The Bull Hotel. Light in the darkness.

The place on the corner stood standing empty for years.

Colourful painted boards on the windows at the front. Demolition taking place at the back.

The Bull Hotel is a place I've driven passed time and time again as Laura used to live just up the road from it. Only the other day, i noticed a way in.

With something you love in life, you must try your hardest to do the best job you can, no half measures. Get results.

Ive not enjoyed urbexing for a while, its nothing compared to street photography. The explore itself is the best part, the photography can be a bit boring or a bit basic.

My constant challenge of finding the light has produced some of my greatest urbex shots ever.


Its a dangerous place to be; holes in the ceiling and holes in the floor, piles of defecation under foot left by the birds. Every step could be an expensive one if go through the floor boards. Its all part of the fun.

A blessed moment, a bird flies away at the decisive moment.

The light in the dark

Exploring in the dark, following the light, whats round the corner?

There's always a chair.

Open doors provide so many photographic opportunities.

The female of the species is more deadly than the male

Danger

How can you ignore the opportunity. The beauty in the decay.
Each time the cloud broke above, this beam of light was the centre piece.

Everyone has issues.


I like these times alone.



Embrace the light.

Rose and the apprentice

Melody Hossaini, star of the 2011 series of the Apprentice was in Long Sutton at the weekend; acting in the latest film by the Holbeach Film Company; Forever Your Rose.

Action

https://www.facebook.com/ForeverYrRose/

It was 'date night' In a local cafe.

The main character and the apprentice star were on a date and falling madly for each other until rudely interrupted.

Disgruntled girlfriend

Photography for the day; was documentary, looking for 'different' angles and framings.

One of my favourite photos of the day. i Just wait for opportunities like these.

For those who think staring in a film is glamorous, i can assure its not. Sat in a hot cafe on a Sunday afternoon with no air con or fan and a closed door to keep the noise out is not pleasant. Chill out breaks were welcomed.

Despite the temperature, spirits were high and good fun was to be had, with people sharing anecdotes, especially Steph and Melody; the 2 resident celebrities.

Food was supplied was dinner and me for one loves sandwiches, so thanks for that.

The X-Pro 1, continues to be the camera of choice for silent, conspicuous activities; a classic.

For those of you that wonder, Melody is a very good natured polite, approachable person who is interested in these projects that give people a stepping stone to better things. Thanks for being my muse for the day.

Being a kid and the ghosts of pigs

Its funny that ive just explored a building once owned by members of my family.

I remember going to this place as a child with my dad, I think he used to store things here.

Everytime I drive down this busy road, I see the old Piggery and think of long ago walking into this cold, dark and dirty place. Im not sure how long its been 'empty' for, im not sure who now owns it, im now 30 years old and my memories of the place probably date back around 25 years.

I was itching to go exploring December 30th, I woke up and its all I could think of, I didn't go, a little bored I was that day. So New Years Eve I climbed out of bed, put my exploring coat on; its just a dirty old duffel coat, and drove to Long Sutton with 2 locations in mind; both locations approx. 1 minute from each other on the same road.

For this explore I used my newest camera; Fujifilm X100T and the WCL-X100T wide angle lens converter. Since buying the X100T a couple of weeks ago, I haven't had a real chance to use it. I would usually explore with my Canon but I thought id see how this lens Fixed Lens Compact fared in a low light situation.

Image quality from Fujifilm cameras are known to be superb, a statement I agree with since previously owning an X20 and X-Pro 1 cameras. My X-Pro 1 is usually my carry everywhere camera but I think the X100T will now replace this title.

Urbex means low light, for me, its either a 'tripod day' or a time for high ISO, large aperture usage. I don't like tripods; they're too restricting so ISO ranged between 400 and 1600 and apertures typically around F2-2.8.

Muddy track led the way; a job for wellies

 

Early worm catches the early sun

A little dangerous this one

 

 

Mouse hole

 

Love the shadows on the door

Bones

 

My next blog post, coming soon, will be the 2nd location from this explore session.

 

Keep shooting!

Farm diversification into dereliction

Of all the things a farm could diversify into, dereliction is not recommended, especially when leaving machinery and equipment in the buildings.

As always these are buildings that I have driven past many times and for once I stopped and had a look around. Not truly a lot to see apart from the biggest of the barns/buildings that contained a production line and there was paperwork strewn all over the place dating from the 80's and 90's.

It was a good test for the x-pro as I was focusing on dark objects in the dark, not a good combination for focusing. Although it has been said that X-Pro 1 can struggle with focus, even on this occasion I still consider it an excellent performer. This was also the first time I used the 27mm f2.8 lens that I got at the same time as the camera, again its alright; a little soft but definitely usable.

It's me

 



The trusty old Golf waiting for me.