Tag Archives: Photography

Somerset Coastal Flooding

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Above: Blue Anchor seafront this morning (03.01.2014)

14 Severe flood warning were issued for the South West this morning.

The North Somerset Coast was on alert with Minehead, Blue Achour and Burnham seafronts closed for safety. Watchet Harbour was exceptionally high with the waves pushing up the drainage covers.

This unusually high tide has been caused by the High Spring tide and the wind direction and unusual storm weather throughout the UK over the last few weeks.

Above: Watchet Harbour this morning (03.01.2014)

The Somerset Levels continue to be flooded & A361 to Burrowbridge is still closed.

For the latest weather click here

For Pictures and news see links below.

Also see Somerset County Gazettes website for the latest news

And for West Somerset News – here

Minehead Seafront this morning above (03.01.2014)

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North Petherton Carnival 2013

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If you are a Carnival Club and wish to use one of our photos on your website please do contact me and I will supply with a high resolution image.

Above – Vagabonds CC – Skool of Rock

A week after Bridgwater in which we were participated with the West Somerset Railway we documented the same procession with a smaller audience from the 100,000 people that watch Bridgwater’s – which claims to be Europe biggest illuminated event.

Bridgwater Carnival’s website  –  North Petherton Carnival’s website

Dates of the carnivals in Somerset can be view on the Visit Somerset website & Somerset Carnivals UK website

Above – Sidvale CC – Legend of the Crystal Skull

Despite the wet weather the show went full blast ahead, Marketeers CC suffered a power failure at 10,000 lightbulbs on their cut remained unlit and quite possibly the loudest entry remained silent through the procession, they received the biggest cheer of the night.

More photos on Facebook and Twitter page – why not like or follow us.

Above – Harlequin CC, City of Rock,

Carnival Results – Winners at North Petherton Carnival.

Open Tableau Class

LA BARRICADE Gemini Carnival Club


Local Tableau Class 

OZ: THE EMERALD CITY Pentathlon Carnival Club

Open Feature

Winner – SWARM FORCE Ramblers Carnival Club

                                                      

Optional Feature Class

VOODIKA Renegades Carnival Club

Local Feature Class

END OF THE LINE! Westonzoyland Carnival Club

 

Comic Feature Open Class

F*RTBUSTERS Newmarket Carnival Club

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Juvenile Tableau/Feature Class

JITTERBUG BOOGIE Marina Sydenham Carnival Club

Runner Up:

Gremlins CC, Xtinct, – With their fire, smoke, light, sound float.

     

West Somerset Railway App project

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Over the past two weeks zummerzet photography have been working with the West Somerset Railway with their new ‘Heritage Hunter’ App. We have photographing the locations featuring in the new app for Matmi who is undertaking the building of this app.

Here are a few of the photographed locations:

For more information on the App please see West Somerset Railway news story here

If you have an event or just need to update your images library of an area, town or business, get in contact and we will be delighted to work with you.

 

 

Some of the Best Indian shots

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This is a section of digital colour images from my Indian Visit that almost started a year ago now.

To see some of my Black and White images click here

I spent two months working in one of India’s most basic orphanage in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu. There was no running water and at least 14 hours without power everyday, millions of flies that came during the day and when you slept buzzed though your ears, nose and mouth.

The images in this portfolio are of Indian children; most are of the orphans we lived with, showing the undiminished lives of youth, with nothing, yet a clear degree of contentment. This comes from an important lesson, life’s vital needs of friendships, food, sleep and faith in God. For them, its life without the material clutter of the Western world, basic but happy. They are the life-blood for the next vibrant generation and India’s pioneers striving to grow out of poverty.

Royal Garter Ceremony – Monday 17th June 2013 – Final

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Royal Garter Ceremony – Monday 17th June 2013 – Final 

There was a buzz in the air as we ascended the steep street, with Windsor castle overshadowing. Security checks: blue tickets entering the chapel spectators with green tickets went up the street.

We found our designated spot surrounded by top hats & fancy clothes, with the sound of the Heathrow planes roaring overhead.

The armed guard marched down lining the route. The band could be heard ascending and passing the gate on the outer wall, the sound rising as they got to the keep for the appointed time of the procession. The chapel doors opened as people slowly queued to go in.

An American accent rose above the general conversation he was a descendant of a Knight of the Garter. Another man weighted with medals explained each one.

Most were silent, waiting, looking; clutching a card invite, inscripted ‘the most Nobel Royal Garter Ceremony’. To remember the day it was time to buy a programme as they waited, a search for the money in the 3-piece suit, as they try to distinguish under dark sunglasses or spectacle between the £5 and £20 notes.

BOOM BOOM; the triumphant sound of the brass bands making their way from the Keep on the hill. It was at this point two stern men with policemen walked by and a thumbs up was acknowledged between them and each police officer.

The atmosphere ecstatic; the noise of voices zero. With the ceremonial music was echoing within the fortress the main gate closed. One band marched beside us, the other marched on past, flags were waving, and cameras were on fire with a great clamour to see the oldest Royal Ceremony in Britain.

With the music still pulsing round the grounds the men with the stick wings passed followed with the Knights of the Garter, to whom belong the Queen, Prince Philip and Charles and others. A cheer rippled down as the queen at the rear was spotted, along with the whisper was ‘look how short she is’. For the first time she was flanked with her son Charles and grandson William, as Philip was still recovering from being in hospital. They were followed up by the beefeater.

As they entered St Georges chapel a fanfare could be heard and the service commenced. This also started the long stream of cars for the members of the garter and other dignitaries as well as the Royal coaches. It was also a rest break for the bands and officers although those who lined the route remained vigilant.

We managed to negotiate a place across the other side to get a good view of the carriages coming round the corner.

The guards and the band then returned for duty, once again a ceremonial atmosphere was created and the gallop of horses could be heard. The leading coach carried the Monarch with the heir to the throne. One small voice nearby shouted ‘there’s the Queen’ and you could see the smile and look from Prince Charles and the Queen as they share the priceless moment of making a little persons day. They were followed by the other Royal Garter Knights, and then those who where not part of the Royal family followed in the chauffeur cars. The Chapel guests were waiting to cross over and after along wait the gates were opened and Windsor’s streets were filled with dresses, hats and a flurry of movement.

More information:

http://www.royal.gov.uk/RoyalEventsandCeremonies/Garter%20and%20Thistle%20Services/GarterDay.aspx 

 

More photos of the event see Jason’s Blog: http://jasonwain.blogspot.co.uk/2013/06/order-of-garter-ceremony.html

Garter Ceremony Windsor Castle 17th June 2013

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Crowds gathered yesterday (17th June) for the Garter Ceremony held at Windsor Castle yesterday.

It is the most senior and oldest British Order. The patron saint of the Order is St George, this ceremony happens yearly and members of the Royal Family including the Queen are present.

Prince Philip was not present as he has recently left hospital. The rain held out and the Queen with Prince Charles on one side and he Duke of Cambridge on the other walked into St Georges Chapel. They returned by horse and carriage to the castle.

Full Gallery photos to be uploaded on the 3rd July.

 


More information about the ceremony: www.trooping-the-colour.co.uk/garter/

Goodbye – (Elo-Star, – In Telegu language) India

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After a rocky train ride which felt more like travelling on a boat we arrived at Secunderabad Junction at the end of the line, our final Indian destination. The last days in India have been spent in the city and we have celebrated with birthday of Pricilla, it’s her first birthday and they live in the downstairs room of the house we are staying in.

 The birthday girl sleep next to her older brother ‘Mani’.

Mani being fed by his dad

Both grandmothers

After 3 months we have visited 5 states, spoken some of the 4 languages, are now a pros at: using squat toilets, showering out of a bucket, washing clothes – (sometimes unintentionally with rice), sleeping on a tile floor, having no electricity, understanding the Indian voice, broken English and wobble of the head, bartering, crossing an Indian road, eating with your hands, saying ‘no problem’ to every question, driving a motorbike helmetless, driving with no indicators, handbrake or functional gear-stick, and most importantly trimming a moustache.

One of the last cups of tea (chia) being made, indian style.

It is now time to return and catch up with our homelands and enjoy the lovely, January British weather. This has certainly been a home away from home and we have made some lifelong friends, it has changed each one of us, definitely for the better.

 – In a month or so’s time the four of us hope to wrtie something about the whole trip with pictures which sets out clearly what we did I will try to upload this to the website but if this fails if you are intrested I can send you an email with it attached or by post please email me if you are intrested and once it is complete I will send it.

My email is: zummerzet69@yahoo.co.uk

A sad goodbye.

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There is much to catch up on…

We took all the children out for a meal on Christmas eve – all the children were very excited about this adventure. 2 busses were due to come but one had a puncture so we ended up using one and did 2 round trips. The restaurant was awoken when the food was served by all the children giving thanks to God for their food in their normal fashion of one child standing to say the prayer and the rest of the orphans repeating bit by pit. Once the meal was finished we crammed all 70 children onto the one bus designed for 30 and returned back for them to get changed out of their smart dress and then off for the park.

Christmas day, well, it will be the only Christmas day I will be awoken at 6.30am by someone dropping off a family of 4 goats in an old ambassador car! Christmas dinner was chicken biryani, eaten in true Indian style with my hands sitting cross-legged on the floor with all the children! We were able to give some Christmas gifts to the children which included footwear for all the children, a head torch and bible for the older boys, a new school bag for the younger boys, goodie bags for the girls and we got a few gifts in return from the children, it was the last day for us and it was full of mixed emotions we each had to give a goodbye speech and Joseph who does the day to day running was very effected from us being there and living exactly like they do.

On the full bus! 

We had to leave Early morning on 26th and it was all a bit of a rush after 2 months it was good bye to the children we had been fathers, mothers and friends to and now it was time to leave. The little and big children had tears in their eyes as they hugged goodbye. Each one of us had far from dry eyes too. We zoomed off to the busy railway station and only just got there in time as we had to walk miles to get to our coach – each train is about 25 coaches long. Two of the orphans came with us on our visit to Mumbai and one came to wave us goodbye at the station, it was a final goodbye to Joseph and the orphan ‘SMS’ as I jumped on the moving train you could just see two arms waving above the crowds of people at the station before the train was on it’s way to Mumbai.

A photo from before on the dogem cars 

One child packs away his new gifts into his suitcase.

Christmas day, christmas and leaving gifts and christmas hats!

Goodbye from the christmas day goat. 

A final goodbye.

Typed on 26.12.12

 

2 Days till Christmas!

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They were all sat outside the main building illuminated only by a few Christmas stars, their faces shining with happiness as they saw some visitors, it was a long way from the main road and overlooked by some local mountains. This leprousy centre cares for 40 families affected by the disease here and they have been provided houses by the government but now receive little help…only 1,000 rupees a month which is around £13. It is a good set up though as the families are able to look after their family member affected by this illness. Over half of the people were Christians and we talked about the meaning of Christmas and sang a few songs beneath a tin roof and illuminated coloured stars. We asked if there was anything they needed and they asked if it was okay if we bought them some food toward their Christmas meal which we did along with soap and oil.

It is now drawing near to Christmas and there has been much excitement in the orphanage as a kind sponsor bought clothes and presents for all the children. We have also attended a few functions, one was at a five star hotel in Coimbatore, the children took it in turns to dance, sing and be entertained by the hotel and we treated to a luxurious meal of chicken biryiani and ice-cream. Tomorrow all the children have leave and we are hiring a bus to take them all out to a famous place in the city for a nice meal, this is to be followed to a trip the park or swimming pool, yet to be decided. It will be a typically Indian last minute decision!

The children’s faces were in great fear as the stairs moved towards the sky in the shopping Centre, they had never seen moving stairs and it was one great leap for an Indian child to board this magic staircase. We had to give some of the 7 orphans we took on this trip a friendly nudge onto the escalator, it took a little while before they realized that the steps appeared too as they walked into the steps to start with by the fifth floor they were pros! It was very funny to witness their first escalator experience! KFC was the next stop and lastly dodgems which proved hilarious so with shining faces they returned sleepy and satisfied. We also went to bed happy after a successful mini trip with 7 of the orphans.

Day in the life of an orphan

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Everyday between 5.30 and 6am everyone is woken up, either of their own accord or by an elder boy. Following the awakening is morning prayer which is done a little away from the orphanage under the tree on the road. There is a short bible reading by one of the older children, next is some study time in the main hall where the boys all sleep. Before breakfast all the jobs need to be completed. This includes sweeping, washing the dishes, and washing the floors, then a quick body wash and all clean and dressed for a nice breakfast. A speedy cleaning of the plate follows and they get ready for school. The youngest children have to walk across a main road and then across the main railway line and after 30mins they arrive at school. They sing the national anthem and a prayer before they commence school. Once they return from school they wash, change, play, study and then at 7.30 is a prayer meeting or reading followed by a meal, powercut, then more studying and finally at around 10pm sleep. Some of the older orphans however persist with studying until the early hours of the morning; such is the life of an Indian orphan. For most education is their only ticket to a new life.