Greyscale

When I was about ten I attended a children's exhibition at Alexandra Palace in London. At one stall you could make your own abstract painting, squeezing some paint on to paper that was spun on a turntable and came out with abstract patterns. I have never had strong fingers, and was concerned I had not applied much paint, but it came out well, with distinct blocks of colour, whereas other children, who had used much more paint, ended up with it all merging into a monochrome blob.

I wondered whether the designer of Kendal Town's kit for their visit to Prescot Cables used a similar process, putting the black and white of their home kit on the turntable and ending up with mid grey. They had a thought for those wearing replica shirts walking or cycling on rural roads by including fluorescent numbers and advertising, ensuring they were visible at night.

Sam Staunton-Turner

I had missed a couple of games, Easter commitments meaning I was unable to travel to South Shields, and the weather enforced change of date at Colwyn Bay clashing with other arrangements. I wondered whether we might need to squeeze this fixture into a rapidly closing window, as it had rained heavily in the morning. A declared crowd of 146 suggested many people came to the same conclusion and stayed indoors to watch Liverpool in European action, and the number who looked to be present suggested that included a few season ticket holders. However, whilst the area around the tunnel was predictably soft, the Gasworks Side was surprisingly firm. The linesmen were on the opposite sides to the usual arrangement: I thought his might be because of the weather, but I think the referee, Mr Buxton, may just prefer that arrangement.

We had matching goalkeepers, which strictly speaking you are not supposed to, but I have never seen both get close enough, even when one goes up for a last minute corner, to make it an issue.

Ben Barnes

Matthew Johnson

Given that, whilst were still in some sort of daylight, the colour of the sky matched the visitors' kit without the bright bits, I knew the light would play havoc with my exposures. There is not much you cannot fix, but it means processing all the images, including the raw conversion, manually.

Reece McNally

This was my first opportunity to see recent signing Morgan Homson-Smith in action.

Morgan Homson-Smith

I occasionally practice rolling into a ball if it looks as though I am about to be between a player and the pitch perimeter, mainly to protect the camera, but also to make sure the player does not collide at full speed with a protruding piece of hard plastic. I thought for a moment I might need to put it into action.

Harry Cain

MJ Monaghan added to the tally of goals he has scored since joining us a few weeks ago.

MJ Monaghan avoids the defender ...

... and the goalkeeper ...

... and celebrates his goal.

The light in the second half was easier to work with, being standard floodlights, and the underlying grey of Kendal's kit was more reflective than I was expecting.

James Edgar

Chris Almond made the result sure with a couple of minutes to go.

Chris Almond

Club Secretary Dan Roberts was celebrating his birthday, so was called upon to present the Man of the Match award to Joe Herbert.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 2 (Monaghan, Almond) Kendal Town 0

Double letters and crown greens

My journey to Prescot Cables' game at Kendal Town was, as expected at this time of year, disrupted by the number of slow moving people out and about. Although my trains were on time, every time I tried to use a few minutes' connection time for a coffee, too many people got in the way, so I did not get one until I arrived in Kendal, by which time I could physically feel the caffeine infusing my brain.

At the ground they had a problem with unwanted double letters.

Mr Photoshop makes it the work of a moment to rectify.

The steward by the gate looked puzzled as I took a picture of the sign. I am not sure why, as it is behaviour he must have seen before: I know half a dozen people off the top of my head who like to do so, particularly if they are visiting a new ground.

I had time to spare of a length that needs an English word (I wonder whether it has one in German), i.e. not quite long enough for a pint, arriving as the players were changing. Our previous visitors from South Shields recommended gloves from Viper Goalkeeping, their local supplier, so I was called upon to catch a couple of shots of Ben Barnes trying the samples in the warm up.

Ben Barnes

Ben was back in action, but looking to wear these leggings to cover stitches from his recent work injury. We made what may have been an error by asking the referee nicely if he could. The Laws state that undershorts must be the same colour as the main colour of the shorts. At this level, where players use their own time and money to purchase such garments, most referees allow a continuation of any colour on the shorts. However, if he had encountered the number of shoppers I had, I can see how a spot of jobsworthery would brighten up his day, so he took a strict interpretation.

There was plenty of room to move behind the goals, so I decided to try out both sides in the first half.

Lloyd Dean

I had got up to cross over when play quickly came towards me, so I took a few shots standing up. Only one made it onto the final collection, but this illustrates perfectly the difference you get with your vantage point being three feet lower - note how much of the background is the pitch.

Chris Almond

The opposite corner gives a lot of sky in the background.

Baba Conteh

I knew Kendal's ground has a slope, which has been handy for photography in the past, but I thought it was a constant gradient. It is only from sitting on the ground that I saw it slopes upwards from the Parkside Road end before sloping down just before the half way line. There is a point at the other end beyond which feet start to disappear.

Joe Herbert

A goal from Lloyd Dean five minutes before the end of the half put us ahead, but the spirited spell from the hosts in response suggested one might not be enough.

The lights at Kendal are quite good, and the cloud had cleared, so I knew the combination would allow me to try out the end at the bottom of the hill before I needed to move to the side. Looking up to the stand gave a good background.

Jordan Southworth

A second goal from Jordan Southworth as I was moving round to the side gave us an extra cushion, which would prove to be necessary ten minutes from time when Kendal pulled a goal back.

This was the first game back for James Edgar, who left us for a while at the beginning of the season to try his luck in Tommy Lawson's stockpile of players at Marine.

James Edgar returns to service

Josh Klein-Davies had come on as a substitute, and took the chance to make a claim for a start with a goal in the last minute.

Josh Klein-Davies shoots for goal

After the game, I stayed at the club until the players got on the coach, and discussed cold places we have been with video analysis student Josh - which in his case seemed to be most places away from his home in the tropics of Wigan, whereas I recalled how cold this fixture was last year. I completed my visit in the Ring O' Bells for their local beers, open fire, and first class entertainment from the regulars in the public bar.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Kendal Town 1 Prescot Cables 3 (Dean, Southworth, Klein-Davies)

A view of Westmorland

I have often heard that the town of Kendal has a picturesque setting. I had never seen it, my previous visits having been in the rain or at night. The forecast for our game at Kendal Town was for bright weather, so I took an early train and went to Windermere. Being unable to see a hill without wondering what is at the top, I walked up to Orrest Head, where the advertised views were most definitely available.

Returning to Kendal, the day was still bright and sunny, but the west of the ground has a stand and a number of trees, so there were plenty of shadows. I usually just need to use the automatic settings on Nikon ViewNX 2 to convert my files from raw to jpeg for processing. I sometimes wonder whether it would be easier to shoot in jpeg and let the camera do the work, but ViewNX 2 makes use of the computer's processing power and not having to deliver a result in a second or so. In some high contrast situations, I need to work on raw files manually, and this time I used the facility for 15 - 20 frames.

Phil Bannister

In some locations, the players cast strong shadows on themselves.

Ben Cartwright

Now that Brian Richardson had seen the squad for training we were expecting a few changes. The only new(ish) face was goalkeeper Phil Priestly, who played in the Liverpool Senior Cup semi final in July, but has been with Skelmersdale United in the meantime.

Phil Priestly

James McCulloch was in midfield, having played in defence so far this season. He has played there before, but has been accustomed to midfield in recent years, and looked particularly effective on this occasion.

James McCulloch

Dominic Marie was on the bench: having joined in pre season, he was making his first competitive appearance.

Dominic Marie

The hosts made the most of the terrain, as you expect the home side to do - I still remember with some bewilderment the Cables manager a few years ago who said our pitch made it difficult to play our preferred game. They got the ball downhill as quickly as possible, endangering our goal, and, even when we cleared, making us tire ourselves chasing it back uphill. It was effective, giving them two goals.

Garry Williams emerged at half time to brief the substitutes that we would attempt the same in the second half - he also briefed me, as he thought it might be good for a few photos. He was right on that, assisted by my taking up position in the bottom corner of the ground, and by the floodlights being switched on during half time.

Jacob Jones

It took longer to work in the footballing sense, with the hosts scoring another before we were able to break our own drought, with Lloyd Dean scoring on 67 minutes.

Lloyd Dean

Despite keeping up the pressure, we were unable to add to this.

It is sometimes said that in this country we do not take cold seriously. I remember a few years ago visiting Helsinki over the second weekend in September: when I arrived on Thursday there were plenty of short sleeves, by Monday everyone was in seriously warm looking coats. Following a mild October, I did not realise how quickly the temperature had dropped, so I was slow to adopt extra layers and gloves. I declined the offer of another lift from the Johnstones, having in mind a pint or two in the Ring O'Bells with their local ales and open fire. I needed it by the time I got there, I had lost feeling to the extent I needed to pick my first pint up from the bar with both hands.

The rest of the pictures can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Kendal Town 3 Prescot Cables 1 (Dean)

Fog bound

There was a sombre start to Prescot Cables' game against Kendal Town in the Integro Doodson Cup last Tuesday. The previous evening, Shaw Lane AFC player Dan Wilkinson collapsed on the pitch during their game at Brighouse Town, and died later in hospital. According to the British Heart Foundation, an average of 12 people under 35 die each week (most in their sleep) from undetected heart conditions. Each is devastating for their families and friends, but even those of us who never met Dan or saw him play will feel affected by his death occurring in our environment, and in this competition. My observance of the minute's silence was also not without a sense of relief that the person standing next to me was still with us - Jack Phillips' brother Anthony making what looks to be a good recovery from sudden life threatening illness earlier in the year.

There had been heavy rain earlier in the evening, with games in the Manchester area, including at Manchester City, having been postponed or abandoned. Looking at the cloud that settled over us, I suspected our game may not survive the weather.

As it was not raining yet, I went to the Gasworks Side. Jack Phillips was brought down on the edge of the area after about 10 minutes, and converted the resulting penalty.

Jack Phillips

The wet weather had brought out the wildlife, even larger than the specimens I have spent 15 years trying to stop flattening themselves under my back door (or teleporting through it) to invade my kitchen.

I am not sure if we have hedgehogs, er, hogging our hedges, but they would have plenty of tasty snacks.

The anticipated rain did not appear, but during the first half the mist was closing in to the extent that I changed my match prediction from abandoned due to rain to the same outcome due to fog.

Michael Simpson

I went back to the Gasworks Side for the second half, pausing for a couple of quick snaps behind the goal.

The visitors may have been used to this - I may have been unlucky on my trips to the Lake District, but mist seems not to be uncommon. In any event they scored twice to secure the tie.

Meanwhile the fog continued to thicken. I cannot remember if the test for visibility is seeing one touchline from the other or both goals from the half way line (the practical distinction is not large), but we were just about keeping within it.

Jonah O'Reilly

When the action came close enough to get a picture through the gloaming, the light reflected from the fog also prompted the camera to select a lower ISO setting than at a normal floodlit game, although I did not take advantage by increasing the shutter speed.

With the fog still closing in (fortunately, even if we had scored an equaliser, the game would have gone to penalties without extra time). I gave up about ten minutes from the end.

Impromptu treatment for cramp

After the game there were presentations for the Rogues & Rascals Barbershop Man of the Match and Warrington Motors Player of the Month awards. The former includes a voucher for a free haircut. Everyone on the field this evening looked tidy, but sometimes it is tempting to give the award to one of the opposition and tell them the barber will stay open to see them as an emergency. As for the Player of the Month, I suspect the sponsors are not quite so generous with free products.

The Rogues & Rascals background board is a bit narrow, so shoulders will be outside in most cases. The Warrington Motors board is wider, so both presenter and recipient can fit in front. That is no guarantee you have checked where they actually are.

James McCulloch receives the Player of the Month award - as shot

The published version - Photoshop is your friend!

There are ways in which defeat in this competition has a sliver lining - Kendal were rewarded with a trip to Workington on a Tuesday night in November, and have slightly more chance of the gate receipts covering everybody's costs than we would have.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on Google Photos here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 1 (Phillips pen) Kendal Town 2.

Value for money - 80p a goal

I did not plan to attend Prescot Cables' game at Kendal Town, as I found the 2211 train from Oxenholme gave a short connection to the last train from Wigan, with the risk of ending up there for the night. However, on the day, I noticed there was also a train at 2203 with a better connection and the option of returning via Warrington if it was delayed. On arrival, I adjourned to the excellent Station Inn. There is a sign outside the station informing passers-by that the pub is less than 3 minutes up the hill. This was fortunate: whilst WhatPub has the correct postcode, its map uses an incorrect latitude and longitude, which would have sent me in the opposite direction.

Only having travelled to the ground through Kendal before, I thought it would be uphill from Oxenholme, but it was the opposite, including a steep stretch just outside the station, meaning it would be uphill coming back.

Once there, I found the floodlights to be excellent. I also now understand the relationship between aperture and ISO in shutter priority mode - if I set the ISO to a lower value than I will encounter in the evening, it will always use the widest aperture attempting to reach it. I was quickly getting some of my crispest evening images of the season.

Joe Nicholson

We have not enjoyed much success at Kendal, and it looked as though this may be no exception when the hosts scored after five minutes. Somehow, the score stayed that way for the first half. The hosts increased their lead with two quick goals early in the second half. Antony Shinks pulled one back on the hour, but it seemed of little effect, as Kendal replied a couple of minutes later.

Antony Shinks

By this time, I was contemplating slipping off a few minutes early to be sure of getting the earlier train. At this point, the fun started. There was little point trying to stop a three goal lead getting any worse, as we have performed well enough not to have one eye to goal difference at the end of the season, so Andy Paxton made a triple substitution, or as close to triple as you can with the bright, shiny new electronic boards, replacing Antony Shinks, Joe Nicholson and Phil Bannister with Joe's brother Josh, Andy Scarisbrick and Charlie Duke.

This had an almost immediate effect, with goals in five minutes from ...

... Joe Evans ...

... Andy Scarisbrick ...

... and James Edgar levelling the scores, and having me checking National Rail Enquiries and Realtime Trains for the progress of the 2211. It is worth keeping an eye on both sites, the former gets its information from the train operators' Darwin system, and the latter from Network Rail's systems, and they do not always agree.

A fifth goal from Kendal seemed to have clinched it, but a final score from Lloyd Dean secured a point, and meant we got a very reasonable 10 goals for our £8 to get in, on a night when the four games in our division produced 32 goals between them.

Lloyd Dean shoots for goal

I think both sides had a player booked in injury time (we certainly did) for delaying the restart of play, a case of taking one for the team, running down the clock - having announced the added time, the referee did not extend it further - and preventing quick free kicks in dangerous positions.

By dint of a sharpish exit at the end of the game and a bit of power walking, I got Mr Google's estimate of 42 minutes to Oxenholme Station down to 24, and caught the 2203.

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen on the club website here, and on Google Photos here.

Final score: Kendal Town 5 Prescot Cables 5 (Shinks, Evans, Scarisbrick, Edgar, Dean)

Shooting raw part 2 - night

You know you have arrived when one of your pictures is on a pump clip! The latest product badged for us by the Melwood Beer Company featured two of our longer standing supporters.

In my previous post, I looked at saving pictures in raw format and processing lighting and exposure on the computer. Whilst I will use this for non sports pictures, I was not yet sure whether the benefit was worth the extra work for sports during the day. However, being used to stretching the best the camera has to offer in low light, I was keen to see the effect at night. With a lack of success in the FA competitions, we have not had many midweek games, so I was fortunate to have a quick opportunity to test with our game at home to Kendal Town.

As in the weekend's game, we started well with an early goal from Lloyd Dean as I was making my way round to the gasworks side.

Lloyd Dean

When I got the pictures home, the first thing I looked at was the white balance. In the shutter priority mode on the camera, I use the auto setting, which under floodlights imparts a slight yellow cast. There is a fluorescent setting, but whilst floodlights are gas discharge lamps, and like a domestic fluorescent light contain mercury, they also contain sodium, which explains the yellow cast. As with the daylight photos, it took a few attempts to get the setting right, but the advantage of a floodlit game is that the lighting is constant throughout.

Danny Flood

The real revelation came with the exposure. Because I use a consumer lens with a small maximum aperture, I have to slightly under expose the image to retain an acceptable shutter speed - 1/200s is the slowest we can get away with, with some movement blur in the players' hands and feet and in the ball.

The lighten shadows function in Photoshop Elements has a tendency to increase noise, particularly light grain on a dark background. Using the exposure function on the raw image allows lightening with much less increase in noise - and for that which remains, the noise reduction function is much more powerful than that on the camera (which should not be a surprise, the computer has more processing power).

Marcus Burgess

Amidst this technical detail, there was a game going on. Kendal equalised after about 20 minutes with a shot that hit the bar and bounced downwards. Observers nearer than me were confident it went in, but Jordan Connerton avoided a Russian linesman moment by putting the rebound in the net.

Rob Doran restored our lead a few minutes later.

Jordan Connerton restored parity for the visitors 20 minutes into the second half, and for the remaining time the spectators were treated to a game with a realistic chance of going either way up to the end, with a draw being a fair result.

We saw the first appearance this season by Antony Shinks, returning a break from playing and some time in the United States.

Antony Shinks

The game was also the 100th appearance by Phil Bannister, who made a welcome return to the club in pre season.

Phil Bannister

The rest of the pictures from the game can be seen here.

Final score: Prescot Cables 2 (Dean, Doran) Kendal Town 2.