I had had the camera out today as I try to work my way around learning how to use it properly and get the best images possible. I had a practise session booked with myself at lunch time so went ahead despite the weather being atrocious, which sadly it has been all week. Not at all ideal conditions for taking photo's as natural light always wins over artificial despite using two daylight lamps.
The mini came free with on of the Perry Miniatures Plastic Mahdist Ansar boxed sets if you buy three in one go, which did of course did. It's a fantastic model which captures the spirit of Burnaby with his old Victorian prejudices, military zeal and righteousness which accompanied any British military expedition in the latter half of the nineteenth century. I popped a couple of dead Beja Ansar on the base to make it look the part.
Fred Burnaby gained notoriety for a number of reasons, many stunts and the fact that he was finally finished off at Abu Klea in the Sudan as he hastily broke ranks in the square only to be run through in the neck by a Mahdist spear.
He was no hero in the modern sense of the word. But a Victorian hero he was (at least to the literate among the British public).
So, it is now back to speed painting Beja for me.
