Gone To The Dogs

Sometimes when I read the photography forums I wonder how we managed to make pictures in the past. No auto focus, shooting film so there was no instant feedback on exposure and content, being limited to 36 exposure rolls of film rather than 128Gb memory cards, frame rates of only 3 fps rather than 11. But make photos we certainly did. Going through my Lightroom catalogue the other day I looked at this short series I shot. The assignment was to make a short photo essay of six photos using black and white film and produce six prints. The equipment used was fairly basic by todays comparison, an Olympus OM4 fitted with an autowinder, an Olympus 35-105mm lens, an Olympus 65-200mm lens, and four rolls of Ilford HP5. The film was developed in D76 and the prints were made on Ilford Multigrade RC. The images below were from scans of the actual prints.

 

Gone To The Dogs
The steward walking the dogs out to the start line. Greyhound racing at Cannington in Western Australia.

 

Gone To The Dogs
Preparing the dogs at the starting gates. Greyhound racing at Cannington in Western Australia.

 

Gone To The Dogs
They’re off chasing the electric hare. Greyhound racing at Cannington in Western Australia.

 

Gone To The Dogs
Into the final straight. Greyhound racing at Cannington in Western Australia.

 

 

Gone To The Dogs
The winners on the podium being photographed. Greyhound racing at Cannington in Western Australia.

 

Gone To The Dogs
The punters watch the action on screens in side the bar. Greyhound racing at Cannington in Western Australia.

 

 

I won’t say any more because I feel I’m in danger of becoming the photographic equivalent of:

 

Absence Makes The Heart Grow Fonder

God Loves Everyone – Even Christians. South Beach, Fremantle, Western Australia. Voigtlander Bessa R2 & Voigtlander 35mm f2.5 Colour Skopar . Ilford Delta 400 developed in D76.

 

Now it has been nearly 4 weeks since my last post, but far from sitting around and just doing nothing myself and the myriad of staff here at the head quarters of the global juggernaut that is Paul Amyes Photography have been remodelling the commodious facility. Endeavouring to maintain our cutting edge style we undertook the massive task. At times I must confess that it seemed like a Sisyphean task, but now basking in freshly designed and decorated centre of operations , I can say that it was all worth it.

Sisyphys (1548–49) by Titian, Prado Museum, Madrid, Spain

 

Having just posted after a long absence I must confess that the blog will be taking another break of 3 weeks while  I go and intrepidly explore the Tasmanian wilderness. Now observant regular readers will note that it was not even 12 months ago that we visited that far off land. Well the pull of the wonderful scenery, excellent food and the outstanding beverages is too great to resist. The trip will not be all beer and skittles though, no my shutter finger will be getting a very strenuous workout as I endeavour to capture the beauty that is ubiquitous in Tassie.

So see you in three weeks.