Monday, 31st May 2010 - Photo #151

"With this ring......I learn about shadows!"

I've seen a lot of these sort of shots in wedding magazines and decided to give one a go. I had to fiddle with the posititoning of the book under my kitchen lights to get the shadow of the ring to make a heart. A bit of blue tack to keep the ring upright, turned off my flash, used my close up filter and Robert is your mother's brother as they say. I'm afraid the book is Breaking Dawn by Stephanie Meyer (last one in the Twilight series) and not a bible but if you look closely there is a paragraph at the bottom of the right hand page that starts "I love you".

Put a slight soft focus on the edges of the pages just to draw your attention more to the ring as the last judge I saw at Camera Club said the eye will try and read any text on a photograph so try to avoid words/banners etc in your pics. I think seeing the words "I love you" is ok though in this type of shot.

Sunday, 30th May 2010 - Photo #150

Been to Elvaston Castle today to take Zac for a walk. The sun was really bright and I had a play with light and shadows. Alot of pictures that I took turned out over exposed so it was a good opportunity to try different settings. I took a few on auto just to see what settings the camera chose and compared them to mine. Have to say I prefer the auto ones as they were a little darker. I remember Nicky saying at college that a good tip she learned was to under expose a couple of stops. I'm going to try this next time I am out and about.

Saturday, 29th May 2010 - Photo #149

"The Meeting Place"

Late home last night after a full day at London for Linda's birthday. We started early and caught the train from Parkway station (I'll never forget the sparkling birthday cake candle that we thought was going to get us thrown off the train!), onto Portabello Road Market to see the antiques and stalls.

We then went to Harrods and luckily I found a display of three of Marilyn Monroe's gowns designed by Travilla (who made the world famous white dress that blew up when the underground train went past underneath her). That dress wasn't there but the three that were were from Gentlemen Prefer Blondes including the famous gold dress. I was so excited, took loads of pictures but the collage I decided to blog is from St Pancras station and is a sculpture by Paul Day called "The Meeting Place". It is absolutely massive and I felt a bit giddy looking up at the whole of it, around the base is a freize of people meeting. I especially like the one in the left hand corner of the couple who are embracing but she is on her mobile phone over his shoulder!!

After Harrods we saw "The Woman in Black" at the Fortune Theatre in Russell Square. It was great, made me jump a few times and a really good story, well acted too. Last stop was Covent Garden for some more retail therapy.

I love London, I feel excited just getting out of the train station - just wish I knew my way around a bit better.

Friday, 28th May 2010 - Photo #148

A lesson in light tonight, I was trying to get something in the back garden that was nicely lit but there was nothing that caught my eye until I turned around. I noticed Zac's shadow and decided to get us both in the shot, the shape in the middle is the top of a patio chair. I took two shots and by the time I had looked at them on the screen the sun had gone in and there was no more shadows.

If you are wondering what he is waiting for it's abit of carrot!

Thursday, 27th May 2010 - Photo #147

"The Green Man"

Can you spot him? Nipped into town for a few essentials (ie, half an hour running around for things we need and an hour and a half browsing for things we don't!!) Took my camera with me in case of an opportunity and found the Market Hall with a lovely rams head over the doorway that I hadn't noticed before. I took some of the rams head close but I like the shapes of the inside of the market on this one and I couldn't resist turning it black and white apart from the little green man!

Here's the rams head too.

Wednesday, 26th May 2010 - Photo #146

We had a practical session tonight at college and I took along my studio lights to try out some macro shots and portraits. As always time was against us and I think all of us would have happily still been there (it's now 22.40pm!) but I think the lady on reception might have had something to say about it. We all had a try with gerberas, jewellery, perspex, black velvet and a clever pop up tent to stop unwanted reflections. Barry took a portrait of each of us and we ended with a group shot, it's funny how people who love to take pictures hate to be in them!

The picture above was taken using black velvet as a background and the flowers were placed on black perspex to get the reflections. I've darkened it slightly which has lost the centres of the flowers a little. It has definitely wetted my appetite for using my lights not just for portraits.

Here we are in action

Tuesday, 25th May 2010 - Photo #145

Fancied taking a photo of dandelion seed heads today but everywhere I looked they had either been mown over or blown away. Found two over the road and carefully brought them back! Used Carl's glass chess board as a base and placed it in the window for some natural light. Although I have turned it black and white there wasn't alot of colour in the picture anyway. Tried increasing the blacks but somehow softer suited it better.

Should be making the tea and ironing - oh well!!

Monday, 24th May 2010 - Photo #144

I walk past this church twice every day and whenever I pass it I think I'll bring my camera next time. Anyway today I walked down to the church especially to take some pictures but as it was dinnertime nothing exciting was happening with the light. Found these graves being shaded by the trees and once I turned the picture black and white noticed how they stood out against the light.

Still feel very self conscious when taking photos, hopefully that is something I will get over.

Sunday, 23rd May 2010 - Photo #143

"Happy Birthday Celia"

Been to Elvaston Castle this afternoon for our friend, Celia's, birthday. Phil, her husband, surprised her with a new engagement ring to replace hers which had lost a stone. He asked her to renew their vows too and even got down on one knee. Luckily she said yes and the ring fitted!

Must admit I had a tear in my eye!

Saturday, 22nd May 2010 - Photo # 142

Been over to my Sister in Law, Sharron's, today and took this on the way home. I came back on the road which passes Twycross Zoo, found a parking/pull in area and risked life and limb to run over the road and take this. Why are there such beautiful sights from the roadside but never anywhere to park? One view I love is looking down onto Staunton Harold from the Melbourne to Ashby road but parking looks abit dicey and it is on a bend. I won't be beaten though and will try to find someway of getting near enough to take a picture. Watch this space!

Friday, 21st May 2010 - Photo #141

Bit late blogging tonight as it was a Bollywood Night at work. It went really well and the star of the show was the Bollywood dancer called Neesha (hope I've spelt it right). She did a medley of dances for us and then did a workshop where we all joined in and learned the moves.

I've made it black and white as the background has a fire exit sign but didn't want to crop her hand. I love her eye on this.

Thursday, 20th May 2010 - Photo #140

Another one of Hope's creations today! She made marshmallow squares but she melted all of the marshmallows instead of leaving some to put in whole! To save it we added some coconut and I even donated my Willie Harcourt-Couze's chocolate square that I bought from Waitrose in Ashbourne. (The dearest chocolate ever and really bitter but I love his TV programme and curly hair so had to try it!). They are nice now they have chilled properly (they tasted of butter when they were first cooked - yuk). Hope is keeping a record of the recipes she has tried and wanted a photo for her book - happy to oblige.

Wednesday, 19th May 2010 - Photo# 139

This week the rhododendron has flowered and is lovely.

This was an anniversary present from my Mum and Dad who knew I loved them as they remind me of my "Little" Grandma (got two "Grandmas" so I called one "Big Grandma", I blogged her not long ago and one was "Little Grandma" who is sadly no longer with us).

I took a picture of it low down to get the statue in the background. Messed about with cropping but decided to leave this shot as it was.

Tuesday, 18th May 2010 - Photo #138

Fancied trying a panoramic picture today, so took Zac on a walk up towards the A50 and on the way found this field with a good view of Weston and Aston on Trent. Unfortunately, the big dogs down the road that don't like Zac found us too. I was really nervous that they might attack him but all they did was growl abit. So with my hands shaking and heart pumping this is surprisingly sharp. Should of taken the tripod too I suppose. I've darken it slightly as it has been such a bright day (not complaining though, honestly) and was quite light due to the haze. Stitched it together in my Arcsoft Panomaker which I bought myself, I mean bought myself on Carl's behalf, for my birthday. Once you get into photography every birthday/Christmas/occasion becomes an excuse for some retail therapy!

Monday, 17th May 2010 - Photo #137

Bought this back from the festival at the weekend, there was a stall with loads of old coins that have been hand cut to make pendants. This is from New Zealand, I think it is a 10 cent coin and I love the Maori design. Carl thinks it is illegal to deface coins with the Queens head on it but maybe it is only ones in current circulation. Hung it from the gate to get a nice background and used my close up filter.

Sunday, 16th May 2010 - Photo #136

Thought I would make a collage for today's blog of the best bits of the weekend, don't worry some were taken today. We had to meet at dinner time in front of the main stage all wearing false beards (hence the home made beards on an earlier blog). They were trying to break a Guiness World Record for the most beards worn in one place! The 'Moaning Lisa' fancy dress costume was brilliant, although Carl wondered how he would hold his pint.

Yes that is the Cheeky Girls looking very 'cheeky' in their outfits. Right I'm off to tackle the biggest pile of washing ever.

Saturday, 15th May 2010 - Photo #135

After a cold night in a tent with noisy neighbours we got up and had a cooked breakfast (thanks Carl) which set us up for another great day. We found the Angel Garden which was a god send (no pun intended!) for the girls. They had their own clean(ish) toilets that if an adult was caught using got charged £5! Circus toys (diablos, hoops, swinging balls things (don't know the name for them sorry). They loved it and as the site wasn't that big we always knew where they were. In the Angel Garden was some beautiful carved benches with a dragon or pixie on one side and an egg or mushroom on the other holding the seat platform up. Here is one with the dreamcatchers in the background.

More good bands on today, Dr and the Medics, New Model Army, Senser, I got abit carried away when Dr and the Medics were signing cd's etc. Poor old Kirsten had to take this - ok so it's not strictly a photo I took but it reminds me why I love taking photos so much because every time I look at it I will smile to myself at the memory. To me they are priceless.

Friday, 14th May 2010 - Photo #134

Sorry no blog for three days (promise I have still been taking pictures). We have been to the Bearded Theory Festival in Ashbourne, it started Friday night and finished last night (Sunday). The main reason for going was this group, the Wonderstuff, one of my all time favourite bands. They didn't disappoint and time hasn't made me love their old songs any less. Miles Hunt, the singer, said that one of their old albums was released 21 years ago. Trouble is I remember going and buying it as soon as it came out! (Now I feel old). Couldn't resist getting nearer the front for a picture, although I didn't notice the chap in front had such a big hat! This one is fairly clear and I like the lights. The girl on the volin is called Erica Nockalls and looks like a cross between Grace Kelly and Dita Von Teese (ie, she's beautiful), she's teamed up with them for this tour and is great.

Had a hard decision to make this weekend, which camera to take. You were allowed to take DSLRs in with you (at most festivals you need to buy a press pass to be able to take one in) but I decided on my little compact in case of theft or bad weather. This meant the photos suffered slightly but I didn't have to worry about losing my beloved camera. Trouble is with the compact it's quite grainy with no flash but hey ho.

Thursday, 13th May 2010 - Photo #133

Our fence is covered in ivy and a wild sort of clematis which when it flowers is beautiful. I thought I would try and get a wide angle shot to show the display of colour. However, as I got up close to the flowers and buds I noticed the middles and how intricate they are. Took some shots hand held but they weren't quite sharp enough so I got the tripod out and delay-timed the shutter to get it as clear as possible. Also it was a little bit windy so the tripod really helped.

Here is a hand held one, now you can see why it was worth the extra effort.

Wednesday, 12th May 2010 - Photo #132

Ran past these fields last night and made a mental note to go back and try and take some photos, as it's Wednesday (college night) it has been a bit of a rush job. I tried to make a panoramic shot, and took a series of photos moving a little bit at a time between each press of the shutter. However, when I got home I noticed a nasty circle of flare on all of the shots so I need to look into that. Checked my lens and filter and there isn't a mark on them so it must have been the sun.

I like the rape seed flowers but not the smell and the cowslips at the front were a nice contrast, however, the pylons and cables are a real pain. Had to clone a couple of cables out. Oh well.

Tuesday, 11th May 2010 - Photo #131

Saw a picture abit like this a while ago of a pair of children's shoes. Tried it with Kirsten's sparkly pumps. Found it difficult to stop the reflection of the sequins from burning out. Tried under exposing just a little bit and this is the result. I was going to make it black and white but there wasn't enough contrast. I should have done this years ago when the girl's shoes were little as a keepsake but alas I probably didn't have time then! Anyway, they are growing up so fast that I had better start taking lots of the these sorts of photos before it's all high heels and make up!!

Monday, 10th May 2010 - Photo #130

Decided to try and get a picture of Pixie this afternoon, took some through the mesh of her run at first but struggled to focus well on her and not the wire! So got into her run with her, Zac was looking on over the wall getting very jealous and thinking I was mad! Ok so this might not be the best focused/composed etc but I like it, as she just looks so cute!! Liking a photo is important too, isn't it?

Sunday, 9th May 2010 - Photo #129

Right before you all moan, not another flower, this is actually a sculpture. It is at the entrance of the new B & Q in Derby and is a large metal branch complete with leaves and berries. It is straight out of camera (that is how grey the sky was at the time) but I have added the mount to bring out the blue of the metal berries as they are weathering. The base depicts tools alongside plants and nature. I thought at first that it must have some deep meaning, industrial becoming natural but thinking about it, it is probably just showing what B & Q sell!

Saturday, 8th May 2010 - Photo #128

Everybody that knows us knows that Carl is sporting a beard at the moment! Well we all needs beards for something we have got coming up, not going to tell you what just yet though. As they were quite expensive at the fancy dress shop this morning I decided to make my own. £2.90 later and a pattern off the internet and hey presto now we can all look like David Bellamy! I wonder whether Carl will wear a fake beard over the real one?