Gosh, I'm tired, the skin of my head is stretched taut with sleep deprivation and my mind wander so much that merely spelling this completely pretentious missive is a painstaking labour of squint and tapping.
But all in a great cause! Early this morning I arose at 6:00 and proceeded to get my new tripod, filters and camera together. It was time for yet another trip to Cardiff Bay. Catching the train at 6:25 from Queen St Station and getting off at Cogan I walked along the lane to the marina and wharf. Would that I had followed the road, like a sensible fellow! Instead I chose to take a shortcut and follow the path through a little park common. The path settled into deep puddles half way along, forcing me to carefully skirt one particular patch of deep water. Yet not careful enough, for my feet flew out in front of me and I fell onto my back in the mud. Fuckle-sticks! At least my tripod bag took most of the mire, and I managed to whip my hands out to keep most of me above the goo. Still, unpromising start, and worse still, when I got to the marina ten minutes later I found that I had left my red scarf back at the puddle. I pondered returning for it, but the light demanded action and besides, in the fierce winds it had probably whipped away. I had three other scarves at home besides.
So I took photographs out into the bay and across the sea, of a dredger and the pink lifeguard station. I'm immensely pleased with my new Giottos 7251 tripod, easy to set up and contract in a jiff. I also tested the graduated filter that darkens skies. Unfortunately, there was no red to the dawn, but with the filter I got some wonderfully oppressive skies. The wind was meddlesome however, and I was nearly blown over at points. It was doubly difficult keeping the lens free of droplets, and I had to retreat into a shelter at one point as a squall blew in and the heavens opened with fierce downpour. Sheltering from the rain I struck up a conversation with a good old Norwegian cove who'd settled in Cardiff after many years sailing the Atlantic and the Newfoundland Coast. We discussed Deadliest Catch, the Norwegian chapel, the history of Cardiff as a port, his days at sea and sunrises. He lit the most beautiful pewter and oak pipe and tamped it, offering great wisdom and banter. After a good twenty minutes of memorable conversation, he deigned to allow me to take a photo of him, and then cheerfully cycled off.
Back to the photography, and I got a few more great pics in and then walked back into town, feeling a bit cold and blown about. An hour and a bit was enjoyably passed with two black coffees with some Patrick O'Brien in Coffee #1 near the station. Now I've bought a ticket for a tenner for a Dvorak, Berg and Tchaikovsky concert at St David's tonight, and now hope to get a couple of hours sleep to punctuate this day of culture and refuel me for the night ahead. Yes, me am cultured! Applaud me!
Life Guard StationOppressive Cardiff BayCardiff TugboatBy Dawn's Early LightHere's the Flickr Photostream:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/99176172@N00/