Coast, Newcastle, Durham Cathedral and Teesdale Waterfalls

Yesterday was a grey day so we started late and headed to the coast south of Sunderland. No photos so made for Tynemouth. Some sunshine here. Photos of castle, pier and Victorian station. Then on to Whitley Bay and St Mary's Lighthouse which is joined to the mainland by a Causeway,returned here closer to high tide too. Spanish City too, a big white domed building.

In the evening we drove in to Newcastle for some dusk and night shots. Started with the bridges over the Tyne then into the city for shots of Central Arcade, Grey's monument, theatre, skyline from Tyne bridge and a few others. Forgot to take photos on my mobile so no pics until my films are processed.

Today again started grey so another late start then walked down into Durham and along river for photos of cathedral. Waited about 40 minutes for some brightness, then the sun came out briefly. Made all the difference.

It looked pretty set as a grey day so we decided to go for a walk. Teesdale is about an hour away and there are lots of waterfalls, great subjects for grey days. We walked about 5 miles in total, taking in High Force and Low Force. The photos here were taken by Jan, including me in one.

Durham Photos

We are in Durham for a couple of days, staying in our usual corporate hotel - Travelodge!

Night photographs of the castle and cathedral before checking out curry night at the Bishop's Mill Wetherspoons.

It's quiet here, not many people walking into my pictures. Not that well lit. Needed some long exposures.

Weather forecast not good, hope it's wrong.

Buxton Gallery in the Gardens New Display

I have changed my display of framed photographs in the Gallery in the Gardens in Buxton Pavilion Gardens. There is a strong bias to cities to tie in with my City Light book launch.
Locations now include Rome, London, Oxford and Paris as well as some local ones.

I forgot to photograph the display but here are a couple of the images, you'll just have to imagine what the narrow black frames and white mounts look like!

St Peter's Basilica and River Tiber at Night, Rome

Radcliffe Camera, Oxford

By the way, I will be doing a City Light book signing in the Buxton Tourist Information Centre on Easter Saturday.

40th Anniversary of Wainwright's Coast to Coast Book

Just found out that it was the 40th anniversary of Wainwright's Coast to Coast walk book first being published on 10th March.

I didn't realise in 1978 that we were walking it so soon after the book was published. I finish walking it for a second time in August, this time with good friend Al from Gloucester. We divided it into 3 sections, St Bees to Shap in 2011, Shap to Danby Wiske last year and it will be Danby Wiske to Robin Hood's Bay to finish.

I still think it's a good walk. Lots of variety in the landscapes and lots of pubs!

Here's a shot of Robin Hood's Bay where the walk ends, on the Yorkshire coast.

City Light available through Dave Butcher site and Amazon UK.

My new book City Light is now available through the Dave Butcher web site as well as Amazon UK

Focus on Imaging Day 1

The first day of Focus on Imaging is over. My new City Light book was officially launched. We saw lots of old friends and met many new ones.

I took some photos on my mobile of the stand before the show started and expected to do this post shortly afterwards. We were busy from the start so just finding the time now at almost midnight.

Still 3 days to go. We are on the Ilford Photo stand C2 hall 9 at the Birmingham NEC. Discounts on books and courses. Ilford/Harman have big show discounts on film, paper and inkjet media if you can get down here. Also a new low priced pinhole camera, obscura, as well as the Titan pair of pinholes for 5x4 and 10 x 8 in.

There is even a full blown darkroom with a film processing machine, an enlarger and a paper processor.

Staying with good friends Peter and Sally and their family in Kenilworth. Lot more enjoyable than the normal NEC show!

Old Hall Inn Winter Beer Festival

Jan and I walked over to the Old Hall Inn in Whitehough near Chinley for their winter ale festival on Friday. We met friends Dick and Lawraine from Birch Vale and spent a pleasant few hours catching up on each others news.

Over 80 beers on hand-pump or straight from the barrel. Difficult to know where to start!

I went for the stouts and porters as these are my favourites. Here are the ones I managed to try. Fortunately we walked over Eccles Pike so neither of us had to drive. Happy to report that we returned in the dark and survived!

Titanic Brewery Cappuccino Stout
Titanic Brewery Chocolate and Vanilla Stout
Hopback Brewery Entire Stout
Raw Brewery Dark Peak
Titanic Brewery Last Porter Call
Black Country Ales Pig on the Wall (brown ale)
Tatton Brewery Rock and Maul

They were all good but my least favourite were Last Porter Call (a bit hoppy for me), and Pig on the Wall (a bit bland after so many strong flavoured stouts - I should have started with this!).

I'm a bit late posting this as it ends today, so hurry if you want to go! Web links above if you need help finding it.

City Light Book at Loop Printers

My new book City Light was at the printers in Sheffield, Loop Print, today. They also printed my last book Lake Light.

Here are a few shots. Jan and I went over to check the first 2 sheets of pages as they came off.

Trevor the printer (featured in the shots below) had a bit of work to do to give us the blacks and contrast that we wanted. It was looking good after he worked his magic.

Should be finished tomorrow. Then it goes to binders. We should take delivery Wednesday or Thursday next week.

The launch will be on the Ilford Photo stand C2 Hall 9 at the Focus on Imaging show at the Birmingham NEC, Sunday 3rd to Wednesday 6th March.

Just arrived in Market Deeping near Peterborough to give lecture tonight. Lecture in Bury tomorrow.

City Light - Cities of the World and Buxton, New Book

I have just sent back what I think are the final edits to my new book, City Light - Cities of the World and Buxton.

It should go to the printers later this week and be ready for launch at Focus on Imaging at the Birmingham NEC from 3rd to 6th March.

Ilford Photo / Harman Technology have once again invited Jan and I to join them on their stand at the show, which is open to both trade and retail visitors. The stand number is C2 in Hall 9.

There are 31 cities and 123 images in 80 pages, as well as an article on city and night photography and technical data on every image. The cover price is £15 but there will be an introductory show offer for visitors for the 4 days of the Focus show.

Come to the show if you are able to and say hello and look at my new book. We can take cards and cash!

We will put it on the web site as soon as we can after it is printed and on Amazon Marketplace.

The photographs were taken over 22 years, hope you like them.

More Snow in the Peak District

I walked 6 miles across the local hills so that I could run Gallery in the Gardens in Buxton today. Blizzard conditions at times and a few inches of snow everywhere.

The roads were slippery as I came down into Buxton, seemed to be ice under the fresh snow. Tricky.

Still snowing.

Jan driving us down south tonight ready for the funeral of her aunt in north London tomorrow. Hope the roads are clear.