I’ve reduced my output for stock even further over the past month. I’ve sent a few images to Alamy but that’s about it. I’ve been taking photographs of things, people and events that attract my attention with no aim in mind other than improving my processing skills and enjoying the images.
The government is introducing another lock down because of the pandemic although it’s being called a circuit breaker this time. It doesn’t sound to be as severe as the first lock down and hopefully it won’t last too long.
The weather recently has been much better than we expect for this time of year and this helps to keep peoples spirits up.
These photographs are from one of the not so good days although as you can see people still manage to get into the water and enjoy themselves.
It doesn’t seem like six years ago but the Royal Hotel closed in 2014. I sometimes had lunch there and coffee when it wasn’t lunch time. I didn’t know it then but the hotel dated from 1773 although it had been rebuilt in 1932. When people said it had old world charm they weren’t making it up.
Rumours talk of it being developed into apartments but then that’s often the case when a large building such as a hotel closes. There’s a ‘To Let’ sign above it offering four restaurant/cafe units but unfortunately with the current Coronavirus pandemic and the expected economic consequences things don’t look good for the near future.
The small fenced off area in front of the hotel with tables and umbrellas is for patrons from the Rabbit Rooms restaurant nearby. The pavement outside the Rabbit Rooms is fairly narrow and many diners, sensibly with the threat of Covid 19, feel more comfortable outside so they’re using the space outside the Royal. Outside dining of course depends on the weather – always risky in Ireland.
Yesterday I walked into Bangor town centre. There’s a lot more traffic on the roads than even a week ago although most shops are still closed. There are more cyclists than usual, many on shiny new bikes and some of them looking a bit shaky.
At the marina there was some activity with boats being tidied in anticipation of the restrictions being eased. We haven’t been given much freedom back so far but people sense the end of the lock down approaching and are moving towards whatever the new normal will bring.
Conversation is turning to life after the pandemic and what the future holds. There is insecurity over employment and Brexit, as always, looms in the background. Whether for or against, it adds to the uncertainty.
There is much discussion about when and how the lock down can be eased. Although it reduced the spread of the virus we have yet to see the full cost with domestic violence, mental health issues and possibly the murder rate increasing.
Many with serious medical conditions have had treatments and procedures postponed or cancelled because of the pandemic. Attendances at Accident and Emergency Departments and referrals for specialist consultations have dropped away as people avoided hospitals. Some dental treatments have been put on hold. There will be a lot of catching up to be done.
With the gyms still closed I’m doing more walking than usual. Proper walking, tramping the roads rather than tramping on a treadmill. I used to walk the roads every day but reduced the road walking when I joined the gym. I’d forgotten walking roads is harder on the feet than walking on a sprung treadmill but it is more interesting. I see people on bikes, jogging and walking and most greet me. When I’m on the treadmill all I can see is the car park.
As far as photography goes I’m constantly on the lookout while I’m out walking and if that doesn’t work there’s always the garden.
I’ve been meaning to get a decent photograph of First Bangor Presbyterian Church for some time. There’s a striking willow tree at the front but it’s not quite in leaf yet. Maybe in a month or so and with a wider lens.
First Bangor Presbyterian Church
While on churches – I noticed this sign for Drive in services. They are possibly common enough in some places but this is the first one I’ve seen.
I’m left wondering if face masks and drive in church services will be part of the new normal.
A couple of years ago I saw kite surfers off Ballyholme Beach and anytime I was near I would drive by in the hope of seeing them again, especially on good windy days.
I had expected to see them over the summer months but never did and I’d given up, thinking it was now too cold. Then a few days ago, although the temperature had dropped to around 7°c, one appeared.
I had always thought kite surfing was a summer pursuit.
Bangor, for the next few weeks anyway, has its very own Big Wheel. The wheel has been placed adjacent to the marina and gives a great view over the moored boats and the town itself. Its arrival has coincided with the best weather of the year to date with unbroken blue skies and temperatures approaching 30C. This is just about as good as it gets in Ireland and such weather coinciding with the schools breaking for summer is a rare occurrence indeed.
I haven’t been up in the wheel as yet but watch this space.
Today the Ford Capri Owners Club, Northern Ireland had a charity event in Bangor in aid of The Northern Ireland Cancer Centre. Although the event was organised by The Capri Club all Fords, old and reasonably new seemed welcome. Walking around the cars on display you cannot but be impressed by the work put into these vehicles both to get them to such a high standard and then to maintain them.
My first car was a Ford so I have a soft spot for the marque.
Bangor Marina is situated on the south shore of Belfast Lough and its like a magnet for photographers. I’ve photographed it many times and I went today intending to shoot some video clips. It was a bright, sunny Spring day with a mild breeze and I hoped to get some footage of boats, preferably yachts, entering or leaving the marina. As luck would have it as I walked towards where I intended to set up a small motorboat entered the marina from the lough. I wasn’t in position so gave it a miss. I wasn’t worried, it was a good day and I expected there would be others. Half an hour later and still no boats entering or leaving I decided to leave it for another day.
Bangor Marina
Not wanting to go away empty handed I shot some still images. I had expected there would be people working on boats to get them ready for the season. I like to get people doing things in my photographs but there was nobody around. People in an image add interest.
I’ve read that a photographer needs to develop the ability to make photographs where it first appears to many that there are no photograph to be made. I don’t think I’ve quite pulled that off on this occasion. In an attempt to create something even slightly different from the other thousands of photographs of the marina I used mainly a 45mm lens on my Panasonic camera, giving a field of view of a 90mm lens on a full frame camera. Most photographs I’ve seen of the marina are taken using a wider lens so these look a bit different.
I’ve submitted these and a few others to a microstock agency. We’ll see what happens.
You come to Ireland for the friendly people, the scenery, the craic, the food, the Guinness. You don’t come for the weather.
These images show a misty afternoon in Bangor when the temperature was around 4C. The newspapers often feature weather pictures so these three along with others were sent to Alamy Live News. If any are used I’ll post them.
