Happy Christmas, everyone.

How close?

They shall grow not old, as we that are left grow old.

Age shall not weary them, nor the years condemn.

At the going down of the sun and in the morning,

We will remember them.

(Laurence Binyon)

Out of the hotel room in Manhattan, taken around midnight, 30 second exposure. There was a slight haze and over the length of the exposure this has intensified a bit in the background.
Entered into a Black and White photo competition at a local show and got first place with it.

Very casual...

How is it done? Camera technique, photoshop technique, you tell me!

Had fun experimenting with this though...

Ice ghosts! Messing about with small apertures and a low ISO in a low light situation to give long exposures.

My daughter's violin. Shallow depth of field, just to keep the machine heads in sharp focus.

Just goes to show, having the camera handy at any time sometimes just get's that more elusive shot. Managed to get him, as he nicked a few nuts, before he scampered away.

Despair...






Hope!

The Battle of Treeton, 1642, managed to time shift and get a news photo in the midst of the action.
Cromwell's supporters were well and truly defeated by the gallant men of The Marquis of Newcastle.

Such sad eyes. A street dweller in Manhattan, trying to make a few dollars by doing card tricks on a corner.

Looking across the East River from Manhattan to Brooklyn. About an hour before sunset and some heavy clouds breaking up.

Contrast upped quite a bit and very harshly sharpened to bring out the reflection in the paint of this C3. You can just make me out with the camera.

Walking along the harbour wall at Bridlington and was just drawn to the shapes, couldn't resist taking some shots of the pots all stacked up. Made some great abstract photos.

No idea what it's called, so if you know shout out.
The flower doesn't last very long, and looks really flimsy, but got a nice result.

A weed. Removed before it spread it's cargo, but made a good model.

Saw him just resting, but refused point blank to open out his wings. Which was a shame, as you can just see the bright orange flashes on his upper wings.

One for the neck ache.

Pond skater, obviously trying to get me to fall into the pond. Well, I managed to stay dry, so the camera lives to fight another day.

Old books, the top one from 1904.

Aperture set to f22, giving a 40 second exposure, allowing the candle flame to blur, but enough time to bring out the cover detail on both books.

A friend, close up. Taken with the 35mm macro from about 7 inches away. Brightened slightly and bleached. The lower picture has had a vignette added. Many thanks to the model for her time.

"The Union of South Africa".

Being transported to Barrow Hill for an open weekend. The engine running in reverse, pulling a single carriage.

Red, red wine.

Well, that was fun. Managed to miss the glass completely, but at least didn't get any spilt on the floor.


(Thanks to my son, Adam for helping to set this up)

Simple picture with a simple background.

Blue thistle. Another shot with the 35mm macro. About 5 inch away from the plant. Can see I am going to like this lens.

So, the new lens arrived. Decided to have a mess about with it and see how close I could get. Focuses down to 3 inches from the sensor plane, to give true 1:1 macro.

More practice needed, but first thoughts are good.

Went for a look at Tinsley Locks. There are 10 flights altogether. This is the first flight. The painted graffiti stood out against the black and white of the gate, so just couldn't resist playing with it even more.

A day out in Conisbrough, and a visit to the castle.

Inside the tower and took this of the lower floor stairs. Loved the depth created by the darkness leading round the corner.

Woburn, in the safari park. We missed the fight a few minutes earlier as he forced a younger male to leave his pride. Even though he ended up with an open wound, we could tell he was sat there showing that he "was in charge"

Flash and softbox from the side. Small fill flash on camera, but only on ¼ power and covered with tissue. Tinted in photoshop.

Enjoyed playing around with this and ended up with some harsh results. Pleased with this one.

Well, what can I say, 12:25 today and I was, once again playing with the gear.

Close ups this time..............

Haha, "time"......

Ok, I'll stop now.

Thrybergh Country Park about an hour before sunset. 8mm fisheye lenses can be such fun.

Playing about with some of the toys in Photoshop. Created this harsh image, very reminiscent of posterised 1970's pics.

"OK lads, just spotted another clown with a camera, let's show him how we do things on our pond. Up and under guy's"

"Ha, that's shown him!"

So, probably not my best photo, but with the light against me a bit and just turning round and spotting them, had to take this just for fun.

A glass of wine, stood on a sheet of polished black acrylic. Certainly makes the red stand out.

A day out at Cadwell Park, summer last year. Stood at a 150 mph corner. Some spectacular riding. Enjoyed the view, sounds and thrills.

Definitely plan to go again.

Dry stone walls, what a skill, not something I'm much good at. But looking at them from a low angle can make interesting patterns across fields.

Wish I could build walls like that!

A freezing day out at Castleton, where temperatures never managed to get above zero. Oh well, still managed to get some very pleasing shots, even though my fingers were dropping off. Took this of my son's girlfriend as she struggled to not freeze to death.