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.

Tom

Have you tried PhotoBox - you can automate the sales process, and if you then make the donation to the charity (and are a taxpayer) then you can get the extra tax added on to the donation.

Using Photobox means you can set the price you like, and the buyer gets a finished print at their chosen size, posted direct to them.

Just a thought.

Example of a pro gallery on Photobox not mine, BTW.

Thanks for that, chap.

Duly noted.

Anyone got any other location suggestions where I could capture some similar 'faded glory' scenes in the north Lincs area?

Buildings are fine, but it's always nice to incorporate an actual aircraft, or at least part of one.

Swinderby?

harrogate

You could always try Manby before it is demolished - I see that it scheduled to become one of the new "eco towns".

Harrogate, please check your PM's!

Cazatou

Now there was a magnificent base with a magnificent history. As I said earlier my first posting was Binbrook, but I lived in the quarters at Manby at the time. oooh for a time machine! I would go back in a heartbeat.

Mystic Meg

Yes you are right it was MSF, i just used the term 'bomb dump' generically as most people know what that is.

Can we have a link to the high res version.

I closed the gates when the place shut so would like a nice shot.

I'm looking into providing a high res link. Just thinking of the best way of distributing it.

The runway is no more having been dug up and sold:(

It's a shame nobody cares about the history and heritage that is partly responsible for our freedom, and is so easily destroyed with abandon. Something my brother who is an archeaoligist doesn't get.

To him we are overpayed bus drivers, to me he is an underpaid grave robber. Guess who buys the drinks!

And to think that at the end of June, it will be 20 years since the last pair of Lightnings took off for Cranfield....:ooh:

V1

Binbrook Sunset
 

Dear Harrogate,

As somone who "plays about" with digi cameras, sometimes for professional reasons, sometimes purely for fun, I'd like to join the many others who have congratulated you on an excellent picture.

And as someone who messed about as a scruffy erk on 19 Line at Leconfield & Gutersloh many many years ago (before Binbrook had even first heard the mighty roar I think), I'd like to join to join the rest of the misty-eyed old codgers on here requesting a high res copy (in my case, electronic format such as jpg fine, 600 dpi, so I can print it myself at A4 size for framing).

Naturally I offer a donation to the charity of your choice (but being based in Switzerland with virtually no UK connections now it would need to be Credit Card or cash - UKP - by post to your nominated address. Please advise).

Sorry if the above makes any problems for you, and many thanks for a lovely, memory-stirring, but sad photograph.

Krgds
AES

Thanks for the kind words.

As mentioned before, I'll see what I can do about the Hi Res version. I'll post info here when I sort something out.

Anyone know if there are any old aircraft (full a/c or parts) at Manby these days?

I actually go to Swinderby quite a lot for the antiques fairs, and I'm sure I can rustle up a shot of the control tower there in the not-too-distant future. There's scope for a similar sunset shot at Swinderby, but I'll play it by ear.

I'm liking the thought of Manby. It's only 20 minutes from here.

Adam_634... I used Photomatix, and then tidied things up in Photoshop CS3. I then ran it through Neat Image, to get rid of the noise. All very sympathetic, though. I got everything I wanted through the lens, so there was no major trickery - it was a case of tweaking the levels.

So, what you see in the image is how it was on the night. I didn't do any rearranging/cutting, etc. The amazing sky that night helped a bit ( :ok: ), and anyone who knows Binbrook well will tell you just how stunning the westerly view can be from there, given the right conditions.

harrogate

If you go to Manby you may as well do its satellite aerodrome as well - Strubby is only 15 minutes away by car. Fond memories of both!!

A beautiful shot Harrogate. Very evocative and yet very sad.

I flew over Binbrook sometime back, memories of the 'Binbrook Bomb' rugby 7s and some good parties. As I looked down at the sadly neglected Os' Mess I noticed that someone was slowly stripping all the tiles from the roof! What a shame, I have always thought that the old messes would make very nice country houses (when modernised). I guess there isn't much call for that around that part of Lincs! :(

Hello :8 I just bought myself a Canon EOS 40D at the weekend, can't wait to get shooting. Was wondering what camera you're using? It's a lovely shot. Flickr is great isn't it! Take a look at my happy snaps http://www.flickr.com/photos/thebeatnut/ and let me know what you think, only done on a cybershot by the way. Cheers!

:ok:Congrats on the shot Harrowgate. Anyone would be proud of that!

Hi.

I used a Nikon D300 for that shot, mate. I looked at the 40D, but the D300 had a few extra bits that I really wanted to make use of. I also have a lot of Nikon-fit lenses, so the 40D wasn't really a sensible option for me, from a cost perspective.

Both are smashing cameras, though.

Fantastic photo Harrogate - don't mind what technique you used to get it, it's what comes out that matters. Thank you for sharing it with us. I look forward to a high definition image. Charity donation put aside already.

Paul

Great shot. It's a shame that the rest of the place looks like a half-derelict Travelers' camp. I'm surprised 5 Sqn hasn't been up to paint out their crest from the quietly decaying hangar. The general state of the place is terrible; fortunate in some ways that it's not called Binbrook anymore. The 460 Sqn RAAF Memorial with a piece of operating surface is stuck behind a chainwire fence, although there is a phone number to call for access.

Ah yes, the Binbrook Bomb...

Is there another Memorial other than the one at the road junction just as you enter Binbrook village from the station? I'm not aware of one on the (former) station, but am happy to be enlightened...