot.

Peace and photography

rp

Update – Reset – Begin Again

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rpphotographer

It’s been so and too long since I updated this blog. There’s no excuse. So, there is only one thing to do – Update, reset and begin again.

I nearly lost the murpworkschrome domain but managed to resurrect it, phoenix-like, from the ashes of letting it go. However, I’m back, with renewed vigour.

My Instagram account has grown fatter. I’m happy with a fair few of the photographs taken but I got lazy. Nearly all were taken with my iPhone. I want to do more than this so I’m buying a Ricoh GR III. I walk around and take photographs. If I don’t have to take a camera bag (I have two) then that is good. I don’t want people thinking I’m a photographer. The GR III gives me the ability to replace my smartphone with a smart camera. I want point and shoot intelligence and I think the GR III can give me this.

Latest

The latest photographs I took were the other day, driven by the lockdown / Covid-19 affected times

murpworks - murpworkschrome - Update - Reset - Begin Again - Drive Thru I B+W image
murpworks - murpworkschrome - Update - Reset - Begin Again - Drive Thru II B+W image

It’s one of the few things you can do!

Today however, it snowed! Now it’s brilliant sun. Once again, constrained by the viral climate, I’m confined to a small area of excursion

murpworks - murpworkschrome - Update - Reset - Begin Again - Railway Fence image
Railway Fence I
Railway Fence VI

I update, reset and begin again…

Peace and photography

RP