RNLI Southwold 2

RNLB Leslie Tranmer, in action, Southwold

"We're having a tweetup on 24/11 would love it if you came. If you can't make up your mind then how does tea, cake & lifeboat display sound?"

Who can turn down tea and cake?! (and later, the promise of a Sea King search and rescue helicopter putting in an appearance)

And so it was on a frosty and misty Saturday morning, I set off from the furthest inland corner of Suffolk with another Tweep (and blogger) to drive to Southwold on the far Suffolk coast.

Following the shoot I had done during a training session for RNLI Southwold back in June, they asked me if I would again be interested in being photographer for this special open day, which had been arranged for the social media followers of RNLI Southwold. There was no way I was going to turn this down as it was set to be a fun event with sea recovery exercises, a Sea King helicopter and the chance to watch the exercises from a boat.

A boat!
Whilst an ideal platform from which to photograph the RNLB Leslie Tranmer (with suitable camera protection deployed) it was not my position of choice, me being a poor sailor and all that. The fellow Tweep, whom I had persuaded that it would be a good idea to join me on the day, also shared a similar apprehension. Wouldn't you too if you saw what 'boat' meant?

It may only have been an open day at the lifeboat station for the social media visitors but the exercises were to be serious and important training for the crew.

After the launch of the Leslie Tranmer, a few exercises were executed within the relative safety of the harbour area.

 

Then, it was onward with some exercises out at sea, with the Sea King helicopter also due to take part.

The Leslie Tranmer.
Platform for the lifeboat crew

Coastal Voyager.
Platform for all of us!

Oh my!!

 

Suitably waterproofed, life vested and loaded onto the Coastal Voyager, which normally catered for thrill-seekers, we had been reassured that this trip would be much more considerate. After all, the helicopter would have to know where we were at all times.
So where was the helicopter?

"They've brewk it!" came the announcement in a broad Suffolk accent. This was the simple explanation from one of the crew, that sadly, the Sea King would be unable to make it after all. Regardless of the real reason for the non-participation, there was naturally a slight element of disappointment.

Gliding along the length of the harbour, past the gull-guardians at the mouth of the harbour, we went out into the North Sea, where the conditions had worsened slightly since our earlier arrival.

The considerate ride was only as considerate as the waves would allow. Coastal Voyager smacked down hard onto the water, sending spray everywhere.
What was I doing? How was I going to fulfil this assignment?

Being close to leaving my stomach somewhere out in the North Sea, I took a deep breath and set to capturing the lifeboat in action, my angle of view limited by the seatbelts holding us onto the 'standing-stools'. Lighting conditions were never going to produce an absolute stunner of a shot either, so I would have to make the best of what was thrown at me (which was frequently sea water!)

Naturally there were shots with gloriously salty, soft focus! 

Then a towing exercise, before making a welcome head back towards the harbour.

My trusty two little sailors helpers had just about managed to do their job, (thank you Stuge & Ron) and these two land-based friends of the sailors did their job by providing the returning party with the scores for the performance at sea!

And what was the score?
My Tweep friend, after her initial apprehension, had had a whale of a time. Meanwhile I was relieved to be back on solid ground and keen to go carry out a spot of delayed chimping in the privacy of my car. Thankfully the whole adrenaline fuelled experience hadn't been a waste (as hopefully this selection of images proves).

Back at the lifeboat station a huge pot of tea was on the go with plates of home-baked cakes, lovingly made by families of the crew. Now that was a welcome sight.

A huge thank you to all those who were involved in the fun day out.
Important for PR purposes and most importantly, for their training.

I am so happy to support the brave crews of the RNLI, who help to keep our coastlines safe and help those in need, often in the foulest of conditions. Conditions, the like of which followed on later in the afternoon, and which would have made the whole morning event impossible.

(My thoughts are with those people, both inland and in coastal areas, who have suffered in the overnight flooding)

RNLI, you have my utmost respect. Thank you all.

So, please do consider giving the RNLI your support now.
Who knows when you might need their help?

All of the images above are available as high resolution prints, with proceeds going to the RNLI.
If you would like copies, you may contact me with your details here

Thanksgiving

May I take this opportunity to wish all of my American friends

A Very Happy Thanksgiving

Or, as spotted on the rosta board during my recent visit to the American base at RAF Lakenheath, simply
'Turkey Day'!

Wildlife Photographer & Everything was Moving

A snaking line of schoolchildren pass through the main hall of the Natural History Museum
(Photography is not allowed within the actual exhibitions,
however, all of the Wildlife Photographer images can be viewed online)

Every year I make a point of travelling up to London to go and enjoy a morning at the Wildlife Photographer exhibition in the Natural History Museum. It makes a change to go an admire someone elses wonderful images for a day rather than, as usual, sitting in front on my monitor being self critical with my edits. However, this year, not only is there this exhibition currently showing in London but there are at least five further exhibitions worthy of a look right now.

It is a case of the proverbial bus- wait a long time for one, then several good shows all pop up together: Cecil Beaton; Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize; Ansel Adams; Cartier-Bresson and one at the Barbican which looked interesting, Everything Was Moving. Photography from the 60s and 70s, the latter being my choice for the afternoon viewing.

Images in the Wildlife Photography exhibition are always beautifully displayed via backlit frames and in a darkened room, which adds to the whole viewing experience. For me, two hours spent here is not unusual, as I'm always keen to read the technical details for all the images (Pretty much all Canon and Nikon contributions this year! A couple of to be expected, Hasselblad and a Mamiya but not until nearly the end do Sony and Fuji put in an appearance. Again, mostly DSLRs but a Canon Powershot pops up in the 10 years and under category)

So, what of the images? As with every year, there are those shots which make an instant impression and those which either take a little longer to appreciate the subtleties or just 'don't do it' for me. Of this last type, the winning image in the Urban Wildlife category didn't sit easy with me. Did it look too set up? Was the squirrel stuffed? I might be doing Kai Fagerström (Finland) a great disservice for all his patience to capture the shot but there is just something...
However, there were plenty of other images which appealed to me for one reason or another. It might have been composition, as in the polar bear image by Ole Jørgen Liodden (Norway) with everything in the right place, to Remo Savisaar (Estonia) beautifully simple black and white image. Sam Cairns (UK) had a similar simplicity with his fulmar image. He was one of seven of the thirteen young photographers who were from the UK, which is encouraging to see.

In a different vein, an image from the Wildscapes category by Fortunato Gatto (Italy) personally appealed to me as there was a distinct similarity to the landscape on the Isle of Eigg to that of some of the western Irish landscapes I love. Moving on to the World in Our Hands category, (where the precarious relationship with man and nature is studied) the joy I had from the Eigg landscape was rudely shattered by an image by David Chancellor (UK) (winner of Taylor Wessing Portrait Prize 2010) entitled 'Trophy Room' Now this is just me here. I can understand going out and shooting for food, but to shoot (managed shooting or not) to furnish your room with the trophies of the killing, like this, is just obscene. The repulsion of how man carries out unnecessary slaughter continued in Paul Hilton (UK/Australia) image of the shark fin trade, fuelled by the demand from China's increasing middle class population.
(Note. It is the actual subject matter which I am uncomfortable with here and not the photographer who is raising the awareness)

The Chinese link continued into the Wildlife Photojournalist category. To a degree, Steve Winter (USA) 'Tiger Tale', and more so Brent Stirton (South Africa) with 'Deadly Medicine', showing horrific images of the carnage to the rhino population by poachers supplying the misguided needs within the Chinese medicine trade. By this time my emotions were at a jangling high and I needed something to calm the soul once again. A glance at Charlie Hamilton James (UK) wonderful giant otter started to put a smile back on my face. Then I retraced my steps back past the wonderful Wildscapes and to the stunning Botanical Realms where all of these images had the desired calming effect. However it was to be Jasper Doest (The Netherlands) image of an often photographed Japanese macaque that finally brought me back to where I came in, and it became my favourite image of the exhibition. Clearly not the judges choice but I loved the beauty of the droplets of snowy rain on the finely detailed hairs, the closed eyes providing that feeling of contentment that the little primate was experiencing in the warm waters in which it sat.

After the unexpected emotions of the morning, I was open minded as to what to expect at the Barbican (a place I still can't feel comfortable in!) with Everything was Moving "Exploring how artists and photographers intersected with their historical moment and the world they inhabited during the 1960s and 1970s"

However, I was in for another heightened experience with some truly amazing photo-documentary images from happenings within my own lifetime but which were remote from my own comfortable years of growing up.
South Africa; Southern States Black America; Vietnam. All would pop up in the news items of the day although I had little understanding of what was really going on. These images from twelve different photographers in assorted global locations, really captured the feelings from the era. I was back up on that emotional rollercoaster again. Sadly, I really hadn't allowed myself enough time to do justice to this incredible collection and I can only recommend that you need to allow yourself plenty of time if you do go to visit this exhibition.





So, another calming period was required whilst waiting for the post rush-hour train home. A reflective walk along the Embankment followed by a very pleasant pub meal, provided me with the feet rest time that is required after 'Exhibition days'.

I now have the prospect of two more such days to take in the remaining four unviewed photographic exhibitions.
I had better check my diary!

Colin Barnes, Whale Watching

It was forty years in October since Colin Barnes moved from his native Sussex to West Cork, in search of fishing grounds that weren't being exploited. As a young man in his twenties, he had noticed that neighbouring countries were not fishing the English Channel in a sustainable way and could see no future for himself staying where the fishing communities were going to suffer. So, he did some research into where fishing was "still happening" and after looking in The Lady magazine for some cheap accommodation ("As you did in those days!") he made the unusual choice to move to Ireland, taking a basic cottage near Baltimore for £3 per week.

Life was difficult to start with so Colin utilised his fishing knowledge putting out long lines to catch pollock, then swapping the fish with locals for bags of potatoes, to live off the land. Those same locals would frequently ask him why at a time when most people were leaving Ireland, he had chosen to do the opposite. Even folk back in England queried his decision to go to Ireland, as it was a country with a name, that back in the seventies, conjured up more bad impressions (wrongly) than good.

For this son of a non-sea-connected family he used the seafaring skills that seemingly came naturally to him, and which had first enabled him to skipper fishing charters out of Newhaven whilst still only a teenager. It was only to be a matter of time before his whole life was once again centred around the sea, this time in West Cork. His skills found him work on local boats, eventually acquiring a boat of his own, where he realised there was more money to be made from selective fishing. He would catch hake, which commanded a good price in Spain, as well as potting for prawn. He successfully fished, with his crew, for many years, using gill nets or long line and had no desire to trawl, as many around him did. He knew the damage this indiscriminate fishing was (and still is) causing to fish stocks and the marine environment in general. Even now he admits to hating the mass, unnecessary killing involved with trawled fish, and would rather only take what is needed.

Over time, the Irish fishing industry was also starting to suffer and in 2000, grants became available for taking up alternative sea-based occupations, in an attempt to de-commission some of the fishing fleet. Colin, already being familiar with fishing charters, put in an application for running an angling and diving vessel out of West Cork, never once considering that ultimately it would be whales and dolphins that would become the main attraction. With the ideally suited thirty-six foot catamaran, the Holly Jo, he embarked on a new stage of his seafaring life.

During those fishing and diving trips, Colin, always being in tune with the sea, would watch everything around him. Sea bird activity would indicate fish shoals which in turn lead to cetacean encounters and it became clear that it was this that would be worthwhile focusing on. And so Colin Barnes established the very first whale and dolphin watching trips in the region, sailing out of Castlehaven in West Cork. Whale Watch with Colin Barnes

Now, over ten years later, Colin Barnes has become the name synonymous with whale and dolphin watching, and rightly so. His knowledge of the local seas, of habitat, nature and wildlife all combine to come through as a passion which he shares with each and every one of the passengers that step aboard the Holly Jo.

My first trip out with Colin was a family trip back in 2002 where I recall that due to the early time in the season, the whales didn't show. That came as a bit of a blow to me. As a poor sailor I suffered even on the light seas, but Colin was determined to ensure we went home having seen something of marine life in the waters of West Cork.

Subsequent trips have provided a similar determination (and I, a determination to be a better sailor!) culminating in the amazing encounter back on 7th April.

The fact that Colin Barnes is the skipper of choice when it comes to research and conservation organisations, including the Irish Whale and Dolphin Group is testament to his care, passion and understanding. Along with the IWDG, Colin helps develop recommendations for responsible whale watching in marine eco-tourism and also developments in marine conservation, with particular reference to cetaceans. Such is his expertise, Colin is frequently involved with TV and film crews, including BBC Autumnwatch 2011 when he was joined by Iolo Williams, looking for fin whales off the coast of Ireland. Whilst most viewers will have had no idea how Iolo reached the whales, I was delighted to catch sight of Colin and the Holly Jo and, in my opinion, he deserved much more of a mention on air. Thankfully the BBC have now returned to Ireland this weekend, for more whale watching encounters with Colin for Seasons which should be aired in 2013. This helps to reinforce that the Republic of Ireland should be embraced as a nature-bountiful part of the British Isles, and not overlooked and left as a nameless blank space on weather maps.

Colin also featured in a wonderful programme produced by RTE, Living the Wildlife back in 2009 and he kindly let me borrow a copy of the programme to watch (as sadly it is no longer available on iPlayer) I will use a quote from the presenter to round off.

"(Colin is) One of the best whale guides you'll ever find. He really knows what he is doing. He doesn't disturb the animals and if anyone can find them, he can!"

Colin Stafford-Johnson

Bookings can be made by telephoning (00-353)028-36789 or (00-353) 086-327-3226.

Colin strongly advises booking and of course, the reliability and predictability of both weather and wildlife cannot be guaranteed! (Although the 2012 Autumn whale season was spectacular!)

Unfortunately Colin doesn't yet have a reliable internet service where he lives, but hopes that he might be able to be contacted via email in the near future but please don't hold that against him! Ring him - he is the one for Whale and Dolphin watching in West Cork.

Bell X1, De Barras. 4.11.12

OK, so we already have tickets for Bell X1 at Bush Hall in January, so why fly all the way to Ireland to see them again?

"It's a very special place" said Paul Noonan, as he stood on the friendly little stage of this Irish bar.

I would have to agree, and Bell X1 are certainly a special enough band worth travelling to see, in this very special place.

De Barras in Clonakilty is a unique, intimate music venue, and although sporting the word 'folk' in its title, it actually embraces a far broader cross-section of the music world than you might imagine. When we are around in West Cork, we make a point of trying to get to one of, any variety of gigs at De Barras, and for you regular blog-readers out there, you will already know that I have done a couple of shoots before in their cosy, well worn bar on a Monday night as part of my photo-documentary series on West Cork life.

Last Sunday night was a little different however, as tucked away beyond the bar where the trad-sessions are held, is a secret gem of venue. Unlike some of the scruffy, stinking, beer-stained venues that might be found in London, this is an unusual jumble of linked 'rooms' with lovely mis-matched seating and even more eclectic decor. Some spots in the venue provide a clear view of the under-stairs stage, whilst others provide an opportunity to hear, rather than see.

Due to our late arrival, it was a seat in the 'hear' area of the venue that we wound up with when Bell X1 last visited De Barras in November 2010. This time though, we were determined to arrive early enough at the 'doors' so as to pick our spot in this (unusually) all-seated venue.

Snug does not fully describe the seating arrangement but let's just say that the stage was within touching distance this time. Primarily though, I was there to enjoy the acoustic set which Bell X1 were to play. However, this static location would provide a challenge for trying to capture a few shots with my little G12, just for the record (as we all like to).

The audience were quietly attentive as the band opened but all too soon, were joining in with their own favourites.
I'll See Your Heart and I'll Raise You Mine had a special connection with De Barras as it was the recording which was made at the gig two years ago, that features on their current live acoustic album Field Recordings

(We were also all made privy to a fact about another De Barras track on the album but, shhh!!!)

By the second half, everyone was well under Bell X1s spell - how can you fail not to with Paul Noonans smooth voice and songs like Eve, The Apple of My Eye?

As two years ago, we were also treated to some new songs, which, often in Belly style, pick up on current issues.
1000 Lickle Downers made reference to the unpopular Property Tax recently levied on Irish home owners.



All warmed up nicely from the second half, everyone was just ready for a third...

...but all good things have to come to an end. (Happily though, we can enjoy them all over again in January!)

And, on another note guys, one day you might just return to Cambridge? (Please?)

Thanks for a brilliant evening in Clon - as always!

(Such lovely, normal yet talented guys. Check out their music if you haven't already.)

Plane to See

Every year I take delight in the colours and patterns of the Autumnal leaf-fall.

The effect they have can vary from slippery nuisance to gloriously coloured carpets.

However, an interesting effect is the subtle and temporary decoration that they can add to our pavements.

Hunter's Moon

Monday 29th October was the night of the full moon - the Hunter's Moon or the Sanguine Moon.

Having presented the Harvest Moon to you back in September, I wanted to follow on with the full Hunter's Moon. Sadly, circumstances were not in my favour yesterday, so this evening, I grabbed the opportunity to take some shots of the marginally waning Hunter's Moon, rising over Audley End House.

The clear sky which was present as I left home soon changed to a slightly cloudy sky, which rendered a clear shot of the moon near on impossible. However, as October is drawing to a close, the cloud simply added to the atmosphere, as did the (not so obvious) mist which was rising off the river.