Radar Station

Back to court today for more jury service. Didn't have to be there until 11am and after 3 hours sitting about, drinking coffee and reading, I was released for the day as the guy whose trial I was due to be on pleaded guilty at the last moment..

I took my P&S camera with me (had to leave in the car as no cameras allowed in court) and stopped at Coalhouse Fort near Tilbury on the way home for a wander and to take some photos.

The fort was built in Victorian times to protect London from French invaders, and was in use up until WWII when it was used as a radar station.

This derelict is all that remains of the station, slowly falling to pieces as the river wears away at the brickwork.

I wasn't alone in snapping this, a guy with tripod was not to far from me photographing it from a different angle.

I used picassa to convert to B&W and darkened slightly to enhance the clouds, although the version here looks darker than the actual JPEG image. I took a few pics and all looked fairly good in B&W so it was a bit of a struggle to decide on one to uplaod. Few more pics here http://andycphotos.shutterfly.com/560#560

This evening I've downlaoded a 30 day trial of Lightroom3. I haven't used it yet but will familiarise myself with it over the coming weeks to see if I want to get hold of a copy.

[Constance Brinkley]

I like the processing you used on this photo. The clouds have a 3D effect. The photo has a very lonely feel about it. Good shot.

[Judifff]

Very pretty :o)

It works really well in black and white

[Darren Griffen]

wow, very cool pic, I have today started with Lightroom after a trial period, and must admit I'm amazed and love it, although I do still like picnik for its simplicity to

[Della]

beautiful--love the b&w

[FunnyFace]

oooh, yours is ace, very atmospheric! Never been there, just Tilbury docks.

[Isla Wight]

Very brooding and atmospheric.

[Cristina Eenkhoorn]

Nice! I really like this shot!

[Brenda Ashley]

great shot, like the black n white with those dramatic clouds

[Vikdaddy]

good pic, i think you could enter this into the theme with that structure on the left. by the way lightroom is brilliant, providing you shoot in RAW!

[Darrell Soper]

B&W looks like a good choice for impact and to show the decay.

[Joe Ciras]

Very nice b&w. Your court system is a little different from out. When we get called for jury duty it is usually only for one day, at least were I live.

[andy c]

thanks everyone...
@cirasj Ha Ha... Was asked the same thing by Sue (pontoon pic).. Over here jury service lasts 2 weeks - in that time, you might get 1, 2, 10 or no cases... depends on the luck of the draw... And you are rarely called a 2nd time..