Self Portrait Week 4 - In-laws for lunch

Considering this whole self portrait thing was borne out of a loathing of how I look in photos and absolutely hating idea of having my photo taken at all I am amazed just how willing I am to slap each weeks self portrait onto my blog and onto flickr. Ok maybe no one looks at my blog but I do know some people look at my stuff on flickr!



After a manic guest house morning it was all hands on deck to get a rib of beef in the oven ready for the in-laws arriving at 2pm, luckily they were a bit late as I was taking this pic when I should have been preparing the veg, had a lovely lunch though!

Off camera flash

Had a bit of a battle with my triggers not working this evening, once I convinced them to come out to play I also managed to convince Em to model for me - she's such a star!


This is my favourite.

Leeds Flickr Group - Lunch time meet

Had a great time at Roundhay Park in Leeds - beautiful place.


This is Stripey Anne who suggested or lunchtime meet up.


I had warned Jess that I wanted to try using off camera flash as a cross light and she was a star and waited patiently for me to work out what I was doing, having lent me her flash as my triggers weren't playing!


Bit of bokeh to keep it interesting.


Again messing with the flash, bunged it on the bench next to Anne and just blew her away! but it gave me an idea.....


Plonked the flash on the bench behind Jess to see it it would work as a back light, probably would have been better if I had been able to reduce the power of the flash, but this flash is either on or off. Even so this was my fave of the day.


Unfortunately in my excitment about back lighting forgot a few basic principles so these aren't exactly pin sharp which is a shame as Jess has amazing eyes.


Love the way the flash bounced a refelction up on to the painted back of the bench. Very happy with all of these, in terms of lighting if not focus!


It's very smart in the cafe at the newly opened Mansion House at Roundhay Park!

Bunkhouse Living

Not to be recommended! Compared to both prison and a slave ship the bunkhouse was not as salubrious as our usual choice of accommodation but it was cheap, ideally situated for the walk and more importantly next to the pub! No one slept the first night and no one stirred the second, those that walked were too shattered to do anything else and those that didn't drank enough to compensate!




For "Geordie Lads" read generally at least half naked, hard drinking blokes, who slept like babies in that they woke up crying at the slightest flaming noise!


Mmmm, there's nothing like that early morning fug of 20 sweaty bodies all in a confined space.


And then as the lens clears the fug adds an almost ethereal quality to the photo. Palpable nerves and excitment. And maybe some bitter and chicken tikka masala for good measure!

Three Peaks Challenge - Pen Y Ghent to Ribblehead

After the sum total of around one and a half hours sleep each, taken in intervals over the course of the night everyone was just raring to go!! At least it was dry even if it was still dark!


Ready for the off!


Ross, Chris, Nu and James - the first to get to Ribblehead at around 9.30am - think they may have been running!




Next in were Chloe and Dave - they held this 2nd position for the entire day, brilliant job.


Working tirelessly to ensure that all our walkers were fed and watered were Sandra and Bob, I helped too when I wasn't taking photos! (Actually that's a lie - Bob went to the pub, but only cos Sandra and I made him!!)


Here they come!




And all still smiling!


Compeed plasters saved the day time and again.


Jacob and Lydia, one down 2 to go!


Already the blisters that were to be his undoing were giving Alex grief.


Rick, Adele and Rob make the most of the chance to sit down.


Just ouch.


I swear Rachel was THE most coordinated person doing the three peaks on Saturday, perhaps ever - even her earrings matched!!


Here he is, the instigator!


Anna indicating just how happy she is! She and Joe now can lay proud claim to having climbed Pen Y Ghent, no shabby achievement either I reckon!


Simon and Joe and his poor sore hands - he fell on the road and grazed them.


Chocolate biscuit to the rescue!


The youngest of our group to complete all three peaks - well done that man!


The gang with peak 2 looming in the background.


Sardines - Steve never leaves home without them!

Three Peaks Challenge - Wearnside & Ingleborough

The second rest stop was between Wearnside and Ingleborough - from what I could gather the climb up Wearnside was nothing in comparison to the knee grating agony that is coming back down.


The path zig-zagging down Wearnside.

The trail of people coming off Wearnside! With the naked eye they were invisible, Bob, Sandra and I were discussing how weird it was that we knew all those people were out there but we couldn't see them - then I looked through my zoom lense and there they all were!



By the time everyone was getting to the 2nd rest stop the weather had changed and was drizzly and feeling a lot colder - I have no idea how anyone summed up the energy or enthusiasm needed to keep going up the big, black brooding lump that is Ingleborough and the third and final peak.



First one's to set off were James, Ross, Chris and Nu.



Jacob looks less than thrilled by the prospect of Ingleborough!






At this point Adele and Lydia had decided to call it a day....


As had Alex who's feet were badly blistered.


And then ... Lydia changed her mind! This is her, right at the back RUNNING to catch up with her Dad and Simon, what a trooper!

Three Peaks Challenge - the end!

And then after twenty seven miles they made it back to the Pen Y Ghent cafe to clock in their finish times. I love these photos, as tired and battered and blistered as they are each and every one of them managed to raise a smile - well done folks, what a huge achievement!