I rashly challenged @katharinehubbard for us both to take an attractive shot of the 'Downing Site' which is a collection of University science departments where she works and where I did my PhD - ahem - 25 years ago. So I thought I had better get myself down there and see what was on offer. I felt horribly conspicuous with dog and camera because it really is a working area not a tourist hotspot. (Also I banned photos of Sedgwick Museum which is quite photogenic and touristy!) One problem is that cars are squeezed into every available space and anywhere too small for cars has a bike rack. But some great work has gone on there including Bob Edwards fertilising a human egg in vitro and Fred Sanger doing the work for his 2 Nobel Prizes in some sheds by the Biochemistry Dept (not there any more). So I don't know if she'll let me get away with this as it's in the porters' lodge on the way in - the post box is for internal university mail only and I've never used it as it's always looked a bit dodgy.
Three good things:
1. Nigel has arrived safely in foreign climes.
2. My nifty-fifty can handle very dim locations.
3. The weather forecast is promising us 20% chance of a sunny interlude tomorrow...
Oh and lovely comments on yesterday's photo - thank you!
That beautiful basket again except the last one was on a pale green bike!!! If i ever come to Cambridge I must buy one!!!
You certainly worked in hallowed places...all that good work in your old haunts!!!
Good job Nigel didn't take you away from beautiful Cambridge ....what could live up to this!!
@fueast Hmmm - there's a reason you aren't seeing much building. A lot of them are actually quite grand but have been abused buy flues and vents and wiring etc.
I love it! British bikes (and Dutch) are so much more photogenic than the ones around here, so the handlebars, basket and bell all add to the photo for me, and of course I love that big red post box! Really nice composition.
Great angle of the Ike and basket. The postal box and basket grab my eye. 25 years ago your PhD...must have done it right after college? What are you Dr of?
Glad you are enjoying your nifty-fifty ... i love how it handles very dim locations...... although i'd have though a university building in Cambridge could never be described as dim with all those clever clogs around !
Couldn't resist another bike shot - eh? Love the post box. I seem to be spending too much time in Cambridge these days - yet another appointment for the hand today. Got the time mixed up though and had to wait AGES! Met some friends and went to Strada for dinner then to see Steptoe and Son at the Arts Theatre, so a nice end to the day.
@busylady Was it good - I've been thinking we should go to the Arts a bit more often - I'm not great at advance booking though. Sorry the hand is still a problem. I was trying for a non-bike shot but they just keep creeping in!
Well it was good but not as funny as we'd hoped. The acting was very good and only three in the cast, but at times a bit sad. Not as funny as I remember the TV show to be. The hand is slowly improving with therapy - silly putty to squeeze, and exercises seem to be making a difference. Next appointment March 14th at 2pm. Got time for a coffee in the morning?
So glad that Nigel arrived safely. Love the clear focus on the basket, & the bright red of the letter drop behind. . . Love also that you took it with your nifty -fifty!
This is great - I love how you've managed to get some bright warm colour in that postbox in yet another grey old Cambridge day - I recognise that post box, from my PhD years there too (I was just thinking surely not 25 years ago when I realised I started there 26 years ago - how did that happen!). Apart from the bear at the bottom of the Sedgwick Museum stairs, my one and only shot of the Downing Site was of the ichthyosaur weather vane (which was sporting a Father Christmas hat at the time) on top of that copper cupola over the entrance to Downing St - probably cheating slightly if you were actually going for buildings (I worked in the Craik Marshall building for a while which is possibly the ugliest on of all, despite its illustrious namesake!)
BTW, what is the nifty-fifty?
A lovely bike/postbox combo. It definitely is nifty fifty weather today isn't it. That is what I used for my postbox shot today too. I thought it was funny that you thought that the postbox looked too dodgy to use - what did you think it was going to do?
The depth of field really makes this shot. And the nice red mailbox, of course. Dodgy or not - it certainly is pretty. @helenmoss : Hey there ;). The nifty-fifty is what @janim calls his fifty mm lens. It gets the f/ down to 1.8 and takes the nicest photos!
Thats settled it then.next one definately the nifty fifty.........might have to manage without the bikes in my shots though, btw you did start young a prodigy?
@helenmoss@jannaellen@fannyb Yes - Janna's described it very well - and because it's a prime lens the detail is great. It does take some getting used to as you have to keep stepping backwards both for composition and focus and at first I thought I'd made a mistake. Helen and I were both child geniuses - we couldn't possibly be old enough to have done our PhDs so long ago!! We were above and below each other in the same building - I used to venture upstairs because the Ladies facilities were much nicer up there than going downstairs (none at all on our floor!)
Delightful bikes with bells and baskets AND a red letter box...you're pulling out all the charm elements with this shot, Judith!
My husband is very much aware that all I want for my birthday is a 50mm lens. :)
You certainly worked in hallowed places...all that good work in your old haunts!!!
Good job Nigel didn't take you away from beautiful Cambridge ....what could live up to this!!
What an interesting pov!
BTW, what is the nifty-fifty?
@helenmoss : Hey there ;). The nifty-fifty is what @janim calls his fifty mm lens. It gets the f/ down to 1.8 and takes the nicest photos!
My husband is very much aware that all I want for my birthday is a 50mm lens. :)