Barry's Blog

Blog 205

2011-12-10T16:02:00.001Z

Frozen puddles, mother nature's patterns. Photographs taken on Saturday 10th December 2011, Weston on Trent morning walk.

Blog 204

2011-12-10T15:41:00.001Z

Steam power at Ratcliffe-on-Soar power station, Nottinghamshire. Taken at 08:57 Saturday 10th December 20111

Blog 203

2011-12-10T15:36:00.001Z

A new variety added to the Heinz range.

Blog 202

2011-12-03T11:19:00.001Z

Colour, Texture and Forms at Tall Trees Garden Centre Darley Dale, photographs taken Wednesday 30th November 2011. Topaz Adjust 5 using Simplify/Spicify

Blog 201

2011-11-26T11:01:00.001Z

These photographs were taken at Aston Hall Psychiatric Hospital on Friday 25th November 2011, the last patents left in the late 90's and since then the whole site has been subject to mindless vandalism, thieves have stolen much of the ironwork gutters, the downpipes, lighting standards and any copper cabling in roof spaces, along walls and from machinery. In the shot of the large oil engine we can see that the outer casing of the electric generator has been stripped off and stolen, for its copper wire content. And in October 2011 the therapy pool suffered a massive fire which destroyed much of the roof.

Blog 200

2011-11-26T10:20:00.001Z

These autumnal photographs were taken at Carsington Reservoir on Wednesday 23rd November 2011.

Blog 199

2011-11-25T11:43:00.001Z

Foggy Day in the area of Weston on Trent and Aston on Trent, taken on Monday 21st November 2011.

Blog 198

2011-11-25T11:28:00.001Z

Photographs taken in Bakewell, Derbyshire on Saturday 19th November 2011.

Swooping Through

Ancient and Modern

Piano Like

Vibrant Colours

Blog 197

2011-11-18T17:14:00.007Z

Lumsdale Waterfalls, near Matlock, Derbyshire, photographs taken 17th November 2011 at about 08:30.

How does that leaf hang in there on a near vertical rock face.

Blog 196

2011-11-18T17:04:00.008Z

Lumsdale near Matlock, Derbyshire. The mill pond above the waterfalls. Photograph taken on 17th November 2011 at 09:05. The choice is mono or colour.

Blog 195

2011-11-14T11:39:00.005Z

Remember them...
Taken at Aston on Trent Armistice day Parade and Service 13th November 2011

Blog 194

2011-11-10T12:20:00.007Z

A stormy day in Maryport, Cumbria, 26th October 2011

Blog 193

2011-11-10T11:45:00.006Z

Photographs taken at Amble, Northumberland on 16th October 2011

Love the symmetry in this shot

Blog 192

2011-11-06T11:52:00.007Z

Photographs taken at Spittle Beach, Northumberland on 15th October 2011.

Big Sky

Coloured Rocks

Striated patterns left in the sand by the receding tide

Blog 191

2011-11-06T10:46:00.015Z

A selection of images taken on Lindisfarne on 15th October 2011 of the wreck of the boat Magpie.

Blog 190

2011-11-06T10:15:00.015Z

A selection of images taken at Cragside on 14th October 2011, the revolutionary home of Lord Armstrong, Victorian inventor and landscape genius, was a wonder of its age. Built on a rocky crag high above the Debdon Burn, Cragside is crammed with ingenious gadgets and was the first house in the world to be lit by hydroelectricity.
Surrounding the house on all sides is one of the largest rock gardens in Europe. Across the iron bridge, in the formal garden, is the Orchard House, which still produces fresh fruit. The lakeside walks, adventure play area and labyrinth are all good reasons for children to visit Cragside again and again. Website here

Blog 189

2011-11-05T12:07:00.000Z

Fireworks at the Sandiacre Scouts' bonfire party, Saturday 5th November 2011.

Blog 188

2011-10-14T08:24:00.015+01:00

Photographs taken on the Worldwide Photowalk that I led around Derby on 1st October 2011. Eighteen participants took part in the walk. Some of the walker's photographs here.

Blog 187

2011-10-14T08:09:00.009+01:00

Garden predator a Sparrow-hawk, probably with collar dove prey. Photographs taken 1st October 2011 in my garden. Using 55-300 Nikkor lens.

Shaking its head to dislodge feathers

Removing feathers

The prey started to fall off the fence so they both ended on the lawn, the Sparrowhawk eventually flew into a nearby tree to finish the meal.

Blog 186

2011-10-14T07:33:00.004+01:00

Bride and photog Nicky, website here taken on 24th September 2011.

Blog 185

2011-09-27T11:01:00.005+01:00

Pro Photog indeed!!

No Respect for the helping staff, taken at H and I's recent wedding reception venue.

Blog 184

2011-09-04T09:30:00.009+01:00

Photographs from a studio session with the gorgeous Emma, taken on Monday 22nd August. She seemed extremely pleased with the results of the shoot.

The wrist tattoo says: "What goes around comes around"

The status eventually returns to its original value after completing some sort of cycle.

"What Goes Around.../...Comes Around" is also a song by American singer-songwriter Justin Timberlake. Here

Blog 183

2011-08-31T12:35:00.007+01:00

The main well dressing at Taddington, photograph taken 21st August 2011. A three shot vertical panorama.

Blog 182

2011-08-26T11:44:00.012+01:00

Photographs taken at Southwell Minster on Wednesday 17th August 2011.

Blog 181

2011-08-26T09:53:00.012+01:00

Photographs taken on a visit to the Donington Aero Park on Monday 15th August 2011

Vulcan Bomber Nose Cone

Lighting Nose Cone

Tailplane Humour

Rotor against moody sky

Westland Winch

Datum Point

Westland Rivets

Blog 180

2011-08-25T12:21:00.006+01:00

Photographs taken in St Mary's Church, Derby on Friday 5th August 2011. Each image has been processed from nine differently exposed images, processed in Photomatix Pro v4 and finished off in Topaz Detail, to give the images a little bit of detail enhancement.

Blog 179

2011-08-25T11:45:00.008+01:00

Photographs taken during a visit to the Great Central railway, Leicestershire. 3rd August 2011.

Blog 178

2011-08-25T11:28:00.005+01:00

Photographs from a walk with members of Derby City Photographic Club, taken during the evening of Monday 1st August 2011.

Blog 177

2011-08-25T11:01:00.008+01:00

Images from the RHS show at Tatton Park 23rd July 2011

Blog 176

2011-07-20T08:05:00.010+01:00

Living history characters at the Festival of History event at Kelmarsh Hall, Northamptonshire 16/17th July 2011.

Blog 175

2011-07-16T10:38:00.010+01:00

Several members of the very colourful Black Pigs Border Morris, who performed at the Aston on Trent Well dressing Festival over the weekend 9th and 10th July 2011.

Black Pigs Website here

Blog 174

2011-07-16T10:18:00.007+01:00

Aston on Trent Well Dressing Festival 9th and 10th July 2011
This is where a Derbyshire tradition is celebrated and this event raises money this year for the Derbyshire, Leicestershire & Rutland Air Ambulance (DLRAA) & Aston Playground Project. There were live bands, children's entertainment, a fancy dress competition and stalls.

The main well dressing celebrating memories of childhood, the motifs depicting some of the characters from that time in our lives.

This well dressing created by the talented members of the Aston on Trent Women's Institute depicts characters from "The Wizard of Oz"

Luciano Pavarotti is depicted in this well dressing.

Blog 173

2011-07-05T12:33:00.016+01:00

WADDESDON MANOR - NATIONAL TRUST PROPERTY

Photographs taken on Wednesday 29th June 2011, due to a recent theft all photography in the house is forbidden.

Waddesdon Manor was built at the end of the 19th Century (1874-89) by Baron Ferdinand de Rothschild in the style of a French early 16th century château. Baron Ferdinand was an inspired collector and the house was designed to accommodate his fine collection of French 18th century furniture, Sèvres porcelain, English portraits and other exceptional examples of the decorative arts. When Ferdinand died in 1898 he left Waddesdon to his sister, Miss Alice. Upon her death the house passed to James de Rothschild, a cousin from the French arm of the family. James
inherited a substantial part of his father Baron Edmond’s great collection. In 1957, in order to ensure its future in perpetuity, Waddesdon was bequeathed to the National Trust by James de Rothschild, although his widow, Dolly, continued to manage the house until her death in 1988.

The Rothschild family maintains an active interest in the running of Waddesdon through a family charitable trust under the chairmanship of Lord Rothschild. Since taking over responsibility for the Manor sixteen years ago, he has masterminded an extensive programme of building and restoration work.

To strengthen the Collection further a number of works of art have been put on loan by the family. The Manor was closed to the public for almost four years in order for the most disruptive work to take place: It reopened in 1994 but continues to follow an extensive and challenging programme of restoration and development.

Front Elevation

Carving in the Stable Yard at the side of the entrance
(Topaz Simplify)

This carving is a brother/sister to the one above at the other side of the entrance
(Topaz Simplify)

Rear Elevation with Parterre Garden and Fountains

Blog 172

2011-07-03T12:04:00.005+01:00

Burghley House, Stamford, Lincolnshire, one of the largest and grandest houses of the first Elizabethan Age.

Built and mostly designed by William Cecil, Lord High Treasurer to Queen Elizabeth I, between 1555 and 1587, the main part of the House has 35 major rooms on the ground and first floors.

There are more than 80 lesser rooms and numerous halls, corridors, bathrooms and service areas. The lead roof extends to three quarters of an acre.

Blog 171

2011-07-02T21:12:00.005+01:00

Life size bronze statue of horse at Waddesden Manor, Buckinghamshire in the stable courtyard. Mid-late C19, signed 'Sir E J Boehm Bart RA/ C Broad & Son founders London'. Possibly a study for an equestrian portrait of The Duke of Wellington. Horse stands with head & neck arched down, front left foot raised & back right foot slightly raised. Stone plinth with moulded base Grade II listed.

Used Nik Software Bokeh plug-in to separate the statue from its background in the stable yard.

Blog 170

2011-07-02T20:23:00.008+01:00

Several smart items of headgear at the Tutbury Castle Photography day which took place on Sunday 26th June 2011.

Blog 169

2011-06-28T07:36:00.005+01:00

Thistles, seen on a walk alongside the River Trent at Sawley on Wednesday 22nd June 2011.

Blog 168

2011-06-22T08:53:00.009+01:00

These photographs of some of the Scarecrows made by the villager's of Weston on Trent for display over the weekend 11/12th June 2011 for the village "Scarecrow Trail".

Some Like It Hot - Marilyn Monroe

Chitty Chitty Bang Bang

Maid Marian

Dr Foster went to...

Wicked Witch, mirror mirror on the wall who is the fairest of them all?

Eddy the Eagle Edwards - remember him from the 1988 Olympics?

Blog 167

2011-06-20T10:42:00.003+01:00

Castle Howard in Yorkshire, photographs taken 4th June 2011.

This is a six shot panorama photomerged in Adobe Photoshop.

Atlas fountain, no fountains are working at the moment due to the extensive damage caused to the fountains during our last winter.

Another aspect of the Zodiacal Atlas.

Beautiful Peony observed in the walled garden.

Blog 166

2011-06-20T10:41:00.000+01:00

Living history characters from "Operation Tutbury" the photographs were taken 29th May 2011. A small selection from nearly five hundred taken on the day. Joe in the first photograph was one of the organisers.

Blog 165

2011-06-19T16:17:00.006+01:00

Temple of Piety Reflected in Moon Pond - Studley Royal, Yorkshire. A four layer shot taken in this way to be able to remove seven people and a picnic bag that were in the shot. Taken 5th June 2011.

Blog 164

2011-06-19T15:25:00.003+01:00

Beverley Minster, in Beverley, East Riding of Yorkshire is a parish church in the Church of England. It is said to be the largest parish church in the UK. This is a four shot vertical panorama, taken on 1st June 2011.

Blog 163

2011-06-19T12:00:00.005+01:00

Bishop's Palace, York, Bishopthorpe, York, England, this is a seven shot HDRI. Taken 31st May 2011. And is the official residence of the Archbishop of York the present incumbent is John Sentamu.

Blog 162

2011-06-19T11:36:00.008+01:00

A shot of Cauldron Falls at West Burton in the Yorkshire Dales. Taken at ½ second at f16, ISO 200. shot from about 6 metres, the height of the falls approximately 6 metres.

I love the way the shafts of light coming through the trees to the right of the falls obliquely illuminates the water.

Blog 161

2011-06-11T14:03:00.004+01:00

Cygnets at Attenborough Nature reserve Tuesday 7th June 2011.

Blog 160

2011-06-11T13:25:00.007+01:00

These small images doe not do justice to the subject. These poppies are in the oil seed rape fields adjacent to the road between Weston on Trent and Aston on Trent, Derbyshire.

Blog 159

2011-05-31T21:10:00.004+01:00

This is a photograph of the Purpleman of York, for a small consideration he carried out this special pose. He has a website too: here

Blog 158

2011-05-22T22:38:00.004+01:00

A selection of leaves and flowers with water droplets, taken at the Derby Garden Centre on Wednesday 18th May 2011.

Blog 157

2011-05-17T06:44:00.012+01:00

These are my competition images entered in the Derby City Photographic Competition on Monday 16th May 2011.

The first one, entered in the themed competition "Up Close" is a seed head from the plant known by its common name Jack go to bed/sleep at noon, because the flower head closes at noon, or Goatsbeard (Tragopogon pratensis).

It is a ten shot differentially focussed set of images, the sharpest parts blended in Photoshop to give this image. I used Topaz Creative Detail Accent to accentuate the detail and finally used Silver Efex Pro High Structure to convert it to a monochrome image. Scored 16/20.

The second image "So Tired" was taken at Elvington Yorkshire Air Museum at a re-enactment by Battlegroup North, I couldn't resist taking this photograph. Knowing what competition judges are like and mostly their lack of understanding about differential focus, a friend suggested that I sharpen the hands somewhat.

I am glad I did as this image was the winner in the open competition scoring 20/20. The combined scored made me the winner overall in that competition.

Blog 156

2011-05-16T10:45:00.004+01:00

Colourful characters at the Chatsworth International Horse Trials 13th May 2011.

Blog 155

2011-05-15T21:11:00.015+01:00

I took these photographs of this amazing horse whisperer at the Chatsworth International Horse Trial on Friday 13th May 2011.

Jean François Pignon, with his famous grey horses from Calvisson in southern France. His website here

Blog 154

2011-05-09T11:48:00.006+01:00

Items from yesteryear. The first item is that (in)famous carbolic soap. Those who are familiar with it with have their nostrils filled with it's particular smell.

Visit this website, "Bringing History to Life" for more information.

Blog 153

2011-05-09T11:08:00.005+01:00

Some of the characters that I met at the Battlegroup North event at the Yorkshire Air Museum at Elvington on Sunday 8th May 2011. Website here

Blog 152

2011-05-06T11:52:00.010+01:00

These lovely Clematis blooms growing in the garden, unfortunately the label is missing so I cannot name them.
Thank you Janet for providing the name: 'Fairy Blue' (CRYSTAL FOUNTAIN)

Blog 151

2011-05-05T17:49:00.016+01:00

These are a few photographs from a visit to Elvaston Parish Church on Wednesday evening 4th May 2011, with members of Aston on Trent Local History Group.

Dramitically lit organ loft

Musket ball holes in the north wall of the church. Fired by Cromwell's parliamentarians

Carved fronts in the choir stalls

Carved lid of an oak chest

Paneling at the front of the pulpit

Harrington crest on the entrance to a under floor vault

Jane Lady Crawford's vault in the nave

Linenfold carved cupboards in the vestry

On the south side of the chancel is a beautifully-executed recumbent figure, by Westmacott, of Algernon Russell Gayleard Stanhope, who died in 1847, aged nine years.

Blog 150

2011-05-05T17:20:00.018+01:00

A selection of photographs from a visit to Alstonfield and Wolfescote Dale on Tuesday 3rd May 2011.

Blog 149

2011-05-01T21:47:00.011+01:00

I wandered in and around the Highcross shopping mall in Leicester, my project today was to photograph reflections, here is a selection.

Blog 148

2011-05-01T21:06:00.005+01:00

A selection of reflections on the external cladding on the Highcross shopping mall in Leicester.

Blog 147

2011-04-28T08:13:00.012+01:00

I went on a photo walk through Padley Gorge in the Peak District as part of the Peak District Walking Festival, on Wednesday 27th April 2011. Which was led by Chiz Dakin, a member of Derby City Photographic Club, have a look at her website for her photography workshops here.

Many of the photographs were shot using an 8x neutral density filter, thus allowing an exposure of up to 15 seconds in some cases and using an aperture of from f8 to f36.

I have made a colour correction to the images to remove a slight green caste which was created by the sunlight streaming through the new growth of leaves on the trees in the gorge.

Blog 146

2011-04-26T18:20:00.008+01:00

In the May 2011 Derbyshire Life magazine there is an article that has been written about Aston on Trent. In the article it mentions a book, Moments in Time, that I published for the Aston on Trent History Group, the cover is shown below. Website here.

I was asked by the author of the article if I would mind if the magazine used one of my photographs, I agreed and sent the first photograph, shown below, which was cropped as per the second photograph, presumably to fit the available space in the article.

Blog 145

2011-04-25T20:53:00.003+01:00

Some of the headgear being worn at the Crich 1940s Easter weekend 2011.

Blog 144

2011-04-24T10:06:00.011+01:00

I visited Calke Abbey on Saturday 23rd April 2011 and what a gorgeous surprise, Bluebells carpeting the woodland floor in Serpentine Wood.

Wander through them and breathe in deeply to take in the delicate sweet scent.

Apart from cropping and slight adjustments to exposure all of these images are SOOTC, including the last three which involves setting the lowest ISO and the smallest aperture opening and when pressing the shutter whilst moving the camera in a vertical direction.

Blog 143

2011-04-21T06:49:00.008+01:00

A study of water droplets, just a reminder that we haven't seen these conditions for a while.

Blog 142

2011-04-20T10:20:00.007+01:00

A few shots from a walk on Tuesday 19th April 2011 in Longwalk Wood, Weston on Trent.

Blog 141

2011-04-18T07:16:00.008+01:00

Three photographs from the several hundred taken at the Morley, Leeds re-enactment and living history event on Sunday 17th April 2011. The lighting was so harsh most of the time.

Blog 140

2011-04-18T07:11:00.003+01:00

A selection of beautiful tulips, the photographs were taken at Hardwick Hall on Saturday 16th April 2011.

Blog 139

2011-04-11T17:20:00.007+01:00

Magnolias in a local churchyard. I was really lucky with the ladybird as it was only 06:37 and it was quite chilly, so he was moving very slowly.

Blog 138

2011-04-11T12:45:00.011+01:00

During a recent visit to Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire I decided to capture a few details from this magnificent house, designed largely by Robert Adam. Website here

Blog 137

2011-04-11T11:27:00.008+01:00

"Studio Silver Today" – An exhibition of silver by silversmith Theresa Nguyen At Kedleston Hall, Derbyshire. Website here

Saturday March 5 to Saturday October 29, 2011

In addition to the exhibition of her work Theresa has agreed to be “silversmith in residence” at Kedleston. On specified Saturdays throughout the duration of the show she will be present to talk to visitors about her work and demonstrate her skills at a workbench set up within the body of the exhibition.

The Goldsmiths’ Company, which has sponsored the event, has also commissioned Theresa to make a contemporary tumbler, which will be the prize for a competition draw open to all visitors attending the exhibition.

Blog 136

2011-04-07T11:23:00.013+01:00

A few street photographs from a visit to Derby yesterday, all taken with the camera at waist level. A very hit and miss process, great to see what has been captured.

Blog 135

2011-04-07T11:20:00.005+01:00

Colourful Socks in a Derby departmental store.

Blog 134

2011-04-05T12:00:00.018+01:00

A few selected photographs from my recent visit to Laycock Abbey.

The Abbey building, I have used Photomatix Pro to combine five images and tone map them, Ps CS5 used to correct converging verticals.

Entrance gateway. I have again used Photomatix Pro to combine five images and tone map them, then I have used Topaz Simplify to stylise it.

The famous Oriel Window which I have photographed from the outside. A photograph of the inside of this window was the subject of the first paper negative produced by William Henry Fox Talbot in 1835.

A copy of the paper negative it measures approximately 1" across.

Laycock was formerly a nunnery and these cloisters and vaulted roof can be seen within the Abbey buildings.

Oak door coming off the cloisters, toned with Silver Efex Pro, Antique Plate 1 and colour popped for the red ribbon on the keys.

Corridor, I used Photomatix Pro to blend and tone map five images, then Topaz DeNoise to remove some of the noise.

Blog 133

2011-03-30T22:07:00.013+01:00

Went over to Mickleover Meadows, on Wednesday 30th March 2011, to capture the Fritillary's. Common Name: Snake's head fritillary, Genus: Fritillaria, Species: meleagris and the Pussy Willow. I have used Topaz Simplify on the images.

Blog 132

2011-03-29T15:36:00.009+01:00

Polar Panoramics
These are by way of experiments in preparation for the 19th April 2011 Techniques Tuesday meeting at Derby City Photographic Club. A member has indicated that these would be of interest.

They are prepared from a series of hand held photographs taken by rotating one's body through 360°. The total number of photographs taken will depend on the focal length of the lens used and whether the photographs are taken in portrait or landscape mode.

Taken on a very foggy morning. Grange Farm - Weston on Trent, Derbyshire, UK

Weston on Trent, Derbyshire, UK

Weston on Trent - The Green - Weston on Trent, Derbyshire, UK (The Plough Inn has been demolished since the photographs were taken.

Aston on Trent, Derbyshire, UK

Fellbrigg Hall - Nr Norwich, Norfolk, UK

Blog 131

2011-03-29T12:08:00.011+01:00

Just trying my hand at enhancing these foggy morning photographs at la Irene Froy. I attended one of her workshops on Sunday 27th March 2011. I have included the before shots too.

Blog 130

2011-03-26T14:54:00.011Z

Three out of the several types of Heinz cream of tomato soup, the missing one is the organic variety.

This is my favourite soup of all time. I just love the first spoonful and the tangy bite that it has on my tongue.

Long time visitors to my blog may realise that the first image that I posted, see here, was of a single can of this soup with an invitation to visitors to stay a while and share my photographs.

The first image has been squirted through Nik Software Silver Efex Pro, Antique Plate 1.

Blog 129

2011-03-26T14:38:00.010Z

These flowers are Anemone Blanda a very beautiful small flower that seems to come up every year as a single flowering plant, however this year there are two plants, great joy. The size of the flower head is approximately 4cm. When the weather is overcast the flowers stay tightly closed as shown in the second photograph.

Blog 128

2011-03-25T08:25:00.009Z

A few spring flowers seen in a local churchyard. The ladybug wasn't very cooperative. Also the magnolia buds are begining to open.

Blog 127

2011-03-22T06:25:00.014Z

Light Trails
My eldest grandson explained to me how he had recently been out one evening with his group of Explorer Scouts and had stood and watched the traffic on the M1 motorway and because it was slightly foggy he marvelled at how the motorway lights had looked in those conditions.

He asked if we could revisit the observation spot, at Stoney Clouds, Sandiacre, which we did on Sunday 20th March 2011, unfortunately there was not fog or mist to add to the photography. Here are a few of my photographs. It is interesting to see the strobing effect of the motorway lights on the vehicles, look carefully at the logos on the sides of the lorries and it is possible to detect this strobing effect, it appears as multiple changes in light intensity.

Lots of changes in exposure and ISO, from 200 up to 6400, to achieve the results.

Blog 126

2011-03-20T17:30:00.010Z

On 19th March 2011 the moon was in Perigee this is the closest point to the earth and it is in this stage that the moon appears larger. Looking at the moon in the sky without anything to compare it to, you wouldn't notice any size difference. But the difference in size can in fact be quite significant.

This is my two pennyworth, in the second shot the small bright spot to the lower left of the moon is a navigation light on an aircraft. Shot hand held at ISO 2000, 1/1250 @ f5.6.

Blog 125

2011-03-20T17:06:00.012Z

Taken because it is there, Derby Cathedral a five shot vertical panorama.

I saw this paving shimmering in the sunlight outside of the Old Silk Mill in Derby. Used Topaz Adjust to add something to the image.

Original shot below

Blog 124

2011-03-19T10:42:00.008Z

Those lovely people at Paper Spectrum have offered to create a paper profile for the Pinnacle Glossy paper, that I purchased from them a little while ago, for my Canon i9950 printer.

Just off the printer are the two sets of printed patches to be posted to Chris at Paper Spectrum for him to create the ICM paper profile.

OK guys this service is free of charge. Thank you Chris. Their website here, they sell quite a good range of papers and all manner of items for printers.

Blog 123

2011-03-15T12:24:00.007Z

These are a few faces that I photographed at the recent Focus on Imaging show held at the NEC in Birmingham.

Blog 122

2011-03-08T16:20:00.005Z

This was my entry for the Present a Panel competition help at Derby City Photographic Club on Monday 7th march 2011, the panel was held back by judge David Grounds LRPS from Sutton Coldfield and scored a useful 17 points out of 20.

The panel title: I See You.

Blog 121

2011-02-28T16:38:00.005Z

I was commissioned to take photographs of local rock band "Rebel Rousers", a selection will be used as publicity photographs for the group's visit to Osnabruk at the end of May 2011.

Blog 120

2011-02-22T14:28:00.010Z

What do we have here then? In a conversation with my good friend N recently she said that at a local school they had held a jar raffle. I suggested the idea to our local history group committee and they decided to try it.

The idea behind this is that as many members are encouraged to fill a glass jar with anything that might be appealing, then all of the jars are labelled with raffle tickets and the rule tonight will be that you can buy as many raffle tickets as jars you donate.

The great thing about this idea is that everyone wins a prize.

The contribution from here is shown below, so left to right. A skipping rope, hundreds and thousands, metallic balloons, mini marshmallows, party poppers, kids scarf and gloves and another skipping rope. Incidentally the skipping ropes were two for a pound from one of the local Pound shops.

At the meeting last night Tuesday 22nd February forty one jars were donated and a total of £47 was raised from this raffle and everyone who purchased a raffle ticked won a jar.

Some people won back what they donated, I noticed that there was some swapping going on. Excellent result.

Blog 119

2011-02-18T21:45:00.005Z

Went for a stroll into the Dimminsdale Nature Reserve, it is a nature reserve at the southern point of Staunton Harold Reservoir, on the Derbyshire / Leicestershire border and what a feast for the eyes, carpets of Snowdrops.

Website here

Blog 118

2011-02-16T20:05:00.007Z

Taken in a local hotel's foyer, I love the very wide angle and the curves in the blinds at the right. Taken with the 10.5mm Nikkor.

This design reminds me of the Festival of Britain logo of 1951, shown below. I have used a tilt shift effect in Photoshop on this photograph taken with iPhone.

Another highly distorted photograph taken with the 10.5mm Nikkor, taken from about a decimetre away from the headlamp.

Blog 117

2011-02-05T20:47:00.004Z

My attempt at a producing a panel of photographs in the Wellsian way, a visiting speaker to our photographic club recently inspired some of us to produce images taken in this way.

In the images jewellery, handbags, menu, scarves, canopy, lights.

Blog 116

2011-02-05T10:31:00.007Z

The elfin like creature has invaded my space again, first time in a long while. She has changed her epidermis for white spots on a red. Really cool...

Topaz Simplify helped to smooth out the epidermis texture.

Blog 115

2011-02-05T08:17:00.005Z

When I attempted to install Adobe Photoshop CS5 on Thursday 22nd December 2010, the installer got to 11% and stuck. I downloaded the trial as suggested by Adobe, same result. Eventually a second support technician who I spoke to the next day was able to put her finger on the problem and resolved it.

I have been trying to create Photomerged images without success since then, so on 4th February I bit the bullet again and called Adobe technical support. Eventually there was that eureka moment when I was able to successfully create Photomerged panoramic images again. The technician was audibly very happy with a successful result, all down to a malfunctioning preferences file.

The original photographs in the two creations below were taken with the Nikkor 10.5mm lens, in the first image I used 14 Photomerged photographs and in the second 23.

Blog 114

2011-01-30T15:16:00.005Z

I saw this interesting window display at Past Times at the East Midlands Designer Outlet at South Normanton, Derbyshire, on the 29th January 2011.

A small Tiffany style lamp and some lovely soft mauve coloured ladies bags, heart shaped photo frame and heart shaped and large silver jewellery boxes.

iPhoneography!!

Blog 113

2011-01-27T07:19:00.009Z

This lovely beast is being re-homed today, it has been refurbished with a Mushkin Callisto Solid State Drive, Windows 7 Professional. Internally a Core2Quad Q6600 processor running at 2.4GHz, 8MB L2 cache,1066 MHz FSB, 4GB Ram, Abit IP35-PRO - Intel P35 LGA775 motherboard, 3.6TB of storage and 10 USB ports. All housed in an Antec 900 Ultimate case.

Blog 112

2011-01-19T17:49:00.004Z

Weston on Trent evening sky taken at 16:37 hrs on Wednesday 19th January 2011. My favourite colours.

Blog 111

2011-01-19T17:42:00.007Z

A selection of photographs taken this morning at Trent Lock, Derbyshire at just after 09:00 hrs.

Blog 110

2011-01-19T10:51:00.003Z

A full moon, shot at 06:31 today, Wednesday 19th January 2011. The true full moon occurred at 08:35 on January 18th 2011. Photograph taken using ISO 2000, 1/800 @ f8 using my 18-200mm lens at the the 200mm end. The photograph shown here is a crop.

Blog 109

2011-01-16T11:05:00.007Z

Looking through some photographs from April last year, I came across these taken in the Highcross Shopping Mall in Leicester. I love the colours in the ties and the number 7 picked out in black. Taken with permission in 7 Camicie. The colours in the Swarovski shop I though were eye catching too. The single figure in the corridor of glass, full of reflections and the modern design applied to the glass on the John Lewis store are interesting too.

Blog 108

2011-01-12T15:53:00.003Z

Had a fish and chip lunch at George's Allestree. Lovely Gerberas on all of the tables.

Blog 107

2011-01-10T09:05:00.004Z

After a few morning covered in cloud. I was, this morning, treated to a wonderfully coloured sunrise on my morning walk.

This is a four shot panoramic taken with the phone, dratted power lines. By the time I had a clear view the colours were much more muted.

Blog 106

2011-01-09T09:59:00.003Z

Collected these photographs from my walk this morning, taken on the phone. Congratulations mother nature on another interesting feast for the eyes.