Interesting to read your background on the post processing. I didn't think any of if was other than how it came out of the camera at first glance, but now I can see masking edges etc. I would have left the tender as a silhouette because I feel it destracts from the gale damage.

Fire engines have blue lights in europe? Here blue lights are for snow removal vehicles.. that's kind of interesting.. Also, at first glance, I had no idea what this was. It sort of reminds me of a robot :) Oh and reading your commentary.. are you documenting unusually high winds by taking a photo of a torn flag/banner? ;)

i love how blue the sky is!!

... are you documenting unusually high winds by taking a photo of a torn flag/banner? ;)

My chances of becoming a world famous photo-journalist are slim ;-) Actually, I spend a couple of hours on the beach this afternoon, in a 40-45mph wind, attempting to capture some sense of the power of the wind. And I got four, maybe five shots that I'm going to put up, but they all look remarkably peaceful. I guess documentary photography isn't my strong point ;-)

david: We still love you.

miklos: that's ok then ;-)

I just wanted to say that your photos are truly amazing, very inspirational =)

Its funny to read about the high winds there in UK cause we have had some of it here at the north of the mexican republic, ofcourse I am not trying to document any thing cause I am not that good. But I am pretty sure that we all apreciate your effort david thanks.

The photo processing makes the truck look like it was pasted into an existing shot because the lighting doesn't seem to match. Did you also do a lot of sharpening? The edges look a little oversharpened at the end of the ladder or front end of that truck.

We've also had high windws here, but lots of rain so I couldn't go out really and shoot anything . :(

Oh well, you win some you lose some Dave. This doesn't cut it for me, compared with the majority that you post it lacks that spark. The 'robot'/fire appliance may be interesting on its own, and not just for the academic exercise in enhancement that it's undergone.
It's a tall order to post a brilliant photograph every day, even the best photojournalists are lucky to get a handful of memorable and meaningful pictures a year ;-).
With two UK photoblogs in the top three of Best of the Blogs and yours by far the most interesting of that group - I urge every one of your 1000+ followers to get out there and vote, for the sake of our national pride!

Well, I must say, I'm pretty disappointed in the length of your "people" series. Did you give up on it or just feel compelled to stray for a few days? I had hoped to learn new ways to make people not look like snapshots (my particular affliction). There are no people in your town with wind-blown hair, or trying to "batten down the hatches", so that you might get a windy subject AND shoot people?

Mind you, I'm still amazed at your photos. In this kind of shot, I only wish that I could find angled shots that look as good as yours. But I'd really like you to show us more people, and tell us how you got the shot.

Yesterday I tried to document the power of the weather too - and I found it really hard (mostly because I had to fight with the wind while shooting). The perspective of the fire-engine is really interesting; until now I have never compared it with a robot ;)

Jarod: the slightly over-sharpened look is more a consequence of not having enough time to get the mask exactly right; i.e. the edges are darker than they should be.

fraxinus: thanks for the feedback. I think I like this one (technical problems aside) because of the graphical elements in the shot and their relationship to one another – the fire-engine, the reflected street-light, the torn poster, and the white building. And yes, a few more votes would be nice ;-)

tif: of all the stuff I put up I find people shots the most difficult but I will take some more soon. In the meanwhile the next few shots will probably be shots that I took on the beach in the couple of hours following this one.

Marina: no, it hadn't occurred to me that it looked like a robot, but I can see what people mean.

Yes, I'm with fraxinus on this one- it doesn't cut it for me, but, hell, I couldn't post a photo even to this standard every day, so you get my vote, Dave.

By the way, I liked yesterday's, I'm much more a fan of your non-people photos, or at least non- posed. I know I'm in the minority, but....

It is a very beautiful photograph. It is wonderful!

I guess it's harder to take pictures that show the wind in Blackpool, what with the shallow littoral and all. You need some really high tides! I remember even muddy old Morecambe had some big waves once, but that was a spring tide...

Hi Dave,

Just been checking your archive, I used the link "most comments" which was useful. Your 4 min exposure of the pier was good (with the stars as streaks) quite amazing, again. Also your three daughters, well composed shot and good contrast between faces and sheet.

I am correct in saying that you are boycotting the blog awards due to their stance on cerrtain issues?

As for todays shot, I can't make my mind up about it, a little difficult to find a focal point to focus on.

tobias: I'm happy with the Best of Blogs Awards 2004, but was a bit concerned about the political nature of the last one hosted by wizbang.

I bookmarked your page. Must admit I download many of them for desktop pictures, Is a shame on my 23" apple display they look pixelized. In hi-res will have been beautifull. Like you I like to take "oportunity pictures". Maybe I send you some if you like. Keep up the great Job, they are beutifull and inspiring (I got my Olimpus C 2100 on by working bag daily). Consider making many of them available for Desktop picture, I garantee you, people will love them!!!!

Greetings from the Caribbean, Puerto Rico.