Tag: Photography

Starting the November Imaging

Another busy day at James and Sons. I have done some database work, and also started imaging lots for our next auction, which will take place on November 29th. Although I am still stuck with my old camera, I still managed to produce some decent pictures. The lost I imaged today were an interesting mix…

???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ???????????????????????? ????????????????????????

Amazing Autumn Auction

Actually given the weather that title is a trifle optimistic! Nevertheless, the October auction of James and Sons was a MASSIVE success. There will be press releases in the near future about Hornby train sets, stamps and militaria to name but three successful areas. Also look out for related posts on my personal twitter account. The single most astonishing story from the auction concerns a box of loose penny red-browns, with may be a few penny rose reds in there as well, which started at £30 and ended up fetching a cool £350!

I do have some photos for you, but because my good camera is at the repair shop they were taken with my old camera and are therefore not as good as they would be had I been using my camera of choice…

A scene from the walk from Fakenham town centre to the racecourse.
A scene from the walk from Fakenham town centre to the racecourse.
The Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse, all set for auction action!
The Prince of Wales Suite, Fakenham Racecourse, all set for auction action!
This pair of U-Boat binoculars went for a mere £3,000
This pair of U-Boat binoculars went for a mere £3,000
The tax discs had some advance publicity in the Lynn News.
The tax discs had some advance publicity in the Lynn News.
This cake stand sold.
This cake stand sold.
The Fitzroy Barometer was a rare disappointment on a very successful day.
The Fitzroy Barometer was a rare disappointment on a very successful day.
In spite of being carefully presented by yours truly most of these suffered the usual fate of books of auction.
In spite of being carefully presented by yours truly most of these suffered the usual fate of books of auction.
The banner, behind the rostrum.
The banner, behind the rostrum.
The view out of the window.
The view out of the window.
The Hornby stuff was a monster success!
The Hornby stuff was a monster success!

???????????????????????? ????????????????????????

This lot sold reaasonably well, and just sneaking into shot is the Connaught Rangers helmet which sold for £160
This lot sold reaasonably well, and just sneaking into shot is the Connaught Rangers helmet which sold for £160
This is not an auction lot - it is marble pestle and mortar bought in Dimitsana and now in residence in my kitchen.
This is not an auction lot – it is marble pestle and mortar bought in Dimitsana and now in residence in my kitchen.

Final preparations for auction

James and Sons October auction is tomorrow, starting at 10AM. A full catalogue can be viewed at: http://www.the-saleroom.com/en-gb/auction-catalogues/james-and-son-auctioneers/catalogue-id-2901719

Today we were making final preparations, making sure that everything we needed was at the venue (The Prince of Wales Sui

te, Faklenham Racecourse), and answering late queries (the latter yielded me some decent photos as well).

All is set for a good sale, with some large bids already in.

Meantime enjoy a sneak preview of some of the lots…

 

The whole of Lot 7 (diamond ring in bag) .
The whole of Lot 7 (diamond ring in bag) .

?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Potentially interesting for the chocoholics among you.
Potentially interesting for the chocoholics among you.

?????????? ?????????? ??????????

The next three images highlight different aspects of the same medal.
The next three images highlight different aspects of the same medal.

?????????? ??????????

This helmet has already attracted several substantial bids
This helmet has already attracted several substantial bids
These two Chinese medallions (next four images) have attracted considerable interest.
These two Chinese medallions (next four images) have attracted considerable interest.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Along the Coast Road to Trachina

After our break in Kardamyli following the walk down from Exochori we headed down the coast road to its end at Trachina. There are caves along this stretch of road (not surprising as this is a limestone area). Trachina is a pretty little village, and one of the rockpools yielded a particularly good picture…

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Getting a close up of this tiny crab was a photographic highlight for me. Considering that it was at the bottom of a rock pool this picture is remarkably clear.
Getting a close up of this tiny crab was a photographic highlight for me. Considering that it was at the bottom of a rock pool this picture is remarkably clear.
A rusty old olive press
A rusty old olive press

?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Exochori to Kardamyli

After finishing our walk to Kardamyli we lunched at Harilaos (excellent Kalamari), and then I went swimming in the Harbour. Plent more excellent pics to share with you…

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Kardamyli Harbour
Kardamyli Harbour

??????????

The harbour, the island and a boat
The harbour, the island and a boat

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Kardamyli old town.
Kardamyli old town.

??????????

An autumn Crocus, growing as usual in what looks like an impossible place.
An autumn Crocus, growing as usual in what looks like an impossible place.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Bare rock, and still they grow.
Bare rock, and still they grow.

??????????

Exochori to Kardamyli part 2

The walk down from Exochori follows one side of the Viros Gorge, the natural feature that dominates the landscape. Following the way markers took us too low at one point, so that we had to climb back up to get to our meeting point at Petrovouni. Also featuring on this part of the walk were various views across the gorge to Agia Sofia (Church of the Holy Wisdom in English).

Enjoy these photos…

Not quite cyclopean stones but impressively large.
Not quite cyclopean stones but impressively large.

??????????

A mason's mark on the chapel.
A mason’s mark on the chapel.

?????????? ??????????

This is an Autumn Narcissus.
This is an Autumn Narcissus.

?????????? ??????????

One does not see much evidence of wildlife on Greek walks and this is a clue as to why.
One does not see much evidence of wildlife on Greek walks and this is a clue as to why.

??????????

Agia Sofia
Agia Sofia

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

The line of large stones marked the edge of the path until it was plundered for building materials - the extension beyond the line of stones being exactly as wide as a lorry wheel.
The line of large stones marked the edge of the path until it was plundered for building materials – the extension beyond the line of stones being exactly as wide as a lorry wheel.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

This is the church at Petrovouni.
This is the church at Petrovouni.

?????????? ??????????

The way markers for the route from Petrovouni to Kardamyli.
The way markers for the route from Petrovouni to Kardamyli.

?????????? ??????????

A first aerial view of Kardamyli. The tall tower is part of an old soap factory.
A first aerial view of Kardamyli. The tall tower is part of an old soap factory.

Exochori to Kardamyli part 1:

I am not sure how many parts this series of posts will run to because there were so many fantastic photo opportunities. My father dropped my mother and I at Exochori, the top end of the walk, before himself driving to Kardamyli to walk up to meet us at Petrovouni, from whence we would walk together down into Kardamyli. At the top end of the walk we passed a number of small chapels, and later there were some fine stretches of engineered mule track…

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

This is the remains of an old olive press.
This is the remains of an old olive press.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

This aeroplane was one of two flying in formation - could not get both in shot.
This aeroplane was one of two flying in formation – could not get both in shot.
A distant but direct view of Prosilio, which lies between Tseria (above) and Kardamyli (below)
A distant but direct view of Prosilio, which lies between Tseria (above) and Kardamyli (below)

Kastania – Frescos and internal art

Now for my final post about Kastania – though there is still more Greek stuff to come. There were several superb churches in Kastania, the no longer consecrated church of St Peter (Ayios Petros) being the best from an art point of view. They yielded many fine photos…

This modern art - the sort of thing Maurits Escher might have used as a basis for one of his pictures is from the main church in the centre of the village
This modern art – the sort of thing Maurits Escher might have used as a basis for one of his pictures is from the main church in the centre of the village

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Some super frescos in the older churches.
Some super frescos in the older churches.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

This fractal cross was very striking although for me at least equally far from being attractive.
This fractal cross was very striking although for me at least equally far from being attractive.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Kastania – External Art

Having looked back over my pictures from Kastania since the last post I have decided to add another to my long list of Greek posts by splitting the artwork into external stuff and frescos as there was so much of it. As you will see, the stuff I cover in the post varies from patterns painted on street surfaces to folk art incorporated into church buildings.

Enjoy these photos…

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

Kastania – General and Chestnut Festival.

This is the first of two posts that will be going up about Kastania, because I will be devoting another post specifically to church/ folk art in the village, of which there is a lot. We were drawn there by the Chestnut Festival, which was a huge success, with the kind of numbers in attendance that English village fetes such as the Rudhams one could only dream of. Also, although you had to pay if you wanted a proper meal, as you entered the square where the main action was happening you were given little cakes, a free slug of Raki was provided for adult visitors, and bags of roasted chestnuts from a huge circular barbecue were also free.

A scenic route back through Exochorio and Proasteio,  featuring the church of Ayios Nikolaos Proasteio completed the day’s travelling.

Enjoy these photos…

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

The Greek Flag and a local flag side y side
The Greek Flag and a local flag side y side
Chestnuts roasting
Chestnuts roasting

??????????

Stepped surfaces such as this both prevent wheeled traffic (other than quad bikes) from using them and suit donkeys and mules.
Stepped surfaces such as this both prevent wheeled traffic (other than quad bikes) from using them and suit donkeys and mules.

?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ?????????? ??????????

This fortified tower overlooks the Viros Gorge
This fortified tower overlooks the Viros Gorge
Ayios Nikolaos at Proasteio
Ayios Nikolaos at Proasteio
Decorative brickwork above the entrance to the church.
Decorative brickwork above the entrance to the church.