I don't remember. It was almost a year ago. 😀

A good catch, of this boathouse slowly sinking into the lake.

I actually like these two, especially the first.

The first snow is always fun. These big bench things seem to be a thing. They are appearing in our Apennines too.

Storming Lever Castle

We're in the midst of Storm Darragh (probably Dar-argh!!! would be more appropriate looking at the news), so naturally I went out for a bit of a walk this morning. Things aren't looking too bad around here, but I decided to head for somewhere sheltered anyway and eventually found myself wandering towards Lever Castle.

I've posted pictures from Rivington Terraced Gardens before, the once glorious private gardens of Lord Leverhulme, left to fall into ruin over the years and recently restored by an army of volunteers. Well, Lord Leverhulme didn't just stop at terraced gardens, he also had a castle knocked out below the hill, on the shores of Lower Rivington Reservoir.

This was constructed in the opening years of the 20th century and was built as a scaled down replica of Liverpool Castle, itself left in ruins during the 15th century and finally demolished in the 18th. It was always conceived as a ruin, but was never completed as Lord Leverhulme died shortly after construction began, leading to the project eventually being abandoned.

The camera for this expedition is a used OM-1, that I spotted in a cabinet at the camera shop a few weeks ago when buying the 27mm Fuji lens that last weeks pictures were taken with. I'd noticed it was priced very cheaply for a used OM-1 and checking it out online, I saw it was in a very rough looking state, with paint missing all over the place. Having owned an E-M1 MKII since they first came out, I'm well aware of how easily the paint comes off these bodies, so I decided to go back and take a proper look at it. As it appears to be functionally okay, just very heavily used I bought it as, although my M4/3 gear doesn't get a lot of use these days, the Olympus is still the camera of choice for rotten weather photography when I wouldn't want to risk one of my other systems.

It's interesting to compare how this handles to the E-M1 MKII, which, once set up as I liked it, was a great camera to use. This, I found myself swearing at on several occasions as I tried to zoom in on an image using the AF joystick with my gloved hands, only for the camera to do something completely different as I caught another button while trying to press this awkward and unresponsive little nub. The revised dials are a lot harder to work with than the E-M1 MKII dials too and I don't know why they moved the 'menu' button from where it used to be, which seemed to be the perfect position to me. I thought I might be able to swap it with the 'display' button, but apparently that's not an option. Other than these niggles, it's a nice little camera. The viewfinder is much better than the outdated thing the E-M1 MKII was saddled with. Finally, a viewfinder capable of realistic colours and black level. It's operationally a lot snappier too, although the E-M1 MKII was no slouch.

Anyway, in addition to the OM-1, I dusted off my trusty old 12-100 f/4 lens and brought that along for the trip, with a rather battered B+W CPL attached to the opposite end. It's a great lens, still the best superzoom I've ever used, even if it does undermine the compact size of the body. All images taken hand held and processed from raw files in Capture One 23.

What?

One of the trees that line the approach takes exception to me looking at it.

Outside The Castle Walls

Arriving at the castle my first thoughts were to completely ignore it and head off the path down the side to the reservoir.

Ivy

Ivy clinging to the outer wall of the castle.

On The Banks of The Reservoir

Another area I've never explored in the 50+ years I've lived here. I could imagine someone not paying attention and falling into the reservoir following this path along its shoreline, particularly as there are random gaps in the path.

Boo!

I walked as far as Rivington Lodge, which disappointingly turned out to be a pile of rubble, however it was surrounded by some quite interesting woods that may be worth a revisit.

A Bit Of A Stretch

Back down to the reservoir, this is one of many trees overhanging the water. It looks like its reaching for the far bank.

Wet Feet

Some of the trees went the extra mile and were growing out of the water. I'm not sure if this is their normal state or just that the levels were high due to recent weather, although every reservoir I've seen higher up in the chain is perilously low for some reason or other (it's not like it hasn't rained for most of the year), so perhaps this one's been allowed to overfill a little?

Delight

No Climbing!

I'm sure the guidance on that sign is steadfastly observed by all visitors to this site, although I have climbed up for a closer look in the past, not today though as my back is sore.

A Room With A View...

Unfortunately, it's a view into the dingy room next door. That's some impressive ivy growing next to it on the wall though.

Doorway To Nowhere

Through this doorway there used to be a spiral staircase leading up to the top of the wall. Modern health and safety prohibits such things these days, so the powers that be have smashed the stones that formed the staircase so we can all safely not go up there, or, you know, get up there by more precarious means.

Again, not me today, as I'm a responsible adult and not in any way because I have a sore back, but reflecting back to when I was a 10 year old, there is filmed footage of me clambering around on the top of the walls above here, looking absolutely terrified. Of course, there's wasn't a "no climbing" sign up in those days. And stairs, so it was okay.

The ivy here clearly saw what the ivy in the last shot was doing and said "hold my beer...".

Taking Steps (away)

More health and safety vandalism in the form of a line of steps that no longer lead to that upper archway.

Meanwhile In Tim Burton's Creepy Woods

He should make a film here, it looks like one of his creepy trees has moved in and made itself comfortable.

Attention!

Looking back along the tree lined aisle that leads to the castle.

Random Woodland

Literally taken looking from one side of the main road to the woods on the other. Quite often, some of the most interesting woodland scenes are just at the side of the road.

Conclusion: the camera appears to work :-)

I have a boxed Sigma 12-24 knocking around somewhere that I got for my D200 back in the day. When I moved up to a D300 it stopped auto focusing and had to be sent back to Sigma for a firmware update. Probably not a service they offer these days for these older lenses.

It's funny how we used to manage to get sharp pictures back in the days before image stabilisation was so prolific. That said, I wouldn't have been able to hand hold most of the shots I took today without bumping up the ISO/taking off my polariser/opening the aperture if IBIS hadn't been playing its part, so it's certainly a useful thing to have and it's always nice not to be carrying a tripod. Pity it can't stop the leaves on the trees blowing around in a storm though, but then, neither can the tripod.

Some great shots in that set, it looks like you had fantastic conditions.

I love the tones and layering in these two...

...and the light in this one...

I reckon the optimal number of people to move this fridge would be two, one large, one thin, both wearing bowler hats, for safety. At a push, three would be an acceptable team size for this operation, especially if one was bald, one had curly hair and the third a pudding bowl haircut. Bringing in six people is just poor resource management.

A lovely set of studies, the title on the last one is very appropriate.

Like that windblown effect...

Great results, by the way, with OM-1. It's a workhorse (imho)

Is that still in use? It looks like its days are numbered before it ends up lying at the bottom of the water. Nicely captured.

Looks like a great spot to stop and take in the scenery, and what scenery.

Great shot with mountains in the background.

Fully operational.

It's the detail shots of the building that most appeal to me. The light picking out the steps through the doorway is just magical.

Another enjoyable trip to an curious place.

I have toyed with the idea of getting a SH M43, as prices are pretty silly for older models, particularly Panasonic. But then I realise I have too much gear, that I have accumulated. The 2.8 Panasonic zooms were great lenses.

Hard work!

I never used a (D)SLR seriously—just a few times with my in-law’s old Olympus DSLR. I should try it for real.

This is a nice one.