Freelance Wastrel’s 7th birthday!

‘Freelance Wastrel’ is seven years old today! 🎂

During the past 12 months I’ve written 129 posts containing 137 images.

I’ve posted images from 13 digital cameras, 23 film cameras and 20 different film stocks are represented! (14 black & white, 6 colour).

Thank you all once again for reading, following and putting up with my waffling.

Throwback Thursday… Seacliff Beach, East Lothian

Seacliff Beach and Auldhame Castle, August 2020
Seacliff Beach and Auldhame Castle, August 2020
Fujifilm X-T2, Fujinon XF 18-135mm f3.5~5.6 R LM OIS WR at 39mm, 1/210s, f11, ISO 200

What was I photographing on this day in previous years?

Four years ago it was Seacliff Beach and Auldhame Castle in East Lothian.

Auldhame Castle dates from the 16th century and although now a ruin it is still an impressive structure overlooking the Firth of Forth. Not much is known about Auldhame’s history, it is somewhat overshadowed by its near neighbour Tantallon Castle.

'Play with me'
‘Play with me’
Fujifilm X-T2, Fujinon XF 18-135mm f3.5~5.6 R LM OIS WR at 135mm, 1/850s, f6.4, ISO 200

This wee hound desperately wanted someone to play with!

Throwback Thursday… The gardens at Nymans

Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)-20190801b
Purple Coneflower (Echinacea Purpurea)
Fujifilm X-T2, Fujinon XF 18-135mm f3.5~5.6 R LM OIS WR at 135mm, 1/100s, f8, ISO 640

What was I photographing on this day in previous years?

Five years ago it was the National Trust gardens at Nymans in West Sussex.

The gardens at Nymans are beautiful and well worth visiting at any time of the year…

Sunflower 'Munchkin' (Helianthus annuus)-20190801
Sunflower ‘Munchkin’ (Helianthus annuus)
Fujifilm X-T2, Fujinon XF 18-135mm f3.5~5.6 R LM OIS WR at 135mm, 1/110s, f5.6, ISO 200

Monochrome Monday… BlackBurne Tomtit

BlackBurne TomtitBlackBurne Tomtit
Nikon F3HP, Nikkor 105mm f/2.5 Ai-S, 1s, f11 – Ilford XP2 Super

The BlackBurne Tomtit is a 670cc V-Twin aero engine dating from the early 1920s. It was developed from Blackburne motorcycle engines and despite its lack of refinement the first one adapted to aircraft use was the best performing engine at the Lympne light aircraft trials of 1923.

This one is on display at the Newark Air Museum in Nottinghamshire.

Digitised using Nikon D5600 & AF-S Micro-NIKKOR 40mm f/2.8, Nikon ES-2 Film Digitising Adapter and Negative Lab Pro plugin with minimal cropping and tweaking in Lightroom Classic CC.

Throwback Thursday… Coventry

The Chapel of Unity, Coventry CathedralThe Chapel of Unity, Coventry Cathedral
Nikon D100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AF-D at 32mm, 1/160, f6.3, ISO 200

What was I photographing on this day in previous years?

20 years ago (20? Yikes!) it was the City of Coventry during a flying visit en route to Stratford-upon-Avon.

Father ForgiveFather Forgive
Nikon D100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AF-D at 32mm, 1/180, f6.3, ISO 200

‘Father Forgive’ was inscribed on the wall of the high altar of St Michael’s Cathedral in Coventry as per the wishes of Provost Richard Howard following the Coventry Blitz on 14 November 1940.

Graffiti, Coventry, 2004Graffiti, Coventry, 2004
Nikon D100, Nikkor 24-85mm f/2.8-4 AF-D at 40mm, 1/180, f14, ISO 200

I can’t remember exactly where I spotted this graffiti but judging by the EXIF data it can’t have been more than a few yards from the Cathedral…