Painting and filming on a holiday
It soon comes round, THE ANNUAL PAINTING HOLIDAY, at some farm or
resort. It would cause a few gasps, if I said when we arrived, “Oh dear,
I’ve forgotten to bring my CAMCORDER!” Or would they say “Thank God for
that!” Anyway, there are always some events other than just a group of
people sitting around with easels, pencils and brushes, creating serious
works of art. So I have to be ready to record something, for future
laughs.
Wobbly Shots.
A lady kept her ponies and trap at the farm. She came every
day to groom and feed Dougall and Donna, and gave us rides in the trap. The
first day she arrived, I rushed out to film her with the ponies. As it was
on the spur of the moment, I didn’t have my tripod with me. Nothing unusual
about that, “FIRST WOBBLES.” Then, after the business of getting Dougall
harnessed to the trap, June said, “Now for a ride.’ I climbed up into the
trap complete with camcorder. “Walk on!” she said as she slapped the whip on
Dougall’s backside, and I preceded to make a movie of us moving. With a back
view of Dougall, we proceeded along the lane in gorgeous countryside. It was
not easy to hold the camera steady, there were a few jerks.
“Trot!” June
cried and it was even more tricky. Someone said while watching the rushes,
“000! that makes me feel tea sick! I was glad June didn’t say, ‘Gallop”
What a mess!
We had a nice swimming pool, so I got my Camcorder poised
for action, when the ladie5 decided to go 11r a swim. But while J waited
for them to emerge from the changing room, a flotilla of happy mallards
landed on the pool. With a chorus of quacks the! cavorted in the Solar
Heated Pool, warmer than the River Avon, which was their normal habitat.
The mallards fun spoilt my fun of filming the bathing beauties. Feathers
and droppings made the pooi
unusable for days.
Oh Owl!
Every evening, it was interesting to
watch the wild life, all good subjects, though difficult at times; There
was always an owl perched on a post, looking
out tor some unsuspecting prey. I tried getting him from the kitchen
window, but when I looked through the view finder, the black and white picture made i hard to find, when I took my
eye from the camcorder, the bird had usually flown away. I tried creeping up
to the garden wall, then with the camcorder at the ready, I raised myself up
to rest it on the wall. but the owl always flew away. SO a Close Up was not
possible. Oh for a powerful telephoto lens!
Be prepared!
The AGA cooker went wrong and an expert engineer was sent for. I was busy
making a sketch of him working. Then Joan whispered to me, Why not get a
shot of him.” I thought that was a good idea, so I rushed upstairs and
brought down the camcorder. But the battery was flat! So I rushed upstairs again to get another one. But as I
came into the kitchen, the man was just saying, “OK, I’ve finished,” and
he went off. So, always have your camera ready.
Ruined!
At
some interesting ruins, I set the camera up to take a good picture. It
was an idyllic quiet scene with just the sound of birds, but as I
commenced filming two girls came round the corner of the old walls. As
they passed by the camera, one said to the other, “What a cheek! “.
Beware of corners!
On trying to retake this shot, a man
approached me with overwhelming interest:
“Are you filming?” and
“What a lovely day.” etc. Needless to say, I didn’t answer while my eye
was in the view finder. But the sound was unusable!
OBVIOUS TIPS:
1. Have with you, Seasick Pills and an
image stabiliser.
2. Have a
bird scarer at hand.
3. A telephoto lens at least two feet long.
4. Camera always attached to your person.
5. Have a sign: “DON’T
WORRY, I’M
HARMLESS”.
6. Also, “QUIET PLEASE!”
Oh, and by the way, an
uncomplaining Gofer (Wife), to carry those important items. “Whoops !“
Sorry ladies (Husband).
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