The further north you go, the earlier the trees turn. Those who want to see displays like this in late September, come to northern Finland. The back of the traffic sign gives nice contrast.
Time for a change of scene. Finland was the first country other than the UK to appear on this blog, back in September 2011, but it’s been a while (August 2012 to be precise) since I was last here properly. But Oulu is the venue for this year’s ECIL conference, which starts tomorrow, so here I am. This is the second most northerly city I have ever been, after Tromsø. I had only a short time here this evening to wander around, but this hydropower dam, built across the mouth of the main river, was an eye-catching sight. I’m here until Thursday.
I am giving myself more and more opportunities to become practiced at sports photography — specifically, football. I hope this isn’t boring for you, my followers. But I’m enjoying it. FC United of Manchester, who are like the non-Evil version of that other United of Manchester, of whom I’m sure you’ve heard, put themselves 2-0 up in the FA Cup against Colne (where I was a fortnight ago), thanks to some unidentifable part of no. 9’s anatomy. Getting shots like these is largely a matter of luck, I have decided; pro sports photographers take hundreds of shots per match, I bet, and probably end up with half a dozen usable ones.
Another grim day of weather, describable, at one level, as ‘sunshine and showers’, but the sunshine was brief and brought no succour, while the showers were prolonged and heavy. Here, they coincide, but I was still getting very wet.
A foul day of weather today, definitely the worst since early April. A reasonably pleasant morning tricked us all into going out without the right gear, a mistake very apparent later on when we had to return home in foul and heavy rain, and with plenty of time to remind ourselves about just how poor is the drainage on Manchester’s streets.
We are getting longer platforms! And lifts to and from them, from the subway! It’s a miracle…. or will be, if we ever get the train service to match.
Another early morning in Manchester, where there’s still just about sunlight at 7.15am, but not for much longer in the year. Light, and time, enough to ponder why this establishment can’t seem to decide whether there’s one L or two (or indeed, three) in its name. It wasn’t open at this time, in case you were wondering.
Day one of Welcome Week — and so there came a time in the day when we all needed to have a break. Picture taken through my office window, making it the third in the last five days to be taken through glass. It also adds to the increasing lead of the 3.00 – 3.55pm time slot when it comes to the overall pattern of shot timing (see the stats), a statistical blip I attribute mainly to football matches kicking off at 3pm. But that is just personal trivia.
Don’t worry, I have not become Scarface. Not yet, anyway. But I was making blackberry jam this afternoon, and quite successfully too as it turned out.
Thirty-five minutes in and the day goes from bad to worse for Tow Law Town, in the stripes; already 4-0 down at this point they have just had a player sent off, as well. Mind you seeing as the final result was 5-2 to hosts Nelson FC, technically this improved their performance.
The reason I like this picture is that the referee looks, to me anyway, to be about fourteen years old. A clear sign of middle age on my part, I know. Brave chap either way. Look at the size of the guy behind him, for instance.
