This post is REALLY late, but I am trying to catch up now. So, back in November 2007(Yes that really is last year) me and the usual night photographers headed down to the Tipner area of Portsmouth. This is where the Pounds scrap yard is located. Inside the scrap yard in clear view from the M275 is where the two tanks that reside there. They appear to be WWII tank amphibious type craft, although I don’t know the history or uses of them.
After about 20 minutes of scoping out the area and looking for good access points, we headed back and grabbed the cameras from the car which was parked in a nearby car park (more on this later). We did the usual climbing over the fence thing where clothes get ripped and equipment gets damaged. Naturally we made a b-line for the tanks as that is what we went there for! Here are some of the pictures I took:
The cockpit
And again..
See the full set in a slideshow
After and hour or so of shooting, we decided it was a good idea to head off (it was about 2AM at this point) so we spent a good 15 minutes trying to get out, after one of us getting covered in slimy mud everything went OK. After more walking we got back to the car, packed all the equipment away. Everything seemed OK, but then we tried to drive out of the car park, only to find the gate had been well and truly locked. “F**K!!”
Next we all got out the car and started evaluating our options. We could of stayed in the car park until morning, break down the gate or remove fences. We really did not want to do any of this. So we sat there for a while twiddling our thumbs. Many swear words later, we started having a good look around. After heading into some overgrown land which was adjacent to the car park with no barriers inbetween (Apart from some big ass thorn/bramble bushes!) we noticed at the end there was a gate, it was slightly open!
20 minutes go by, and the whole area that was covered in bramble bushes was now almost flat! some serious force on the gate between three of us opened it (just) and we proceeded out of the area. I would love to see the person’s face who saw the car in there and locked it when they returned the next day. They were probably expecting to see us sat in the car. OWNED.
I can’t remember much more than that, I think I took more pictures after that. When I find them, I will post them to flickr, which is causing me problems at the moment. They don’t seem to want my money for a pro account. So a good 2000 images are hidden from public view. I will post about this soon.
Comments
Great photos - I’m a fan of night photography, but don’t quite have the dedication to the cause that you do!
Thanks for your comment Steve. Give it a go, once you have done it once you will want to do more!
Hey Adam,
We have met once before at a model/studio shoot evening at the Solent camera club (clairelkelson - flickr), I’m friends with Diana Goss who I’m sure you know! I’m a photography student and am doing a project on the Harry Pounds scrapyard Do you fancy maybe helping organising a flickr meet down there again some time soon?
Cheers Claire
Claire, certainly. The only problem with doing a group meet at Pounds is access to the scrapyard is not easy and involves a bit of climbing
Let me know
Hmmmmmm I thought that could cause a problem , I went down there yesterday evening, have you seen what else is down there? A little bit further on towards the back of the scrap yard is a massive ship along with loads of 20ft anchors, torpeodos you name it! Made some pretty good pictures in the light but would love to light paint it!
Maybe just get a few people together then, you know who would be interested more than me as I’m still a newbie!
What do you reckon?
Sounds like there is a lot more down there than I knew about! I will speak with some of the regular explorers and see if we can get something set up.
I’ll probably put a thread up in the Portsmouth At Night group to gauge interest. Maybe put a limit on the amount of people who can attend and do it on a first come first served basis.
Yeah sounds like a plan count me in when you thinking of?
Well if we are going to Tipner we would preferably need to be there a good few hours with so much to see. I would say a Friday or Saturday night is best as it could be late.
Yeah definately, I was suprised at how much was there.
I know there is a flickr meet on wednesday this coming week, so how about Friday the following week which would be the 7th March?
Leave your own comment...