Binbrook...
 

Hi folks.

Went up to Binny the other night to try out my new camera.

I don't and won't make a habit of posting pics on here, but thought some of you might like to see what's left up there these days.

The answer is not much, sadly, although XR724 is still sat on the line.

Thought this was quite a nice shot, as the sun set on the old girl one more time...

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v3...g?t=1208298777

Thank you for posting that, it's a lovelly shot. It's such a shame to see once proud airfields decaying so.

Wouldnt mind that over the fireplace.
Reminds me of the Cuneo? painting "last steam at nine elms"
Great shame we dont appreciate the magnificent achievements of
british engineering anymore.
Should park Mallard next to the Lightning next to Concorde and make
every schoolkid walk past to realise the history of innovation and
engineering expertise in this country.
One of the most invocative photographs i have ever seen ,
well done harrogate and i hope you enjoy your new camera,
more like that would be most appreciated.

AC

What a picture - thanks for sharing it with us :)

Stunning shot - very well done.

Agreed, excellent shot, now as my desktop wallpaper.

Well done.

Harrogate

A tear to the eye and a lump in the throat. Binbrook was my first posting, many many years ago. Are you just able to wander around the Airfield area? What about the old bomb dump? That was a very peaceful area with stunning views. Can I be cheeky and ask if there is any chance of a high res version (strictly for use at home only), I quite fancy that in the study, something to gaze at in retirement. I am willing to donate to the RAFBF.

It was almost as if these aircraft had souls


I think she deserves a title such as 'Still On Guard' or 'I'll Join You Soon'

Nice one:D

Thanks Tigs:ok:

Absolutely stunning shot. My first 7 years flying operationally were at Binbrook and it was the happiest station I ever served on. Like Tigs2, any chance of a hi res version?

Does indeed look good on the desktop, although hi-res would be better :ok:

With pics like this, don't hesitate to post future ones!

Gets my vote anyway :ok:

A super shot indeed, many thanks for sharing it.:)

Lovely shot H. :D

Always wistful and sad to see though. Stiff upper lip and all that.

did you do any photoshopping to get the colour balance spot on on that image? The range of colours on that pic is absolutely fantastic.

one to get posted on photo.net if you ask me :ok:

any chance of a linky to a full-size JPEG or nef?

VMT:ok::D. First class pic and also my desktop wallpaper. Makes you weep to see the once mighty Lightning and cracking stn looking so sad. I feel like sending a copy to Brown and Browne and saying: "This encapsulates the overall state of the Nation's air defences, you cretinous, lily-livered :mad:!"

I walk my dog across the former RAF Fiskerton airfield every day and even though it has largely been ploughed over, it has more soul than poor old Binbrook.

ON

I think you're getting the bomb dump and MSF mixed up - I doubt you would be able to see very much from the former, as you had to drive down into it...

Would I be right in thinking you used HDR to get that effect?

Either way a fantastic image :ok:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/22029076@N06/2124790046/

A search using the term "Binbrook" on www.flickr.com reveals more.

r

With photos that good, you want to get yourself down to Cottesmore this afternoon.:ok:

Binbrook sunset
 

Thanks for the very atmospheric picture, brought back many memories of my first posting....

Hope to see some more output from the new camera.

Hi folks.

It is indeed a HDR image. HDR means High Dynamic Range. You basically set your camera up on a very sturdy tripod, and rattle off a series of identically composed shots (in this case 7), but over the course of the series you gradually fade up from under-exposed, through the correct exposure, finishing up at over-exposed.

This way, you get the entire dynamic range. The art is to blend the images tastefully. It's hard to do, and very, very easy to get wrong. Moving objects, such as clouds, can cause big problems, because obviously they appear in a slightly different position in each exposure. Luckily for me, there was no wind up there on Saturday night, so the sky was reasonably static. I shot all 7 exposures in under 12 seconds, which captured everything in just about the same place.

Sometimes moving objects can give a very nice effect in HDR images, but I didn't want any fancy frills on this photo. I wanted to make it look like a 'real' image, and I'm happy with the outcome.

The compostion of the shot isn't exactly how I wanted it, but I was very limited in terms of where I could postion myself. The whole area around XR724 is sectioned off by a 8ft iron mesh fence, so I placed myself as near as possible, and poked the camera and tripod legs through a hole in the fence.

I was going to call the shot 'Last on the line", but I also like the suggestion of 'Still on guard', so I'm undecided as yet. I like the way the aircraft is sat in the cooler looking area, gazing up to the warm sunset. She probably misses being up there.

Anyways, thanks to my buddy for hosting it on his Flickr account now - much better than my Photobucket account. It's good Flickr, innit? Might have to get myself an account on there.

When I get my laptop back, I'll open up the high res version and see what I can do for those folks who want it. I like the idea of a modest charity donation.

Tom.

Awesome, Harrogate ... also stolen for my desktop, with thanks.

First time at Binbrook was '66, then worked with 74's 'nings in Singapore 67-70 ... nothing quite like the vertical twin-jet, bless her.