Has Anyone Got A Photograph Of..........

[Fattyowls]

16 minutes ago, Marilyne said:

Fisheyes are curved wide-angle lenses.

 

I nearly bought one for my old 35mm Canon, but I rejected the idea in the end because I found the distortion too great (and because it was really expensive). I wouldn't have needed to ask if it was on the wish list either, I just knew.

 

Congratulations on your 2,000th post too; I'm really pleased it came in this thread.

 

Pete.

[Frajohn]

On 24/07/2020 at 00:31, Fattyowls said:

Magnificent John. I've been looking back through some of the other sunsets that you've posted on the forum and that one is up there. Hope all is well in Martinpuich.

 

Pete.

 

Hi Pete,

 

All well in Martinpuich, albeit a tad quiet!  

 

Not sure if I posted this one before, Connaught Cemetery;

 

[Knotty]

1 hour ago, Marilyne said:

PS: THIS IS MY 2000TH POST!!!!

😁👍

[Fattyowls]

1 hour ago, Frajohn said:

Not sure if I posted this one before

 

If you did I haven't seen it. I'm liking that one a lot.

 

Pete.

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

8 hours ago, Marilyne said:

fish eye lens???

 

No - My previous camera had a facility to take 2 or 3 sequential overlapping shots which it then magically joined into a panoramic view. Very nice facility for a not too expensive camera. My newish camera has a "single sweep" multi-shot facility which is ok but not as good as the old (bust) camera. I like panoramas as they give you the "big picture" - especially battlefield views.

 

Going back to post 597 - SURELY during nearly thirty years somebody must have photographed the original frontage of Gordon Dump Cemetery ?!

Tom

[Marilyne]

14 hours ago, Tom Tulloch-Marshall said:

 

 SURELY during nearly thirty years somebody must have photographed the original frontage of Gordon Dump Cemetery ?!

 

 

Sorry, my parents did not see battlegrounds and war cemeteries as suitable holiday-places for  12-year old me …

 

LOL

 

M.

[Fattyowls]

16 hours ago, Tom Tulloch-Marshall said:

 

No - My previous camera had a facility to take 2 or 3 sequential overlapping shots which it then magically joined into a panoramic view. Very nice facility for a not too expensive camera. My newish camera has a "single sweep" multi-shot facility which is ok but not as good as the old (bust) camera. I like panoramas as they give you the "big picture" - especially battlefield views.

 

Going back to post 597 - SURELY during nearly thirty years somebody must have photographed the original frontage of Gordon Dump Cemetery ?!

Tom

 

Thanks Tom; I really should check the on-line guide to my old one as I suspect that might have a facility. It will be on the specifications of the new one. Like you I really like panoramas as it feels more like you are there. I'm just too indolent to do them properly.

 

As for Gordon Dump it is high on my list to visit as there is an Australian relative of a friend of a friend who I want to visit. When I read up on the cemetery it seemed to have an interesting story. If we don't get any takers in the next few days here I think a thread all of it's own might be a plan.

 

Pete.

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

8 hours ago, Fattyowls said:

… As for Gordon Dump ...

 

Pete - Gordon Dump Cemetery is, considering its size, location, and relevance to the 1916 Battle of The Somme, a grossly under-visited cemetery. Architecturally it is a very clever design given the lay of the land, but that aspect was substantially lost when it was modified early during the 1950's. If you look at the online CWGC cemetery plan - sorry, with the new improved website you can't - so I'll paste my own copy below - you will see that the ORIGINAL entrance at the bottom of the valley - which gave the entrance a striking vista up the slope to the War Stone and the Great Cross - is now lost with the new entrance which is up at the top of the North - East side. (The change followed removal of the track on the plan and the adjacent light railway).

 

Nearly seventy years on and the drawing still hasn't been updated - maybe that's why people don't visit - they can't find it

Tom

 

[Michelle Young]

I’ve asked a friend to see if he can find any photos. His family have been visiting Gordon Dump for many years, as they honour a family member in the 11th Suffolks who was killed on July 1st.  

Michelle 

[chaz]

a couple from Gordon Dump Ive got

 

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

12 hours ago, chaz said:

 

 

So that's why people don't visit Gordon Dump !  - Obviously you will now recount how that is the cuddliest lovely fluffy pooch in the world - which won't be believed by somebody who has been attacked by big dogs three times - once in the UK and twice in France - BOTH TIMES inside CWGC cemeteries (no owner visible on all three occasions, but all three times the dogs wore collars).

 

Photo is a good view of the 1950's "new" gate - and of course the approach to the cemetery is now from the Ovillers-la-Boisselle to Contalmaison road, which is off to the right in the image above (the direction the dog is looking in - possibly in the hope of seeing it's next meal  ).

Tom

[Fattyowls]

23 hours ago, Tom Tulloch-Marshall said:

a grossly under-visited cemetery

 

Thanks for the background Tom; I think I have read somewhere that it was originally a miniature version of either Serre Road No. 2 or Tyne Cot so I'd like to see for myself, provided I haven't imagined the quote. I have my route all planned out.

 

Pete.

[chaz]

Tom, she is gentle, dosn't let out a peep when she sees the postman when walking, the letterbox cage takes a pounding when she cant see him. smaller dogs make more noise and fuss than she does.

have you been to Cambrin? the dogs in the bungalow next to the path are a nightmare, and the footpath is covered in mess, there is also a communal churchyard cemetery we stopped at but the Jack Russell patrolling the graveyard was having a go at us through the gate so we decided to go elsewhere. 

[Marilyne]

I'll definitely visit next time I'm down there... guard or not... or rather, she's welcome to escort me. I had dog cookies with me on my last visit to Devonshire trench because SOMEBODY threatened me of being licked to death my two black labradors... still waiting. 

So... never travel to CWGC cemeteries without dog cookies, one might stumble upon a GWF Dog! 

 

M.

[Marilyne]

And talking about my last visit... still did not find the time to go through ALL the pics of the last tour. I've sorted out the first publications for the Girl's thread and the requests, but for the rest, still have to sift through everything... that and the books... I need leave!! 

 

Right now Boyfriend still fast asleep, so thought I'd get on a bit... visited Deborah on the tour ... sorry but I had to laugh at the other two visitors that day, fumbling with their standard 18-55 lenses and using a FLASH to get a good pic... oh boy...

 

 

M.

[horrocks]

Lots of drama in Deborah's new setting.

 

What lens do you use, Marilyne?

[horrocks]

Gordon Dump

 

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

22 hours ago, Fattyowls said:

…  I think I have read somewhere that it was originally a miniature version of either Serre Road No. 2 or Tyne Cot so I'd like to see for myself, provided I haven't imagined the quote.

 

Pete - Serre Rd No2 was designed by Lutyens and sort of "evolved" as it grew around the previous cemetery to the rear of the War Stone - which had been completed and was then partly dismantled (Cross of Sacrifice, entrance, etc). Interesting story about the French wanting to exhume their (I recall it was about 36) burials in the original wartime cemetery. Also there is the "interesting theory" about the rear wall - which I've never found substantiation for. I can see no architectural design connection between it and Gordon Dump. You have the Cross and War Stone, obviously, but other than those ...

 

Herbert Baker designed Tyne Cot and Gordon Dump, but again I can see no architectural design connection between the two. To appreciate Gordon Dump visually you have to go into the field where the original entrance was and look back up the slope towards the War Stone and Cross - the symmetry of the design then becomes clear.

 

With regards to my having searched for many years for a photo of the original entrance to Gordon Dump between the cemetery being constructed and the very early 1950's when the entrance was moved, the obvious question might be "ask the CWGC". Don't ask that question, unless you want to be made to cry

Tom

[Fattyowls]

Thanks again Tom. I was looking at the satellite aerial of Gordon Dump last night and wondering if I could cut across the field to what looks like the lychet bank in order to get onto the lane down to Fricourt. In case the farmer takes issue with me I will try and learn the French for I am trying to understand the original design of yonder cemetery.

 

I remain hopeful in the ongoing quest; I think the words of the man who held the living of Dean Prior should inspire us.

 

Pete.

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

14 hours ago, chaz said:

Tom, she is gentle, ...

 

Chaz - of course she is.

Much the same as my purpose made brass ended walking stick is simply a walking aid.

Dogs out in the open should be on a lead, and if larger than a rabbit should be muzzled.

I also agree with the relatively recent CWGC policy in Belgium of putting up notices forbidding dogs being taken into cemeteries.

Tom

[Fattyowls]

To mark a series of significant milestones, including (in no particular order) the thread passing 10,000 views by people other than myself, Marilyne passing a posting milestone, Neverforget celebrating a Beatles themed birthday and Frajohn adding to his already impressive Laurence Binyon tribute portfolio I though I would try to lower the average quality of the photos posted. As you may have guessed I like a panorama but am too lazy and incompetent to do them properly. There are a series of simple rules which I am too indolent to follow as illustrated here. The first rule of taking a photo you might want to make into a panorama is - stand still. The second rule is stand still. I didn't.

 

This is I think the Factory Farm or possibly the Point 122 crater just south of Messines. It stands on a low spur which rises to the west past the northern end of Ploegsteert Wood and on which Prowse Point cemetery now stands. It becomes Hill 63 which Dickaren posted some cracking photos from earlier in the thread. The three strongpoints destroyed by mines here would have enfiladed the attacking Kiwis and Aussies attacking either side, so it was a key position despite being quite low and subtle. My photo fails to capture any of this, if I were a better or nicer person I'd be ashamed.

 

Pete.

 

 

 

 

[Tom Tulloch-Marshall]

39 minutes ago, Fattyowls said:

… I was looking at the satellite aerial of Gordon Dump last night and wondering if I could cut across the field to what looks like the lychet bank in order to get onto the lane down to Fricourt.

 

Pete - If you can get over the field from the bottom end of Gordon Dump to the lane in front of the Lochnagar Crater, then follow that track (easy walking) south-east towards the Fricourt - Contalmaison Rd. A short way before you reach that road Fricourt New British Cemetery is in the field to your right (a number of mass burials) and when you reach the main road you are 2 mins walk from Fricourt German Cemetery.

Tom

 

[neverforget]

11 hours ago, Tom Tulloch-Marshall said:

 

Chaz - of course she is.

Much the same as my purpose made brass ended walking stick is simply a walking aid.

Dogs out in the open should be on a lead, and if larger than a rabbit should be muzzled.

I also agree with the relatively recent CWGC policy in Belgium of putting up notices forbidding dogs being taken into cemeteries.

Tom

I've no wish to start a mass off topic debate, but it's not uncommon for the larger breeds to be far more placid than the smaller yappy snappy types. My last dog was a bulmastiff/staffy cross and was a completely gentle soul. She once had a jack russell latch on to her face and didn't retaliate in the slightest. Never once growled or showed any aggression to any living thing. 

[Marilyne]

23 hours ago, horrocks said:

What lens do you use, Marilyne?

 

for this series I used the Sigma 17-70 mm F2,8-4,0 DC Makro OS HSM lens. full opening at f/2,8 ; 19 mm. 

 

M.

 

[Fattyowls]

19 hours ago, Tom Tulloch-Marshall said:

 A short way before you reach that road Fricourt New British Cemetery is in the field to your right (a number of mass burials)

 

Thanks Tom; I quite like the idea of doing it from the Fricourt side and seeing if I can approach Gordon Dump from the 'right' side. One of the things I'm interested in is actually looking at the landscape around the Devonshires rather than the cemetery itself and I could walk via Mametz to Fricourt. I would like to revisit the ground on which Fricourt New stands and I'd like to look closely at Sausage Valley for a change without getting sidetracked by the crater. I started the thread musing about where Contalmaison was so I think I need to walk that way too.

 

Pete