Saffron Walden Carnival Procession 2014

It is an event that comes around once every three years and is superbly organised by the Saffron Walden Round Table. Eight days of events, many taking place in the big marquee on The Common, and which is where the many amazing floats assembled yesterday for the Carnival Procession.

With the theme of 'Carnival of Nations' there were many different interpretations but all those involved had put in huge amounts of work, with the hope of equally large crowds coming out and lining the streets to watch them parade by.
For the procession three years ago, it was a lovely day but that couldn't be said for Saturday. The clouds hung black and heavy and it wasn't long before the heavens opened, just as the procession was setting off.

It failed to dampen spirits and over a period of four hours, the procession wound its way around the town, with buckets and nets collecting all the contributions, and which someone now has the joy of counting! And as always it will be an incredible sum for charity.

Without any further ado, I will allow the pictures to speak for themselves - my take on the day being the little details that can often be missed.

Enjoy!

(By clicking on the first image, it will open up all the images into a viewer)

And so was the rain-hampered procession a success?                        Well now!

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All images are Copyright © 2014 Celia Bartlett Photography

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Day 26 - August Challenge

Challenge - "Sound 26th (in colour)"

Suggested by - Mark via Twitter

HOW!

How to photograph sound.

1. Take a cardboard tube.
2. Fasten a balloon tightly over the end.
3. Stand tube onto speakers of a radio or similar.

4. Place camera on a tripod and set for a long shutter speed.

5. Place a few grains of sugar onto the balloon.

6. Turn on the sound - the more base the better.
7. Fire camera shutter.

Results

The grains of sugar appeared to dance due to the vibrations. The long exposure allowed the moving grains to be recorded, whilst other grains remained still. (Don't ask me to enlarge on the technical bits - I failed Physics!)

Conclusion

Further experiments may be carried out to see if there is any correlation with volume v height jumped. (But it would be courteous to inform neighbours first about possible noise disturbance) Too much sugar on the balloon prevented the grains from jumping as the vibrations were muffled.

So, I picked some bright colours for you Mark, and did a little bit of DIY home science in the kitchen today. Utterly different from my challenge yesterday - but that is HOW I like it!

What were the grains dancing to? "Harder To Breathe" by Maroon 5

(I know - it should have been the Beach Boys "Good Vibrations" but the sugar seemed to like it!)

The grab shot

My thanks to:

Mark for the suggestion

Tomorrow, Day 27

"Cafe Racer"

Up, Up and Away...

Inside the balloon envelope

As an addition to the Day 7 blog post, some more images of the balloon day.

Early morning flight starting from Longstanton, ending up at Bourne Airfield
Wednesday 7th August 2013

Sunrise over the old Cambridge Golf Club

Promising sight of the balloon arriving

Off-loading the balloon

Rigging-up

Balloon envelope laid out waiting to be pulled out flat

Pulling the top of the balloon

Laid-out, ready

Checking inside

Inflating the envelope

and more.

Pilot dwarfed as he checks the balloon

Holding open the mouth of the balloon...

...just for me ;-) to be allowed inside!

Time for the hot air

Important features - handle ropes seen through foot-hold

A14 and Cambridge Services from 5,400 ft

Dropping

Close enough that the 105mm can pick up the name on the side of the van

Chasing our shadow

Making for Bourne airfield. Runway 18, top horizontal

Pretty good landing. Exit not quote so dignified

The aftermath of landing

Wrestling to expel the air

Runway 18. Six miles as the crow flies from the start.

Fitting the rolled balloon back into the bag

All tucked away safe and secure

Thanks to the guys from Virgin Balloons

And thanks to the pilot, Carey Crawley

Happy Day!

...and yes, I would do it agan!