Work has finally recommenced on the book and other than getting my last lot of amendments and editing signed off, as well as the photo captions, the only thing really holding Volume 1 back are image rights, which I’ll come back to.
Family affairs threw a huge roadblock in the way of progress for a few months, both in spare time, as well as emotionally and sadly my mum won’t get see me in print; she would, I expect, have been proud, even if it didn’t sell a single copy.
Meanwhile, image rights. The big hurdles have now been jumped, with both RAF and RN museums paid for and out of the way, with some common sense finally prevailing, both getting whatever publicity they derive from their aircraft being in a book, but at a price I could afford to pay (whether the book sell enough to get it back is another matter entirely!). So why then is one museum wanting double what the big two cost me for just 3 photos? “Oh we’re a charity” well sorry but most of the other museums are too and and some don’t want a penny for a lot more photos. But for completeness sake, I’ve decided to pay, through gritted teeth, as they have the first built, the only one remaining and the only one on the UK mainland respectively (even if is is bolted to a wall and missing a wing!)
I’ve had much better luck with image rights elsewhere, with two excellent collections happy just to be credited where the photos are from. Both Brooklands Museum and the Yorkshire Air Museum are definitely worth a visit if you’re nearby or want a day out. Brooklands is a bit of a trip from Yorkshire, which is a pity as I’d like more time there, but YAM isn’t an hour or so away and they do night shoots….I’m tempted. Across the Irish Sea, there’s a couple of museums with one aircraft each that I needed photos of. I’m still working on one, but the people at the Ulster Aviation Society have been absolute stars. As I’ve no chance of getting there to shoot the Shorts SB.4 for volume 2, I asked for a few photos to use, especially as the aircraft is currently under renovation so the wings are being rebuilt and also because there’ s not a lot of photos of the thing around in general. A few days later, I’ve a handful of great photos and more to come; I’m going to be spoilt for choice. A courtesy copy of both volumes definitely heading that way!
Once again, there’s been more fun and games on eBay with camera bits, but also on of all places Oxfam’s website! Don’t ask, it was Sunday afternoon and I was bored, but I’ve bought CDs and vinyl from the local one so took a browse. Well what do you know…. seems, I know Olympus cameras better than whoever prices things up in one particular Oxfam store, I also have better eyesight it seems too. Suffice to say they never made an E-P1 in black, just in chrome or white and yes the black paint was peeling off and yes it did say E-P1 on the rather battered box. But if you look on the camera itself, which you couldn’t see in the photos, it does say Olympus Pen E-P2. So now it’s been treated to some TLC, the rapidly peeling black paint has all gone and some nice new leather wraps have arrived from a store in Japan I’ve used before. If ya know ya know.
