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Posted: Wed Aug 04, 2004 5:09 pm
by 84-1093879891
As some of you already know, I'm hoping to publish a book next year that will feature in depth coverage on the construction of Drives, Pathways and Patios. I've been working on the text for the last few months but now that we've got a bit of decent weather, I need to arrange some original photos to help illustrate the book.

I'm looking for 'action' pictures, which show a particular laying technique being demonstrated, and for before/after shots, which will show just what's possible, as well as give some general design ideas.

If you're a contractor with a nice job lined-up that might be ideal for this purpose, can you let me know? I'm prepared to travel, within reason, and I'll bring some beers with me. Any photos that get used will be fully credited in the book, so, hopefully, you'll pick up a bit of extra work.

Block paving, flags, yorkstone, bitmac, PIC....whatever it is, if you don't mind me coming along with my Box Brownie, can you let me know asap?

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 4:40 am
by LandscapeMann
Hey Tony,
I don't have any action photos. But I am going to take some digital pics of the job I described in my initial post.

I don't want to brag. On second thought? Oh well yes I do. The S curved walk and half round step up, turned very nice. I will send you a pic if you like.
LM

Posted: Sun Aug 08, 2004 8:09 pm
by alan ditchfield
we have more before and after shots than you can shake a straight edge at, but the during pics may be a problem but i will get you some asap or if you need to take them yourself i will let you know where were at as i am a NWer myself.

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:30 am
by 84-1093879891
Photos are always welcome, even if it's only to satisfy my curiosity.

I have a limit on the number of photos that can be used for the book, so I'm looking for very specific images that illustrate a pertinent point. That's why I've been taking piccies at jobs being done by John @ Aintree Paving and Ken @ KGC Paving, so that I can be sure of getting the image(s) I'm looking for. Other photos will be required, so send 'em along and I'll take a look. If they can be used; they will be used, I promise. :)

Alan, let me know the type of job(s) you have in hand and I'll see if it's the sort of thing I need.

For block paving jobs, I'd really like photos of any special design features being fitted - circles being laid, diamonds being inserted, steps being built, that sort of thing, rather than straightforward 'construction' photos, which I think (hope) we have covered now.

I'd like some images of a decorative patio being laid - combinations of blocks and flags would be most welcome, as would anything else that's slightly out of the ordinary.

Fitting a linear channel, a new gully, or any other small drainage works would be useful, and then I need images for PIC, bitmac, plain concrete and any form of sett/cobble paving as it's being installed, what I refer to as 'action' shots.

Basically, if you've a suggestion, let me know, and if it's a possibility, I'll do what I can to 'acquire' the image. :)

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:18 pm
by alan ditchfield
our jobs are mostly indian sandstone paving, chinese granite paving and all brickwork and walling, pretty much any hard landscaping as we work primarily for landscape designers. i will get your address of this site and send you a cd with some piccys so you can see the type of work we do and if you want some action pics then you can email me.

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 9:56 pm
by 100-1093880209
I could supply these.

I am currently working on a job involving some highly detailed block paving work done in a lovely tumbled blue paver.

Does the picture supplier get a mention in the book :)

I can supply many many pictures of all kinds of high quality detail work.

I can take specific photos if the job allows for it and you tell me what you want.

(Edited by dominion at 9:58 pm on Aug. 9, 2004)

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:06 pm
by 84-1093879891
All photos will be credited to those involved in helping produce it. That may be the contractor, the property owner, the manufacturer, all of 'em or none of 'em, but, if someone is due credit, they will receive it.

At the mo', the type of images listed above are most relevant. I may need specific pictures as the project is put together and the text reviewed, but for now, it's a matter of plugging holes with key images of basic 'stages' in the construction process.

Posted: Mon Aug 09, 2004 10:37 pm
by 100-1093880209
Can I take the photos an email them to you? I have a 5 megapixel digital camera which I take on all my jobs?

Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:57 am
by 84-1093879891
Yep - email to info at pavingexpert dot com.

Which 5Mpx camera have you?

Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 5:59 pm
by 100-1093880209
It was purchased from Aldi actually its Branded as "Traveler" but I know its also sold under other brands

http://forums.vnunet.com/thread.jsp?for ... read=30975

Posted: Tue Aug 10, 2004 10:49 pm
by 84-1093879891
I only ask because it was suggested to me by the publisher that I really ought to be using a 5Mpx camera rather than the 3.3Mpx model I currently favour. I was quite taken with the Nikon 5700 and am constantly looking for 'opinions'.

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 9:49 pm
by steve r
Hi Tony
I bought an Olympus 5060 5 mp wide angle camera after around 6 months reasearch reading test reports in mags.
You can also access the reports on line.I found these to be the best.

http://www.dcmag.co.uk/

http://www.dpreview.com/

I have just returned from holiday and used it to take over 200 pics and have still not exhausted the battery.
The picture quality is superb, but I have not tried printing bigger than A4 yet
I also use Adobe photo album and photo shop elements
to store and edit them (not got the hang of them yet).

You must have a lot of pics in stock,what do you use to store and catalogue them all?

The new "Brew Cabin" looks much better than the old version, but what do all these bells and whistles do?
Regards
Steve

Posted: Wed Sep 08, 2004 11:20 pm
by 84-1089053830
I've somewhere around 22,500 photos of paving and drainage in my library at the moment, and it's becoming more and more complex trying to keep them organised and being able to trace a specific image when I need it. I've been using FotoStation for the last couple of years, and it does what I want, but I really do need some way of cross-linking images.

F'rinstance, if a I have a pic of a boot kerb used to edge some luvverly tumbled pavers, do I file that pic under kerbs, under block paver kerbs, under block pavers, or under edgings? Obviously, the key is the labelling facility, and I hadn't realised how much time and effort is needed to create and maintain decent labels. Do you know how difficult it is to come up with a snappy, original title for yet another pic of yorkstone paving?

Thanks for the kind words about the Nu Brew Cabin. I've no idea what most of the bells and whistles do - I'm just glad I stripped out the hooters, klaxons, sirens and flashing lights! The full version of this software runs polls, uses stupid little animations to depict each member, pops up Flash movies about your favourite pet or baseball star, but sadly, it makes a lousy cup of tea.

Bit by bit, I'm in the shed behind the scenes, working through the innards, tidying things up, chucking out the bags of perished cement and dried-up pots of paint, trying to get it to do what's required in the simplest and most efficient manner possible. All these grinning eejits beloww the typing box don't help!

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:15 pm
by steve r
That's a hell of a lot of pics to track.
I had to use Adobe photoshop version 1 as my computer was running Win 98, but as the date format used is the dopey US style I applied an upgrade to allow me to change to the conventional style.
I don't know if it was that upgrade or something else that caused my computer to roll over and play silly beggars.
Any way with a new hard disc Win xp and Phot album 2 installed I can now reload my pics.
I've had a play with it and it seems that you can allocate multiple custom tags to each pic, and sort by tags, date, caption and even by similar colours.
All right so far, will keep you posted.

Regards Steve Rogers

Posted: Sat Oct 23, 2004 3:16 pm
by steve r
That's a hell of a lot of pics to track.
I had to use Adobe photoshop version 1 as my computer was running Win 98, but as the date format used is the dopey US style I applied an upgrade to allow me to change to the conventional style.
I don't know if it was that upgrade or something else that caused my computer to roll over and play silly beggars.
Any way with a new hard disc Win xp and Phot album 2 installed I can now reload my pics.
I've had a play with it and it seems that you can allocate multiple custom tags to each pic, and sort by tags, date, caption and even by similar colours.
All right so far, will keep you posted.

Regards Steve Rogers