Tuesday, 31st August 2010 - Photo #243

"Grandads Tomatoes"

Been over to Mum and Dad's today and couldn't believe the amount of tomatoes Dad has in his greenhouse. Kirsten enjoyed helping him to pick them.

Shame this blog doesn't come with smellovision as the smell was really strong - yum.

Monday, 30th August 2010 - Photo #242

"Room for two"

We have been to Elvaston Castle today (Zac's favorite place in the whole world) and they had their Birds of Prey display on. These two really caught my eye as the falcon (tried finding out what sort it is but got some very interesting images when I googled Birds of Prey - phew!) had hopped off his perch onto that of the Barn Owl (that ones easy). I love how they cuddled up to each other and look as though they are trying to hide behind each other.

I had to crop in tightly as the staff have written codes on the floor around each bird - very distracting but I'm sure it helps them out.

Sunday, 29th August 2010 - Photo #241

Nipped to Pride Park this afternoon to have a look at the new statue of Brian Clough and Peter Taylor. Hope went to the match yesterday and said it was really good, I have to agree. It's a great likeness of them both and looks impressive outside the ground.

I struggled a bit with the position of the statue as I wanted to get their faces to show the good likeness but standing back to get them straight on meant getting the distracting background of the stadium too. So I used my zoom lens and stood fairly close. I've chosen this picture with a little bit of the stadium in and the ram. The sky didn't help either as it has been a really grey day. On the way back we passed the statue again and the sky had gone a nice blue, oh well that's life I suppose!!

Saturday, 28th August 2010 - Photo #240

Am I getting obsessed with bees and flowers? I think I might be....... but who can blame me with such lovely colours. Been over to Mum and Dad's and they still have loads of flowers in their garden. Caught this little chap on a mini dahlia (I think they are definitely my favourite flower). Just took it with my normal kit lens and cropped tightly.

Friday, 27th August 2010 - Photo #239

Done a photoshoot for our friends Alison, Blair, Max and Jude. Here is the last shot, I think they are glad it is over!!

Used my studio lights and backdrop and have decided I need a bigger front room, maybe convert the garage into a studio??????........

Carl is going to love that idea.

Thursday, 26th August 2010 - Photo #238

Wet and horrible today so I have only managed to get into our garden, here is a cosmos that is just starting to open it's petals.

Used a shallow depth of field to blur the background and my close up filter - still thinking about that macro lens................

Wednesday, 25th August 2010 - Photo #237

On our way back from Whitby we decided to spend the day at Scarborough. The girls loved the fair and the amusements! Here they are on the Twister, I was torn between a slow shutter speed to catch the effect of movement or a really quick one to freeze the action and catch their expressions. Glad I chose the latter as I like their faces on this one. I love fairs, being from Ilkeston where they have the largest street fair in the UK might have something to do with it, they are so colourful and exciting.

Tuesday, 24th August 2010 - Photo #236

Thought I would try a panorama of the Abbey, we walked around it and saw the fantastic views of the harbour and the town below.

Took Zac on the beach which he loved, although he drank far too much sea water and upset his tummy (that's all I'll say on the subject). Here he is after a wave caught him off guard, Mum caught it on video and the poor devil got soaked!

Monday, 23rd August 2010 - Photo #235

Sorry there has been no blog for the past few days, we have been to Whitby for my Dad's 70th birthday. There were lots of photo opportunities and I took advantage of them. Monday was the worst day weather wise and we had to dodge the rain to make the best of the Regatta as it finished that day. One thing we noticed was the amount of seagulls (probably due to the amount of fishing boats in the Harbour). This one was particularly noisy, I think it is a young one, due to the brown feathers.

Sunday, 22nd August 2010 - Photo #234

"I'm on top of the world"

Here is Kirsten on the trampoline, I've cropped in really tightly as the netting around the trampoline has a rather unsightly bungee wrapped around it and it looked awful.

I love her smile on this one. The sun was quite bright and I have turned it black and white to make it more "high key".

The only trouble with photographing people on a trampoline with a net is you have to actually get on the trampoline too and end up all over the place!!

Saturday, 21st August 2010 - Photo #233

Meet Eggbert my mini whisk, I love his face!

Used a shallow depth of field to get some bokeh in the background - really shouldn't have blogged kitchen utensils, I'm waiting for my tea and am so hungry, this is making it worse!

Friday, 20th August 2010 - Photo #232

"Urban Beauty"

Went into town today to see "Toy Story 3", it was great and I must admit I shed a tear (why do Disney films always make me cry?) On the way back to the car park I noticed the large obelisks that are made from some sort of shrubs (don't think it's box or conifers, looks like some kind of succulent) and the lovely hanging baskets. I quite like the contrast of the metal and the foliage/flowers.

Thursday, 19th August 2010 - Photo #231

Been to Nottingham today with Mum and the girls shopping and saw The Beach that they have made on the Market Square. Here is the swing ride which I have shot using a slower shutter speed to try and catch some movement. I like how the two kids are trying to hold hands, I don't think they were scared though.

Ended up in Waterstones looking at photography books and could have bought loads but my poor old bookcase wont stand anymore I'm afraid!

Wednesday, 18th August 2010 - Photo #230

Well I had to really, didn't I? Zac has got a little sore patch on his paw and keeps licking it. We are bathing it in salt water and have some cream from the Vet but to try and stop him licking it anymore and avoid an Elizabethan Collar (like last time, my shins are still sore from him banging into them) we have bought him a bootie!! It's quite trendy and looks more like a trainer than a baby's bootie but he keeps it on better than one of Kirsten's old Bratz socks.

Used my 50mm lens and tried to get some angles in to make the picture a bit different. Here he is in his favourite spot watching Pixie and being very jealous as the girls were fussing her and not him.

Tuesday, 17th August 2010 - Photo #229

I saw these faces on a Derby pavement a while ago and for the life of me couldn't remember where they were. I have found out since that they are on Friar Gate, so today Hope and I tore ourselves away from the shops and set off to find them. They are by Derbyshire artist, Timothy Clapcott and represent the 1821 Reform Bill which caused crowds to riot in Derby.

The plaques are called Signing Hands and mark where the old School for the Deaf used to be on Friar Gate. They were installed in 2000 along the National Cycle Network.

Imagine my disgust when we got there are a good half of the stone faces are smashed, it is such a shame as they are lovely (if a little bit grotesque). I love funny faces, sculptures and a bit of history so they are my cup of tea, shame not everybody feels the same way.

I took this one too, with a slower shutter speed to catch the traffic and show that nobody really takes the time to look at these pieces of art. Had to play around as it was quite sunny and too long a shutter speed let far too much light in and burnt out the image.

Monday, 16th August 2010 - Photo #228

Unfortunately, a flower has dropped off a plant that I have been bought for my birthday (thanks Angie and Jamie) so I have put it to good use instead of just throwing it away.

I took this on the patio table in the sunshine with my close up filter on. I've tried playing with the saturation, shadows, black and white etc but I think 'eau naturalle' looks best!

Sunday, 15th August 2010 - Photo #227

Sorry it's another insect but who could resist this beauty, even if he is on a dead leaf! Started to worry that he was dead as he never moved but luckily he flew off as soon as I had finished. I think it is a dragonfly and not a damselfly but I could be wrong.

Used my close up filter to get him but am thinking a macro lens would be much better (wrote that for Carl's benefit - sssshhh don't tell him!!)

Saturday, 14th August 2010 - Photo #226

Went down to Second Chance Rescue Centre's Fun Day today and luckily we avoided the rain. We mooched around the car boot and tombola stalls and tore ourselves away from the dogs, especially the puppies and kittens that need good homes. Zac wanted to bring a sheep home and nearly pulled Carl's arm out of the socket trying to get to them.

We also met this little fellow which I believe is a forest/shield bug. I did get a slightly closer picture of him but I like the angle of this one better and trust me he aint that pretty that you need to see him too close up (sorry Mr Bug).

Friday, 13th August 2010 - Photo #225

Only just realised it is Friday the 13th and as it is my Dad's 70th birthday today and my birthday tomorrow I should have twigged before now. But luckily we have had no bad luck just a lovely day, shopping for my pressie (might have to be a Macro lens - ssshhhh!) and going out with family for my Dad's birthday. He isn't too chuffed at being 70 but I love this photo of him and think he looks not a day over 69!

Took my flashgun to the restaurant as I wanted to practise with it and must admit it works a treat in low light situations and gives a lovely natural look.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY DAD x

Thursday, 12th August 2010 - Photo #224

"Please don't leave me again!"

Couldn't resist this quick snap of Zac looking very sorry for himself whilst we were having tea. We fetched him back from the kennels today and he hasn't left our sides since.

Here is one from the Red Arrow's show that I have found whilst going through my photos. I would like to have you believe that it was my lightning reflex that caught the shot but actually it was a complete fluke!!!

"The New Recruit"

Wednesday, 11th August 2010 - Photo 223

Panorama of Sandbanks

Another lovely sunny day so went to Knoll Beach which is on the way to Sandbanks which is about the most expensive place in England to live. You can see Sandbanks in the centre of this panorama in the distance. This is taken from the hill next to the camp site that we stopped at.

I've stitched this together using Arc Soft Panomaker 5 which is a great bit of software and I have it on trial for 15 days so expect some more panos!!

Tuesday, 10th August 2010 - Photo #222

Not such a good day today weather wise so we decided to go to Portsmouth and take a look around the Historic Dockyards. We really enjoyed it and got to look around HMS Warrior and, of course, HMS Victory which was Nelson's flagship at the battle of Trafalgar where he lost his life. This photo is on the engine deck of HMS Warrior and I have chosen it as I like the lighting. I knocked off flash and upped my ISO slightly (which has caused a bit of grain), I like the symmetry of it too.

Monday, 9th August 2010 - Photo 221

This globe is at Durlston, just next to Swanage and we walked round the cliffs to get to it. It is a massive sculpture with compass points and loads of information on the movements of the earth and sun etc. The weather was just getting windy and wet so didn't take too many photos to avoid camera getting damp.

I like this one with the sea behind the globe and have darkened it slightly to bring out the markings on the globe.