Roller Derby Leicester 13/09/2014

Due to a series of serendipitous and charitable actions, I found myself at a Roller Derby match between Roller Derby Leicester and Sheffield Steel Roller Girls. Another first.

As a Roller Derby virgin. I soon realised I had only brought one set of eyes when clearly two sets are required to keep up with everything that is going on.

Just about fathomed the principle of the game. Who does what, what they are called and so on.
Then again.

Another observation. Never seen so many Refs.(zebras) in a game  Seemed more refs than skaters.
Then there are the non skating officials. Or the pinks to me.
Regardless of the rules and scoring as a sports enthusiast I had a very enjoyable time.
I could list a few "sports" I would knock off the Olympic list and replace with this.
Tactics, speed, skill, interplay, strength it's all there.

My thanks to Anna and Ester.

P.S. Very good selection of cakes for half time, what more could you wish for.



Anyway, from a photography point of view, I will put this down a series of happy accidents. Technically, focus is generally off and exposure less than ideal. I could put these things down to deliberate use of  slow shutter creative clap trap. The truth is, the lens was way too slow. Upped the ISO to 800 but still not fast enough. Really should have brought the fast glass. Never mind.

No. Scratch that. Never mind the laws and technicals of photography, an image stands or falls as an image, based on itself alone.

Does the image work as it is yes or no?
Does it convey a message or an emotion?
Does it involve or connect the viewer?

Enough rambling. Here are todays poorly exposed, out of focus, camera shaken, non adjusted or cropped images. (as usual straight off the chip no fiddling about).
A few more images here. Roller Derby Leicester 13/09/20014

SSRG discuss tactics.
(Or cakes Or who has the loudest tights.)

Getting Busy

Picking up the pace

 Although it was one of the opposing team. In terms of actual image, I rather like this one. There is clearly speed and motion conveyed in a still image. But it is the stillness on the front skate that sets the image off.

Up close and personal

 Down and dirty

Peace, Love and Hugs.
Again as a first timer to Roller Derby. This was a lovely thing to see and be involved in.

Lost shoes

Somewhat random, but out enjoying the late sunshine and came across a pair of neatly positioned cricket shoes. Somewhere, someone is going to open the car boot and think where the hell are my shoes?
They are on Back Lane Barkby.

Using the Ricoh GXR and Leica Summitar set up today.

Is that the time?

Out and about in Barkby on a uncharacteristically nice bank holiday Monday. Just thought it looked a nice clock.
Straight out the cam no fiddling about.

Lads Broke

If they go inside, they may well end up broke. (For those outside UK PLC. Ladbrokes is a betting office.)
Another, from the shooting from the hip style. As an observation to myself, my hit rate is improving.
As a style of shooting, it can be somewhat hit and miss. But I am finding the hits are often more than I was expecting.
Had the Ricoh GR 1 (or digital, depending on your bent) set to Snap focus mode, which on this camera is 2.5m. As this was the first GR digital model, you only have the one choice of distance.
As a side note, on the Ricoh GXR you can select different distances. Nice. But with a 28mm lens just about everything is going to be in focus anyway.
Another side note, Ricoh GXR A12 M Mount and a voight 15mm = point and shoot city. Zone focus to what ever distance you are in the mood for, or circumstances dictate and shoot away with gay abandon.
Happy days.

No mates. Mates!

While on the subject of Garry Winogrand, this would irritate him as well, as it has clearly been cropped. Which raises the question, who am I shooting for, me or Garry? Boy can I learn from him, but you have to have your own style, what ever that may be. 

Juicy

Another from the ongoing shooting from the hip style. Garry Winogrand may object, but I like the angle.

Fat

Carrington Arms - Ashby Folville - 11/06/2013

My other title choices were going to be, out with the bins or put out with the rubbish.

Contemplation

Carrington Arms - Ashby Folville - 11/06/2013

New way of walking?

Shooting from the hip 3

Shot from the hip in passing. Always look forward to the rather random results you get from this style, as no conscious/deliberate/chosen framing is involved. Quite like the captured expressions.

Two for Tea

Two for tea.

Dogging

Spotted this cheeky little chappie while out and about, a woman also spotted him and we exchanged knowing smiles as just looked humerous as you approached the car. Difference being I had a cam in the hand. The worlds best camera is the one in your hand at the time.

Jason

Drive by shooting 1

GRD
This may or may not develop into a little series. Images taken whilst on the move. Could result in some gems or complete rubbish. Time will tell. An early landmark in this blog, my first colour image. Yikes.

The stillness of night

GRD
The stillness of night.

Town

GRD
Out and about in town today. The ebb and flow of punters in a strict 2 in 2 out formation. Noah would have been proud.

GRD (might have selected a tone setting by accident)
If only things were that simple, new hip or knees? Fine, just pop down to the Body Shop.

Left Foot Forward

Ricoh GRD
Fast paced city life shot from the hip..

Nice Rack

Nice rack! Ricoh GRD

No one at work, at all

Men at work? Would appear no one about at all.

Lets get naked again

Just happened upon this while passing through an arcade in Edinburgh.

First post. Lets get naked.

A new blog for me. This one follows the trend for uploading a pic a day type format. Format maybe, will I be posting a pic a day? probably not. Week days do not often lend themselves for pic taking. The ones that are taken will likely be taken with the Ricoh GXR or Ricoh GRD, Maybe some guest posts from other cameras as well. Have always been a Pentax man and still am. However, since stumbling upon things Ricoh that has changed slightly. Slightly ironic that Pentax and Ricoh have joined up though.

Anyway, the above pic was taken while in Edinburgh recently prior to the Beltane Fire festival. www.beltane.org

Jason opening up a new leaf.