Whipping up a good time
I love the smell of leather… don’t you?
I suppose not everyone would, but to me leather has a rich, wonderful aroma that means saddles and bridles and horses and FUN.
Now, if you have been reading here a little while, you will know that whips and whip-cracking are a new sport regularly taken on by the inhabitants and visitors to Granite Glen. The kiddos love it – and watching these diminutive whip-wielders break the speed of sound with their chosen weapons is quite amazing.
And in turn, Dash and Violet were gobsmacked recently (at the opening of the RM Williams Learning Centre) to see this young man REALLY show us how it was done…
He even whipped a piece of grass from his mother’s mouth during the demonstration.
Not sure I am ready to trust Dash with THAT kind of task just yet. Definintely not ready for some bush ‘plastic surgery’ on my nose!
After the ceremony and entertainment was over, we wandered around the stalls of bush-related goods for sale, and found the kids all milling around a amazing guy (who just happens to be the father of the young man above, I believe).
Want to see what he was doing that had our youngsters so entranced?
He was crafting…
With the help of some EXTREMELY sharp implements…
Whips!
I love this series of photos…
For the photo nerds out there, the ‘clear series’ of images were mostly taken at around:
| Exposure | 0.008 sec (1/125) |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/5.6 |
| Focal Length | 200 mm |
| Exposure Bias | 0 EV |
| Flash | No Flash |
While the ‘blurry’ shots are taken:
| Exposure | 0.1 sec (1/10) |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/16.0 |
| Focal Length | 200 mm |
| Exposure Bias | 0 EV |
| Flash | No Flash |
| Exposure | 0.067 sec (1/15) |
|---|---|
| Aperture | f/16.0 |
| Focal Length | 200 mm |
| Exposure Bias | 0 EV |
| Flash | No Flash |
I adore the blurry slow-shutter action of these shots, but they might make you a bit queasy if you look at them too long!
Also not keen on the hideous orange chair behind either… but at least it provided a blank background of sorts!
It was much better when our craftsman sat down and got serious…
Notice the really shallow depth of field (bokeh or blurriness of most of the shot)… I also love the texture of the hands working so hard and surely, and the long thumbnail. Not sure if whipmakers need thumbnails like guitar players seem to? Interesting…
So… are you a whips and leather lover?
Keep it clean, people….
🙂
BB
15 Comments
Kelly
My older brothers had one for awhile. They got a little too close to me with it (surely not on purpose?!)and it got confiscated! Then there was the Christmas they received small cattle prods. (there had been dog attacks while riding their bikes) Yes…I was too great a temptation and those got taken away, too!
Kelly´s last blog post ..Soil and Soul
Redneck Mommy
My dad can handle a leather whip like no one’s business. Which, you know, is slightly disturbing and I really don’t want to think about what he does with that skill. Heh.
Great photography by the way!!
Redneck Mommy´s last blog post ..Television and Tampons- A Bad Mix
Leenie
Great set of photos, BB. I love the detail and color in the hands and leather. I agree the smell of leather is a wonderful scent. Horse tack, boots and jackets. And whips. Thanks for the view of the big day.
Leenie´s last blog post ..EXPRESSIONISM ON THE DINING ROOM TABLE-OR- WHY MY REFRIGERATOR IS NAKED
Catch the Kids
Great photos! I love the skill involved with bush crafts. particularly the traditional ones. The most amazing objects were made out of virtually nothing. I always get a little teary when I think of horses and leather as I am reminded of my Grandad. He was a drover along with his Dad and loved horses. He could crack a whip too if I remember correctly, but we kids were never allowed to try for fear we’d take each others heads off.
Catch the Kids´s last blog post ..On Back-To-Front and Up-Side-Down
Ness at Drovers Run
Leather is one of my top three smells! Along with freshly brewed coffee and vanilla!
Ness at Drovers Run´s last blog post ..Stationary Stationery and Weather
JENNY TALIA
Despite popular opinion (helloo BushBabe!)
I am NOT a fan of leather. Pants, whips…any of it
Rubber & latex?
That’s a different story!
My fave smell continues to be my girls, when they’re fresh out of the bath! x
JENNY TALIA´s last blog post ..fuck it up friday 8
Amanda
I love whip cracking too 🙂
Amanda´s last blog post ..Dear Darl- it’s November 4
debby
I thought of you yesterday while I was at work. A woman came in and bought a whip. I happened to remember that the last time I saw her, she was buying…a whip. So I commented on that. Her response? Her husband was just pushing the cart up. “That’s how I keep him in line,” she said. I laughed and commented that he seemed fairly easy going. Her response? Yes. Because she had already worn a whip out on him. Now all she had to do was show it to him, and he shaped right up.
Her whip was just a puny little riding quirt. Nothing like you’ve got there. As soon as I saw the pictures, even half a world away, I straightened right up.
Nice pictures of the whip maker.
debby´s last blog post ..Busy Day at the Tractor Supply
Lydia
My 3 favorite smells in the world:
1. Gun cleaner — my dad was always cleaning guns.
2. Leather — grandpa took us out riding.
3. Coffee — need I explain that one?
Great post BB!
mary
Texas. Cattle ranches. Bull whips. My mother used to be able to weld one of these with so much skill she could take a cigarette out of my dad’s mouth; or knock the leaves, one by one, off a branch my dad would hold out for her. When we moved to the city, they would occasionally stage demonstrations in the driveway, much to the delight of the neighborhood kids.
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Donna Gunn
I too love the smell of leather but my favorite smell is horses, can’t get enough of the smell of horses.
Donna Gunn´s last blog post ..Catching Up!
Gem
I love watching whip cracking! Have never got to see one being crafted though – that surely would have been awesome. Did you get my email about the calendar? Perhaps I will drop you another.
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Leonie
I love the series of photo’s making that whip, just can’t get over the hands – oh the stories they could tell!
UtahZen
Gorgeous images. I love hard working hands. And i love the smell of leather. Nothing better than walking into a tack room. Warm leather and horse.
UtahZen´s last blog post ..Pretty much the worst wound ever
Henna
I like this whip cracking. lovely image. i also love smell of leather.