Film junk

Tuesday 5th November 2024, 4.00pm (day 4,821)

Film junk, 5/11/24

Down the years I have come to the conclusion that if one wants to simply do as one pleases in public space in the UK, there are two foolproof methods for achieving this. First, try pulling on a high-visibility coat of some kind. No one will then question your behaviour. The other is to say, “We’re filming”. You are then permitted to fill any thoroughfare with junk, block rights of way with impunity, and do so on a regular basis for months on end. Whatever forthcoming TV epic has been in production in Hebden Bridge since the summer (and we know what it is: something about a female 70s punk rock band), it had better turn out good.

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Inspecting the manuscripts

Monday 4th November 2024, 2.00pm (day 4,820)

Rylands manuscripts, 4/11/24

Another one of my Palaeography classes in the John Rylands Library. We have moved from Hogwarts (the old reading room) upstairs and into the new seminar room, with tape still on the windows. Checking out the manuscripts themselves is always the best bit, and they need to be ready, and cared for — would that students got to sit on such comfortable-looking cushions.

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Karaoke setup

Sunday 3rd November 2024, 5.00pm (day 4,819)

Karaoke guy, 3/11/24

A typical Sunday afternoon scene in the Railway, Hebden Bridge. The crow is a bit of added Halloween ambience, but otherwise, we could be on any weekend in the year…. and this guy is here, every weekend.

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Going To The Match

Saturday 2nd November 2024, 3.55pm (day 4,818)

Bury fans, 2/11/24

This afternoon I saw L S Lowry’s famous painting, Going to the Match, which is currently on display in Bury Art Gallery. Then I went to Bury FC’s ground, Gigg Lane, where 2,790 people decided they wanted to Go to the Match. For a ninth-division game, this is pretty good, and I think Lowry might have approved.

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Blokes on roof, again

Friday 1st November 2024, 12.35pm (day 4,817)

Blokes on roof, 1/11/24

Another day where not a great deal happened, so let’s bring out one of the recent Hebden Bridge staple shots — Blokes Working On A Roof. This time, with added Autumn Foliage for garnish.

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Young Frankenstein (that’s ‘Frahnkensteen’)

Thursday 31st October 2024, 12.15pm (day 4,816)

Young Frankenstein, 31/10/24

You’ve gotta like this movie. Not all the jokes work any more, by any means, but Young Frankenstein must be the finest parody-homage of any genre, ever. And at a completely decadent time of day, too, thanks to the Hebden Bridge Picture House’s Thursday morning “Elevenses” deal.

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Spam fritters on Death Row

Wednesday 30th October 2024, 3.35pm (day 4,815)

Spam fritters, 30/10/24

“But… I had nothing to do with all those emails! I told them I don’t know anything….!”

“Shaddup. When they come for us, you’re going first.”

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Back of Bridge Gate

Tuesday 29th October 2024, 11.50am (day 4,814)

Bridge Gate autumn, 29/10/24

After the weekend away, the day spent almost entirely at home working to make up. Use was thereby prompted of a stock late October shot, but what the hell.

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Deep in the Barbican

Monday 28th October 2024, 1.30pm (day 4,813)

Deep in the Barbican, 28/10/24

In the brilliant 1980s TV series Edge of Darkness (which I really must watch again some time), there is a scene in which the hero evades his pursuers by deliberately running into the Barbican Centre. It’s an in-joke, but it works: forty years on this is still a rather difficult building complex to find one’s way around. Even as I took this shot there were two young American tourist types stood to my right, debating just which of the concrete ramps and overpasses and underpasses they needed to try next. But what the hell — I still like the place, both to visit and to photograph, and it does give good statuary.

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The Thames at Hurley Lock

Sunday 27th October 2024, 1.25pm (day 4,812)

Cormorant and yacht, 27/10/24

Though we have been staying in London over the weekend, this part of the Thames is further upstream, just past Marlow, where the river forms the Buckinghamshire/Berkshire border for a while. I am very happy with this shot, as it turned out just as was hoped when I pressed the shutter. It seems to sum up two things about the Thames at this point — the wildlife and natural qualities are pretty good, and there’s certainly a lot of blatant displays of wealth around.

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