Thursday 15 March 2007

Lifeboat photography

One happy spin off of blogging has been a re-awakened interest in photography. I have begun to take a real pleasure in getting the right perspective, cropping and looking for the new angle.

I have discovered that taking photos is essentially impossible on the boat at night and almost guaranteed to produce appalling results. I have also discovered that it is almost impossible to take a bad photo of a lifeboat by day. Something to do with the jolly colour scheme perhaps? In any case. I will persist with both and try to seek new and more interesting images to brighten my dull words with......

I leave you with this non lifeboat thought:

Being happy is your greatest contribution to the world.
Happy people are the real philanthropists.

(Aaron Wirpel)

8 comments:

Anonymous said...

Glad that your blog has re awoken your interest in photograhy. I for one definately appreciate the results. There's some very impressive photos on this blog.

lifeboatjohn said...

Glad you like the photos. Most are mine but not many of those on this collage are! Thanks for you kind words.

John

Anonymous said...

You're welcome, although I live in the midlands and probably couldn't get further away from the sea if I tried, I have always had a fascination with Lifeboats and the work of the RNLI, I think as you put it it is something to do with the jolly colour scheme!

Going completely off topic have you seen much of the developement of the Mersey's replacement the FCB2? How will that affect stations such as yours who currently have a slip launched Mersey?

lifeboatjohn said...

Yes, I have seen FCB2, in fact, I drove the prototype last summer and can confirm it is awesome. The jets allow it to be driven sideways and it can be controlled by joystick or wheel and throttles. Unfortunately it won't fit into our boathouse (which can't be enlarged)so it probably won't replace our Mersey. We are not entirely sure what the plan will be there allthough it might involve an afloat boat?

Anonymous said...

As I understand it, although it is probably still early in the day, but the FCB2 won't be able to slip launched anyway. I suppose it depends on why you have a Mersey over say a Tyne or Tamar. Although from what you have said that could be down to size of the boathouse.

Thankyou for the information and keep up the good work with the blog, I really enjoy reading it!

Douglas Wilcox said...

Hi John, just to say your photos are cracking! I will look out for them in the RNLI magazine!

:o)

Anonymous said...

Just curious, but how did you come by the quote attributed to Aaron Wirpel? He's family...

lifeboatjohn said...

From a book of quotes called 'Courage' published in aid of the RNLI in 1939. Hope you don't mind!?