Blackpool Tower

Two similar, but still different views of Blackpool Tower today.

Apologies for a brief post today – I’ve been out to do some photography this afternoon and it turned out to be a dissapointing experience. Things went wrong and I ended up making mistakes and feeling annoyed and sorry for myself as a result. And now I have a headache. 😦

I’ll probably provide details of the events in another post (assuming some of the photos turn out ok..).

Olympus Trip 35 & Ilford HP5+ . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 26 November 2022.

The Big One

The Big One was, for a couple of years, the tallest and steepest rollercoaster in the world. It opened in 1994 and was 213 feet tall. It has since been surpassed by a considerable margin with the current world’s tallest rollercoaster being over twice as tall at a stomach-churning 465 feet (Kinda Ka at Six Flags Great Adventure in New Jersey, USA).

The Big One was branded as the Pepsi Max Big One until 2011.

I’ve ridden on it once, about twenty years ago, when I went on it with one of my sons. It was a great experience riding it, but not the most comfortable of rides. Not as terrifying as the Wild Mouse ride that also used to be present in the Pleasure Beach.

Olympus Trip 35 & Ilford HP5+ . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 26 November 2022.

Sandcastle

A couple of shots showing the Sandcastle Waterpark at Blackpool, the UK’s largest indoor waterpark. It houses multiple attractions including the Masterblaster – the world’s longest rollercoaster waterslide. I wasn’t aware that such a thing even existed before writing this post! You can see a video of someone riding on it here on Youtube. I expect that the waterpark is a lot of fun but I’ve never been inside.

I’m not sure that my two black and white photos do the place justice, them making it look like a cross between an industrial plant and something constructed by the Empire from Star Wars!

The structure to the right of the first image is The Big One, the tallest rollercoaster at Blackpool Pleasure Beach. I may publish some more pictures of that tomorrow..

Olympus Trip 35 & Ilford HP5+ . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 26 November 2022.

Mirror ball

This giant mirror ball stands on the promenade at the southern end of Blackpool’s seafront. Erected in 2002, it is the world’s largest mirror ball with a diameter of six metres.

The actual title of the artwork is “They Shoot Horses Don’t They?“, named after the depression-era story by Horace McCoy (later turned into a Jane Fonda movie) that tells the tale of young people attempting to win a $1,000 prize by dancing until they can no longer stand.

Blackpool is famed for its glitzy entertainment, music, and dancing – including the famous Tower Ballroom – so the mirror ball is a fitting piece.

Olympus Trip 35 & Ilford HP5+ . Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 9mins @ 20°

Taken on 26 November 2022.

Beach cafe

I didn’t go inside this cafe on this visit to Mablethorpe, although I have on previous trips. There’s something comforting about sitting in a cafe with views out over the sea, with a hot drink, and maybe a snack as you contemplate the world outside.

Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 D & Fukichrome Velvia 50 (expired 2011). Lab developed & home scanned.

Taken on 17 September 2022

Compass points

Facing East North East, this vantage-point looks out across the North Sea towards Denmark which lies approximately 350 miles away.

Like many fences and railings in touristy places, the cables have been decorated with “love locks” and the odd bouquet of flowers. I wonder how many of the people who place these padlocks remain in the relationships they represent, and whether they ever come back and remove them if they don’t last? This is assuming that they can be removed of course – I suspect a good squirt of WD-40 might be needed in a lot of cases, especially where the salt air has had time to do its work, and I also wonder if love struck couples don’t just dispose of the keys anyway, another symbol of everlasting love?

Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 D & Fukichrome Velvia 50 (expired 2011). Lab developed & home scanned.

Taken on 17 September 2022

Chalet street

It wouldn’t be a trip to the seaside without a photo of some chalets or beach huts. Well, perhaps it would for non-photographers, but for me they’re almost an obligation to photograph when I see them, especially as I don’t visit the coast all that often.

This expired Velvia 50 has really done it’s work on that blue sky, hasn’t it?

Nikon F80, Nikkor 28-80mm f/3.5-5.6 D & Fukichrome Velvia 50 (expired 2011). Lab developed & home scanned.

Taken on 17 September 2022

Lifeguard hut

I posted a series of photos of lifeguard huts on the blog a while ago. Here’s another to add to the set (it’s the hut at Mablethorpe, which I’ve photographed on several occasions now – including another picture shot on the day this one was taken).

Yashicamat 124G & Kodak Plus-X (expired 2008). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 6mins @ 20°

Taken on 27 August 2022

Building a horse out of sand

Despite owning a perfectly good bicycle, this man has taken it upon himself to build a horse. As I took this picture I had a brief moment where I wondered what would happen if it had suddenly sprung into life like something from a Harry Potter movie or something. It doesn’t have a saddle, so I expect riding it would have caused a degree of chafing.

Yashicamat 124G & Kodak Plus-X (expired 2008). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 6mins @ 20°

Taken on 27 August 2022

Donkey rides

Only two donkeys out giving rides on the day I took this picture. The guy in charge looks a bit chilly from his stance.

Yashicamat 124G & Kodak Plus-X (expired 2008). Ilfotec DD-X 1+4 6mins @ 20°

Taken on 27 August 2022