Fiona's Furry Friends and a Fish

So here is the reason I didn't get to go photograph Witley Court this time - and in a way I am glad as I have so many to work on at the moment as it is

Bristol's Cranes

These cranes down by the docks in Bristol are now a permenant feature - once they worked hard but now they sit - unused a listed relic from Bristols industrial past.

Bank Holiday Weekend Adventures

Well, we truly are at the tail end of the Summer now - the August bank holiday is now behind us - and Autumn is now fast approaching.
However as you know I was planning to go to Witley Court on the weekend - well it never happened - I did go to Tenbury Wells to see my friends - and we had a good time, but on Sunday instead of photographing a beautiful ruined stately home I ended up taking pictures of Fiona's pets - 2 new Guinea Pigs named Gizmo and Spike (well when I left those were the names.) These little creatures were so sweet Spike just spent the morning perched on my shoulder basking in the warm sunlight coming through the window and buy the time I could drag myself away it was gone 1pm so decided to go home and take a stroll by the river instead.
Took a few photos down by the river which is actually looking a lot fuller than it was the last time I went.
And the Bank Holiday Monday, well that was an epic advernture in itself - but I'm going to let you wonder about that til I have worked on the photos - over 200 images recorded yesterday - and tonight I am going to get stuck into them and get the Bristol ones finished as I still have a lot of those to do.
I seem to be getting a backlog again - and I am planning where I can go next weekend.

Here Be Dragons..... pt 1

..... And no it's not the Ankh Morpork Sunshine Sanctury For Sick Dragons either (Yes I'm also a Terry Pratchett fan), no these are Superdragons and they have invaded Newport with 60 of their kind - these beautifully decorated fibreglass dragons are placed all around the city and many locals are following the trail - so if you're in Newport between now and October why not try and see how many you can find.
As you can tell I haven't photographed that many but hopefully will get some more next week after work

For more information check out the Superdragons website at http://www.newportsuperdragons.co.uk/ and maybe I'll meet you near a dragon or two

Back to film - for a little while

As you know I am a digital convert - in fact all the pictures I have taken this year have been taken wither on my Canon 450d, my Canon Ixus 70 or on the Blackberry - so you might say I am a complete digital convert - but I'm thinking to keep things fresh and exciting it's time for something a little different. I have tried infra-red in the past, back in the days when Kodak made a hi-speed film and I liked the results, but sadly Kodak discontinued the film a couple of years ago, but fortunately all is not lost as those lovely people at Ilford still produce their special effects film (SFX), though not a true infra-red film it is the nearest thing there is, especially as I have only one dslr and obviously I am not going to get my camera converted til I have another - so it's back to film for a little while - especially as I am going awaon Saturday afternoon and hope to visit one of my old haunts Witley Court - so along with the DSLR, I will take the old Pentax P30t and see what happens.
Of course that means when I get home, assuming I have used up the entire roll I have to develop it - this is something I actually do miss, that and making prints in a darkroom. I know that with the digital there is no nedd to spend time in a smelly chemical filled room - but I actually like the smell of fix. But alas I don't have an enlarger anymore so I am resigned to having to scan the negs in once they are dry and then order my prints from Photobox.

Talking of scanning, I have scanned my entire colour print archive and the family photo collection - which dates back to well before the 40's, but my Black & White collection - well I have hardly scratched the surface - so I really must get on with it but I do find scanning so very boring, but it has to be done, so tonight I will crack on with it - chances are I won't have anytime to post any new pix - but then again you never know!

Where ever you are - Look Up

Sometimes it's better to look up than to look at eye level or below - sometimes the most unexpected things are up high. These three shots were taken in Bristol. The detail the workmen put into these is amazing. The top one is in the porch like area on a house, the second a clock in the centre and the third is the city coat of arms and moto - Virtue et Industria (Virtue and Hard work)

As you can see the coat of arms contains 2 unicorns and there are lots of unicorns dotted around the city and many copies of the coat of arms, will post more later

Clifton Suspension Bridge from below

my photos for sale

Well I did it I have now set up a pro-gallery account at Photobox so I can sell my photographs so check it out.
http://www.photoboxgallery.com/andreaprykephotography

There isn't much on there at the moment but this is just the start.

And I need your help as well - If you think there is a photo on the blog here that isn't in the gallery please send me a comment or email (via my profile) and I will add it to one of the collections.

The plan is if I do make any money is to reivest it into my photography with more lenses, programmes,and general equipment

And if you just want to leave a comment on here please feel free to do so. Your feedback is greatly appreciated


Andrea

Selling Prints and a fear of rejection

I am sitting in my office at the moment contemplating my photography - doubts assail me all the time - Am I any good? - is there any point in continuing for anything but my own enjoyment? - Does anyone even read my blog? Well obviously people look becasue I have 9 followers and I am really grateful to them for supporting me - I also know I have friends who click the link to this blog on my Facebook page to read it. One of those who looked last night said to me today. 'I was looking through all the photos and I was saying "she never took these" She thought the were very professional - high praise indeed and she thinks I should attempt to sell my work - well why not? you might ask.
Because I have a terrible fear of rejection that is why I never went beyond my musical theatre training and actually became an actor - I was and am still too afraid of being told 'You're no good.'
So what should I do? Should I try and sell images? and how should I go about it? Should I use a particular website I know of some out there - but if nothing ever sold I would feel terribly let down - it's silly because rejection is an everyday part of life and in normal circumstances is doesn't phase me i.e. being turned down for a job or by a fella - but this because I do have a vey emotional attachment to my photography really does worry me.
Perhaps I should start small with a few of the best images.
Maybe I will
I'll let you know when I do

Aust

Severn Princess Archive Image

On the English side of the Severn Bridge is a small place called Aust, from here one is almost underneath the old bridge and you are actually standing in between the new and old crossings. In between the two bridges is a third crossing place - now forgotton - The Aust Ferry as it was called from the English side - on the Welsh side it was known as the Bleachley Ferry.

The Ferry was used for cars wanting to travel to Wales but would allow motorists to avoid the 66 mile cross country road journey, but only had room for 17 cars at anyone time (the ferry was in operation for many years before carrying foot passangers but the advent of rail travel caused a decline in numbers) The last ferry crossing was on 8th September 1966, the day before the Severn Bridge opened.

Tne last remaining ferry the Severn Princess, launched in 1959 and withdrawn from service in 1966 was found was found wrecked and abandoned in Ireland in 1999 and has been restored although she will never sail again. She is to form part of a maritime display in Chepstow under Brunel Bridge.

The Aust ferry landing stage

The Old Severn Bridge


Pylon

To find the Aust landing stage from Bristol head towards Severn Beach - then follow the signs to South Wales then turn off and follow the sign saying Aust Wrath

Arnos Vale - The Family Connection

Today we went back to Arnos Vale to see if we could locate the family grave - and this time - thanks to the fact that the Landscapers have cleared some of the paths up in the area where we knew the grave to be located - we did.
Sadly as you can see from the first photo it was overgrown to start

Dad working on the grave

The grave after a couple of hours work - much tidier - now we plan to pay to have the staff at Arnos Vale keep the grave tidy - so when we visit it will always be accessible

Rest In Peace

St Mary Redcliffe - Bristol

When in Bristol the other day I took some photos of St Mary Redcliffe church - It'such a beautiful church and as the day was a bit dull and overcast I went inside to take some detail shots.

Detail of the surround of the tomb below

This is the tomb of William Caynges and his wife Joanna

The altar

Queen Elizabeth described St Mary Redcliffe as 'The most beautious church in all my realm.' I think she was right!

This window cass a beautiful orange/red light on the ceiling

Detail of the ceiling

For more information visit their website http://www.stmaryredcliffe.co.uk/

Suzie Kennedy performing at a charity ball

Here are some photos I took last night of the lovely Marilyn Monroe imperstonator Suzie Kennedy performing at the Marriott St Pierre Hotel, Chepstow.

I wanna be loved by you

Diamonds are a girl's best friend

Deep in thought

Machen

Went for walk up to the top of Machen was a lovely day and there are beautiful views of the valleys and on a clear day you can see all the way to Weston-Super-Mare!

Pit Wheel

A pit wheel on display at Cwmcarn Scenic Drive

More from Arnos Vale

Here is the dome of the tomb of Raja Rammohun Roy

The restored tomb of Raja Rammohun Roy

A statue of him stands outside Bristol Cathedral

Arnos Vale pt 1

Arnos Vale Cemetary in Bristol was opened in 1839 as a 'garden cemetary.' It sprawls over 45 acres. In the 1980's this privately owned cemetary run out of burial space and in 198 it leaked out that the owners wanted to clear some of the land for development, a group of concerned people banded together and formed what is now friends of Arnos Vale http://www.arnosvalefriends.org.uk/ and in 2003 Bristol City Council became the new owners of the cemetary and set up a charitable trust to restore and protect the cemetary.
Due to the long years of meglect many of the graves in Arnos Vale are sadly overgown and hard to see - but this neglect in it's way has helped Arnos Vale survive - now not only is it a cemetary full of beautilful monuments it is also a haven for wildlife.
Currently thanks to the Heritage Lottery Fund and volunteers, restoration is being carried out - the idea being to make the monuments and graves accessible to visitors while preserving the woodland for wildlife.

Many sailors have been buried in Arnos Vale. Here a anchor adorns a gravestone

One of Arnos Vale's many angels


In Prayer

This grave gives an idea of the task that the restoration team face

All in all Arnos Vale is definately worth a visit, although being 45 acres it really needs more than one visit to even see a fraction of it. I have many more photos of 'The Vale' to share and will upload more soon.

In the meantime if you want more information on the Cemetary why not visit their website at http://www.arnosvale.org.uk/

And let me know what you think!

Bristol lots of photos to follow soon

I have just got back from spending the day walking around Bristol - 12 hours to be precise - and I'm still not home, staying at my parents house tonight - so the 350 or so photos I took today are still sitting on my memory cards, and will stay there until tomorrow when I go home.

It was a great day and I am exhausted now - so off to bed now but will return when I get the photos organised and ready fro uploading

Enoying a few lazy days

Well I am enoying my break from wokr though not much photography is happening at the moment thought I do have plans as I have said

Arnos Vale cemetary - this will take several visits as the cemetary is very large 45 acres and full of monuments and wildlife

Newport - the 2010 Newport festival is currently running

Machen - a big hill/mountain just up the road

Bristol city centre and surrounds - again this will take more than one visit as there is so much to see - my family is from Bristol and I want to see where my parents lived and worked so my Dad is going to give me the tour - which I'm prettty sure will end in the famous Llandoger Trow pub - pint anyone?

Tenbury Wells - where I used to live will be visiting my best friend at the end of the month

Witley Court near Worcester - while I'm visiting my friend will pop to Witley and see what they have done in the 5 years since I last visited

Goodwood Revival - am hopefully attending this in Spetember with my friend Shar

Brighton - again with Shar who lives there

Cornwall - a weeks holiday beckons in October - plenty to see and photograph there

On top of that there are general walks on the canal as Summer becomes Autumn and the leaves change colour. And any adhoc visits to other places that might take my fancy - Hay-on-Wye or Cheptstow Castle - Phew


Well as I have so much to see and do I'd better get on with it - I think it might be Machen today - so maybe see you later with some more images!!!

OK enough of the flowers already

Here are the last of the flower shots so far - in fact I'm nearly out of photos completely - finally I am up to date, but not for long. I have the rest off the week off and am planning to get out and about with the camera - tomorrow - to Bristol and Arnos Vale, then weather permitting Newport on Wednesday and there's still the rest of the week to go!