Archive for December 2008
Sun sets on 2008
River Tyne at South Shields
Well, that’s another year gone by, two and one third years of South Shields Daily Photo, gone in the blink of an eye with post number 888.
Although it has been enjoyable, and at times frustrating, it has always been hard work maintaining this site and finding the inspiration to go out and photograph this locality for people around the world to see and wonder at. I cannot pretend that 2009 will be exactly like the last two years, I like to bring you something fresh and new every day, but sometimes it is difficult and I don’t want to start repeating the same scenes over and over again. The summer months are without doubt easier, there is much more going on with variety being the name of the game, but winter and spring present their own sets of problems, there is less activity, the sky is never blue, the light is always flat and dull and inspiration and motivation are harder to find.
Unless I start to get more personally involved in other people’s lives I’m afraid this photoblog may become a bit less daily than it says on the tin!
Thank you to everyone who has visited this site during 2008, and even more thanks to those who were kind enough to leave a comment, I’m afraid I have not been so good in reciprocating, I will try a little harder next year.
I hope 2009 brings a little more hope and inspiration for you, and at the least I hope that you all enjoy good health if nothing else.
This is the scene as the sun sets behind the River Tyne as seen from the Mill Dam in South Shields, the DFDS ferry is getting ready to sail to Amsterdam and a few cranes are unloading cargo at Tyne Dock. I rather like the Victorian styled street lamps which are just coming to life on the left.
Camera details: Konica Minolta Dimage Z3, 65mm lens, 1/60 second, f3.5, iso 50
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Two kites and a hole in the sky
Seaburn beach
Just outside of South Shields is Seaburn beach belonging to our neighbours in Sunderland, and this is where I caught this shot yesterday. About 11:00 in the morning with the sun struggling to rise above the low clouds and Roker pier, although it was quite cold there was not sufficient wind for the two kiteboarders who had left their equipment on the beach.
The weather did not improve much at all during the day.
Camera details: Pentax K100D, 82mm lens, 1/500 second, f8, iso 200
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Historic Mill Dam area
Customs House and Port of Tyne Health Authority
The Mill Dam area of South Shields has an historic significance, it is in one of the oldest recorded areas of the town.
When the Romans, and the Vikings after them, invaded Britain, this part of land at the mouth of the River Tyne was divided by a substream forming a delta, the river ‘split’ at the area now known as the Mill Dam and the Romans built their fort on an ‘island’ which we now call The Lawe. We are unsure to this day whether there was ever a dam here, but if there was, it would have been small, just large enough to power a water mill to grind corn.
In the 18th. and 19th. centuries many ships tied up here and sailors gathered in the tightly knit local streets hoping to get work from the merchantmen and colliers plying their trade, now an arts centre, The Customs House (on the left) was an office used by the Port of Tyne Commissioners to gather their taxes, the building on the right was used as the Port of Tyne Health Authority in an effort to prevent the spread of diseases brought from abroad, before later being used as a morgue. In between the two buildings is what little remains of Dalton Lane.
Black and white conversion and colour tint performed in Photoshop.
Camera details: Konica Minolta Dimage Z3, 35mm lens, 1/6 second, f2.8, iso 200
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The Customs House
A night at the opera?
Well, it’s quite likely at the Customs House in South Shields. Situated at the historic Mill Dam the Customs House (which was formerly a Customs House) has been converted into a multi use arts centre, featuring a theatre, cinema, art gallery, restaurant, rehearsal rooms and workshops.
You are as likely to see a play as you are a film, a pantomime, an opera, or a musical, as well as a series of live musical performances from leading talents and current stars.
This night time shot was taken just as it’s patrons were spilling out after enjoying “The Three Bears”.
Camera details: Konica Minolta Dimage Z3, 35mm lens, 1/8 second, f2.8, iso 200
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