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Malcolm Dobson

My photographic experiences go back over half a century - Wow! is it that far back?......No "Digital-Pokery" in those days!!!!
It always used to be touching up prints when you couldn't eradicate all the dust bits!! Now it's cloning!....so, you wont hear me talking Photoshop!!
In the 60's I used to do various work as a "paid by a gratuity" amateur!! Whether fashion or art / portraits or landscapes my real work related to motor sport and / or wedding photography - all on 35mm or 21/4" square b & w film / colour when required - it was expensive in those days!
A long lapse bringing up a family whilst I changed jobs and regions, eventually ending up here in Wakefield (best move I made!) So now here I am with you guys - "Hi! to you all" - I'm retired now and reviving my photographic interests. I love mechanical devices (cars etc), buildings and all things that work (I suppose that includes people too!!). Enjoying learning digital technology from anyone who can lend a hand - maybe soon I will be experimenting with Photoshop!! "Digital - Pokery" seems to be the privelage for the "Haves" rather than the "Have nots"; the latter are on the slippery slope as we seem to be moving towards pictures of technical perfection rather than atmosphere...........for atmosphere read grainy / soft focus (fuzzy!), etc.!!
Hope you are interested in my small gallery below:-

Bridge Over Causey Beck

Causey Arch Near Beamish

Causey Arch Again

View From the Arch

TANFIELD RAILWAY : A wee bit of history for the folks who don't know this place near to Beamish. The Causey Arch was constructed early 18th century. This was 100 years before Brunel got going with his wonderful structures and Stephenson got his Rocket!! The engineer got paid over £900 - that's around 40% of the cost of the structure - for his efforts at building this 105ft (31.5 metres today!!) span bridge some 80ft (24.4m) above Causey Beck - it all sounded bigger in imperial sizes!!
I put it that way to give a perspective of the courage to build such a structure to carry the heavy loads of coal in wooden trucks with wooden wheels! All before we had "proper" engineers!!!! The difference between then and now is that the engineers used materials to do a job - not to stretch designs for personal gain!!
This is a lovely park area with lots of interest and walks, for steam engine nuts the engine sheds still in working order, are near by at Marley Hill.

Bridge Water At Stanley Ferry

Dining Out

Floater!

Frosty Trees

Pint Of Guinness

Solicitor's Office, Beamish