Photo Essay – Late Developer

CHAMPIONES!!

April 30, 2018April 30, 2018Ian McCLeave a comment

It’s all about the winning!!

championes — Crusaders F.C. win their 3rd title in 4 seasons

It may one of the lower budget sports competitions in Europe, but Northern Ireland’s domestic football league – the NIFL Danske Bank Premiership – is as exciting as any. I have the privilege of doing the matchday video camera for video analysis and YouTube channel highlights, as well as a bit of photography with Crusaders FC – a fan-owned club in north Belfast. 14 years after nearly going out of business, Crues are one of the top clubs in Ireland. On 28th April 2018, after a neck and neck chase to the title, Crusaders pipped Coleraine FC to become winners of the Irish Premiership by winning away at Ballymena and also gaining lucrative entry to the qualifying stages of the UEFA Champions League.

boss interview — Manager Stephen Baxter interviewed live on BBC

Most of the players in the league are part-time professional, training 2 or 3 times per week while holding down full time jobs. There is a strong sense of community within Irish football in midst of all the rivalries as the league competes with round the clock multi-platform coverage of the English Premier league and the other large European leagues.

These photos are of the post-match celebrations on winning the title – taken while also running around with the camcorder videoing the event..

The final score – equal on points with Coleraine but on better goal difference going into the game, a win guaranteed the championship.

cush — Super-sub. David Cushley (and daughter) – Cush got the late goal which clinched the title.

championes3 — The winning squad with NIFL Confetti Gun Operator on the left

howard — Howard Beverland – one of the best defenders in the league, and possibly made of steel

coatesy — Club captain Colin Coates tells the BBC how it was won

bomb1

seanW — Sean Ward – can play anywhere. A previous league winner with Linfield

brian — Brian “The Beast” Jensen. He’s Danish. Previously of Burnley fame, now a League winner.

skimmer — Matthew ‘Skimmer’ Snoddy. A young player with his 3rd league winners medal

mark1 — From the backroom – coach Marc Wilson

JO1 — The club’s record goalscorer – Jordan Owens

haul — The glittering prizes for 2018 – The Gibson Cup league trophy (right) and the Co Antrim Shield

Winner of the club and Northern Ireland player of the year awards – Gavin Whyte, with manager Stephen Baxter. It’ll not be long before we see Gavin in the English league.

The great thing about football is that as the season ends – on a high or in disappointment – we get to do it all over again after the summer.

Kit: Canon 6D, tweaked in Color Efex Pro pretending to be Portra 160

Ueno Park, that’s where I’ve been

April 17, 2018April 17, 2018Ian McCLeave a comment

what did you do there? I took photos

km400_tokyo_uenopark1 — Kaneiji Temple, Ueno Park

Ueno Park is a large green space in central Tokyo and a great place for a walk around the city with the camera. There’s temples, museum, a zoo, entertainment – including Taiko drumming blogged here, flea markets and plenty of people. It’s also beside a large shopping area, the Ameyoko Shopping Street so you can easily fill a day here. And like Tokyo there’s any number of JR and metro stations in the area to get here.

km400_tokyo_kimono_park2 — Another Kimono photo

km400_tokyo_uenopark_plantgirl — Blind among the flowers

km400_tokyo_uenopark2 — Oul lad in the park

km400_tokyo_uenopark5 — Strange cabbage-like plants, Ueno Park

km400_tokyo_uenopark3 — Flea Market bargains

km400_tokyo_uenopark4 — Seller of weird shit, Ueno Park

All shot on the Nikon F60 and Kentmere 400 or Kodak Tri-X

Osaka

April 16, 2018Ian McCLeave a comment

Osaka is a nice city to visit and works well as a base for trips elsewhere (Kyoto, Hiroshima etc) albeit without an overwhelming must-see identity of its own. It is however clean, safe, friendly – and has a Universal Studios park. I’d only a few days in the city armed with the Nikon F60 and Huawei P9 and got some shots.

A good place to start is downtown at the Shinsaibashi shopping street, 600 metres of covered shopping.

km100_osaka_shinsabaishi — Shinsaibashi shopping street, Osaka

There’s also every conceivable eating place, including a bit of crab.

IMG_20170712_172550 — Downtown Osaka, seafood restaurant. Crab on the menu.

IMG_20170712_220021 — Downtown Osaka, Dotobori Canal

One of the main sites for a visit is the Osaka Castle in its large gardens. It focusses on local history and art as well as some viewpoints of the city.

km100_osaka_skyline — View of the city from Osaka castle

km100_osaka_owkawa river2 — Osaka Castle gardens

km100_osakacastle_park_shrine1 — Osaka Castle gardens

Osaka is also the site for Japan’s Universal Studios theme park. Cue lots of Minions but I was particularly taken with Hogsmeade, Asian style.

IMG_20170713_151925 — Hogsmeade, Japan (snow not real)

IMG_20170713_153953 — Hogsmeade staff (Owl not real)

Practicalities – we stayed in the suburbs at the wonderful Rainbow Hostel near Imazato train station about 20 minutes from downtown. The area was nice and quiet and you’ll not go hungry

35739900483_491a192ab6_k — Out in the suburbs

And of course in Shinsaibashi there are plenty of camera stores. Nice that film is still widely used in Japan.

acrpsss — just over a tenner for a three-pack of Acros

Kit: Nikon F60 / Kentmere 100 and the Huawei P9

Hiroshima

April 5, 2018Ian McCLeave a comment

Most visits to Japan will include a trip to Hiroshima – to the Peace Park with the Atomic Dome and the various monuments, and to the museum. Like many war and memorial sites, they’ve been photographed countless times but it’s still the best way of recording your own visit, your thoughts and having an aide-memoire as one gets older.
All pictures taken on Kentmere 100 in the Nikon F60.

KM100_hiroshima_dome1 — Atomic Dome detail

KM100_hiroshima_dome2 — Atomic Dome – rear view

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark2 — Memorial by the Motoyasu river

There are a number of peace activists and displays around the park. This is an in-utero survivor from the bombing meeting with tourists.

KM100_hiroshima_dome_survivor — In-utero survivor

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark4 — Eternal flame – possibly colour would have been a better choice

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark8 — Students memorial

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark9 — Workers memorial

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark1 — More riverside statues

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark6 — Memorial Hall

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark10 — Children’s Peace Monument

KM100_hiroshima_peacepark7 — Inside Memorial Hall

A few practicalities.
The best way of getting to Hiroshima is by the fast JR train – the pass is great value
http://www.japanrailpass.net/en/

At the station there is a free bus that goes around the city including a stop at the Peace Park. There are also Tourism Meeter/Greeters around the station who are really helpful.

Tokyo: Asakusa

April 4, 2018Ian McCLeave a comment

The Asakusa district in Tokyo is a real tourist trap, traditionally a ‘pleasure quarter’ – we don’t have many of those in NI.. – it’s a great day trip for the temple and the market.

Photographically I arrived with an Olympus Trip 35 / Fomapan 100 which had a broken meter so was shooting manually on 1/40th – and a Nikon F60 loaded with Tri-X. On probably the brightest sunniest day of the year. Probably a case for digital..

Anyway – the Sensoji temple

asakusa temple2 — Sensoji Temple – Olympus Trip 35 / Fomapan 100

asakusa temple3 — Sensoji Temple – Olympus Trip 35 / Fomapan 100

A Chōzuya, for pre-worship purification

asakusa temple — Chōzuya. Nikon F60/Kodak Tri-X

Then for shopping, there is the Nakamise arcade area.

asakusa shopping street — Entrance to Nakamise, Nikon F60/Kodak Tri-X

asakusa shopping street2 — Posing in kimonos while shopping. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

asakusa souvenirs — Souvenirs. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

It’s a smallish area but you can still be sold the guided tours

asakusa seller — Tour guide. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

asakusa parade — Random music parade. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

asakusa umbrella3 — Kimomos and umbrella. Olympus Trip 35 / Fomapan 100

asakusa umbrella2 — Just the umbrella. Olympus Trip 35 / Fomapan 100

asakusa couple — Just the kimonos. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

asakusa arcadeshopping — Quieter moment. Nikon F60/Kodak Tri-X

asakusa arcade — Covered arcade. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

ktx_tokyo_asakusa_kiosk — Information. Nikon F60 / Kodak Tri-X

The magic of travel is that at home two of the least likely things I would do would be worship and shop. With or without the camera.

Tokyo: Taiko

March 28, 2018March 27, 2018Ian McC1 Comment

Taiko is traditional Japanese ensemble drumming – a full-on percussion experience with visuals to match. These were shot in Ueno Park, Tokyo on a Sunday afternoon but there are all sorts of shows, classes and competitions to go and watch and take part in Taiko.

km400_tokyo_taiko3 — A wee hand held drum

km400_tokyo_taiko7 — Traditionally a male dominated art – not any longer.

km400_tokyo_taiko5 — Calm before the storm

These shots were taken on Kentmere 400 film – cheap and cheerful but very grainy on scanning (they do sit nice and flat though..).

It does however do a much nicer darkroom print.

cof — very ungrainy darkroom print – Ilford Multigrade RC Matt

And of course, when in Tokyo – give it a go yourself.

taiko2 — Me and Taiko teacher Oskar. He’s the one on the right…

Kit: Nikon F60 with Kentmere 400.
Me and Oskar shot on a Huawei phone

Tokyo: Street Portraits

March 26, 2018Ian McCLeave a comment

Candid street portraits are one thing – asking to take a picture is another. And there’s no harm in asking, especially if the subject is willing or doing something to attract attention.

Or if you’ve just had the third consecutive lunch in his restaurant. The Shinjuku district of Tokyo is coming down with cafes and restaurants – many at inflated tourist prices. There are however plenty of cheap noodle bars – often without any English menus or signage. This particular place had a vending machine to select from a picture which then printed out a ticket. You give the ticket to the guy in the photo and he’s cooks up some noodles. No need to speak – just some positive body language, a smile and a thumbs-up. After the third day, I asked to take the photo. He obliged.

Then there are those who are on public display. The guy above hangs around Shibuya station with his signs. Other than that I’ve no idea what he’s about, but he likes his photo taken.

The girl below was intent on selling me a t shirt. I resisted. I’m a bit old for Mickey Mouse which she seemed to eventually agree.

acros_tokyo_shibuya_seller — she sells T shirts by Shibuya

All above shot on the Nikon F60 and Fuji Acros 100. Having an old film camera also seems to help with street portraits