Tuesday 28 September 2010
Crichton Castle Midlothian Scotland
From the West there came haunting melodies. Not fairy tunes from fey folk, rather the sounds of wedding celebrations from Borthwick Castle which stands just close by. After an unplanned slide, or two down the defensive dykes it was time to call it a night, a magical night full bright wonders at the head of the River Tyne.
The ruins here are rather glorious. They are situated 2 miles South of Pathhead and two miles East of Gorebridge in Midlothian, Scotland. Borthwick Castle lies just a mile away to the South-West. Unfortunately there is no access to Borthwick Castle unless you have hired the venue. If you can get to Crichton Castle in the day light then do take a look the remains of the grand interiors now open to the elements.
YouTube film with more pictures
Still images taken from
©2010 PHH Sykes
British Museum September 2010
Day at the Museum suit you? Would you fancy a stroll amongst the antiquities of the Egyptian rooms? Will you take this opportunity to see what I saw when I ventured through the British Museum door?
There is an immense gathering of the arts and crafts of man laid out in the public galleries than span vast ages highlighting our great accomplishments. The skills that went into creating these artefacts has been so treasured that it has fuelled the desire for collection to form this superb display. The works of man are quite outstanding and reveal our continued human passions. The ability to appreciate the diverse cultural wonders of ourselves through the ages in all parts of the world is simply astonishing.
For now I am sharing a little of the treasures that are on display in the Egyptian Sculpture Room (numbered 3) just off the Great Court of The British Museum.
Here is the Flickr collection British Museum
Taken from
I hope that the images share some fantastic foibles and fulfilling fascinations of life with you.
©2010 PHH Sykes
Saturday 18 September 2010
Aleister Crowley Bornless in Edinburgh 2010
The audio track for this film has been given to us for this use by Puck's Portal. The ritual of the Bornles One or the Bornless Rite has been used by many including Alesiter Crowly to bring about changes in perception. John Burns uses his version of the Bornless Rite in A Passion for Evil as a part of his telling the remearkable life story of Alesiter Crowley.
Bornless Rite 6 Sept 2010
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx3txesMbsk
Moreplay info
www.thebeastreturns.com
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Rx3txesMbsk
Moreplay info
www.thebeastreturns.com
Wednesday 15 September 2010
High Visibility Ghost
On the Highways and Byways of Midlothian I can freely daunder safe in the knowledge that my High Visibility Ghost will alert all other users of the known routes and marked tracks to my delicate presence. Just a simple reflective device is all that it takes to get me noticed by oncoming vehicles and quickly retreating road traffic.
This is last of the films shot on 6 September 2010 at remote location about 15 miles south of Edinburgh. There are some further ventures of a similar nature yet to be edited and posted. Do look away until you hear the all clear sounding to ensure you are not affronted by any further disturbing images from the screen of your previously safe pc.
Please note that the sincere thanks of Wyrd Web Wonders go to Gustav Gustafson and to Helga Huffen-Puff. Without her gracious release and his tireless involvement we could not have shot, loaded and broadcast this road safety orientated informational film. This film was shot using road safety ghost devices to ensure that we did not dangerously encroach on the open highway. Do remember to wear your phantom before you enter into photographic endeavours on any all paths, tracks and roadways.
Friday 10 September 2010
Brolly Periscope Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 2010
This completes the last of our brolly related items that we are collectively entitling the Brolletian Trilogy. We have not necessarily saved the best til last, but the subject matter is the highest reaching and most outstanding piece in terms of physical height and actual distance from which it can be perceived. Brolly Periscope was used at this year’s Edinburgh Festival when the crowds filled the High Street. Next year I might take to jauntily fitting a pendant on my periscope to better identify me if the basic brolly idea has taken off and there is tsunami of Brolly Periscopes washing from shore to shore along Edinburgh’s Royal Mile.
In Brolly Periscope we show how the Lowepro The Pro Runner™ 450 AW DSLR backpack with its hideaway tripod mount can be used to create a visual reference point. With a relatively tall brolly and an optional flag or tag you can stand out in the crowd and so not go unnoticed by your vital contacts. With Brolly Periscope you can overcome that overlooked feeling and hear the tension leave the necks of bystanders as they crane skywards to view your Brolly Periscope in action.
Just in case you begin to believe that possessing a Brolly Periscope enables you to safely submerse beneath the waves and travel in the watery midst’s of vast oceans do think on that you only have a periscope in place and that you need to be measured and fitted for a leak proof pressure hull and an effective propulsion system before venturing out into open waters. For the High Street you can safely use Brolly Periscope to mark out your location without resource to costly scent trails and still have a little nautical fun whilst remaining a confirmed landlubber. There is no marine tax, nor necessary observation of strict sea faring rules and regulations when using Brolly Periscope, but it does provide a prominent opening for daring tales of wave bourn action with any old salts you are washed up besides on the turbulent seas of urban crowds.
Yet again you may if you wish look out for an appearance from Tiger the Terror of Temple, but he is not in this film so the credits list him as, “Ginger Delight Tiger the unseen terror of Temple.” It is never a mistake to have an eye at the ready for the Ginger Delight and even a hoary lookout for the Terror of Temple. Sometimes just the idea of being told about the unpresent danger leaves a murky inkling on the mind that seems to tempt, taunt and tease leaving us excitedly un-at-ease. That is how the victims of the Ginger Delight feel just before the wet/dry schnuffle snort reveals that they have been caught.
Please note that the sincere thanks of Wyrd Web Wonders go to Gustav Gustafson and to Helga Huffen-Puff. Without her gracious release and his tireless involvement we could not have shot, loaded and broadcast these brolly related films which we are collectively entitling the Brolletian Trilogy. No canvas over wire items were unduly stretched, nor inappropriately opened during the course of filming these productions. Any vast millions of brilliant bright brand new shiny pennies made from the release of these free to view pictures will result in more brollies been released on to a high street near you.
PHH Sykes
Brolly Snorkel Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 2010
Despite the quirky presentation this is a genuine photographic tip of a helpful advice type nature. There is nothing on sale and this presentation is freely given for further distribution. I cannot even claim to have questioned everyone else both living and dead in order to confirm that this is an original idea. The whole concept of Brolly Snorkel is being released to you by my own ingenium but others could have been using and promoting this technique since brollies and cameras were first integrated in a solution to picture making by photo shooting in unfavourable weather.
Whilst shooting on the Royal Mile in Edinburgh Scotland this year a few people have commented on by technique for staying dry. I would love to offer the perfect all weather photography solution, but instead I am presenting Brolly Snorkel. I do prefer to pronounce it Brolly Schnorkal but no matter how it is sounded it keeps out the rain just the same.
For Brolly Snorkel you will need a brolly and rucksack. There is no need for a snorkel or schnorkal and you can wear trousers, shorts, kilt and/or skirt as suits your dress requirements. My choice of long socks and Fly Agaric styled pants in no way meant to illustrate a recommended clothing code, or optimum use features. As the video demonstrates the simple use of a rucksack to hold a brolly can result in good cover for both the photographer and his light capturing device. Careful attention should be drawn to the Health and Safety issues of this technique. Remember that a loaded brolly is a dangerous weapon and in the hands of people like me it can truly unwittingly become a Health and Safety hazard. Now I cannot be with you to help you make your own risk assessments so you will have to evaluate the potential dangers of the Brolly Snorkel technique for yourself and for those you hope not to come into pointed contact with.
As a gentleman whose lady demands that no hair should be trimmed on my upper head I can faithfully report that Brolly Snorkelling on a regular basis could lead to painful hair loss. The use of Brolly Snorkel has been the occasion for some very nice social interchanges with both groups and individuals at close quarters and more safely at a medium distance. To date I have not elicited a bad reaction through inappropriate use of the Brolly Snorkel and so feel safe to issue this information for public dissemination.
Do enjoy your Brolly Snorkelling and do have a try at the Brolly Schnorkal. Be warned that you snorkel with brollies at your own risk.
You may if you wish look out for an appearance from Tiger the Terror of Temple, but he is not in this film so the credits list him as, “Ginger Delight Tiger the unseen terror of Temple.” It is never a mistake to have an eye at the ready for the Ginger Delight and even a hoary lookout for the Terror of Temple.
Please note that the sincere thanks of Wyrd Web Wonders go to Gustav Gustafson and to Helga Huffen-Puff. Without her gracious release and his tireless involvement we could not have shot, loaded and broadcast these brolly related films which we are collectively entitling the Brolletian Trilogy. No canvas over wire items were unduly stretched, nor inappropriately opened during the course of filming these productions. Any vast millions of brilliant bright brand new shiny pennies made from the release of these free to view pictures will result in more brollies been released on to a high street near you.
PHH Sykes
Wednesday 8 September 2010
Brolly Hook Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 2010
We at Wyrd Web Wonders have been loading quite a quantity of quality images and film footage from the Edinburgh Festival to YouTube so it is only fitting we load some productions of ourselves as a performance art study in response to the performers we have recorded at the Fringe this year. Some of our backroom boys are actually girls and some of our backroom boys think of themselves as girls. The artistic mix of the creative mind goes far beyond the parameters of this brief article. It will not be an article about briefs, although having seen the accompanying film you may think that an article on briefs could be fitting, quite snugly fitting in fact. This short piece gives PHH Sykes a chance to apologise for at least some of his failings and the opportunity to show his face alongside the Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies so that you can see the photographic perpetrator of the Fringe Fancies in the flesh. The downside of the upload is that too much Sykes is not a good thing. The upshot of the download is that you only need watch it once to know that your appetites for the Brolly Hook have been fulfilled at a single sampling of the virtual up and down in a once over of the long haired host, but do listen out for tarmac tickling of the Terror of Temple as Tiger the Ginger Delight traipses along the less well trodden tracks of Midlothian. His wistful look to the distant skyline evokes an atmosphere of longing for shorter productions and fewer supposedly creative pauses spent waffling and waiting around on less than glamorous out of doors sets with a chill wind reaching long cold fingers around preferably fire roasted ginger nuts.
Please note that the sincere thanks of Wyrd Web Wonders go to Gustav Gustafson and to Helga Huffen-Puff. Without her gracious release and his tireless involvement we could not have shot, loaded and broadcast these brolly related films which we are collectively entitling the Brolletian Trilogy. No canvas over wire items were unduly stretched, nor inappropriately opened during the course of filming these productions. Any vast millions of brilliant bright brand new shiny pennies made from the release of these free to view pictures will result in more brollies been released on to a high street near you.
PHH Sykes
Sunday 5 September 2010
Aleister Crowley one man show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe A Passion for Evil by John Burns
A Passion for Evil by John Burns
John Burns has written and stars in A Passion for Evil. This one man play explores the man, the myth and the beastly legend of Aleister Crowley. Love him, leave him, loathe him or lionise him Crowley does have an enduring appeal. His reappearance in Edinburgh in 2010 follows his dramatic persona being given to popular acclaim in 2003 by Periplum Tree. John Burns offers an intense performance that reveals the ritual and the rigmarole of Crowley’s life. If there is way to step inside the consciousness of Aleister Crowley then watching John Burns take on this role may allow the audience to become the Beast. If you decide to take your seat in the auditorium and to take on the challenge of, “Being Aleister Crowley,” then be ready for an eventful inventive ride with the wickedest man stripped bare and ready for action.
More info
PHH Sykes
Saturday 4 September 2010
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 2010 Part VII
So often there are people searching the crowd looking to find someone. Hopefully those faces searching for friendly faces find the people that they were seeking. In Edinburgh during the Festival most of the faces that attract lenses are the ones that are trying to attract audiences. It is good to feature staged poses and set up pictures opportunities to create stunning images. It is also good to capture the candid moment. Yet not to try and grab an unguarded expression or to steal a fleeting look. It is good to make the best of a moment that would otherwise have gone unrecorded. If you can wait for the best light and reach for the right angle then you might just take a picture that will set your subject out beyond the stage and create a scene that really shows a faithful image. If you aim to make something rather special then you can always be happy with having found something a little less looked for, but still worth viewing. These pictures reveal a little of the beauty and the pageantry of Edinburgh, but they are portraits and so they focus on the individual within the crowd. Sometimes the faces within the crowd tell a story more complex than the theme of the event. Hopefully these portraits show the faces that you could meet in Edinburgh in August whether you were carrying a camera or a bunch of flyers.
Friday 3 September 2010
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 2010 Part VI
The Royal Mile runs from Edinburgh Castle to Holyrood Palace and the street performances only take over a short stretch of that route but they do make it the best mile in the world every August. The Fringe Fancies show you a glimpse of the many varied shows that strike a pitch on the Royal Mile. Usually without curtain, stage or backdrop the players gather with a few eye catching props to take on eye watering poses to catch the eye of passers-by. Some players show their skills to advertise their shows and others make the cobbles their theatres. The street performers fill the unassigned rows of their open air theatres drawing in the crowd for their performance. The mélange of acts, the variety of actors and the blend of so many worlds comes together on the streets of Edinburgh to showcase the talents that are treading the boards in theatres all over the city. Also there are those who make their own playhouses maybe with a rope and their whistle as they bring an audience to edge of their cobbled arena to watch and to take part in one of the greatest shows on earth.
Wednesday 1 September 2010
Edinburgh Festival Fringe Fancies 2010 Part V
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