Another trip up Blackpool tower.

Hello, id like to share some images from another trip working up Blackpool's tower, repairing the illumination lighting at great height. 

Arrived to site early and so I walked the long way there. Was surprised to see early morning council worker cleaning the front. 

Ropes set, and decent underway. Always told "don't look down" but you have to in this game. 

Today repairs ongoing to the heart light. 

Sophisticated control gear, power the lighting on the Tower, helps it to change colour and be programmable.

A spectator while working at height. 

Thanks for viewing.

Lee

Offshore rope access technicians.

Hello, 

Today id like to show some of the IRATA rope access technicians that were involved in the decommissioning of the BP Miller. 

Welding on dead weight supports to the risers. 

Rope access welder cutting a riser. 

Long tiring climb back up. 

Rope techs at height happy in their work. 

BP Miller, breaking containment

Hello, 

Today id like to show some images of large task involved when safely decommissioning an oil and gas rig. The task is called breaking containment. 

Where pipework has to be cut or flanges opened, we have to prove what was inside the pipe work previously, to ensure that it is safe via a gas test.

To prove that the pipe is safe to cut a gas test is required.  As the pipework has not yet been proven safe, all this is conducted under full breathing apparatus to protect the technicians drilling into the pipes from hazardous substances. 

BP Miller decommissioning Scaffolder.

The offshore scaffolder. 

They put up and take down scaffolding that allow offshore workers to reach higher levels during construction, decommissioning, maintenance or cleaning tasks.

Offshore standby vessel.

In the UK oil and gas industry, it is a requirement for a standby vessel to be present. These vessels primarily cover helicopter operations and if any work has to be conducted where there is a potential to fail to sea. (known as outboard work). These vessels sit there, day in day out, no matter the weather they provide us with emergency cover and would spring to life and help rescue if the unlikely event ever arose. 

BP Miller oil and gas installation Helideck.

Today id like to show a few single images. In recent times the Civil aviation has instructed for all UK oil and gas installations to install specific lighting set up on their helidecks, if they require flights in the hours of darkness.

The illuminated helideck against a North Sea sunset makes for quite an interesting image. 

Thanks

Lee

Fire team emergency response exercise.

Hello, 

Following on from last weeks post, today we see the Emergency response team practicing if there was an emergency inside the accommodation. 

Above is the fire team leader, his role here is directing his fire team, maintaining communications between his team, and the platform control room. 

The O.I.M setting the scene, and briefing the emergency fire team.  

For exercise - there has been indication of smoke inside the accommodation. 

Fire team leader, briefing his team on a suspected accommodation fire indicated on the panel. 

Fire team, updating the leader with information. 

Fire team, practicing safe fire door drills. 

O.I.M and his Deputy, reading through the Emergency response plan.

O.I.M updating the platform personnel, on the situation. The deputy O.I.M calling the coast guard, for exercise purposes informing them of our drill, and establishing helicopter response times.

The scribe, updates relevant information, like wind direction and sea conditions incase we needed to evacuate. 

Highest point in the north sea.

The BP Miller, has the tallest flare stack in the North Sea, at 162m high, 

(4m taller than Blackpool tower)

Caught our breath back, after a lung busted 15 ladder climb. 

Image of the Brae Bravo platform, from the top of BP Miller flare. 

Crane operator, working the supply vessel.

Hello, 

Today ill like to show how an oil rig offloads new supplies, which range from equipment, tools and most importantly food! 

While it is down to the crane operator to offload the containers from the supply vessel, it is all orchestrated by the offshore materials coordinator. 

The materials controller duties:

• Arranging for the despatch and delivery of materials and goods

• Making sure that materials and equipment have the necessary certification.

• Ensuring that relevant stores are aware of deliveries and that they allocate space for goods on arrival.

• Chasing up suppliers to ensure goods and materials are delivered on time to meet business needs.

• Maintaining the materials management system.

• Preparing reports on materials receipt and delivery and on the performance of suppliers

• Acting as a focal point for suppliers and internal departments for questions about materials scheduling, problems, and the like.

Norwegian supply vessel crew, unhooking the containers. 

Offshore, oil and gas rig catering crew.

Today we meet, the small team involved in feeding and looking after all 80 workers, on a North Sea oil and gas platform. 

These guys do a fantastic job, with such a small team in cleaning, preparing meals and trying to keep moral high for a large crew of guys. Who are working hard in all weathers, away from home for long periods, missing their families.

It is un-measurable their involvement, but any rig worker will tell you, that a clean accommodation and a good hearty meal, makes for a happy crew. 

Roast beef, and Yorkshire puddings... must be Sunday! 

Thanks

Lee

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Offshore - O.I.M

The Petrofac O.I.M for the BP Miller decommissioning project.  

The Offshore Installation Manager (OIM) is the most senior manager of an offshore platform operating on the UKCS.

Many offshore operators have adopted this UK offshore management model and title and applied it to their operations in all global regions irrespective of the local regulations in force.

In the UK the individual must be officially registered as an OIM with the Offshore Safety Division of the Health and Safety Executive and the OIM is responsible for the health, welfare and safety of the personnel on board the installation, whether a drilling rig, production platform or a support vessel (e.g. a flotel).

Thanks

Lee

Please SUBSCRIBE for updates. 

North sea oil and gas rig.

Hello, long time no see...

Well... Hello, its been a while. 

Lets catch up, 

Most will know, that my day job is working in the oil and gas industry.

Since January i have been involved with the decommissioning of a north sea oil and gas rig, called the BP Miller. 

The picture taking had to take a back seat. The next post will explain in more detail what the project entails. 

But stick around, i have uploaded lots of content which will be coming out on a weekly basis, a new post every Sunday. 

So please subscribe, and follow the story and images of life offshore in the oil and gas industry on a decommissioning project. 

Thanks

Lee

Architectural detail.

Nikon D800 f10 60sec ISO100 24-70mm@38mm

Good morning, 

Here is an abstract image of some architecture detail taken in London's moreLondon area. 

I hope that you enjoy. 

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks

First infrared image. London.

Nikon D800 f11 120sec iso200 24-70mm@36mm

Morning, 

Thought i would share this image of the Shard building with you. This is a first for me, using an Infrared filter. I ended up purchasing a Hoya R72 filter and am quite enjoying the outcomes. 

There are somethings i need to take into account, the flaring is becoming an issue and the lens hotspot. But with more practice I'm sure ill find a decent work around. 

I am not posting just yet on how i processed this, with this being my first, id like to shoot a lot more and so have a greater understanding of how they react under different lighting circumstances. 

Once i am happy ill write a post on what photoshop process i go through. 

In the mean time i hope that you enjoy this image, 

If you would like to purchase the filter that i used, i would be grateful f you use the following link, it will not cost you anymore, but i get a few pence to help feed my family :)

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Hoya 58mm Infrared R72 Filter

£38.50

Hoya

Buy on Amazon

Thanks

Tower Bridge, London

Nikon D800 f11 13sec ISO100 24-70mm@45mm

Another image of the World famous Tower Bridge in London on the River Thames. Taken at 04:24hrs with a prominent Moon showing. 

Tower Bridge (built 1886–1894) is a combined bascule and suspension bridge in London, England which crosses the River Thames. It is close to the Tower of London, from which it takes its name, and has become an iconic symbol of London.

The bridge consists of two bridge towers tied together at the upper level by two horizontal walkways, designed to withstand the horizontal tensional forces exerted by the suspended sections of the bridge on the landward sides of the towers. The vertical components of the forces in the suspended sections and the vertical reactions of the two walkways are carried by the two robust towers. The bascule pivots and operating machinery are housed in the base of each tower. The bridge's present colour scheme dates from 1977, when it was painted red, white and blue for Queen Elizabeth II's Silver Jubilee. Originally it was painted a mid greenish-blue colour.

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks

London Eye, South Bank river Thames, London.

Nikon D800 f8 30sec ISO100 24-70mm@28mm

An image of the London Eye. 

The London Eye is a giant Ferris wheel on the South Bank of the River Thames in London. Also know as the Millennium Wheel, its office name was originally published as the British Airways London Eye, Then the Merlin Entertainments London Eye, then the EDF Energy London Eye. Since Mid-Jan 2015, it has been known in branding as the Coca-Cola London Eye, following an agreement signed in Sep 2014.

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks

Big Ben on the river Thames, London

Nikon D800 f13 5min ISO100 70-200mm@100mm

Morning, 

Following on from yesterdays post, this image was taken at 05:20am (the official sunrise time.) As you can see it was an overcast murky looking morning. But there is something i like about this print, the colour tones are what we normally see on a day to day basis. 

This sums up what i love about Landscape/cityscape photography, where it is a gamble. I edge my bets by checking weather reports the night before, i turn up at the location at least an hour prior to sunrise, but you just never know how it will turn out. Some mornings fog comes in and you see nothing, or its overcast and the sun doesn't even make an appearance. 

Not all was wasted though as while i am trying to make portfolio pieces, i am also shooting with the intention to create stock images. An image like this has more financial value as stock than an art worked piece with a dramatic sky. 

Big Ben is the nickname for the Great Bell of the clock at the north end of the Palace of Westminster in London, and often extended to refer to the clock and the clock tower.

The tower is officially known as the Elizabeth Tower, renamed as such to celebrate the Diamond Jubilee of Elizabeth II (prior to being renamed in 2012 it was known as simply "Clock Tower"). The tower holds the second largest four-faced chiming clock in the world (Minneapolis City Hall being the first). The tower was completed in 1858 and had its 150th anniversary on 31 May 2009, during which celebratory events took place. 

The tower has become one of the most prominent symbols of the United Kingdom and is often in the establishing shot of films set in London.

Please feel free to share this post on your social media, giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com

Thanks

Two weeks of London in colour.

Hi, and welcome to the new blog format. 

I thought that id kick things off with over the next two weeks ill be posting an image a day of London. I hope you like them, and please feel free to share these on your social media sites giving credit to the photographer Lee Ramsden www.leeramsden.com, and add the URL http://leeramsden.com/blog to your RSS readers. 

Many thanks.

Nikon D800 F11 15seconds 24/70mm@24mm