That box of old slides has provided me with some great, nostalgic, recollections of the crazy days of big fish chasing and the superb company I enjoyed whilst on my adventures. I actually think it was a slideshow compilation that I had assembled for a NASA Regional talk, somewhere or other. It doesn't matter about such trivia, what is enjoyable about the event is that I'm looking back at images I've not seen for about thirty years. Not sure if it would have happened if we hadn't got the builders in? The slides are a little dusty and my equipment is not the best, but I've copied a few photos to share with anyone interested. I hope you are able to empathise with my situation and share the enjoyment of these long lost memories?
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| A Rudd-like hybrid from Wilstone |
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Some, fresh-faced, young Essex Boy on the banks of Wilstone.
I wonder whatever became of him? |
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Cuddles and Baz Adams on the Sixteen Foot Drain - an iconic image from my Kodak years.
I was made up when I discovered this image in my slides and wanted to share my joy with the
technical team, who resided in the offices above the warehouse. I was told that "to get better
exposure, of my subjects, we should have been fishing on the opposite bank!"
Some people just don't get it |
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| Still my PB Zander - Three Holes, September 1987 (?) My diaries are in storage, so I can't check it up. |
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| Wilstone sun-set - pike fishing from the pier |
Lovely stuff. I might just have to call in at Three Holes for a look over the bridge tomorrow.
ReplyDeleteBB, one of the images in this collection is of Paul Elbourn (Luton PAC R/O) fishing from the bridge - much to the annoyance of (the late) John Foster. It would have been priceless entertainment, had John stopped his car to chastise Elb's for his live bait angling efforts. However, it was a long time ago and times move on. The memories of happy days, spent around the Fenland drains, are fondly recalled via the impact of these long forgotten photos - Dyl
DeleteGreat images Dyl.
ReplyDeleteWith our pictures going back decades, I feel we have stolen a march on the masses who have only discovered photography since the smart phone came along.
I would think that my working for Kodak might have played some role in this? The main difference is that back in the 80's/90's it required effort to obtain an image. You pressed the shutter button and waited (weeks?) for the resultant image to be processed. What it wasn't was instant imagery. Today it's click and look, which is not a bad thing, but does mean that a lot less thought goes into the process than had done when film was the only media available. - Dyl
DeleteDyl, I hated wasting film, mainly since I had to buy it. As a result my pictures were carefully composed, focused, refocused and only then I'd press the shutter. Of a subject, I'd take maybe two or three shots where others would use an entire roll.
ReplyDeleteI did that with a 12lb Barbel a friend caught from the Colne in the early 80's. There was the guys brother taking pictures which turned out a bit duff. And then mine. Which appeared to save the situation.
There was one shot which had everything. I'll scan if off and post it to you.
Alas, my habit of handing over the entire package of prints and negatives to the subjects involved has stopped further issues.
Buying film? What was that all about - oh yeah, you didn't work for Kodak! I was able to "obtain" Ektachrome and Kodachrome slide film at very competitive prices. Kodachrome was process paid, thus I was able to take loads of images, in any given situation, without the worry of processing costs.
DeleteThe Olympus OM-10 was my chosen camera, but many others were using Canon AE-1's, both capable of producing exceptional results. Needing photos to accompany my illustrate lectures (total bull-shit) cum pissed up slide shows, meant that I took many thousands of images during those crazy years. I got paid, by Kodak, to write an article on fish photography for the NASA magazine - happy days! - Dyl