THE CAMERA (or in this case, cameras)

Now this one was a bit tricky!     The usual weekly Thematic challenge was to take photos of our cameras.

Now, I have one camera, a Panasonic Lumix DMC-TZ8.   If pushed, my phone, which I've had a long time, will take a photo, but to get it onto my computer and so into my photographic files, I have to send it as an email to myself.   And that costs, and its not a brilliant photo anyway.

So I thought I would show you some of Mr.G's collection of old cameras.   He has actually stopped (well, more or less) collecting them now, but doesn't really want to get rid of them.

The shots are not great, its a difficult spot to take them from. 

The oldest cameras are on the lower shelves, and the real oldies at ground level.   I'm afraid I cannot get down there - or if I did I'd never get up again!

The oldest camera is probably this Voigtlander.    It will do a lot, if you can fiddle with the controls!

 My first camera was a little Box Brownie, 127 film, 8 exposures, fixed focus.   My Father taught me - in those days forget taking multiple shots, you carefully composed your shot, steadied your camera and squeeeezed the shutter very carefully.   then you wound on ready for the next shot.

Then I moved on to the bigger box Brownies, similar to that lovely blue one.   120 film, 8 bigger pictures.   Same principles.   My father stuck to his Rolleiflex camera all his life, and took some fantastic stuff with it, winning prizes, exhibiting - he really was a talented photographer.

I moved through various better versions of box cameras, and when I got married, Mr.G gave me his Agfa Isolette, as he was getting himself a newer camera.   This is actually the story of my camera ownership.   He gets a new one and passes on to me what he doesn't want!!   The Agfa was a great camera, still the same principles, but I was pretty nifty at composition, and did quite a bit of press work, as I illustrated my own local reportage!

Now of course, it is all digital, lots of angles, multiple shots, move in, move out.   I often wonder what my Dad would have made of it all.   And as for PhotoShop!   He did all his own developing, printing, enlarging, mounting etc. etc.   I used to help him; like I said, he taught me a lot!

Go to the link above, I'm sure there will be more interesting cameras on show!

LIQUIDITY

This week's prompt for Thematic Photography is LIQUIDITY.   Most of my liquids seem to be water in some shape or form, though there is one refreshing other!

Go over to Carmi to see what other liquid thoughts others have had and photographed!

Wake following our ship - you can stand there watching it for ages!

These are condensation bubbles of steam under the saucepan lid reflecting the tomato soup inside!   Yes, I know they look like knobs, but they aren't!

Refreshing liquid in iced glasses on a very hot day in Spain!

Raindrops on  long thin tulip leaf

There is a lot of liquid hanging in these clouds

!

Violent waves in Spain in March this year

Nice peaceful liquid water and reflections, plus geese in our park earlier this year.

Hope you enjoyed these - please let me know, and go over to the link to see what others have liquefied!

AGED

All things aged is this week's theme.   Go over to Carmi to see how others have come up with Aged photographs - I can guarantee there will be lots of different interpretations!

I've dug in my archives for these, and the information has been taken from various appropriate sites.

Bryn Celli Ddu continues to fascinate archaeologists and linguists.

It is a large mound containing a passage grave, but it is two monuments, one built upon the other, suggesting a change of beliefs during the Neolithic period. The first monument was a henge, a central stone circle, rarely found in Wales. The second monument, a chamber, cairn, a passage grave, completely covering the first, and was probably one of the last megalithic tombs to be built on Anglesey.

SKARA BRAE PREHISTORIC VILLAGE

The Neolithic settlement of Skara Brae lies near the dramatic white beach of the Bay of Skaill. Skara Brae is the best-preserved group of prehistoric houses in western Europe.

Uncovered by a storm in 1850, the site presents a remarkable picture of life around 5,000 years ago.

Visitors can experience a vivid impression of the realities of a prehistoric village and see ancient homes fitted with stone bed enclosures, dressers and seats. A replica construction allows visitors to fully understand the interior of a prehistoric house.

The Ring of Brodgar is a Neolithic henge 

and stone circle about 6 miles north-east of Stromness on the Mainland, the largest island in Orkney, Scotland. It is part of the UNESCO World Heritage Site known as the Heart of Neolithic Orkney.

Known as the ‘Light in the North’, the Cathedral Church of St Magnus the Martyr is one of Orkney’s most impressive landmarks. Towering of the Kirkwall landscape, this striking red sandstone building was founded by Earl Rognvald Kolson and dedicated to his uncle, Earl Magnus Erlendson.

The building’s construction began in 1137 and was subject to numerous additions over the next three centuries. One of the finest ecclesiastical buildings in Scotland, its magnificent interior contains many objects and features of interest including memorials to prominent Orcadians and a beautiful stained glass window commissioned for the cathedral 850th anniversary.

A motley collection of old/trashy/weird items at Leek Flea Market!   (Its not all pre-history here!)

Do let me know if you have visited here - and leave a comment, I do love reading them!

STRAIGHT LINES

Carmi, over at writteninc. has given us the title of "Straight Lines" for his challenge this week.   I thought perhaps he had it made over in Toronto, where buildings and that have a lot of straight lines, by necessity!   But I took my camera in the park and found a surprising amount of straight lines there!   Plus a few from my archives, (sorry if you have seen them before!) and I am really on the straight and narrow this week! ;)

The Council have mended this seat in the park, but a coat of paint would  make it look better!

Rusty straight railings, withj straight iris leaves and bullrush leaves in the background!

One of the bunkers on the Pitch and Putt course.   its just outside our garden gate.

Looking up inside a pylon!

Actually in the park again - the security door against the store and office.

Stacked chairs outside a cafe, at the Country Park at Tittesworth Reservoir, Staffordshire.

Do go to the link above to see more Straight Lines - and do leave a note to say you have been here!

DINNER TABLES

Well, Carmi's Thematic challenge this week had me scratching my head!   To be honest, we don't go in for fine dining much chez Gilly - though I admit it is lovely to see tables all beautifully laid, glasses, shining silver cutlery and all the rest.   When we went on our cruise holidays, the dining rooms looked beautiful - until the passengers came along and spoilt it all! ;)   Even then, Mr.G and I preferred the Buffet meals - easier to choose as you could see what there was, and we met some really interesting fellow passengers, who also were perhaps a little more laid back, like us!

However, I dug around in the archives, and found the photo I took some years back of the table laid for Christmas lunch at my daughter's house.   It was a big old Victorian villa in Manchester and had plenty of room for all the relatives from old to young.   We all had a lovely time there.

Things have changed now, and I doubt very much that there will ever be such a big gathering again.   We are all getting older, and the younger members of the family are scattered, and anyway, don't seem to want to keep to the old traditions.

I shall hold on to my happy memories and continue to enjoy the food, which hasn't changed in quality or variety in any of our families!

STUFF THAT GROWS

It is so lovely to have Thematic Photography back again.   I hope that everyone who normally contributes will post their own Growing Stuff so that we can see what is going on in different parts of the world.

If you would like to join in - there is no competition, just amateur photographers posting their shots according to the theme Carmi announces, then go to this link and join in!

I took my camera into our garden and around the Park at the back of our house, with the results you see here.   At this time of the year there is so much growing, including the weeds, that I was spoilt for choice!

A yellow iris just unfolding

The first little geranium is out

In the park, there are blue irises and lots ornamental trees.   And the lake, of course.

Still in the Park, a Sumac tree is coming into leaf.  (at least, I think its a Sumac!)

Just to prove I don't only grow flowers, lettuce seedlings in a Gro-Bag.   I also have peppers and french beans

And down the side of our house is where we put all the bits and pieces that might come in useful one day!   The Welsh Poppies have made this their own corner - I think its lovely!

A FEW SPRING COLOURS

Thought I'd post a few Spring colours to cheer us all up.   If you need cheering up, that is!   Having had an Election here in the UK, with a result no-one seemed to be expecting, some of us need a bit of cheer!

Grape Hyaciths

Stonecrop

Bright orange tulip

Most of these have finished now, but other flowers are coming out, and I am just awaiting a delivery of young plants for the empty pots.   As I have forgotten what I ordered, I think I will get a few surprises!