A return to the mean streets of Sunny Hunny

It’s been almost 1 whole year to the day since I last wrote this blog.

A lot changes in a year.

The past 12 months have been crazy busy for me.

Busy’s good. Busy means money, busy means mortgage payments. Adult, grown up stuff, tick. ✔️

Photography for fun?

Photography for the love of the hobby?

That’s a fail. ✖️

No street photography, no urbex.

But all that changed a couple of weeks ago when I had a free Friday. Laura and Charlie were on a play date at Farmer Freds in Heacham. So I had a walk round Sunny Hunny on the hunt for some street photography action.

Recently at the Photography Show, I purchased the Sigma 35mm Art lens. A buy I’ve been considering for a while now, so the credit card took a beating.

Sigma lenses come with that nagging feeling of slightly off focus. So I wanted to get some real world usage in before I make any adjustments.

So far I think it’s spot on, though perhaps infinity could do with a little fine tuning, I need to get in the habit of photographing far away things but where’s the fun in that?

It’s all about getting in close for that killer shot.

Being very rusty at the art of street photography and carrying around a big full frame DSLR with abig lens on the front of it, instead of a smaller Fujifilm model that’s just not so in your face, it was was quite the exercise getting close.

People were definitely aware of the big camera.

That’s not a bad thing, I really focused on capturing that moment when they spotted me.

I sat perched on a step for at least a minute with the camera glued to my face just waiting for him to look at me but alas he didn’t. 

Maybe I need a bigger camera so I’m even more obvious!?

If there’s ever the possibility of getting a bin shot then I’m always game.

Now I waited for ages for him to look my way but it never happened, I’m sure he clocked me in the corner of his eye and just plain refused to have a look.

Walking along the promenade with the mind to wrap up and go home, someone shouted to me “you can take a picture of me if you like”.

Frank, I’m sure it was Frank, forgive me Frank if it isn’t Frank, loves taking photos himself and loves to watch the world go by.

This couple of hours spent just walking around and enjoying my favourite hobby was fantastic.

I really need to do it again.

I just don’t know when.

And here’s a photo of Laura to finish with.

I don’t think she wanted to drive!

The streets and sights of GT Yarmouth in April. Sorry Laura i didn't take any photos for the album

1st ill start by apologising to the wife;

Im sorry that I forgot to take pictures of our weekend and that I only photographed people sitting on benches.

We had a weekend away in a caravan which we have been doing for the past 5-6 years, its usually a good spring time break a couple of months before the summer holiday. We have some great memories via photographs in albums of previous weekends but not this year as I seriously didn't think about taking photos of our weekend, I just took photos of what was around me.

OOPS!

The typical clientele of sea side resorts is interesting at best, I don't know whether Yarmouth is any worse than others but if you fancy going out at night in your tracksuit and trainers then give Gt Yarmouth Tourist Board a ring and they'll hook you up quicker you can say "brand new Nike Air Max".

On the other hand I have fond memories of Yarmouth from family holidays when I was a child and teenager, my favourite was when I come in at 7am one morning as I had been out with friends at the age of about 14. I think my mum thought it was funny.

The typical clientele and the establishments present in Yarmouth can make for some great street photography; colourful 'tat' shops, fairgrounds, arcades, closed shops, decay, a timewarp!

A slave to fashion

 Seriously who buys and wears these clothes?

Want!

This guy was manning a small Art gallery down a very narrow alley, the gallery had art work on the wall, I mean the actual wall not on a canvas hanging on the wall. I asked if I could take his picture.

Parkers Donkey World; a tale of young love

Deckchairs and sea sides

The only photo of Laura from the whole weekend, OOPS!

The height of matching his and hers fashion

People watching

"dad's waiting outside"

Me

Family interest

Keep shooting street!!!

Although im now off to shoot a Flower Festival for a newspaper.....everyday is different.

Spending my birthday in Sheringham with my wife, the dog and of course my camera.

Thursday 27th February, my birthday, Laura and I took Ella to Sheringham, Norfolk for a walk in the sea air.

As always my camera was hanging round my neck.

We walked up a hill/cliff next to the golf course to where half a dozen benches are situated next to a look out post for the coast guard. Its a good view from which you can see for miles along the coastline on a clear day.

At one point as we were walking along the muddy and puddle strewn trail to the top of the hill the wind picked up and grey clouds rolled in, we were thinking we were about to get very wet, luckily the clouds blew past and out came the sun again. Laura would of well moaned about the rain if it did come down....phew! 2 minutes of peace!

The day was nice, followed by a curry on the way home, yum!

An afternoon in Sunny Hunny with Laura, probably the best afternoon ive had in Sunny Hunny since....well i really don't know when!

We decided to go to the beach on Sunday, it was gone dinner time when we jumped in the ol' mk2 and went for a drive to Hunstanton.

I don't know why its called Sunny Hunny other than because it rhymes, you know I only live the other side of the wash from it and I could see it on a clear day if walking on the river bank in Sutton Bridge or if down the Marsh at Gedney Drove End, so its safe to say both places pretty much share similar weather and they don't call this Sunny Sutton Bridge!

Or at least I don't think they do?

Maybe Im going to start a trend here?

As normal ive always got a camera with me just in case there are any opportunities to grab some shots. Im glad I did as there's some I really like from this day.

Here, ill mention ive made another mistake, somehow I managed to change some settings on my 5D and I really don't remember ever playing with it so who knows how that happened. I usually shoot raw, however my camera was set to JPEG!!!!!!!!! OMG!!!!!!!!! WORLD ENDER!!!!

Not really that big a deal but it did annoy me when I found out.

First thing we did was park at Tesco and I am so glad I did because look at this bad boy.....plus I didn't know Lisa lived in Hunstanton

 

We then went for a walk along the beach front, there were quite a few people around at 1pm but the amount soon dropped away as it got colder in the afternoon. We played some Bowlingo in an arcade, which was a laugh considering I don't think much to bowling.



 I don't really know why Laura bowls like this, but as long she's having fun its ok.

 Its me, my beard and thumb.

 I wonder what people say to this?

Must try harder

We then played some games in the arcade which was empty apart from us and the guy who gives you change, I felt like a VIP.

We left the arcade and walked passed a bungalow that looked in real state however the home was still in use....otherwise I would of given myself a guided tour.

 

Beached for winter.

 

We walked along the front again, this time there were a lot less people.

 

 

The afternoon was finished off with a full belly in Cod'licious, great name for a chip shop.

However this made me laugh.

 

Video's 50p, come on it isn't 1987.

 

I love black and white and a nice vignette in the corners.

 

Tune in next time.

 

Remember it's sunny Sutton Bridge