PPC Photonews - The Lockdown Diaries Vol 3

Photonews Celebrating the Postal Photographic Club and its Members

The Lockdown Diaries - Vol 3

Lockdown Diaries - Volume 3 Welcome to the third extra edition of Photonews to commemorate what PPC members have been doing in Lockdown. This one is courtesy of John Pattison, all the way from Turkey.

These specials are only made possible by the support of members so as always my grateful thanks to all those who’ve allowed us a peek inside their Lockdown World. There’s another 90 or so members out there however so surely a few more of you have been making photographs during Lockdown?

I have templates ready for issue 4 … they just need some content … yours?

All the best - stay safe!

Dave Whenham Editor email: davewhenham@aol.com

Page 3: The final in Jeff’s series of humorous out-takes on life. I’ve enjoyed these Jeff - thank you!

Page 4: Regular contributor John Pattison (pictured on page 19 in a self-portrait) is the focus, quite literally, of this edition with his report on Lockdown in Turkey.

ON THE COVER: “Village Kindergarten Art”

2

As with the similar images in Volumes 1 and 2 these came from Jeff Waters and I’m very grateful for them too - thank you Jeff!

Jeff tells me however that he’s exhausted his supply of these light-hearted images so its over to our readers to have a dig around in their archives please!

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

The CoVid-19 Virus has disrupted and changed the World, perhaps in some significant ways for evermore and only time will tell if the post pandemic ‘new normal’ resembles the pre pandemic ‘normal’. For myself, the impact of the pandemic started early in March in the UK where I visited London with my daughter. At that time there was no lockdown, only precautions to be taken such as using sanitiser and washing hands frequently.

Life continued.

A week later my wife and I visited Doha, in Qatar. This trip was arranged back in February and CoVid had not been reported at the time of booking, again the use of sanitiser and washing ones hands were all that was required, but on 14th March Turkey announced that they were closing borders which was also shortly repeated

by Qatar also stating that their borders would close on 15th March. Turkey also stated that the import of pets into the country was suspended with immediate effect.

The collection of our pets from Doha was the main reason for our visit so one can imagine our concerns and disappointments. We had to leave our pets with our son and he still has them in Doha with no end in sight to the ban on transferring them to Turkey. We were able to clear Doha on the last Turkish Airlines flight out of the country and arrived back in the morning of 15th March with a requirement to enter into voluntary quarantine for 14 days.

4

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

Forms had to be completed and handed in giving details of where we had visited during the previous 30 days and our address and contact details together with those of a third party. The form was handed in at immigration passport control in Istanbul.

And so, my isolation commenced the following day on 16th March and continues with no sign yet of let up (this is being written towards the end of May).

During the 2nd week of the voluntary isolation the Turkish Government announced that all Turkish citizens and residents of 65 years and older together with persons having chronic illnesses had been designated an ‘at risk’ group and were to place themselves under ‘lockdown’ until further notice. I fall into this ‘at risk’ group due to my age. My wife does not as she is younger than I.

5

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

6

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

7

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

At the same time, the children, teens and young adults up to 20 years old were also to be placed into lockdown, again until further notice and this continues as I write this just as the Eid Al Fitr holidays are about to commence. Turkey enforces these requirements with heavy fines for being outside one’s home of up to 3200/- Turkish Lira (TL) (approx. £460 at the time of the original announcement) and have issued countless fines across the country since late March.

My neighbour was fined 700TL for walking her dog during April. She had walked some 200 metres from her home before being stopped by the police who then took photographs and followed her back to her house before issuing the fine.

To reinforce the lockdown the country has also had mandatory curfews, we are in one of those as I write, this one lasting four days. During a curfew, which in the latest one applies to the entire country, only persons having essential jobs are allowed to be outside of their properties.

Again, the police enforce the curfews, with both fines and potential prison sentences for the worse offenders breaking the curfew repeatedly.

There has been some recent relief for myself and others in the 65+ age group as we have been allowed to take a walk locally to our properties on the last two Sundays for four hours each day and tomorrow (24th May) is also available for walking for up to six hours of freedom whilst everyone else is under the curfew.

8

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

9

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

10

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

11

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

12

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

13

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

14

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

15

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

16

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

17

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

18

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

19

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

20

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

21

John Pattison Lockdown in Turkey

On the 27th May I was expecting the lockdown on myself and others in my age group to be lifted but the Government has not officially issued a statement confirming this and have instead stated that after the Eid holidays lifting of the lockdown will be discussed for my age group.

Watch this space for a future update!

Photography, has been a saviour to my sanity during this time within the limits of location and confinement during the lockdown and I have taken the opportunity to experiment with some genres and techniques that I have previously not had the time to try. These have included studio lighting, I am lucky to have a dedicated room that I have set up as a home studio, which was not the case before moving to our home in Turkey. This has allowed me to take self portraits with and without gels.

Also, I have taken some landscape images and various photographs of flora and some fauna around our garden, abstracts, and some closeup images. Tried out focus stacking too, with mixed results so still must perfect that. I have blown the dust off a couple of my old DSLR cameras too (Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro and Canon EOS 7D) as well as using a couple of my Fuji X – series cameras and my iPhone.

So, in conclusion, I hope that all of you reading this continue to stay safe and well and enjoy the the selection of images.

22

Notes to the Images

Page 15: “A Turkish Frog” 21st April iPhone 11s “Posing (Sparrow)”. 1st May iPhone XS Max 1/125, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 16 “Wildlife Visits - Sparrow” 2nd May We have had many wildlife visitors during the lockdown. Canon EOS 7D, Canon EF-s 18-135 mm 1/60, f14, 135 mm, ISO 100 “Snail Shell” 26th May Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR, Sigma 105mm f2.8 Macro 1/4, f/ 9, 105 mm, ISO 100

Clockwise from top left unless stated

Page 16: (T) “Mountains and Snow” 11th April The distant mountains still had snow coverage back in April and it only finally cleared the last remnants from the sheltered valleys on 22nd May following a heavy thunderstorm rain fall. Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR, Sigma 150-500 mm. 1/125, f8, 500 mm, ISO 100 (Hand held with IS activated on the lens) (BR) “Moon, Mercury and Venus” 24th May The astronomy event of the month was the near alignment of Mercury and Venus with the Moon. Had to try to get this one. Took several images and this was the best of the lot, but Venus was about to drop below the mountain.

Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF 18-55 mm f/2.8-4.0 R IS. 1/200, f4.5, 55mm, ISO 6400 (BL) “Weather” 22nd May The mountains that surround the valley in which the village is situated attract ever changing weather patterns.

Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF18-55mm R LM IS. 1/250, f6.4, 55mm, ISO 200

COVER: “Village Kindergarten Art” 10th May An image of the Kindergarten building in the village of Yesiluzumlu. Phone XS Max 1/3200, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25 Page 2: “Guess!” A close-up shot of inside a light modifier in my home studio. 1st April Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR, Sigma 105 mm f2.8 Macro. Lighting – Speedlight. 1/160, f8, 105 mm, ISO 100 Page 4: “I want to go out”. 4th May Iphone XS Max - 1/80, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 125 Page 5: “Anna and Vase” 27th March. iPhone XS Max - 1/40, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 500.

“Elsa” 24th April iPhone XS Max - 1/60, f1.8, 4.25mm, ISO 320.

“Elsa Reflection”. Elsa prefers to drink flowing water from the kitchen sink faucet. This is a shot of her reflected in the faucet. 25th April iPhone XS Max 1/200, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25.

Page 17: “Tractor and Trailer” 10th May One does not have to walk far from the village to be in open countryside and farms (small holdings) This scene was shot less than a Kilometre from my home. iPhone XS Max 1/500, 2.4, 6mm, ISO 16 “Village Kindergarten Art” 10th May An image of the Kindergarten building in the village of Yesiluzumlu. iPhone XS Max 1/3200, f1.8, 4.25mm, ISO 25 “Under the Clouds” 2nd May iPhone XS Max 1/2500, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 16 “Dilapidated” 10th May The village of Yesiluzumlu – This is a shot taken on my first walk outside the boundaries of my home. Many of the village buildings are in a state of disrepair. The Turkish residents do not have a great deal of money although many are land rich and cultivate the land in some form. Buildings are a low priority for them. iPhone XS Max 1/1600, f1.8, 4.25mm, ISO 25

Page 6: “Field of Poppies” 10th May. The first day that I was allowed to go out of my home for a local walk. Day 56 into Lockdown. Only allowed out between 12.00 noon and 3.00 pm on the day. This was the Turkish governments first relaxation of lockdown and curfew for those of us in the ’65 + age group’. IPhone XS Max 1/500, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 16.

“Wild Poppy in the Garden” 5th May iPhone XS Max 1/80, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 16 Page 7: “The Busy Bee” 17th May iPhone XS Max 1/125, f1.8, 4.25 mm. ISO 64 Page 8: “Variegated Rose”. 5th May iPhone XS Max 1/400, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25 Page 9: (TL) “About to Bloom” 5th May iPhone XS Max 1/320, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25 Page 9: (TR) “Yellow Roses in full bloom” 5th May iPhone XS Max 1/400, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25 “Untitled” 6th April iPhone XS Max 1/1000, f1.8, 4.25mm, ISO 25 “The Big Yellow” 9th May iPhone XS Max 1/1250, f2.4, 6 mm, ISO16

Page 18: (L) “The Road to Nif” 8th May iPhone XS Max 1/1600, f2.4, 4.6mm, ISO 16 (TR) “Location” 29th May Shows the location of the government station on the mountain (the white dot!) as seen from my garden back wall. Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF35mm f/2. 1/200, f11, 35 mm, ISO 200 (BR) “Top of the Mountain” 4th May This is a image of the government station located at the top of the mountain that overlooks the village. See the Location image for where the station is. Shot was taken from my home shooting through a window. Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR, Sigma 150-500 mm + 1.4 teleconverter 1/125s, f9, 700 mm.

Hand-held with lens image stabilisation activated. ISO 100

Page 10: “Riot of colour and clear mountain top” 10th May iPhone XS Max 1/1600, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25 Page 11: “Ages of Life” Potted flowers - Shasta Daisy Fujifilm X-T1, Fujinon XF 56 mm, f1.2 1/160, f5.6, 56mm, ISO 200

Page 19: “Self Portrait” 1st May. One of many, many self portraits taken during this ‘special’ time. Lighting – Speedlights with gels and modifiers. Fujiflim X-T1, Fujinon XF56mm f1.2 1/160, f8, 56 mm, ISO 200

Page 12: (L) “Blackbird” 23rd March iPhone 11s (R) “Broad Scarlet Dragonfly” 22nd May This critter liked to bask by the side of the swimming pool and followed me around whilst I cleaned the detritus from the pool surface. Came back every day for several days. iPhone XS Max 1/8000, f1.8, 4.25 mm, ISO 25

Page 20: “Inside Upside” 1st April A detail of a silver umbrella reflector light modifier Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro. Lighting – Off camera Speedlight. 1/160, f5.6, 105 mm, ISO 100

Page 13: “Stamens” 26th May A 1:2 Macro image Fujifilm Finepix S5 Pro DSLR, Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro. 1/40, f9, 105 mm, ISO 100

Page 21: “Watch” 4th May An attempt at Focus stacking. Lighting - 2 x speedlights with gel and shoot through umbrella. Fujifilm X-T20, Fujinon XF55-200mm 1/160, f8, 95mm, ISO 200

Page 14: (L) “In the Wild Garden -Viola” 1st May iPhone XS Max 1/125, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 32 (R) “In the Cultivated Garden – Carnations” 1st May iPhone XS Max 1/60, f2.4, 6mm, ISO 16

Page 22: “Omani Perfume Bottle” 6th April Product shot – Lighting 2 x speedlights each with different coloured gels and located in one in a soft box and the other with a shoot through umbrella modifier. Lights positioned either side and slightly in front of the bottle Canon EOS 7D, Canon 24-105L. 1/160, f11, 55mm, ISO 100

23

To view more of our images, learn about the club and for membership information, please visit postalphotoclub.org.uk

Photonews Celebrating the Postal Photographic Club and its Members

Photonews is published four times per year.

All rights reserved. All materials copyright The Postal Photographic Club and/or their respective authors. Any opinion or statement expressed by the author of any article published in this magazine does not necessarily reflect the views of The Postal Photographic Club, the editor or its members.