Ralph Has The Last Laugh

Apologies for the ‘muddy’ black and white photography here.

Starring: John Oakley, father to Marie my wife, therefore ‘Dad’ to me for ever more (although he’s just six years older than me…). Occasion: John’s 50th birthday (note badges). Location: his parents’ house in Shafton, Barnsley – all of us once again enjoying the good hospitality of Annie and Ralph. Event: watching The Grand National, on Saturday 4th April 2009.

We all had three horses each in the sweepstakes. The mood is good in the room, Ralph’s second horse has just fallen down, and he only has one left in the race … and that’s a 100-1 shot: 

Nikon D300, Nikon 24-70mm f 2.8 lens at 24mm, 1/60 sec at f 8, ISO 200, hand held with Nikon SB-800 flash. For some reason, whenever Ralph’s horses fell down, everybody started laughing. You can see Devon thinking: Why is it so much funnier when Ralph’s horses fall over?

The mood grew darker when Ralph’s 100-1 horse somehow made its way to the front of the race: 

 Nikon D300, Nikon 24-70mm f 2.8 lens at 24mm, 1/60 sec at f 8, ISO 200, hand held with Nikon SB-800 flash.

And when it actually won, there was an explosion of joy from one of the room’s occupants: 

Nikon D300, Nikon 24-70mm f 2.8 lens at 24mm, 1/60 sec at f 8, ISO 200, hand held with Nikon SB-800 flash.

Bev, John and Devon were gracious winners: 

Nikon D300, Nikon 24-70mm f 2.8 lens at 24mm, 1/60 sec at f 8, ISO 200, hand held with Nikon SB-800 flash. Well done Ralph, you had the last laugh…