It's Thursday Bradshawgate Leigh

[Summicron]

Went to the health center today to have my feet dressed again (it seems there is blessings in misfortune) and when Leticia was finished with me, I decided a run into Bolton would be a change. So I went on Bolton Market did a little shopping, especially for some, black as up chimney, crusty oven bottom rolls, bread as it should be crispy outside, fluffy on inside, yum. Then got the bus to Leigh intending to have a reconoitre down the canal, but ir was a bit too wet for that, so had to content myself with a meander round town center, as I left the bus station these shops caught my eye, lit up on a damp afternoon, they just oozed colour. Two bakeries together, that's unusual, no I didn't get my bread from here, but I did get a slice of cheese flan from Waterfields, that is an eating experience that is out of this world, nom, nom, nom.

Funny but do you ever feel that you are being guided into what you see and what you photograph, I often do, and today was no exception, I had to see and shoot these shops and then return to Bolton.

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[Summicron]

On the way back to Bolton the light just got better and better, light was shining through heavy rain clouds, and all the way back I could have got off anywhere and shot some magnificent colours, but no, I got off the bus before the bus station, and noticed these pillars just outside the casino in Bolton, with the blue lights encircling them, set against the sunset sky, the two silhouettes of the cranes completing the scene, its as if someone was pointing them out to me. As I was photographing, the rain came on heavy, I took five frames and beat a hasty retreat towards the market, a market stall table to sit which was undercover, then I noticed the flourescent lights of the market and the darkening silhouette of the town against the evening sky, it looked good enough for a shot.

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[Summicron]

Of all the three shots I liked this one the best, there is a wonderful mood to the scene, the dozens of flourescent lights reflecting in the now wet tarmac. I took four shots of this the first two I shot hand holding the camera, I thought the image stabaliser would have given a sharp image, I was asking too much, then I say a pole still under shelter so I held the camera against that, and it did the trick beautifully. "That's what I wanted you to see," said the Lord, well it seemed that way.

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[Jeanne Lee]

Sumicron, those are really great shots.  Thanks! 

[JudyB]

Wow they are all so good.  I do agree with you on that last one.  Is there such a thing as a small tripod that can be collapsed down to be carried in a bag or backpack?  It may be too heavy to take with you though.

[Summicron]

I've got one, a little Leica table top tripod, but unless there's a tall enough flat surface its not much help.

[LakeLady]

I do like all of these, as you said though there is a certain mood to the last one that makes it stand out.
Becky

[Barbarian]

B&H in New York has this:

http://www.bhphotovideo.com/c/product/660803-REG/Tamrac_TR406_TR406_ZipShot_Compact_Ultra_Light.html

Kinda impressive, must be the smallest full size tripod ever.   

And splendid color in your shots.   These are right up with your best work.

[Barbarian]

And then there's this:
http://www.google.com/products?q=%22The+Pod%22+tripod&oe=utf-8&client=firefox-a&rlz=1R1GGGL_enUS349US349&um=1&ie=UTF-8&ei=8yg1S96PF4KVtgej94iVCQ&sa=X&oi=product_result_group&ct=title&resnum=4&ved=0CDYQrQQwAw

The classic "bean bag", but with a tripod socket, so you can use any sort of base for support.  Mrs. Barbarian has one, and it works very well.