A moment in time – 16:08:33 – 16:08:34

Well at last, some 20 years later,  I’ve finally got around to creating that CD…a limited run of 100 copies with a new band – The Sound of Flak. We’re a two piece electronic outfit comprising David Burleson,  previously OxiMoron, and yours truly. The album’s called The Unbalanced and is now available.

The creation was an exciting path. And also a new experience, working out formats for files, and designing the digipack cover / cd label.

More info on our new web site:  Sound of Flak

It landed just 20 yards or so in front of me. I’m pretty sure that if it had fallen as I walked under I could have jumped to safety because the crack it made as it broke lose echoed loudly though the wood. But If I didn’t have time to jump or for some reason froze I’m sure the weight would have caused serious harm. Fate?

I just wish my reactions were faster because the snow disturbance as it fell was quite spectacular and it would have made a great photograph.

It’s quite fascinating that Fujifilm, who’ve reduced their film range, would bring out a medium-format film camera.  Medium format is more or less dead and Hasselblads, Bronicas and Mamiyas are appearing on the pages of eBay and are fetching ridiculously low prices. So a fixed lens rangefinder may not be a smart move. I’ve yet to make my mind up.

It is an interesting experience though. Having not used roll film since I sold my Hasselblad 500cm six or so years ago, it was good to see that films have finally got self adhesive seals now…well Fuji Superia has at least. No longer do you have to lick to seal the strip with its foul mint flavoured gum. Now you just pull and wrap. Nice touch!

Then while using it I had to revert back to a flash meter which I’d given up on about the same time the Hasselblad went. And remembering to wind on the film! But the hardest part to cope with is not seeing the results instantly. I have the sealed roll waiting to be processed. I’ve got to decide where to send it, and then wait for the package to return.

Still it’s fun going out with a camera that I can hand hold and get 6x7cm shots – even if it does look like an relic Agfa Isolette. I just hope the results are good. I’ll let you know.

After talking to a few of the “fans”  I soon learned that steampunk is based on the fictional era depicted by Jules Verne and HG Wells. Half science fiction, half fantasy steampunk takes elements of British Victorian fashion, culture and architecture and merges it into a visual feast.

Expect to see modern items redressed to give a period feel of neo-Victorianism. Fans make weird and wonderful looking contraptions, and wear brass goggles often with flick over magnifying lenses. Gadgets that would feel at home in Wilf Makepeace Lunn’s house are common sites, many attached to clothing to give added three dimension.

The Steampunks of the modern era make all their own costumes and none seem quite so spectacular as Liam Brandon Murray, who you’re likely to see at the Whitby Goth Festival too. His costumes are forever changing as new items are added to the base shell.  An outfit of leather brass and copper, merged with clock dials, pipes and furnishing makes for fascinating viewing.  You can see several of his creations on DeviantArt here:  SteampunkOverlord.

Here’s Harriet at her exhibition at Manchester Uni with my pics are on the wall in the background. I’m really pleased for her and glad I could help.

Sound of Flak

We will be launching the CD on a variety of media soon. Watch this space!

So yesterday I did what I’ve been meaning to do for several years and visited the crash site of the B-29 Superfortress on Higher Shelf Stones, nr Bleaklow. It’s not too difficult to get to, but is very exposed, and, despite it being May, we hit a short hail storm. Thankfully it quickly passed.

The quarter mile area of airplane wreckage isn’t marked – basically you walk the Pennine way from the top of the Snake Pass, heading towards Bleaklow and then take a left to cut over the moorland and head for the trig point on Shelf Stones.  The wreckage is about 500 yards or so from the trig point.

It’s an incredible site and quite Eerie. Fragments of riveted aluminium and stainless steel, engines and various other objects are scattered everywhere. Poppies and remembrance crosses have been left over the years, some made from nearby gritstone on the exposed peat.

The site is well worth a visit.

The Baths has a small entrance charge (£2 at the time of writing) and offers free guided tours around the premises. Unlike most NT and English Heritage buildings you’re free to wander around with a camera, even tripod, and take photos. The Victorian fixtures are brilliant subjects to photograph. Wandering around is almost like urban exploration, but without the trespass element.  Derelict areas, partly restored, old glazed tiles vivid green and fabulous coloured stain glass windows, rusty metal works, broken showers, taps, buzzers, victorian electrics, old flaky doors – it’s almost an urbex dream.

The volunteers are really helpful and there’s a cafe serving baked potatoes with Chilli, Beans or Cheese and sandwiches, along with some great home made cakes.

Allow a couple of hours and be prepared to shoot loads of tripod mounted HDR brackets.