Cessna C525 Citation CJ2 N357J

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Okay, so the sad bit is that this lady appealed because she was in a pretty red scheme, whereas most of the EJs at Manston are in shades of blue schemes (why is that?)

Apparently it belongs to Pektron Aviation, which might be a part of the Pektron Group? They're electronics specialists based in Derbyshire (North England), despite the US registration.

Canterbury

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Pigeons

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

A contribution to the #23 mythology!


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Desaturated the bricks to kinda beef-up the halo effect of the arch

Twilight Approach

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

We heard the sound of the engines, and my wife is excitedly telling me to look whilst I'm reaching for the camera from the back seat. The safety of the shopping we were loading was now a secondary issue ...

Lucky in the sense of right place, right time. Deliberate in that I normally would not track a plane into sunlight, but liked the effect and took it anyway. Split second decision.

As a matter of possibly great uninterest, it's a Cessna 525a CitationJet CJ2 of Leadair Unijet, registration F-GPUJ, and it's approaching Manston.

Morning Sun

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Leeds Castle Interior (2) Mantelpiece Details

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

16th Century, apparently.

Leeds Castle Birds (2)

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Kinda "How many breeds of bird can you spot?"


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin Speed to slow really - it was sundown and overcast. What I loved about this flurry of activity was the way all the other birds just ignored it, totally.


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Leeds Castle Interior

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Leeds Castle Birds (1)

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin Peacock


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin Black Swan

Leeds Castle

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

...is nowhere near Leeds, West Yorkshire. It's near a small village called Leeds outside Maidstone, Kent. Apparently, the derivation is the same - from an Old English word meaning "The District", in the same way that most cultural names end up meaning "The People". Most of my memories of Leeds Castle are pretty lousey, mainly because of the people I was with. However, I was there in plesant working company the other day, and had a much better introduction to the place.

Leeds Castle

At Manston

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Beechcraft 200 Super King Air G-ONAL of Northern Aviation. Just in case anyone passing is looking to charter an aeroplane (!) they can be found here. Mr H - the name of G-ONAL? - may well refer to NA's Director.


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin DC8s

Evening Sky

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

This was taken in a supermarket car park. It really was a moment, just as the sun was going down. It was a bit better as I started setting up the camera. By the time I'd got to a second shot, the moment was really gone, and the raging red sky had been replaced by a dull purple-grey one.

In The Grounds of Rochester Castle

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin At the Wall


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin "Say Cheese"


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin Girl on Plinth

Roll My Daddy Bought Me

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

So this little girl's Dad buys her this crusty roll, and she's obviously as pleased as Punch, biting into it and tearing off a chunk with a big grin. This is about a minute later. Whilst I wanted this picture for its sobriety, she was very happy. This was just a quiet moment ...

It reminded me of two things. To adapt the closing bit of Arthur C Clarke's 2001: A Space Odyssey "Then [she] waited, marshalling [her] thoughts and brooding over [her] still untested powers. For though [she] was master of the world, [she] was not quite sure what to do next. But [she] would think of something."

(Okay, so it should be mistress of the world, but ...

The second were the scenes after the Beslan seige, where the surviving children were given bits of bread that they were clutching so tightly.

Picture used the technique described below, but more gently. Blue layer with a soft-light blend over a monochrome layer. Opacity used to adjust the strength of the blue layer, giving something like a duotone effect. I hope.

Some Shots From Rochester

(c) 2006 Jon Pumpkin Rising Stairs


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin Rochester Castle Keep


(c)2006 Jpn Pumpkin Blood Red Leaves


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin Fruit

Catalpa

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

American-Indian Bean Tree outside Rochester Cathedral

BAe 800 VP-CKN

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

At Manston

"In the early morning rain ..." (Well, mist)

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Richborough Power Station


(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Ramsgate from Pegwell Bay

Sunrise at Pegwell Bay

Okay, so it's a cliche, but it was so beautiful this morning ...

It was a very soft sun that could be looked at comfortably. Hence I risked th
e shot.

Learjet 45 G-GMAA

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

Taken at Manston 29th September 2006 Owned by Gama Aviation

Conkers

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

One of the most beautiful things, apart from my wife, is a conker fresh from its shell. It's a beauty that only lasts a matter of hours. The waxiness, the rich brown colour, the rings - it's great. When I was young, I'd collect them by the pocket load on the way home. Just to look at. The idea of drilling holes in them and smashing them together seemed such a waste. Arranging them in size order was much more fun.

Oh, and they could be aliens battling forces of small plastic soldiers ....

Carrire bags full of mouldy conkers would be unearthed months later in the cupboard under the stairs.

Runway Lights at Manston

(c)2006 Jon Pumpkin

The clouds should probably be a bit darker. Shot to be attempted again.