Roger Bennion's photos

M is for… MEGA BOOTS N is for… NICE HAT O is for … OWESOME JEANS OR……………..................................... M is for… MAGNA CARTA One of four early engrossments of Magna Carta owned by the Bodleian Library. Issued in the name of the boy king Henry III in 1217 N is for… NASSAU HOURS Book of Hours made for Engelbert of Nassau. Flemish illumination by The Master of Mary of Burgundy. c.1470-1490 O is for … OWEN Photograph of the poet Wilfred Owen, who died in action on the Western Front in the First World War

As I have already uploaded a shot of Pavlína I thought it was about time I uploaded a shot of Štěpán :-) This was taken some time back. Štěpán Honc (guitar, cittern) and Pavlína Bastlová (flute and vocals) have recorded two albums with the Per Kelt band from the Czech Republic. In October 2011 Štěpán and Pavlína moved to London to perform here. Pavlína and Štěpán and another member of Per Kelt, I assume :-) have regularly been entertaining shoppers in Cornmarket Street, Oxford.

This was taken with my compact and ‘cos I was pointing the camera upwards the verticals and horizontals were all over the place :-)) I have tried to correct this in Photoshop but not entirely sure if I have fully succeeded :-)) This shot shows the main entrance. You do get different colours here but the colours tend to be more spectacular when taking shots of the other sides of the building. As with the rest of the building the colours change depending upon the light and the time of day. There is a café within the building and it has always surprised me that even though this is a University building anyone can just walk in and visit the café :-) From the Department of Biochemistry website - “The Biochemistry Department is part of the University of Oxford's Medical Sciences Division, the largest of the University's four academic divisions and ranked third in the world for Biomedicine. According to the 2008 Research Assessment Exercise, 75% of research activity within the Department is rated world-class quality in terms of significance, rigour and originality, making it the highest rated Life Sciences Department within a UK university. The Department moved into a brand new purpose-built building during the Autumn of 2008 which was designed to promote interaction and collaboration as well as provide state-of-the-art facilities for all staff. There are about thirty-five academic staff, one hundred postdoctoral research workers and one hundred and fifty postgraduate students. Members of other departments also contribute to teaching, including lecturers in physiology, pathology, pharmacology, clinical biochemistry and zoology. Although large, the Department is not impersonal and has a friendly atmosphere.”

This is pretty much my first Autumn shot this year and I am hoping that I will get at least two more shots before the colours disappear :-))

I have bought myself a new 70 - 200mm lens and thought I would try it out in Oxford. I particularly wanted to photograph the writing on the side of the Kings Arms Public House plus the ‘HOLYWELL STREET’ sign to see if it was all readable @ 200mm. I was most surprised that at the very instant I pressed the shutter this young lady stopped in front of the letters O, L, Y and W and partially obscured the letters H & E and one of the L‘s. So, as well as checking out the clarity I also, accidentally, captured a candid shot :-)

You can visit many of the Oxford Colleges either for free or by paying a couple of pounds sterling. But, I have never known Brasenose College to be open to visitors :-( However, that doesn't stop you taking a shot or two through the entrance :-) From "Oxford Scene; A View of the University and City" - "Brasenose College was founded in 1509 by two northerners from the Cheshire-Lancashire border...Bishop William Smyth and Richard Sutton a lawyer and the first layman spontaneously to found a college. The buildings were put up on the site of several medieval halls including Brazen Nose Hall."

Added to Soundtrack Weekend www.ipernity.com/group/362993 “Let the music keep our spirits high Let the buildings keep our children dry Let creation reveal it's secrets by and by By and by-- When the light that's lost within us reaches the sky” “Before the Deluge” was written by Jackson Browne and features on his 1974 album “Late for the Sky” From Wikipedia - “Clyde Jackson Browne (born October 9, 1948) is an American singer-songwriter and musician who has sold over 18 million albums in the United States alone. Coming to prominence in the 1970s, Browne has written and recorded songs such as "These Days", "The Pretender", "Running on Empty", "Lawyers In Love", "Doctor My Eyes", "Take It Easy", "For a Rocker", and "Somebody's Baby". In 2004, he was inducted into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame in Cleveland, Ohio, as well as bestowed an Honorary Doctorate of Music by Occidental College in Los Angeles, California.” I would normally only put in one link. But, I have found (in my humble opinion) three totally brilliant performances on YouTube……two from Jackson (Glastonbury and from the ‘Going Home’ DVD) and a performance from Christy Moore. www.youtube.com/watch?v=h8y45mAGJRA www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhQM41vBKvs www.youtube.com/watch?v=CQpoLUPSa1U

I think this might be a 1955 Chevrolet Bel Air :-)

This guy was in one of the cars waiting to 'zoom-up' Kop Hill. I have found a shot, by another photographer, of him in the car but the 'entry number' is not visible so I haven't been able to obtain any more information :-( I know he was interviewed by Bucks TV so perhaps I need to buy the video :-)) Anyway, I want a hat like this :-)))

Štěpán Honc (guitar, cittern) and Pavlína Bastlová (flute and vocals) have recorded two albums with the Per Kelt band from the Czech Republic. In October 2011 Štěpán and Pavlína moved to London to perform here. Pavlína and Štěpán regularly entertain the shoppers in Cornmarket Street, Oxford. When I took this shot there was also a guy on percussion but I haven't yet worked out his name. Website - www.perkelt.cz/?lang=cs

Back to last year's Kop Hill Climb. I know VIP stands for "Very Important Person" but it could equally be "Very Lovely Person" methinks :-))

Last Thursday I decided to take advantage of Public Transport (i.e. the bus!!) and go to Oxford. When I left Aylesbury the sun was shining and the sky was a beautiful blue! We hit drainage works on the approach to Oxford and pretty much came to a standstill. It took forever to get past these works!! And, the nearer we got to the city centre the cloudier and the more overcast it got!! You really do need the sun to be out if you want to photograph the Biochemistry Building. But, I thought I would at least walk by and believe it or not as I approached the Bio Building the sun broke through!! Someone must have been looking out for me :-)))

Another shot of Velvet but this time after trying out different ideas in Photoshop :-) ...........as you do :-)))

I guess anyone with access to a camera visiting Gloucestershire/Herefordshire/South Wales will have been to Yat Rock and taken this view :-)) I have taken hundreds of shots here and I think this one, from way back in 2010, was one of my more successful efforts :-)) I believe the viewpoint rises to some 500 feet. From Wikipedia - “Symonds Yat is a village in the Forest of Dean and a popular tourist destination, straddling the River Wye and the borders of the English counties of Herefordshire and Gloucestershire, it is within a few miles of the Welsh border. The name is said to come from Robert Symonds, a 17th-century sheriff of Herefordshire and "yat" as an old word for a gate or pass. Symonds Yat Rock overlooks a spectacular gorge through which the River Wye snakes. This rock is the perfect viewpoint from which to watch raptors. A pair of Peregrine Falcons that nest annually within sight of the rock can be watched through telescopes set up by the RSPB. Buzzards, goshawks and hobbies are also regularly seen and it is sometimes possible to see migrant raptors such as ospreys and European Honey Buzzards."

Lots and lots of messing 'bout in Photoshop :-)) Certainly involving a lith effect and soft focus but I am not sure what else :-)))

Added to Soundtrack Weekend www.ipernity.com/group/362993 One of my more logical links this weekend. “For A Dancer” written and performed by Jackson Browne features on Jackson’s album “Late for the Sky” released in 1974. From the cover of Jackson’s Greatest Hits album - “Over the past three decades Rock and Roll Famer Jackson Browne has created and voiced many of the most literate and emotionally powerful compositions in popular music. Along the way he has touched the hearts and minds of countless fans worldwide and proved himself to be one of rock’s most enduring singer-songwriters”………………..No argument there!!! Lots of peoples were dancing to the superb entertainment at Hughenden’s 1940s Weekend :-)) I wish I could dance properly!! Helen and I did have dancing lessons a very long time ago and I remember that when I was with Dallas, the dancing instructor, we made a great couple and I would have given John Travolta a run for his money! Trouble was that when Dallas left me to my own devices I went downhill very fast :-))) Watch/Listen here - www.youtube.com/watch?v=IU1rZa8Ur_Q

Re-visiting the Kop Hill Climb back in 2011. I have always thought this should be compulsory wear for Nikon photographers. And, Panasonic photographers as well :-)) Maybe not so much during the height of the summer but at other times for sure!! I particularly like the adjustable headgear......most ideal when you want to shoot into the sun I reckon :-)))

As this car was at Hughenden's 1940s Weekend I think it reasonable to say this is a Jaguar from the 1940s :-) And, clearly it is a 3.5 Litre Jaguar :-) But, as for the actual model that is a little more difficult :-) I guess it could be a 1946 Jaguar 3.5 Litre Mark IV 6-cylinder Saloon. But, I really don't have much of a clue :-)))