Thursday, February 6, 2014

The Rain, The Park and Other Things

Finally things are beginning to cool down here! About time! We've been getting little showers of rain almost ever day and I am just reveling in it. I'm looking very forward to the day when I can start wearing my polo neck sweaters and big fancy coats again!

Lately the boy has been teaching me some photography theory and how to operate his camera. Yesterday I used my newly acquired knowledge and went about the house with the camera taking pictures and experimenting with ISO, aperture and shutter speed. I also did some messing about with the macro lens which was quite fun. After lunch we planned to go to a nearby park with a lake for me to take some more pictures and experiment with different lighting and the macro lens but upon arriving it unfortunately began to rain. Either way, I still learnt a lot from what a did around the house. I have taken pictures here and there on his camera before but I've never operated it manually, and I must say I am very proud of myself. We both agree that I got some pretty good shots for my first attempt. Hopefully I'll be able to share some of them with you soon! Anyway, this is what I wore that day. When I came home my sister said I looked like Abra from "East of Eden". Ha!

In other news! I've been struck with luck yet again!

A few weeks ago the man that sold me these records left me a voice-mail. He said that he would keep an eye out for any early Pink Floyd records and hold them for me if he came across any, particularly their first two LPs with Syd Barrett present, "The Piper at the Gates of Dawn" and "A Saucerful of Secrets". They are really quite hard to find here in Australia, so I was very pleased to discover that he had found this and was keeping it for me!

Pink Floyd's "A Nice Pair" is a compilation album that was first released in 1973 and consists of the band's first two albums. And so, it is exactly what I was looking for! Its release would introduce new Pink Floyd fans at the time to the psychedelic sounds of their earlier period with Syd Barrett. The album art was designed by Hipgnosis, which you may know were responsible for designing many other album covers for Pink Floyd, and consists of unused ideas for past cover art. 


Because this man's record store is quite a few towns away from me I have to set aside time to travel up their and have a visit. I had been quite busy and unable to go up there to buy the record from him, and for a very generous price of only $70.00, and was beginning to feel awful for him holding onto it for so long for me. But kindly whilst the boy was up in there area he picked it up for me and surprised me with it upon seeing me next, also expressing to the seller how thankful I was for him finding and keeping the album for me. Now I am almost there in having all of Pink Floyd's albums in my collection! I know some collectors will not consider this album as enough to cover the first two from 1967 and 1968 but in reality this is the best I can do for now and I am very grateful for it!





I also picked up this LP recently too from a record booth inside one of our local shopping malls whilst waiting to see a movie: "The World of Marianne Faithfull". The man at the booth asked me to mind his store for a little while and for that he kindly gave the record to me for $7.00 instead of $10.00, as well as a lovely compliment, telling me that he thought I looked a lot like Marianne. How nice!


And these here be my latest 45s, some bought from the gentleman who sold me the Pink Floyd album, and some a surprise from my mother. She is always on the lookout for records for my sister and I. 

Has there been anything new that you've tried out lately? Or a new skill that you are interested in learning? I'd love to hear!

Title: "The Rain, The Park and Other Things" - The Cowsills

20 comments:

  1. You're definitely in the Pink, dear Lucy! Seems like every time you or the boy head north, good shopping luck follows along. Looking sixties sensational as you always do, and having such a sweet disposition, you actually make your own luck in a very real sense. Looking your best and being really nice to people causes them to like you and want to help and please you. If everyone cared enough to do what you are doing, we'd have a kinder, friendlier and better world.

    One by one you are finding vinyl treasures and I'm very happy for you because I know the feeling. Along with your Pink Floyd and Marianne albums I see you added some great 45s to your collection including Dylan, Neil Diamond and the one by Tee-Set which I recently loaded into an upcoming post on my blog.

    I'm still finishing my Wednesday and you're halfway through your Thursday already. I hope it's been a fine one for you so far, dear Lucy!

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    1. It does seem like that, doesn't it! That is a really lovely thing to say, thank you very much Shady!
      Yes, I find much joy in collecting records. I am always looking to expand my collection and taste in music. I'm more of an LP lover, but 45s I find are great when I'm on the rush or feel like having a bop to a song or two and play along with my guitar. Enjoy your coming weekend!

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  2. I love record sleeves, they're an art form in themselves. Sometimes we'll buy old vinyl for the cover alone!
    Loving wonderful and loving the new blog header. I'm working out my new camera, might time some time! x

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    1. I really think so too, that they are an art form in themselves. I think beautiful album art just adds to the beauty of the experience of listening to records. You can appreciate it so much more easily on a record sleeve I think than anywhere else. And I don't blame you!
      And thank you Vix!

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  3. That's so nice that the man held onto the records for you. My dad has a lot of Pink Floyd stuff but I'm not sure if he has any of their early records. I love looking at the art work on record sleeves, one maths teacher I had in school used to display his favourites record sleeves on the wall in the classroom!

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    1. Yes, it was very nice of him. He seems to be a very genuine gentleman. I bet your dad has a good record collection! I do too, that is a brilliant idea of your old maths teacher in school - I bet he must have been popular with the students!

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  4. How fun! When I saw the Marianne album I was thinking that you look a lot like her, too!

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    1. Yes, it was lots of fun. Oh why thank you! What a lovely compliment!

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  5. Such a lovely simple outfit! I love photography, I'm a bit of a novice at it and have mostly taught myself over the years but it's amazing the difference that can be made in photographs with just the tiniest bit of know how, and it's always fun to see yourself improve a new skill. I look forward to seeing your photographs!
    How kind of that man to help you find your record. And lucky finds indeed with the 45s!

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    1. Thank you very much! Yes, I am hoping to get them up soon. I am interested in all art forms I have come across, from painting and drawing to sculpting and print making. So of course eventually I wanted to try my hand at photography too. I am hoping to learn a lot more. I enjoyed it a lot.
      Yes, he is a very kind man, and I was very pleased with the 45s!

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  6. That looks like quite the record collection. I picked up a Marianne Faithfull LP the other day although I haven't listened to it in full yet. x

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    1. Thank you! I take a lot of pride in my record collection. What Marianne Faithfull LP was it? She is always good to listen to, easy listening I find and quite relaxing.

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  7. Gosh, those records are gorgeous, as is that outfit! What kind of camera are you using?

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    1. Why thank you very much! The camera I have been using, which is my boyfriend's, is a Cannon EOS 5D. A beast of a camera! With the lens and battery pack attached it is quite heavy, and actually made my arm sore after using it all day!

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  8. What luck! Such a great set of records. I don't think my dad has 'A nice pair' and he is the biggest Floyd fan i know! I have the same Marianne Faithful record too! though the cover on mine is very worn.

    When i was at school we got to go to TAFE and do classes there as one of our units. I did Black and White film photography. We learnt all about aperture and f-stops as well. I have a Holga that i like to play with, but sadly i don't get to do much fancy stuff with cameras anymore. all the technical parts of photography has been replaced with apps!

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    1. Thank you! I imagine that your father has a really great record collection! Wow! It is really nice to listening too. I find it a relaxing LP.
      That is really quite unfortunate - you should really get back into it!

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  9. How lovely of that gentleman to find and save it for you - it really restores your faith in humanity when people are so kind. Good luck with the rest of your Pink Floyd collection, I imagine they're a lot easier to find here in the UK! I'm glad you've been experimenting with your boyfriend's camera too, photography is such a wonderful thing and using manual settings is no easy task. xxx

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    1. Yes, he is a very kind man. Thank you very much! I've got not much left to go now. Yes, I am hoping that I can keeping up with practicing and continue to improve, I am really enjoying it!

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  10. Wow! What awesome luck with those records! I've just starting shooting in all manual mode with my camera. It is tricky at first, but I love being able to control all the elements in my photo. By the way,I nominated you for the Liebster blog award. You can find the questions on my latest blog post :)

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    1. Thank you! Yes, it is tricky isn't it? But I love be able to do that too. I think it makes for a lot more variety in trying to capture an image of something.
      And thank you very much for nominated me for the Liebster Blog Award! I have actually been nominated for another recently, so when I get some time I will make a combined post and answer your questions as well. Thanks again!

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