I often hesitate to post shots such as this because a) they're not immediately attention grabbing, and b) rely on the backstory to provide meaning. In this instance, the story is as follows:
When I was young, probably some time around 1968, I remember my grandparents and great-grandparents bringing myself and my sisters to Blackpool. Like countless hundreds of other people, we hired deckchairs and sat on the beach, my granddad wearing a knotted hankerchief on his head. As we sat there he would say "if you dig here", pointing to an area of sand near to his deckchair, "you'll probably find some money. It's buried all over Blackpool beach". And sure enough, if we dug for a while, we'd unearth an old penny, or maybe a threepenny bit.
The deckchairs were hired from the promenade and probably had been for at least 60 years prior to my childhood visit. And they can still be hired now.
However, Blackpool is currently re-engineering its entire seafront to include terraced gardens, new buildings and various other toursist attractions. I suspect, when the work is complete, that sights such as this – a group of ageing, tethered deckchairs – will become a thing of the past.
On a totally unrelated matter: what would you like tomorrow? You have a choice of Elvis appearing in a puff of smoke or Batman swinging through the streets of Blackpool. The choice is yours :-)
captured camera lens focal length aperture shutter speed shooting mode exposure bias metering mode ISO flash image quality RAW converter cropped?
12.29pm on 21/4/06
Canon 20D
EF 17-40 f/4L USM
22mm (35mm equiv.)
f/5.6
1/320
aperture priority
-1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
2x1
comment byStian at 07:50 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Nice story you've got there.
Very sharp image, lots of details. You did good, Dave!
And for tomorrow, Batman, I hope! ;)
comment byBill Hooker at 07:54 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
I don't usually do this, because it's usually apples-and-oranges to compare you and John, but I like your shot better than John's this time -- the colour really adds to the nostalgic feeling.
If I have to choose, Batman's cool but Elvis is The King. So, Elvis please.
"b&w looks nice, but colour one would be better (i think, of course :P)"
and finally i do think it's better in colour :)
comment bylaanba at 08:23 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Nice story and photo to go with it. I'm certainly not against progress, living in a huge sprawling city (Houston), but stories like this make me a little nostalgic.
And I'm going to vote for Batman.
comment bymicki at 08:39 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Love the colors in this shot!!
My vote is for Batman, he's ten times more appealing to me!!
comment byMatt Simpson at 08:47 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Very nice. The texture of the wood and rope really comes through well.
As for Batman vs. Elvis? I'm going to be difficult and say both, one after the other :p
comment byDave Carrington at 08:58 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Pleasure to meet you today. I hope you had a more fruitful shoot than me: managed to salvage about one decent shot! Who said genius was contagious by association?!
comment bybmoll at 09:02 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
I agree, this one wouldn't work out without the story (or maybe just wouldn't be the same, though?).
I'd like Elvis and Batman's reflection fixed into any piece of glass :). ("Give a finger and they'll probably take the whole hand", huh.)
comment by thlayli at 09:06 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
batman!
comment byPatrick at 09:24 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Please post more images with backstories - it's a nice change of pace and gives us a good insight into you and your area.
comment byRobert at 09:27 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Nice repetition of the weathered chairs. Interesting how some are older than others... I wonder, how old is the oldest? While the story helps, I disagree. I think the photo stands up fine by itself.
comment byshaped at 09:33 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
great composition. i love the colors!
comment byJohan at 09:43 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
I don't know if I feel that you need the background story to appreciate this beautiful picture but it helps fill a sentimental gap that almost all pictures lack if you don’t get a story.
Worn wood is almost always beautiful. Along with the pattern it makes for a nice warm feel, although I would have liked some more of the color to come out.
For tomorrow I’m all in for Batman! I hope it is Michael Keaton. :)
comment by Jennifer at 10:11 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
Thanks Dave. Love the photo and sentiment. It has to be Batman - something unusual please as Elvis is often seen in Blackpool! ;-)
comment byChris Buehler at 10:18 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
I'm for Elvis appearing in a puff of smoke...
Thanks for your pictures, they are an inspiration. I love the deckchairs shot, even more so after reading your back-story.
comment by Free Spirit at 10:32 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
If it's Finley dressed as Batman, I'll pick that!
comment byStefano at 11:04 PM (GMT) on 23 April, 2006
The thing I like the most here are the burnings at the corners. Well done. Remind me of a Holga kind of picture
comment byJason Ertel at 02:45 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
Some images beg a story! It can put the whole thing into context...
Regards,
Jason
comment by Robert at 03:16 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
comment byninu at 06:10 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
sweet story behind everything Dave
BATMAN ALL THE WAY!
comment byMark at 07:01 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
The rope adds a great element to this image. It is a good contrast and a complemntary line to the photograph. For tomorrow, I would like a full image of Salma Hayek please, preferably in the nude.
Thanks Dave.
comment bySteveO at 08:53 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
Batman, definately Batman :-)
As for this picture, the colours are really nice, as is the overall feel of the image, very nostalgic.
This reminds me so much of my childhood walks along the seafront in Southend, the other end of the country but a very similar resort to Blackpool. There's nothing wrong with pictures that expand with text...
I'd already heard that Elvis was alive and living in Blackpool, but Batman - Holy Pixels!
comment by doreen at 09:08 AM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
You have to go for batman! Elvis is a tad overdone and batman rocks! literally! have you ever seen the "Bat-Dance"??? Adam West is definitally the real batman...
I think it will be a shame if deckchairs are removed from our seasides... its an image which sits with me from my child hood too...
There are certain things which should just exist becuase! and this is one of them...
It will also be a sadder day when donkeys are removed for some sort of health and safety or animal rights movement :(
Batman...start a protest 'save the deckchairs', you haven't become a fully fledged photographer until you've shot a 'deckchair' shot. What will the photographers of the future do :)
By the way, nice shot, great composition and the slightly desaturated feel works well.
comment bybruno at 01:27 PM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
what is this? :)
comment by Pete at 01:28 PM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
I guess I am outnumbered, I like *not* knowing the story, it gives me an opportunity to make up my own in my head. i.e: Where in the world did Dave get that picture, I bet he was out... etc.
Having said that, I always look at the photos and make up my own story, then read any included ones. I can't resist.
I agree with Mark, Selma Hayek, but scantilly clad, lets the mind do the work, barring that, Batman please!
--Pete
comment by AndyG at 03:45 PM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
I see growth rings. A good year here, a bad year there.
comment bydjn1 at 04:43 PM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
Thanks everyone, and Batman for tomorrow then :-)
comment bySteve at 04:55 PM (GMT) on 24 April, 2006
When I find an old photo I often wish some one had written something on the back. So I like it when you include a "back" story.
comment bySan Sebastian at 12:35 PM (GMT) on 25 April, 2006
Really original picture, great colours and composition.
comment bykyle at 02:41 PM (GMT) on 25 April, 2006
Hi, I look everyday at your blog but I think this is the first time I've commented. I think your work is awesome.
Do you have a specific procedure for post processing your photos ? I'm assuming you spend a lot of time on them.
cheers !
kyle
comment bynogger at 12:53 AM (GMT) on 29 April, 2006
Knotted hanky? I used to go to Blackpool in the late 50s and I don't remember knotted hankies. Except on postcards. Maybe they came back in fashion n the 60s. :)
I often hesitate to post shots such as this because a) they're not immediately attention grabbing, and b) rely on the backstory to provide meaning. In this instance, the story is as follows:
When I was young, probably some time around 1968, I remember my grandparents and great-grandparents bringing myself and my sisters to Blackpool. Like countless hundreds of other people, we hired deckchairs and sat on the beach, my granddad wearing a knotted hankerchief on his head. As we sat there he would say "if you dig here", pointing to an area of sand near to his deckchair, "you'll probably find some money. It's buried all over Blackpool beach". And sure enough, if we dug for a while, we'd unearth an old penny, or maybe a threepenny bit.
The deckchairs were hired from the promenade and probably had been for at least 60 years prior to my childhood visit. And they can still be hired now.
However, Blackpool is currently re-engineering its entire seafront to include terraced gardens, new buildings and various other toursist attractions. I suspect, when the work is complete, that sights such as this – a group of ageing, tethered deckchairs – will become a thing of the past.
Oh, and John put up a shot of the same deckchairs yesterday.
On a totally unrelated matter: what would you like tomorrow? You have a choice of Elvis appearing in a puff of smoke or Batman swinging through the streets of Blackpool. The choice is yours :-)
camera
lens
focal length
aperture
shutter speed
shooting mode
exposure bias
metering mode
ISO
flash
image quality
RAW converter
cropped?
Canon 20D
EF 17-40 f/4L USM
22mm (35mm equiv.)
f/5.6
1/320
aperture priority
-1/3
evaluative
100
no
RAW
C1 Pro
2x1
Nice story you've got there.
Very sharp image, lots of details. You did good, Dave!
And for tomorrow, Batman, I hope! ;)
I don't usually do this, because it's usually apples-and-oranges to compare you and John, but I like your shot better than John's this time -- the colour really adds to the nostalgic feeling.
If I have to choose, Batman's cool but Elvis is The King. So, Elvis please.
as i write yesterday at John's blog:
"b&w looks nice, but colour one would be better (i think, of course :P)"
and finally i do think it's better in colour :)
Nice story and photo to go with it. I'm certainly not against progress, living in a huge sprawling city (Houston), but stories like this make me a little nostalgic.
And I'm going to vote for Batman.
Love the colors in this shot!!
My vote is for Batman, he's ten times more appealing to me!!
Very nice. The texture of the wood and rope really comes through well.
As for Batman vs. Elvis? I'm going to be difficult and say both, one after the other :p
Pleasure to meet you today. I hope you had a more fruitful shoot than me: managed to salvage about one decent shot! Who said genius was contagious by association?!
I agree, this one wouldn't work out without the story (or maybe just wouldn't be the same, though?).
I'd like Elvis and Batman's reflection fixed into any piece of glass :). ("Give a finger and they'll probably take the whole hand", huh.)
batman!
Please post more images with backstories - it's a nice change of pace and gives us a good insight into you and your area.
Nice repetition of the weathered chairs. Interesting how some are older than others... I wonder, how old is the oldest? While the story helps, I disagree. I think the photo stands up fine by itself.
great composition. i love the colors!
I don't know if I feel that you need the background story to appreciate this beautiful picture but it helps fill a sentimental gap that almost all pictures lack if you don’t get a story.
Worn wood is almost always beautiful. Along with the pattern it makes for a nice warm feel, although I would have liked some more of the color to come out.
For tomorrow I’m all in for Batman! I hope it is Michael Keaton. :)
Thanks Dave. Love the photo and sentiment. It has to be Batman - something unusual please as Elvis is often seen in Blackpool! ;-)
I'm for Elvis appearing in a puff of smoke...
Thanks for your pictures, they are an inspiration. I love the deckchairs shot, even more so after reading your back-story.
If it's Finley dressed as Batman, I'll pick that!
The thing I like the most here are the burnings at the corners. Well done. Remind me of a Holga kind of picture
Some images beg a story! It can put the whole thing into context...
Regards,
Jason
I like the shot very much.
Nah,nah,nah,nah,nah,nah,nah,nah,nah..............Batman!
sweet story behind everything Dave
BATMAN ALL THE WAY!
The rope adds a great element to this image. It is a good contrast and a complemntary line to the photograph. For tomorrow, I would like a full image of Salma Hayek please, preferably in the nude.
Thanks Dave.
Batman, definately Batman :-)
As for this picture, the colours are really nice, as is the overall feel of the image, very nostalgic.
This reminds me so much of my childhood walks along the seafront in Southend, the other end of the country but a very similar resort to Blackpool. There's nothing wrong with pictures that expand with text...
I'd already heard that Elvis was alive and living in Blackpool, but Batman - Holy Pixels!
well, it certainly did grab my attention =P
You have to go for batman! Elvis is a tad overdone and batman rocks! literally! have you ever seen the "Bat-Dance"??? Adam West is definitally the real batman...
I think it will be a shame if deckchairs are removed from our seasides... its an image which sits with me from my child hood too...
There are certain things which should just exist becuase! and this is one of them...
It will also be a sadder day when donkeys are removed for some sort of health and safety or animal rights movement :(
Batman...start a protest 'save the deckchairs', you haven't become a fully fledged photographer until you've shot a 'deckchair' shot. What will the photographers of the future do :)
By the way, nice shot, great composition and the slightly desaturated feel works well.
what is this? :)
I guess I am outnumbered, I like *not* knowing the story, it gives me an opportunity to make up my own in my head. i.e: Where in the world did Dave get that picture, I bet he was out... etc.
Having said that, I always look at the photos and make up my own story, then read any included ones. I can't resist.
I agree with Mark, Selma Hayek, but scantilly clad, lets the mind do the work, barring that, Batman please!
--Pete
I see growth rings. A good year here, a bad year there.
Thanks everyone, and Batman for tomorrow then :-)
When I find an old photo I often wish some one had written something on the back. So I like it when you include a "back" story.
Really original picture, great colours and composition.
Hi, I look everyday at your blog but I think this is the first time I've commented. I think your work is awesome.
Do you have a specific procedure for post processing your photos ? I'm assuming you spend a lot of time on them.
cheers !
kyle
Knotted hanky? I used to go to Blackpool in the late 50s and I don't remember knotted hankies. Except on postcards. Maybe they came back in fashion n the 60s. :)