Tynemouth Today

Still without my auto focus lenses, I took the Canon 450D for a walk using a Samsung 35mm f2 and a Zuiko 75-150mm f4. The camera is not very happy using these lenses, the exposure is often well out, while the focus confirmation is suspicious to put it mildly. Given that the viewfinder is pretty poor, you are more or less entirely reliant on the autofocus to get it right. Yes the camera has an early implementation of live view, but I don't find it practical for use outdoors in near freezing temperatures.

These issues mean checking the histogram after each shot, and taking multiple images to try to get an acceptably sharp picture. Fear not, the 70-200 Canon lens will be back with me tomorrow and I hope that the 24-70 will follow very shortly.

This morning there was unexpected snow inland, but the sky was clear and blue. Tynemouth escaped the snow, but it was very cold. The light was superb, bright, warm and clear.



Tynemouth priory



A dog having fun on the beach. You can see the notorious Black Midden rocks poking up above the water surface at low tide.



Collingwood's statue peers out from behind the watchtower.



Tynemouth flea market, held within the railway station.



Those sausages smelled delicious!

The 35mm Samsung f2 (Pentax clone) is an excellent relatively modern lens. It is in fact an autofocus lens, but of course that feature is unavailable when fitted to a Canon camera. The Zuiko 75-150 is plenty sharp, but lacks the contrast of a modern zoom, while there is some tendency to chromatic aberration when used on a digital body.

Snow around Rothbury

On Sunday we drove over to the lakes with a promise of snow and sunshine. No chance, wall to wall gloom and very little snow! On Tuesday, much closer to home, in Rothbury, there was plenty of snow and even a little bit of sun.



The snow was quite deep in places, and we witnessed old footprints sinking perhaps 8 inches in. However it had since frozen and we could walk across the surface. This is a view from the old carriage road around the Cragside estate.

Canon 5D probably Zuiko 75-150 f4



This sheep approached at pace, then suddenly turned tail and ran off to join its mates.



The view from Debden Bridge towards the stable block at Cragside.

Canon 5D Zeiss 35mm f2.4 Flektogon

Tyneside Yesterday

I have sent my two autofocus zoom lenses off to Canon's workshop for a refit, and find myself relying on a collection of old manual focus glass for a couple of weeks. Being used to 24-70mm and 70-200mm zooms it isn't easy going back to discreet focal lengths. Add to that the need to swap my Olympus to Canon adapter between lenses in the bitter cold and I remember why photography has moved on to zoom lenses. That said, the image quality is not bad at all with this old glass, if anything the corner to corner sharpness is better, but the contrast is a bit down and the colours not seeming so bright.

The light was pretty poor, the prediction was for fog, and I had hoped to take some interesting through the fog shots, but there was no fog, just grotty flat light. Having made my excuses, here are the pictures: -



Melting snow left this interesting pattern on the quayside. (Olympus 50mm f1.4)



The one redeeming feature was the lack of wind, giving rise to perfect reflections.



How many times has this been taken?



High class graffiti behind the Sage in Gateshead. (Zeiss Flektogon 35mm f2.4)

A couple from the river Wear in Washington

I saw this overturned boat, the Zephya, while walking through the wildfowl centre and therefore had to shoot against the light and through the wire netting fence. The result is much better than I anticipated. I won't worry so much about scratches on my lenses in future! However, I wonder how this sad state of affairs came to pass, did vandals undo the moorings of this boat perhaps?

I have just noticed that there is a photo of this boat moored at Fatfield on my posting dated 8-12-10. It looked to be in good shape then.

Canon 450D Sigma 100-300 f4



The setting sun made these icicles hanging from the Victoria Viaduct glow like flames.

Canon 5D 70-200L f4

Cold places

The weather forecast predicted bright sunshine, but, late morning, it was devilish dark at Roker.



Victoria Viaduct, near Fatfield, with ice washing in on the tide.



More ice on the river Wear at Barmston Ferry/Cox Green. I seem to recall reading in a history of Sunderland how massive ice flows coming down the river had swept moored (wooden) ships out to sea. Can't remember the date, early 1800s perhaps.



The mothballed Leamside line as it passes through Washington.

Tanfield Railway North Pole Express

The Tanfield Railway's Santa Specials have begun to operate, despite the adverse weather. East Tanfield station car park was not accessible, so the trains were starting from Andrew's House station, and working through the woods topped and tailed by Twizell and No. 49.

November Snow - Durham

The weeping willow still has a full complement of leaves, but there is a thick covering of snow.



I have yet to take the master shot of Prebends Bridge, but we're getting closer!