A Grand Day Out..... Photo

Photographer's Note

Yesterday was the best day we have had in southern Scotland this year - warm and with clear skies and beautiful bright sunshine. So what better thing to do than take my little toy out of her wraps in the garage and head off up some deserted roads in the country. A quick check of oil, water and sparking plugs and I was ready to go. Oh, I had to buy some petrol too - just over 15 litres cost me £20 - the same amount would have cost about £0.23 when this car was built - about one hundredth of the cost today.

A bit of research on GoogleEarth had found me a wonderful and almost deserted little glen near Broughton called Glenholm which is home to a couple of farms and also the Glenholm Centre. The road continues a distance of about five miles to the south from Broughton until it eventually peters out at a farm steading in the shadow of Culter Fell: the road is well surfaced but is narrow with passing places. Unfortunately, most of the heath and grassland here has yet to benefit from springtime but a local farmer has told me that in autumn this place is glorious with purple heather - something to which to look forward.

You can see from where I took the picture if you click on Map:[view] but you can also take a little drive along this road if you click here and drag the little yellow man onto the cross.

For those of you who are interested, my little car is a 1935 Austin Ten Lichfield saloon. In the 1930's, Austin was the most successful motor manufacturer in Britain, though he was probably more famous for producing the very small and perky little Seven.

Shot in RAW and converted and edited in PSE6.

Thank you for looking and all comments/critiques/advice are appreciated!

ingvar, annjackman, brech, saxo042, worldcitizen, holmertz, delpeoples, emilbo has marked this note useful

Critiques | Translate

weetrees (159) 2011-03-25 2:28

I love pictures of this your "little toy"
Great composition as ever John
the muted colours all blend well
a wee lead in from the road may have improved it compo marginally mind you but it works well as is
Regards
John

RhodieIke (11752) 2011-03-25 2:47

Hi John, Great photo and super car. Regards Iain.

ingvar (2106) 2011-03-25 3:35

Hello John,

is a nostalgic photo, right.

How could't it be with a protagonist like that!

I like the soft colors, the nature around and depth of the landscape!

Very well done!

Thanks and hope to see you soon!

I.

romanaa (8430) 2011-03-25 4:35

Hello John,

I hope you wear stylish tweed jacket and cap when driving it. it is really lovely and must attract attention of people where ever you go... Lovely brownish picture with nice textures contrasting with the smooth shapes of the oldie.

Best regards

Romana

annjackman (23019) 2011-03-25 7:40

hello John,
Pure nostalgia! My dad had an old Austin Six in the 1950s which I remember travelling in, sometimes quite long distances. I do like this cute little car that you have photographed very well indeed. Rather a small bumper - does it protect much? Good brown tones throughout the picture. A really excellent composition.
Kind Regards, Ann

bartekp (4746) 2011-03-25 15:43

Hi John,

i had got too nice day in Aberdeen, sunny with some clouds...great for photos. Superb toy, nice condition of that.

Very good picture: car is sharp, landscape is great. I like sign, typical for small highland and isles routes.

Have a nice evening

Bartek

chawax (20764) 2011-03-26 6:45

Hi John,
This old car has a lot of charm, it must be very funny tp drive such a car ! I love the typical scottish landscape around.
Regards,
Olivier

saxo042 (38078) 2011-03-27 7:46

Hi John,
This was a very old car even when I was a boy! Now it looks very beautiful here, in this surrounding. A fantastic landscape view behind. My father-in-law (90 years old) still drives his MG Magnette that he bought in 1959 (a 1958 model) and I guess he has the same feelings for his vintage car as you have for this one. A beautiful road, judging from Google street view!
Kind regards
Gunnar

worldcitizen (16048) 2011-03-29 15:06

Hello John,
With no buildings or other cars around, this scene could have been taken in the 1930's, except the quality would not have been nearly as good. :-) I like the bit of landscape in the frame, and I instantly wondered what a "passing place" was, but your note explained it nicely. Nice car, too!!

holmertz (102604) 2011-04-01 12:22

Hello John,
So you are the proud owner of this gem of a car. It is well placed in the scenery and beside the sign showing that the road is wide enought for two cars at this place. The perfect light and sharpness are so good they make the picture look like out of a glitzy magazine for vintage car lovers.
The scenery actually makes me think of eastern Turkey or somewhere in Afghanistan.
Kind regards,
Gert

RGatward (20108) 2011-04-12 23:57

So, not just a train freak then, very nice set up here, with a sign that could pass for any era, not being of the Euro standard type.

BTW more price comparisons would have given you the average price of a house at around £500 1/400 of the current figure, average salary, £200 per year, also about 1/100 of current a pint of beer 2p (5d) about 1/150 current. Even cars seemed to be about the same with an Austin 7 costing around 3/4 of an average salary, about the same as a Mondeo. How come we're all so much richer?

delpeoples (60342) 2011-08-18 5:41

Hi John

After your email on the Austin, I just had to have a wee lookie at your baby. She's lovely and in great nick for a septuagenarian. The lanscape is beautiful and the muted colours are so natural and allow the Austin to stand out - which was obviously your intention. Fantastic shot, and the sign at the side works well, balancing out the image.

Have a good one
Lisa

macjake (98402) 2012-01-25 14:00

Hi John
i didn't know that this was actually your car!
wow...lucky man!
how did you end up becoming the owner of this fine automobile?
yes, i'm a huge lover of cars, trains, planes, anything mechanical.
it would be an honour to ride in this piece of history!
love how the bg colors fit the car.
sweet!
Craig

jadesgran (5433) 2012-02-08 22:04

Hello John
What a surprise I had this morning when I discovered (all by myself!)how to get messages and all kinds of `extras`by searching different avenues and just being inquisitive.Many thanks for your long note I received this morning.I can see why you love your little car, as much as I love my Minolta.Les would love it too!.I think I should be commenting on your picture and not sending a message,but one thing at a time!
I have had Parkinson`s and Osteoporosis for 11 years and had a fractured pelvis that wouldn`t heal.(taken 2 years to mend but am almost there now)Enough of my problems -- Thankyou for your interest.
Best Wishes Gladys

Tigerlily (3381) 2012-05-09 9:46

Oh, what a little beauty! I would love to be your passager:-D, Thank you for the image, John. Hope that she will be with glorious purple heather soon this year.
Take care of you both.:-)

emilbo (22616) 2012-11-11 6:43

Salut John,
Une grande sorti pour ta magnifique voiture, la sortie du dimanche comme on disait quand j'étais jeune. Au prix du gaz aujourd'hui, il vaut mieux ne pas aller trop loin. La photo à été prise dans un bel environnement qui la met bien en valeur.
Félicitations!... et toutes mes amitiés,
Emilius

mkamionka (74311) 2013-02-08 5:13

Hi John,
very tempting. I may plan a trip to Scotland just have a chance to be driven in that toy :)
Passing place? Is it like a place to die?
M

carlo62 (81265) 2014-07-17 22:19

Ciao John
auto fantastica, deve essere un piacere viaggiare con questa auto tra le campagne del tuo paese, una sensazione unica.
Complimenti
Buon we
Carlo