Bed Racin
Last weekend saw the Knaresborough bed race trundle through the streets of in all its colour and noise.
The theme for the 2012 event was Olympic Nations. Teams can base their bed design and fancy dress on anything connected with that country. Teams used history, culture, geography, landscape, social or sport to get their inspiration.
There was some impressive beds. The poor girls on Float 36 had a bad day. The person building their bed had not turned up on the day, but that did not stop them. They ran around the local shops getting donations of paint, and cardboard boxes and built their float from scratch.
All in all it was a enjoyable day, everyone had fun, despite the occasional shower. I travelled light that day, just my D7000, 85mm 1.8D and a Tamron 17-50mm 2.8. The combination of lenses worked well, 
but I found my self using the Tamron more than any other. Nothing wrong with that lense for the price I paid.
Sunday saw the same kit taken to the Valley Gardens in Harrogate for the 1940′s Open Day. Again I mostly used the Tamron 18-50mm which proved more than caperble on the D7000 body.
It was a fun day, with people walking about in 1940′s style clothing, and various re-enactments. It was a good half day looking around and seeing everyone enjoying them selves
Some of the shots, if I had taken them and given them a vintage look, would of passed for origionals 
Great Yorkshire Show
Soon the 152nd Great Yorkshire Show will be back on in Harrogate. The main farming event of the year.
Its a photographers dream. So much to shoot, so many different styles to practice. This year, as well as the compulsory shots of the events, I’ll be concentrating on taking “people” images. Trying to capture the people of the farming community, the passion for the land and the job they do.
I really need to spend the time photographing people. Outside of the studio, I lack confidence, those off the wall shots, spontaneous undirected snaps of life.
I’m really going to enjoy this years show, of course, photographs will be available in the Events gallery.
A Good night for a walk home
So I finished work at 5pm, and promptly ran out of the door. What a fabulous evening light there was. It was such a nice night I walked the long way home.
I went down Nursery Lane, and the best view over Harrogate, as it is the higest point in Harrogate it self. You can see right over the Town from here, apart from the far west that is obscured by Pine Woods. Passing the old Observation tower you walk past Harrogate Councils Plant nursery area.
Now your in the depths of Pinewood, a huge area of woodland containing both deciduous and coniferous trees. Recent attemps by the council to promote more deciduous trees is evident. Crossing Harlow Moor Road you continue through some more thick woodland before emerging at the South end of Valley Gardens and the old well heads. The light on this fine evening was a warm red glow that set off the changing leaves of the trees casting long shadows with splatters of light breaking through.
Walking down Crescent Road, the warmth of the setting sun evident on my back, I crossed the busy Ripon Road and walked along the side of the Huge conference center, casting looks up the mirrored glass of the Holiday inn as I passed. I noticed angles I never noticed before and made a mental note to photograph them, the recently discoverd well on Kings road near the conference center Found over a year ago, I’ve never seen it. Lit up its enter depth, it was a deep hole, Harrogates newest attraction and piece of History.
Now it was back to more residential area as the path took a series of twists and turns down a set of ginnels until Roberts Crescent. Looking to the West, the old Observation tower can be clearly seen on the hill, 4 miles away, marking the beginning of the walk home.
At home, I looked at my camera sat on the table, and wished I had taken it with me that day.
Bettys
I’ve got a real thing taking night shots, I love them.
Not to sure about the processing though, I like the effect I’ve created, but I’m not sure it really suits the image. In some ways it does. What you all think?
