Chelsea Vs Middlesborough

Boy oh boy, were we lucky! Sometimes, you come away from a game, thinking at least we won, so I suppose that I should be grateful for the three points we got today.

The game started of so encouraging, with some really fast play. Thanks to Ricardo Carvaliho scoring after 5 minutes, it was nice to see the early play count for something. The play immediately after the goal was very good, and I thought, this game might end up with us scoring four. However we seemed to lose our way. I sometimes wonder how this change. At the time some of the Middlesborough players were arguing with each other, and I did see the odd head drop, but as the game went on, they obviously thought they had a chance.

What seemed to change the game was when Carlo Cudichini rushed out to intercept a ball, but missed. Thankfully the attacking player missed an open goal and hit the post. The woodwork also came to our aid on two further occasions, as it appeared that we held on to a one nil win.

Making Money

I've decided to try and earn some money from my photography. I already have a iStockphoto account, and now, I've opened an on-line gallery on Photobox: Gary Etchell Photography.

The idea is to eventually have my own domain, and use Photobox services to do the printing and money collection for me.

The first job is to upload some pictures to the on-line gallery. I have a rough idea of the pictures I would like to put up for sale, but I think this might be an ongoing process.

Natural History Museum

I had forgotten that today was my work's camera club outing. Luckily I had my Panasonic point and shoot with me. So armed with that, I joined Ann and Anna for a walk to the Natural History Museum.

The architecture of this building is amazing. Built in 1880 and built in a Romanesque style, the building has stood the test of time. You just cannot imagine a building being built today with such a high specification.

I have visited this museum many times, and there is so much detail I have never noticed before. For example the columns are all different and have different designs on them:


On this visit we only had time to explore the main entrance hall, and that kept me occupied for an hour.

Personal Best

When I got off the train at Dagenham Heathway, I just couldn't believe the clock said "18:02". This was my quickest journey home from work, and the first time I've experienced a journey less than the advertised average time!!!

Easter Monday

This is one of the first times I think I have experienced all four seasons in one day. The plan was to meet Anna and go for a day out with our cameras.

I met Anna during a snow shower, and we decided that we should still keep to our plan. The plan was to head for London's South Bank, and walk along the Thames, starting at London Bridge, and finishing at Westminster. There were plenty of opportunities to stop for refreshments and to shelter from the changeable weather.

My favourite stop was at "The Gourmet Pizza Company". The atmosphere at this restaurant was very relaxed, and the pizza was one of the best I've ever had. I had an Italian Sausage one, and every mouthful had a different taste combination. It's making me hungry thinking about it now!

Despite the weather, I managed to capture some good shots, and this is my favourite of the day:


The reason, why I was so pleased with this picture, was because it's the first time I think I have been brave enough to attempt a form of street photography.

I'm not too sure how often the book market is open, but it fun browsing here. We spent a good 10 minutes or so looking at a children's "Learn German" book. I was so tempted to buy it.

Chelsea Vs Arsenal

I’m not too sure how this game came across on TV, but this was one of the most exciting games I have seen for a long while. There is a lot of bad blood between these two teams, but somehow, the referee Mark Clattenburg, managed to keep the game from turning into a bad tempered affair.

Also, this game once again proved how fickle football fans can be. Until the 73rd minute, people were calling for Dider Drogba to be taken off. Comments like “he doesn’t want to be here”, “look at his body language”, “he’s not even running” rang out around the stadium. However, on the 73rd minute, Drogba silenced his critics by scoring Chelsea’s equaliser. I don’t think Chelsea really deserved to be behind. Arsenal played lots of pretty football, which they famed know for, but apart from maybe one or two chances, they weren’t really hurting us.

Nine minutes after scoring, Drogba put the ball in the net again to become the fans hero. All the negative comments heard for over an hour earlier had gone, and Chelsea were on their way to a very important win over Arsenal.

So with the final score Chelsea 2 Arsenal 1, we leap-frog above Arsenal to second place, but are still 2 wins behind Manchester United. They still have to come to our ground, but we need them to slip up elsewhere, which on the form they are showing, looks very unlikely. However, as someone once said, “football is a funny old game”, so you never know what might happen.

New Camera: One Week On

I’m loving my new camera. Although I still have to make time to read the manual. However, so far I have found all the buttons very intuitive. I also find the camera very comfortable to hold. I think the grip is more pronounced on the 400D than on the Olympus E-500. I have yet to take many pictures with the camera, but so far I am pleased with the results. This, so far is my favourite, and all I had to do with this on the PC was crop it:

This afternoon's lunchtime walk took me to Albert Bridge. This is one of my favourite bridges across the Thames. There is a plaque on the bridge that suggests that it was opened in 1874:


However, all my research on the internet suggests the bridge was opened a year earlier. I wonder why there's a discrepancy?

The bridge was commissioned in 1842, and a design by Rowland M Ordish was started in 1864. Ordish also designed a similar bridge in Prague.

From the start, Albert Bridge has been underthreat. The sign at the ends of the bridge, has a warning that was placed to stop the bridge wobbling:


Today, there are speed and weight restrictions in place, but that isn't enough to stpp the biggest threat. Apparently dogs are urinating on the bridge's iron supports, which is causing the wood underneath to rot.

Pictures taken during the day do not do the bridge justice, so one clear evening, I will have to return with a tripod for my camera.

New Camera

I made the switch from Olympus to Canon. I have always had Olympus cameras, so when it came to updating to a dSLR, choosing the Olympus E-500 seemed a natural choice.

I really do love the camera, but have found the choice of lenses to be inhibiting. Also the cost of the lenses are extremely high. I have been thinking for a little while now about making the jump, and a couple of pieces fell into place this last week.

Firstly, the price. Canon, have just brought out a new model, the 450d. This meant the 400d, which I had my eye on, came down in price. The only real difference I could see between the two cameras was the number of mega pixels. I think the 10mp on the older version is more than adequate for my needs.

Secondly, and not a sensible reason, I got offered a full-time contract at the Royal Marsden, and thought I should treat myself to a new toy!!

Here is the first picture taken with my new camera:

Terracotta Army

What an interesting exhibition this was. I must admit up until now, I had not been too interested in Chinese culture and history. However, this has really sparked something in my mind.

Maybe, it's the vast scale in which the First Emperor of the united China creates his death tomb. Off course this was because he thought he was immortal, and would rule forever. The Terracotta Army was created to protect him as he ruled from the after-life.

The detail is also amazing. Every face is different, and although, when we think of this army, we forget, that they made grooms for the horses, government officials to keep them in check, and sportsmen and musicians to keep everyone entertained.

Although the British Museum only had around a dozen figures, it was enough to get some idea of what you could see in China.

It's quite unbelievable, that the discovery of the army was not made until 1974. Also, as yet, they have not opened the Emperor’s tomb. This is not too surprising, as it is believed to be booby-trapped. However you are left wondering what treasures are buried with him.

Chelsea Vs Derby

Everyone seemed a little disappointed after our weekend exit from the FA Cup against Barnsley. Its been great being a Chelsea fan over the last few years. We have had so much success, that it is hard to accept that we lost, and even harder when it was against a team from a lower division.

From the start, a lot of people were on our manager's case. Avram Grant is not the most popular of appointments, but I find it hard to boo one of our own, especially during the game.

Thankfully, by the end of the first half, with us leading Derby 2-0, people seemed to come round. In the second half, the goals kept coming, with Frank Lampard scoring four. After 70 minutes, the score was 6-1, and now with four attacking players on, I was expecting more. So its rather sad to report, that leaving the Stadium at the end of the game, I was a little disappointed. I'm sure we could have scored a lot more.

Chelsea Vs Olympiacos

This was the second leg of the last 16 round of the Champions League. Olympiakos are the Greek Champions, and a fortnight ago the teams met for the first leg in what was a freezing Athens. That game ended 0-0, and the Greek team didn't look like easy pushovers as everyone expected.

Due to UEFA needs, we couldn't sit in our usual seats. In the end, we had to make do with seats in the forth row, right by one of the corner flags. I was really excited about sitting so close to the action. I wanted to take a camera, and decided to take my point and shoot.

Being so close to the action, also meant that I was able to see what the professional photographers get up to. I have often thought being a sports photographer would be a dream job. When you look at the gear they have, I should imagine that it must be a fun job. I know, I was only armed with a point and shoot, but it was enough to realise that working a Chelsea game would be beyond me.......I get far too excited to capture a moment!!!


As for the game, the speed of the game appeared to be so much faster at ground level. You also got to see all the bumping and pushing that goes on.

Within five minutes, Chelsea were one up, thanks to a headed goal by Micheal Ballack from a Frank Lampard cross. Chelsea, started fast and furious, and the Greek team seemed unable to cope. The post was hit, an open goal was missed before Ballack hit a powerful shot that the goal keeper couldn't hold, and spilt to give Lampard an easy tap in to make it two nil at half time.

The second half started very much like the first half, and within five minutes we were rewarded with a corner right by us. We're not normally very good from corners, so it was a surprise to see the ball end up in the back of the net. From where I was sitting one of three Chelsea player's could have scored, and it was Solomon Kalou, who made it three nil.

This is how the game ended. It could have been a bigger score, but it was enough to see Chelsea into the quarter finals for the forth time in five years.

Trumpton in London?

This afternoon’s lunchtime stroll saw me on, what I thought might have been the set for the 1960’s children’s TV show Trumpton.


I keep on finding these little surprises, tucked around the back streets of Chelsea. You can actually see the start of this street from the King’s Road, but standing here, you do feel another World away.

Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year

Last night I paid a visit to the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year Exhibition. This takes place every year at the Natural History Museum in London.

I was impressed with the vast majority of pictures, but my favourites, were the ones where you thought that you may have been able to be in a position to take such a picture. This one, I think was my favourite.

I just loved the way the photographs were displayed as well. They seemed to be printed on acetate and lit from behind on giant light boxes.