The Bar Fly meets The Stand-up Comedian - # 52/2011

I enjoy "Stand-up".  It's often a bit crude (and sometimes it's unnecessarilly crude). It's certainly not "politically correct" and that's good in a world where political correctness has got out of hand and needs a rap on the nuckles. 

I have to thank the comedians at the Ram Jam Club at the Grey Horse in Kingston for kindly allowing me to photograph them in action, using only "available light" .  This is the most charismatic image I captured during a laughter-filled Friday night.

Emptiness - # 111/10

The Bar Fly chooses a chair- # 109/10

No postings for a week. Not so much busy as totally preoccupied by "things"....home admin, bitter weather that does not encourage outings, and just general "stuff".  So the bar fly was pleased when his friend, known mysteriously as "The Railwayman" called him out for a drink and a chat.  Waiting quietly in a very cosy, welcoming but totally empty inn (cold weather is bad for business) the Bar Fly started snapping.  Just sit quietly and enjoy the things you see.

The Bar Fly discovers Krispy Kreme - # 31/10

Down there, at Shannon Corner, underneath the A3 Kingston Bypass lurks a piece of Americana.  The Bar Fly ventured out alone at a lateish hour on a wet grey mid-summer English evening to survey the character of Shannon Corner at night and specifically to sample Krispy Kreme.  He got a free doughnut added to his order so came away delighted, heavilly fortified by a massive sugar-rush and caffeine-high.   

The doughnut style of the central light fitting pleased him, as did the excellent "daylight balanced" lighting which suited the camera and produced a nice fondant effect for a sugary photo.

Cotes du Ventoux 2007 - # 27/10

I'm not a fan of this sort of artifice via software, but it does make the wine look true to its appearance, and stand out, which is my point.  This was a very acceptable example that went well with the slow-roasted shoulder of lamb. 

Double espresso - # 26/10

Attracted to the light the RuTDP Bar Fly drowned in the double espresso. 

The Bar-Fly goes cultural - pine staircase c1902 - # 25/10

Yes, indeed! This is another in the much applauded RuTDP occasional Bar fly series.  It's about pleasing shapes and arrangements (in the bar or pub); so let's admire this lovingly restored pine staircase - an example of the period around 1902 when the so-called "arts and crafts" movement was active in British architecture.  The Dysart Arms pub in Petersham is a good example of this style.

Camera: Olympus E3.  Lens: Olympus 14-35mm (28-70) f2.0. 

House red - # 12/10

The RuTDP Bar Fly is flexing his wings as well as stretching his crooked legs.  A walk to the Royal Oak alongside a new friend, (wounded on the same day and in the same manner) yielded this close up.  The Colour Version is quite spectacular, too; but the "dark forces" won the battle for the final decision.

The Bar-Fly observes circles of influence - # 09/135

Isn't it strange how some people are "in" and some are definitely "out"? "Nobody ever tells me what's going on". "I've watched people going up and people going down; but they couldn't see it, or control it".

It's a long time since I did a decent "Bar-Fly", and I don't rate this one very high in the series. Bar-Flies are spontaneous but, actually, they aren't. They have to come together in a mysterious unplanned way, where numerous components just suddenly "fit". Like "circles of influence" in the cosmos and in human affairs, lots of other things have to happen in a precise way, and actually they are highly complex and organised forms of chaos.

The Bar Fly discovers Kepler's Dream - # 09/119

The Bar Fly's companion in conspiracy resurfaced after a little time away on mysterious missions "out East".

Where are we off to tonight? Canbury! Where? Canbury: it's the old industrial slum area of Kingston. The leather tanneries and early metal works and even the pre 1914 Hawker's aircraft factory are now long gone, and it's all "gentrified". I've discovered this old pub "the Canbury Arms" - they have an excellent food menu and a good atmosphere.

Great. I'll bring along my copy of Johannes Kepler's 1634 book about travel to the moon. It's an early "space travel" novel. We can discuss it. Unfortunately I don't have the original German edition.

Kepler! Wonderful! I can't wait. Don't you just love those 17th century mathematicians?

Fleurie! - # 08/281

I was allowed out last night.

Cold comfort - # 08/280

The dark river looks very forbidding and unattractive. The quayside is deserted, and the bright lights cry in vain trying to attract visitors to the restaurants and bars. Some will come a little later in the evening, but it's mid-week, and quite cold in that sort of damp unpleasant North-East Wind kind of way that you get used to if you are British.

If you are not sure what a North-East Wind is like, find the city of Hull on the map, and go there in winter. The wind blows straight out of the arctic and bites you in half. It's good for your moral fibre. Eskimos will understand.

Coca Cola, Potato Crisps, Lilies, Fine Wine and Oranges - # 08/229

Another in the occasional "Bar Fly" series.

A couple of nights ago we visited the Black Lion in Black Lion St close to the river off Chiswick Mall. It's a very old pub surrounded by magnificent early 18th century buildings and narrow riverside roads.

The Bar Fly was struck by the interesting fusion of the concept of the "old riverside pub" and "elegant modern London venue". The bar-top combination of the "down to earth" and the "elegant", the "ancient" and "modern", caught our eye. A good dinner, and an excellent Real Ale beside leather armchairs and an open fire contributed to a good evening.

The Bar Fly does "Textures" - # 08/214

We're back in the Bell Inn East Molesey, built around 1460.

The Bar Fly was fascinated by the textures of the ancient wattle and daub walls, the brick and the rough old oak beams. Of course the "traditional Faithful Dog" had to be included.

So: Olympus C7070 mounted on table with trusty bean bag to steady it; lock in a low ISO to eliminate grainy "noise" and give a nice long, slow exposure to bring out all the details and richness. Make sure the aperture is right to ensure that both near and far are pin sharp; use a remote release rather than timer to allow me to control the moment when to fire the shutter. White balance set to "tungsten/incandescent" to eliminate false "orange" cast from the lights, and give a better white colour rendering. And, naturally, remember to switch off the flash.

Result: a nice clear true-to-life memory of a pleasant evening in delightful company. That's what the "Richmond upon Thames Bar Fly Occasional Series" is all about.

(The photo looks good in B & W, but I wanted to bring out the warmth of colour and texture rather than the tonal effect and drama of the B & W version.)

Atlas - # 08/197

Greek myth tells us that Atlas held the World on his shoulders.

The Landlord of the Bell Inn at East Molesey does exactly that. The building dates from at least 1460 and is quite obviously "hand made". One can even imagine it standing here for another 600 years. Traditionally built means "Strong, flexible, robust. A combination of the light and the massive" in this case. The wooden beams could today already be 1,000 yrs old, cut in 1460 from trees in ancient forests.

While the Landlord chatted and made us feel comfortable and welcome the Bar Fly's trusty Olympus C7070 compact camera went into action to catch this unposed natural snap. This camera is compact enough to be discrete; large enough to be easy to set up manually in dim lighting without fumbling.

For the technical: ISO 100, f2.8, 2 seconds exposure, lens at 28mm wide angle. Camera nestling in trusty bean bag on the table.

1664 - # 08/179

The Richmond upon Thames Bar Fly went out for a buzzz about last night and got caught in a time warp. If you think this looks harrowing.....well it was. The conversation ranged from the form and photogeneity of Bauhaus architecture to the beauty that arises by sticking to the discipline of the Sonnet form. Since the pub dates from the roughly the same year (more or less) as that stamped on the glasses (and before Australia had a name) it failed to provide the linear forms of Tempelhof airport that the Bar Fly was craving for.

This tortured effort was the best he could do to capture the play of light and shadow, of curve and straight line. (Enlarging the photo may help; but don't spend too much time on it.)

Quiet night - Spain playing Germany - # 08/150

Sunday night, Richmond Riverside.

A glimpse along the bar of the London Apprentice, Isleworth - # 08/128

Just a quick glance from the riverside terrace outside, towards the bar inside.

The Bar Fly senses a warm feeling of Community and Good Times - # 08/123

The R. u. T. Bar Fly is constantly in search of signs of ancient community life in the area.

This inn existed in 1645, and next door there was a blacksmith. The village consisted of a small handful of cottages, but now it's just part of a huge urban sprawl.

The inn is still there.......as you can see.........and the blacksmith's forge is now a motorcar dealership and repair business. So - not much has changed, and I'm sure people enjoyed themselves much as we see here.

Streetside cafe culture - # 08/100

The open street cafe is a feature of life in the most unexpected places these days. Britain is far less grey and "indoorsy" than it once seemed to be. Or is that just my imagination?

Brilliant early morning sun brings an extra "something" to the early morning workman's coffee.

He's sitting in deep shade. Spot metering sorted out the shadows.