Club Day Out 2005

We had planned a club day out on 11 September 2005. Several venues had been suggested and we finally decided upon Coventry. As it happened this co-incided with National Heritage Day so various venues were open to us free of charge.

The weeks leading up to our great day provided us with lovely weather but as our day dawned the clouds rolled in, temperatures dropped and the rain fell.

So the fainthearts stayed at home abed and three brave souls turned up at the venue. Light was abysmal but we were undaunted and set off to explore Coventry. We started in the medieval Spon Street then made our way to the canal basin. Due to the poor light townscapes were not really feasible and we all seemed to choose detail rather than the wider picture. So bits of machinery, street furniture and boats came before our lenses.

From the canal basin we moved to the Museum of British Road Transport and spent an hour or so enjoying and photographing the exhibits.

After lunch we made our way to the cathedral only to find we could not move around inside as they were holding a civic service so we ventured into the Old Cathedral. A good range of subjects soon had us clicking away.

The statue of St Michael and the Devil proved to be a real challenge.

From the Cathedral we wandered down to Ford’s Hospital and then to Cheylesmore Manor, which is claimed to be the oldest house in England still in use. The courtyard kept us busy and then the failing light beat us.

Were we disappointed? No – we had had a good day out, met some interesting people and had taken some photographs

My images? I didn’t succeed with St Michael as I had wished but I was pleased with several. Here are a selection.

Old and New
The angels on the glass front of the new cathedral with the old cathedral and modern Coventry reflected in the glass. FP4 1/30 @ f11 processed in ID11, printed on Ilford Multigrade RC

The old doorhandle
Doorhandle at Cheylesmore Manor, FP4 1/30 @ F8. processed in ID11. printed on Ilford Multigrade RC

Repetition
Bench seat on the canal basin, FP4 1/15 @ F22, processed in ID11. printed on Ilford Multigrade RC

The oldest house
Cheylesmore Manor, FP4 ½ @ F16. Processed in ID11, printed on Ilford Multigrade RC.