blonde poker forum

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/photographer.gif)

Geek.

Jebus hates geeks.

OK. First theme - best pic of Gypsy bloke in his underpants.

LOL, unless you want us stalking you at home, how about a theme like 'streetlife'.

What about birds or general wildlife as it seems a good one to start.
Is it submit one image per person by the end of the month, and can only be an image taken within the month, no using old photos?

Sure I don't really care, yes cannot use pics already taken.

Perhaps I'm out of step here, but I'm not sure about the competitive angle to be honest. Why can't we just enjoy it for what it is?

Did you do non-competitive sports at school  :D

I don't care either way, just agree on the theme and a deadline and I'm in.

Same

competitive angle might get some better pictures produced.  as a voyeur i am in favour.

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/Tom_Selleck_chest.jpg)

It's not like it will be that competitive.  How about Boshi chooses a catagory for this month, the perhaps the "winner" could just choose the theme for the following month?    Could always have the person chosing the winning photo rather than putting it to votes.

I'm happy to go with whatever.

Just think yourselves lucky I didn't tell you my fishing story.

Ok I'm just gonna make a decision so we get on track and don't go round in circles. If anyone has a problem with that just say so.

Boshi chooses the theme and we have until the end of the month to submit our best pic.

We can submit any pics for discussion about how to improve them etc at any time and help each other, I'd like to use this to improve myself.

Everyone happy with that?

Sounds good to me.  Who's going to pick the new theme each month?

Boshi can choose someone and they can choose the next and so on and so forth.

Perfect

why boshi? he'll just pick churches and stuff

OK, first theme:

'Winter'

 :)up

As an aside...I have started using Flickr for my photo uploads (sometimes use photobucket too). They have an 'editing' app called Picnick which I used to use for retouching and adjusting exposure etc. It had a load of other features (much better ones than my PC based apps), they just made all the premium features free, and they're pretty amazing. www.flickr.com

ffs I run bad. Only time I've known England to be under snow and there's bugger all up here.

Could you not have left this for May/June?  ;D

Geo

Ma snow's all melted

You don't even need snow FFS, use your imagination  ;topofclass;

(http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt250/StuJOli/DSCN00014.jpg)

(http://i616.photobucket.com/albums/tt250/StuJOli/DSCN2135.jpg)

Can we have more than 1 entry?

Were they taken in the last hour?  ;whistle;

Not my best work. But this fits the theme and has also doubled up as my sick note. Working from the couch on the laptop with the tv on. Life is good.

<3 telecommuting. It's like being an online poker pro, only profitable.

(http://edition.cnn.com/SPECIALS/2007/work.at.home/dilbert/images/day.1.jpg)

Excellent. Where is that, please?

Wild guess - a YWA Reservoir in North Yorkshire?

Can we post archive pics then?

I have a few great nightime snowy pics from a few years ago.

Hanging on...



(http://img687.imageshack.us/img687/5794/p10300952.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/687/p10300952.jpg/)

nice pic Tom.


(http://i41.tinypic.com/24zlyc4.jpg)

I took this on my smartphone, using HDR camera (free Android app). It takes 3 different exposures, then corrects for camera movement between shots, then welds them together, then adds contrast/highlights etc according to your presettings. It does this in about 20 secs>>>>15 mins of fiddling with slr apps.
I put the pic on to flickr and brightened it a bit, then used a tool to focus the colour in the centre. (B&W focus I think it's called).

Wooo! Great shot. Very dramatic.

Can't find that specific app though. Any more info?

Should be there Tom, when I search HDR Camera in market it comes up, with 'Update' for me rather than 'download'. I can put the apk up if it's not there.

Lol @ this being free and only getting 4 stars

https://market.android.com/details?id=com.almalence.hdr&feature=more_from_developer#?t=W251bGwsMSwxLDEwMiwiY29tLmFsbWFsZW5jZS5oZHIiXQ..

It does all the tonemapping and handling of ghost objects for you too. The new update is gorgeous, once it's put them all together it gives the pic with a 'finishing touches' screen, where you can change the contrast/microcontrast etc

You can scan this boxode using your phone camera if you have Quickmark

When I search HDR Camera I get 228 results, the first being 'Funny camera'. Then a long list but nothing specifically titled HDR.

I remember now that Android market can be funny like that, promoting what it wants. Maybe best to get Quickmark, it's a nice app, then just choose 'scan barcodes' and point it at that box. Then click the earth symbol (internet), then market, and you're there.

Thanks, but I just can't seem to bring myself to grant all those permissions. It wants access to everything, including the net, and even my contacts ffs!

That's pretty naughty of them, not sure how well Google vet these.

If you put this http://tinyurl.com/tomhdr into your phone browser, it will go to that weblink I put above.

Bet its gonna warm up by the time I crack on with this  :D

Took this one in our back garden about 3 years ago, looks like the snow flakes are lit up. Just a Kodak digital on either auto or night mode, can't remember.

(http://i234.photobucket.com/albums/ee61/Bloot58/100_1437-1.jpg)

Popped into curry's today and saw this deal, would be pretty good for someone starting out or wanting to upgrade from an older cam. couple of semi decent lenses included too.

http://www.currys.co.uk/gbuk/canon-eos-1100d-digital-slr-camera-with-18-55mm-f-3-5-5-6-and-75-300-mm-f4-5-6-iii-lenses-11099693-pdt.html?intcmp=currys_seg_s2_DigitalSLRCameras_Canon1100DSave%C2%A3100_369613_03_24-12-11

Taken today

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Duddingston%20and%20Musselburgh/156-2.jpg)



(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Duddingston%20and%20Musselburgh/019-1.jpg)

Some cracking photos there.

These might provide some more inspiration:
 http://photoblog.msnbc.msn.com/_news/2012/02/07/10341356-a-frozen-waterfall-and-other-surreal-photos-from-an-iced-over-germany

Brilliant stuff there Dan, unfortunately it feels like summer here so chances of me getting any similar this year are gone  ;D

Geo

Gonna take my camera to the gym and see if I can find a subject on the way there or back to have a crack at.

lol loads of stuff like that hanging around Bracknell :D

Nice photos tho

Sledging on Sunday. My younger little devil.

B&W cos it's poncier, innit.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-ya6tLO74804/TzLJb_UyIUI/AAAAAAAAAaM/BMF4Ses_RVQ/s640/IMG_1817.jpg)

Nice shot Rex.

I have been experimenting with black and white but most of my pics look really pale. Just a beginner so any tips on settings for b&w appreciated. I just set to b&w and fire away, haven't a clue about changing other settings

Geo

These days, I take all my shots in RAW and do all the post-processing work in Adobe Lightroom. So this came out the camera in colour, and I've converted it - you can fiddle about with settings a bit to get nice contrast, but generally B&W works much better if the shot is nicely contrasty, which is why I decided to go with it for this one.

So I can't really help you much with in-camera B&W to be honest; just a question of picking your subject I think, the rest will depend on what you can do in the camera. That said, if you've got an SLR that will take RAW, I'd HIGHLY recommend Lightroom, pricey though it is. I took about 80 shots that afternoon (held the button down during some sledging runs!), and I imported, keyworded, classified, removed the dross, tidied up, did some minor post-processing on the reasonable one, in about 30 minutes. Then used a plugin to export to picasa. Does mostly the same for jpeg shots as well, but you leave a lot of your options open in RAW.

(held the button down during some sledging runs!),


How did you keep it focused? Was it continuous AF or just like, depth of field? 

Phew!!

Sounds like hard work to me, think I'll just keep clicking and hope for the best - lol

Geo

Nice camera esp for someone wanting to start out, i have one up the ESO 550, just started out a little more expensive and comes with standard lense to start with, but 18 mp is worth the extra pennies also you can record on the 550 but not sure on the 1100D.

Continuous AF. There are a couple of possible modes on Canon DSLRs; the AI AF ones basically track movement - so it anticipates where your subject is going to be when the shutter goes. Pretty impressive really, and does a good job in my experience. Sports shots and fast moving stuff works very well. You can of course set it to single-shot AF so it locks focus on half-press of shutter, but the continuous sports mode gets set to AI AF by default unless you change it.


I was trying to say that it makes things very easy :). Once you've done it, you can organise your photos very easily. If you spend a little time keywording shots (and you can set up keyword hierarchies), you can then go back and search very very easily. Even when you take a boatload of jpegs you've got to do something with them, and Lightroom makes organising and classifying them very easy. I've been very impressed with it, and with software, I'm generally very hard to please!

I'd agree 100% with this, I've got 550D as well. Problem with buying kits like that is that although they are perfectly usable lenses, you'll soon realise that you can do better (for a more money, obv!). I got the upgraditis bug very soon after buying mine. I now own 5 lenses, none of which are the original ones I got! If you are that type (and I should have known better, frankly, it's standard for me), then I'd look at simpler kit and buy/upgrade the lens after a while once you've sussed things out a bit.

Edit: Just noticed that kit is with the 75-300 lens - this gets generally poor reviews. If you want a 2 lens kit like this, I'd look for one with the 55-250; is much better regarded, although obviously you miss out a bit on the long end.

I took up photography 20 years ago, loads has changed and unfortunely i never kept up with the times! Now i have got back into it im trying to take everything in, always be learning, and yes totally agree with buying new lenses, and other equipment, i only have the standard 18 55mm at the moment but saving for 24/70mm mainly for wedding photography!
RAW is something im just getting to grips with, not up to date with all programs but my daughter is helping me with that, but any info would be great!

Not a new one but I just found it and it made me laugh  :D

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/IMG_12951.jpg)

Nice pic, tricky exposure.

(http://img163.imageshack.us/img163/9706/p10301011.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/163/p10301011.jpg/)

Love the dog's expression, and the sky is great.

(http://img201.imageshack.us/img201/1991/birds002.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/201/birds002.jpg/)

Nice pics so far, i hope to get time at the weekend to get out with the camera, i agree with lenses, i currently use mainly 24-70 but really want the 70-200 but that will have to wait for a while :(

I'm sure there are better people than me to explain it, but RAW is literally a record of exactly what the sensor detects. Turning that into a picture is a job for something else. If you do jpeg in camera, the camera (DIGIC chip in Canon, for instance) will do it, applying white balance correction, colour calibration, noise reduction, etc etc. If you get the RAW into a computer then get another program to do it, you can make choices with these things later. The massive benefit of RAW is that the sensor on a camera will record levels that are not visible at the very dark and very bright ends and the jpeg conversion in-camera effectively throws these differences away. However, if you find you want to make exposure corrections for the whole shot or just bits of it after the event, the extra information that the RAW holds is a lot more conducive to this. You don't realise the benefit until you try it.

What camera have you got? I may be teaching you to suck eggs here, but remember that a crop sensor camera (Canons 1100 all the way up to 7D) will have a multiplier of 1.6 to get the "old" 35mm focal lengths you may be used to. 18mm lens on a crop sensor is equivalent to 28mm lens on a 35mm film camera. 24mm on a crop is 38mm on a 35mm - which may be a bit restrictive at the wide end. I don't know - you've probably considered all this already.

My current portrait lens of a choice is a Tamron 17-50 f2.8 (constant). Equivalent to 27-80 on a 35mm camera. Lovely quality lens and nice and fast for a zoom. I've also got a Canon 50mm f1.8 "nifty fifty". Dirt cheap prime lens (£60), but very nice. Can be a bit restrictive, but if you've got room to zoom with your feet, it produces some lovely results.

A hardcore wildlife photographer in the States.

http://vimeo.com/17995671

Stunning

Took this a couple of years ago - it's sat unviewed for too long since


(http://img839.imageshack.us/img839/9366/img52041.th.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/839/img52041.jpg/)


Seems I need help with getting the pics on here at a suitable size...

(http://desmond.imageshack.us/Himg839/scaled.php?server=839&filename=img52041.jpg&res=medium)

Are there options to use for links on the site you are hosting them on?  You may be chosing the wrong one if there are.  Mind you, the orginal is a bit big to be posting anyway, it's quite large.

I'm using ImageShack and clicking on the 'Code for Forums' button...

The original is a bit big? In what way?

I really need an idiot's guide to all this posting pics on the forum stuff - it can't be hard, but somehow I'm making it feel that way

(http://img189.imageshack.us/img189/9366/img52041.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/189/img52041.jpg/)

Uploaded with ImageShack.us (http://imageshack.us)

I copied your image to my desktop then reuploaded it.   There was an option to resize underneath where you choose your file where the default was for a 19" monitor so I left it.  Uploaded and from the various options in Links to share your image, this one I've used here was the Forum Code option.  You can remove the Uploaded with Imageshack link youself in this forum easy enough if you want.

For me, the original took up my whole screen, it was massive. It's not a problem, just might be awkward to view on the forum for some.

Taken on an HTC Sensation:

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/407454_10150581947768631_663433630_.jpg)

Sensational..................................

ber-dum-tsch

Took this on my mobile.


(http://img263.imageshack.us/img263/4936/owse1471.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/263/owse1471.jpg/)

This is from years and years ago and could have been a great picture with a decent camera!
Wasn't nearly as high as it looks, Skye in November so only just over 3000ft high. And Brocken Spectre's were everywhere to be seen. Which is apparently very rare.

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/Cuillin.jpg)

This, another from Skye, was taken by a friend.
(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/Cow.jpg)


And a couple of days ago at the Commando Memorial near Spean Bridge (inspirational place at the best of times) the sky was incredible. But I only had my phone with me.  :(

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/03022012127.jpg)

They're all pretty low-res so rather small to do them justice I'm afraid.

Favourites from todays walk

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Cramond/115-1.jpg)



(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Cramond/107-1.jpg)




(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Cramond/118-1.jpg)


Geo

Very nice Geo, speshly snowdrops. That's one for the galanthophiles.

Love the the reflected arches too.

Starting to snow again now, could be some good potential for the weekend  :)

Close, Newmillerdam Country Park, Wakefield

A favourite from a couple of years ago.


(http://img543.imageshack.us/img543/1008/birds0011.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/543/birds0011.jpg/)

Is that the stream, or brook, that runs alongside your boundary, Tom?

Geo - VERY impressed with those photos, nice & crisp. You would appear to have a bent.

I can honestly say it's the camera that does the work. Like Tom said in his diary, with digital you can just snap away and then get rid of the dross, you'll surprise yourself, I certainly did.

Geo

Yes. It's the Soar Brook. 

The middle of the stream is my boundary apparently, so if ever your steers need watrin....

Piffle!

Try sending the camera out on it's own.

Advice please,

What sort of app do I need to create slideshow videos like the ones we see on youtube, with music added would be good (and free if poss cos I is Scottish.)

Geo

Lol,

Was it Mansell who said a monkey could have driven his F1 car one season and win, all it needed was someone to steer and press the right buttons.

Whilst I did waste a bit of this morning on my mini recce I did get a few others but don't want to start clogging up threads with loads of pics, hence looking for advice in creating videos.

I have one other I'll stick up for you to have a look at

Geo

I do actually think that is the case a lot of the time with these new cameras/lenses, as they are so good.

I found this unusual stone on the riverbank today.

About the size of a grapefruit and almost totally round. It appears to be made up with a mixture of stones and was quite heavy.

It looks like it was made for some purpose, any ideas anyone?

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Cramond/112-1.jpg)

Geo

http://www.ashmolean.org/ash/britarch/highlights/stone-balls.html



(http://futuremuseum.co.uk/images/cache/Img9351S1000.jpg)

Do you think?

If so I hope it's still were I replaced it today.

Geo

I dunno Geo, but it certainly looks like it could be....

This is what the camera can't do for you.


http://www.photographymad.com/pages/view/10-top-photography-composition-rules

Maybe but they have taken away a whole bunch of technical things you don't need to worry about too much or made them simpler for fish like us to understand/do. As a result we can focus on the fun stuff like the above.

+1

Just looking at the pics I was taking 10 years ago compared to now to confirms what I'm saying about the gear. Its not even close, what I have learned since then only accounts for maybe 25% of the improvement, the rest is down to the new gear.

Windows Movie Maker works fine for me Geo. I just import the pics, then drag them all down to the movie section, then import a song and drag it down too. You can preset the delay, and you can just drag pics on top of each other a little if you want a 'fade'.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FPUQY5Pu7pk

Stunning pics Somerled. What are Brockens spectre Btw?

I hope you have been back for it first thing! update please!

Love those, Sir, the third one is the Commando Memorial, just outside Spean Village.

I'll Post my Commando Memorial photo shortly & one or two from Skye, just to show how NOT to take photos.

Today, I plan to buy my new Geo-type Camera, & I read a link that Tom Posted yesterday ("Rule of Thirds" & all that), so by tomorrow, I'll be an expert.

On 2nd thoughts, I won't Post my Commando Memorial photos again, they are embarrassingly bad, having read that link Tom Posted.

I quite like this photograph on Skye, though, (note the "lines" running through it which catch the eye) but maybe I should actually get out of the car next time.....

(http://i44.tinypic.com/14tmsls.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381180_10151137178760204_850755203_22620118_1081652579_n.jpg)

last month on my iphone.

Haha, love it!

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brocken_spectre (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Brocken_spectre)

Really quite amazing thing to see - doesn't come out terribly well in a photo although I did take some at the time. Will try and find them and scan them in (yes it was that long ago....)

Yes. Note how the lines lead your eye to the loch, and also see how the horizon is about two thirds up, (or one third down).

Excellent. (Very artistic).

Trying to work out where that is....either west side just off the Sligachan - Dunvegan road....or North east near Uig???

See, I read that Link you Posted - "The Rule of Thirds", & the "lines take the eye" thing. Then I perused my entire gallery of 19,712 photos & found one that actually complied with 2 of tthe 10 basic rules of photography.

See Tom. He's getting the art of photography.

I don't know a great deal about the technical side of these photo's but to me that is a stunning shot.

wp sir

I'm afraid I can't recall - I drove to both places on the same day, via Sligachen up to Port Uig, though I suspect it was the latter. It was Christmas Day, in fact, & incredibly, the Pottery Workshop & Shop at Port Uig (right by the Ferry "Terminal") was open, & I got some stuff.

From there, continued north right up to Duntulm, at the very northern tip of Skye. There is a (ruined) Castle there, used to be the HQ of the McDonald Clan. Now, given how far it is from "civilisation", raw materials, labour, accommodation, how on EARTH did they manage to build that thing back in the 13th Century or whatever? And did someone REALLY want to nick that ruggedly beautiful, but barren, windswept, piece of land, x hundred miles from anything or anyone?

  http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Duntulm_Castle

Apologies to "Camera Club Thread" members for derailing thread, I won't do it again. It was Tom's fault.

Stop trolling, both of you, & Ralph, you introduce that bloody word in every Post.

Thank you very much for that. I have just had a quick 10 minute play about with an album from yesterday.

For a technophobe like me it is ideal.

Appreciated

Geo

Yes Lady, it is in my posession with half dibs to Daddy Red

Geo

^^ Our possession ^^

^^FMP^^

Geo

i use my iphone for pics, nothing special. But i am looking for tips or tricks maybe a book to help take better ones, any suggestions?

Phone cameras are great because you always have them with you.

Loads of little guides on the web.


http://www.pcworld.com/article/240714/how_to_take_better_photos_with_a_phone.html


For a bit more comprehensive advice, google something like 'Beginners guide to point and shoot photography'. The principles are the same for all cameras anyway.

There are some good pics in this thread taken on camera phones - but the biggest improvement you could make would be to use a better camera (imo).  The lens and sensor on camera phones is small, and therefore limited.  Even a relatively cheap compact camera will help you get significantly better pictures.

http://www.kodak.com/global/en/corp/top10tips/index.jhtml


Click on the pics

I love the Libyan Rebel one.

re: the comment before about modern cameras doing a lot of the hard work automatically, they definitely do, especially for exposure. However I don't think they can create great shots on their own, photography is an art in that respect. I take tons of landscape shots with my dslr, some of them look pretty but none have really taken my breath away. I have a friend who is self-trained and has put a lot of effort in, all of her shots have that extra 'something' about them, always beautifully framed and provoking.

This.

I'm coming round to Reds way of thinking too, whilst the camera is indeed in my case the master, I have sought for what I consider the right place to take the pic from. It's meant getting the feet wet for some of the waterfall/weir ones and having to basically camp out from pre-dawn in order to catch the Buzzard. That wee bit extra effort makes it more worthwhile when you do get that one really good shot

Geo.

I've read about simple techniques, like using the trees to 'frame' a shot and they do make it look better.



(http://i39.tinypic.com/wgxhz7.jpg)

Nicely framed.  You need to get rid of that white stuff though, it's ruining the photo.

First crack at being artistic. Tried adjusting lighting, thought black and white would make it look better but it didn't really work.

Frozen spider web for anyone not sure:

Good effort mate  :)

Quick go this morning before I go off to work..

Cheers Woodsey fella.

You seem a bit of a pro with all this stuff, often when i drive to work the sun is rising and looks class behind a telephone pylon. I always think to myself that would be a great pic to take and possibly get made into a pic. You got any tips of taking pics of the sun? Only have a standard compact camera (12meg). I'm sure i remember something like making a hole in a piece of card as a kid. But could just be making that up.

Nice one

Geo

Incred work!!

Thanks to ManuelsMum I am happily creating film clips of my pics. This is one from my collection from Jack and I on the C2C last year.

Most of these were taken on my phone and whilst at the time I thought they weren't bad, I now appreciate the need to spend a wee bit more on a decent camera.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NWsiK7ZFi2k

Geo

I love this what app do you use?

Some really lovely pics in this thread guys

Its a bit hit and miss mate tbh. That is probably the best time of day to do it when the sun isn't fully exposed and not as bright as it is later in the day. I've got some good pics and some tez ones and its often hard to figure out why some look good and others not, just have a punt and see what happens, that's the great thing about digital cameras, its costs nothing to experiment.

Fair enough. Will just give it a go. Just hope the sun is looking decent next week. Will post results either way.

Great pic.


I'm so impressed you had a go at being arty. It makes you notice the things around you more.

Went out this morning, took 47 photos before my camera died. Think this one is my fav. like the way it turned out.

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/Milligan84/cropped.jpg)

Got some old pics I am gonna go through, make black and white and then colour in separate bits. I like that effect.

Tractor's angel pic is thread winner for me at the moment.

Really excellent.

Nice work Milligan, Just charging the battery up now so hopeful to go back out later today for a walk.

brilliant - looks like a giant dandelion head :)

the gardens where i work looked fantastic yesterday - all the plants covered in snow.  took a couple of snaps on my phone but they are crap.  times like that i wish i had a decent camera to properly capture the detail.

My first ever nature walk. The wife is wondering what has happened to me as the lager lout/couch potato she married has miraculously changed over night.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hv6vcA4lWz8

You really have an "eye" for this milligan, I'm impressed! If these are your first nature pics I cant wait to see what you capture next.

Fanrillo!

What are you going to do with it now? ;popcorn; Can you take it to the museum of old Scottish stuff to be identified?

tyty. There were a fair few duff shots if i'm being honest,  not quite as bad as having my thumb in the shot, but not far from it. I just deleted what i thought didn't cut it. Glad someone appreciates my *cough 'work'. Want to go back out there right now, but I am trying to hold back and take it easy as i tend to go at most things all guns blazing and then burn out.

Mr Red-Dog thanks for the support. I can't wait til I am a few yrs older so i can officially be recognised as a bird watcher/new-found nature lover.

I'll keep my eye on you. We might make you an honorary member.

:)up Great work Geo, the panning/zooming works really well. Looks like an amazing trip.

Another go, tried editing them in different styles, some worked some did not...

These are fantastic.

Best set so far by some distance Tractor, well done  :)up

I like the teasel and the -- cow parsley is it?

Nice depth of field on them Tractor, makes such a difference.

After my run, I'll be going out for a walk in the woods tomorrow, so will have to remember to take the camera!

Geo. Were these done if Windows moviemaker? If so. where are the zoom and pan controls please?

Incred work Tractor.

Fantastic stuff mate. The one you singled out and the window frame ones are my favs.

Geo

On the toolbar are 2 icons with merging frames

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/moviemaker-2.jpg)

Mine doesn't look like that Geo...



(http://img96.imageshack.us/img96/1618/18305621.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/96/18305621.png/)

I think you've got an older version Red

You'll be able to get the most up to date version for free but you should probably check what the most recent one that works with your operating system is

Thanks Jon.

I'm running XP so I think I must already have 2.1



Windows XP
   
Movie Maker 2.1
Learn more
   
Included in Windows XP SP2 and SP3. Get the latest service pack for your PC.

thank its called "dashofcolor" it was free when i downloaded a while back.

Had a fun day today at Musselburgh races and a quick meet up with MickyP.

Nothing great in the pics but it's good practice.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UYm6HDt8yLQ

Geo

I think if you go to Tools>Effects after you have put some vids on the timeline, it will come up with a big set of effects to choose from, including pan and zoom (Daniel's pan?). You just choose the effect you want, and drag and drop it on to the clip you want, or pic you want, in the timeline. You can drag about 4/5 effects on to one clip. Right click to edit/remove/reorder them. There are many many more effects you can download as packs from the net for WMM, including greenscreen (great fun).

Love the races clip Geo, feels like I'm there. Nice soundtrack too.

Yep. Thanks for that. Loads of effects, but no pan in my version unfortunately.

Here ya go, I think I may have downloaded a few custom effect sets before http://www.thefxarchive.com/index.php?os=XP&category=Effects

Excellent thank you.

Went out for a walk today and took some shots.  Didn't get any wildlife shots - saw the buzzard but he was too far away to snap.

Here goes:

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/WT7V0015s.jpg)

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/WT7V0048s.jpg)

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/WT7V0042s.jpg)

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/WT7V0036bs.jpg)

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/WT7V0033bs.jpg)

Very nice kin. Are these 'Sensational'? I'm guessing not, from the depth of field, unless yours can adjust it and mine can't.

No, they were taken with a very decent DSLR.

Very, very good Kin. In fact they're that good one might think a professional had taken them.

You'd be wrong!  Professional tuition though, to help a complete noob get the settings right.

Managed to get out and about again yesterday - to Ullapool.

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/11022012145.jpg)

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/11022012141.jpg)

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/11022012142.jpg)

Still just with the phone - need to invest in a proper camera, not doing the Highlands justice.

Last one not such a good pic, but spectacular location. Corrieshalloch Gorge. Not quite the scale of the Grand Canyon, but a pretty scary viewing platform nonetheless - a lot further down than it looks.

(http://i176.photobucket.com/albums/w194/Somerled_01/11022012152.jpg)

Absolute cracking shots.

Really enjoyed those Ullapool photographs, thank you. Do you live in those remote parts?

I believe that the the Harbour there was designed by the great Scottish engineer, Thomas Telford. More fascinating facts available upon request.

Live in Drumnadrochit. Home of wee green cuddly Nessies. And, more fortunately, the Loch Ness Brewery, my latest wee project.

Telford was one of the few that could give Brunel a run for his money, although he never had the start in life that Brunel had having been brought up in poverty and started as an apprentice stonemason at 14.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Thomas_Telford

One of the bridges I photographed the other day was the bridge over the Dean valley (built by Telford) and sits merely 200 metres from the city centre. Awesomely huge construction

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Cramond/063-1-1.jpg)

Geo

When I click on a thumbnail in 'My pictures' or open one in 'Picasa' and then right click and select 'properties' I can't see the Exif data. I have to 'Edit' the picture in picasa to see the Exif.

Any one know why that is please?

Hi Geo,

I keep derailing this lovely thread, so I will not respond here, but Thomas Telford was a quite extraordinary guy, maybe even achieving more than Brunel, & so I'll try & discuss him on my Diary shortly.

If you're on XP, right click from Explorer (My Pictures or wherever), Properties, select the Summary tab at the top, then press the Advanced button at the bottom. I think that if you ok this it remembers this setting so when you go to Summary in future it starts in Advanced.

Cheers Rex.

When I do that, I sometimes get the Exif, but mostly I get this.


(http://img690.imageshack.us/img690/103/advancedattributes13022.png) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/690/advancedattributes13022.png/)

That's what you get if you hit Advanced in the "General" tab. Two "Advanced" buttons. Not helpful, Mr W Gates III.

Ahh! Got it now Rex. Thanks very much.

Thanks for that, it does help to get info from other photographer esp if they dont mind sharing it, i have been reading up more about the Raw, and i have a few programs that come with my camera, im a bit old fashioned haha, but will get there, so thankyou for that.
I have canon EOS 550 at the moment and looking to get a few more lenses, as trying to cover a lot of differant photography, and see what im best at!

Some really lovely pictures on here, i love the country pictures as dont get to see much of it down this way!

(http://img715.imageshack.us/img715/1083/newc0231.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/715/newc0231.jpg/)

^^

love the abstract quality of this Tom.

I pretty much lost interest in taking photos as digital became the norm. But this thread has sparked a renewed interest.

Just need to make some time & get out of the office.

Abstract? It's a nut & bolt in a lump of wood!

There's a washer there too.

This is a fag-end in a puddle.



(http://img94.imageshack.us/img94/9960/newc028.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/94/newc028.jpg/)

 :D

Marginally more interesting.

Did you know that the "filter tips" for all UK manufactured cigarettes, & most European ones, too, are manufactured at Spondon in Derby?

The company used to be known as "British Celanese" but it was taken over later by Courtalds, it is probably called "Smoking Device Tar Extraction Systems PLC" or some bollox now.

It was founded in the first World War, financed by the Ministry of Defence, run by two brothers, the Dreyfus brothers, & they originally made aircraft paint, the company had been started in Switzerland or somewhere dreadful, & they were invited by the War Department to come across to England & assist the war effort. The Swiss, of course, were neutral. Ish.

More your area of expertise. Gravel.


(http://img842.imageshack.us/img842/2126/newc0251.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/842/newc0251.jpg/)

Don't tempt me, I have a story for every photo you can Post. Almost.

Gravel is actually a very intererting thing. Better than all that Team Perv dross on Matt's Thread.

Oh man. I wish i was at home. I bet there are some great cracks in the pavement or lamposts i could snap.

name that wood?

If those chips of gravel could talk, I bet they could tell some stories. I have gravel in the drive, and I often pick a bit up and examine it individually. The colours, the texture, the shape..  

Every one is different. Just imagine what they've been through.

I could get into geology. Seriously. I'd made a great rock-hound.

I could look at that all day

Bed with some rubbish around it £150K (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/9/9d/Emin-My-Bed.jpg/260px-Emin-My-Bed.jpg)

Dead shark in a tank of preservative $8 Million (http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/3/38/Hirst-Shark.jpg/230px-Hirst-Shark.jpg)

Canvas with an unusual shade of blue painted on it £3M (http://t3.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcSM_jPz-7VV1SnDSNvCxnW2I4Aior8i5pLll0SUI-PsjElLCblr)

"Nut and bolt with washer in wood, 2012" £? ?


"Genius is never understood in its own time." Bill Watterson

Wouldn't knock it,

Photo of the Rhine on a cloudy day, $4.3m

(http://timenewsfeed.files.wordpress.com/2011/11/gursky_photograph.jpg?w=600&h=400&crop=1)

Won't even mention that shot of the supermarket :D

Heavily photoshopped as well to create the 'empty' effect.

3rd picture is upside down

Geo

:D

My TV screen. 4 second exposures with moving camera.

Do you think tikay is ready for these yet?


(http://img819.imageshack.us/img819/1152/p1040459b.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/819/p1040459b.jpg/)


(http://img834.imageshack.us/img834/6663/p1040461f.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/834/p1040461f.jpg/)

I thought it was a paracetamol I had just taken (http://i827.photobucket.com/albums/zz192/denistephenson/smileys/smiley%20drugs%20and%20alcohol/SMILEYWEEDSMOKINGGIF.gif)

I thought it was meant to be tikay who's got the photography bug? I reckon it won't be too long before you're thinking about an SLR. Great pics btw. Proper art on this diary.

Nice shots Kin, good job.
Does anyone on here own a macro lens? Keep thinking about getting one but then think I would hardly ever use it and would be a waste of money when i really need a 70-200 or something similar.

I have macro lens and really like it.  Close up stuff is my kind of thing, although I don't use it as much as I should, but I'm going to get out there again as soon as the bugs start moving.

4 second exposures of a dodgy telly, & a rusty wheel.  Art, my arse.

Here's a sign.

(http://i40.tinypic.com/2rpsivs.jpg)

Philistine itt

Afternoon sunlight through the trees on my 'phone camera


(http://i44.tinypic.com/14t7r7a.jpg)

Now I know this is going to sound really daft, but when I when I saw this photo, the main thing that struck me was what looks like the out of focus head of a little boy with a crew cut peeping over the log! laugh if you want but I can see his eyebrows and the tips of his ears and everything.

I know people are conditioned to see faces in things, so please tell me if anyone else can see it!

Or am I going mental........ ;dingdell;

??

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/precious.jpg)


BTW, if it helps, I'm mental too.
Geo

Lol, So pleased you can see him too!
BTW, Found out anything about the round stone yet?

Not yet.

Will be chasing up this weekend

Geo

Had some of those stones on Countryfile (I think) last weekend.  Couldn't hear what they were saying as I was visitiing my Nan but they looked very similary.

No help I know.

Can't believe that second telly long-exposure. You should blow that up and canvas it, stuff like that sells.

or
www.shutterstock.com

I follow this guy Yuri Arcurs http://www.arcurs.com/ on Facebook, he started off with a lowly dslr and just started punting stuff on the microstock sites. Now spends millions just on studios,staff and kit. Still mostly microstock.

Well (if you're not winding me up) thank you.

The TV was the only light source in an otherwise completely dark room. and I moved the camera in about a 6ft arc, first side to side, then top to bottom to produce the cross effect.


I think the only person who would buy it might be Jo Brand. It's from her TV show 'Almost Live'.  

Below is a still from the same programme taken at 1/15.  I liked the contrasting red and blue colours, so I tried two long exposures. The second one came out almost like liquid.



(http://img850.imageshack.us/img850/7833/p1040462r.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/850/p1040462r.jpg/)

first thing I thought when i saw those pics was 'i'd have those on my wall'.  i've changed my mind now i know they're from a jo brand show :D

I know. It's like a dirty secret.

To whom, exactly? "Art" fans?

Thats a very fine picture considering it was taken by a girlie. Far better than logs & fag ends.

Bloody hell, I see him now as well!

It's called pareidolia, by the way.

Yup, I can see it now, too.

Did you know that the "going mental" smiley is called a "dingdell"?

I like to call them 'investors' :)

40" x 30" canvas on ebay £400 Kerching!

(http://www.osnatfineart.com/ebay/Untitled-5117.jpg)

I quite like that. Not £400's worth of likeyness but I do like it.

heh - my thoughts exactly :)

Why thank you kind sir!          I think......   ;carlocitrone;

As well as taking decent shots, the image manipulation can be as important as the shooting of the shot itself. 

Using Photoshop for basic stuff is relatively simple to learn, but to get the other 80% out of it takes a hell of a lot of time and effort.

This bloke's obviously pretty nifty with it, taking B&W photos and adding colour:

http://imgur.com/a/wapUe

(http://t0.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcT_PP-jO07QBZbmfX6h3psIUpQDiZSfBkFIvvEseoVnLq4paQ5I)

Never got to grip with masks/masking, does anyone get it? I'm a Paint shop Pro kinda guy.

Only basic stuff, like this:

http://www.ephotozine.com/article/using-layer-masks-with-photoshop-4876

Nothing wintry has inspired me so far this month so I'll only add this one from a couple of years ago

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/s720x720/429141_10150672407831043_732861042_11595592_872325016_n.jpg)

Mainly I was trying to capture the snow falling - anybody got any hints about how to do that better?

Jeez I haven't done anything for this thread yet  :(

Couple of vids from yesterdays bimblings.

Compilation of photos taken:

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YyYlnckV_8k


Video of a Dipper in action which I posted on Red's diary yesterday

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=dFRZWiMxsZ4

Geo

Went on my second nature walk today, found myself struggling for inspiration a couple of times, couldn't get a decent shot of any birds, however, when i came across some snow drops and a weird curved branch on a tree it made it worth while. Had a look on a map and covered close to 5 miles with hardly any back pain, last year I could barely walk to the end of my street without being in agony.

Tried out a couple of different affects in wmm as well.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RPpYfau-fcg

What a delightful thread :)

Hi Red! How are you?

I did try and put a pic up but it says it is too big...

Been messing around with PhotoShop. Couple of my things so far, looks like they have lost a lot of quality when i compressed them

Quite hard there with a light background I think.

Shutter speed can be set quite fast to grab them or slow for softer, streakier.

Focus on the background, then adjust a bit short of it = focus on snow, makes background a little blurrier, helps.

You can try with a long lens also = more snow in shot.

Haven't tried HDR on it, guess it would work pretty well. Example I found on web: (http://t2.gstatic.com/images?q=tbn:ANd9GcQhhfXHVcX2qI19ib2HmSFSzB7JbdIZ9M9hN3bp8HdqmoRXIg73)

That was the kind of trick I was looking for.

Just need some more snow now to try it out  :D

And next time I'm more likely to be specifically going out to take photo's so I'll be more likely to be able to pay attention to the background helping the shot.

Thanks a lot, getting the hang of it now.

Looks like it's worth getting Photoshop, has some sick tools

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=UrlsnQ32YhY

Zelda!


What a delightful surprise to find you here.

Would you like me to help you with your picture?

Note - This may involve sending me your phone number.

Loving these new pics, especially the dipper and the green bottle one, it's dramatic but not too 'in your face', really nice.

I hope to have some bird (avian) pics soon. That gigantic tree that came down in my garden was home to loads of birds, it got cut up and put in an open barn, with all the twiggy branches. The birds think it's still home, this morning there were some crows and baby grouse (grouseling?) fighting for space.

Yep, some good stuff. I love Geo's dipper, and Milly's snowdrops and those trees (Birches?) against the sky.

Love the Snowdrop pics, nice shots!

Hey Red :)

Yes please, if you could help that will be great :)

 :kiss:

OK, This is really easy. I even taught tikay how to do it.

First, go to http://tinypic.com/

Next click the drop-down box that says 'Default' and select 'Message board 640x480.

Then click 'Browse' and find the picture that you want to upload.

Click on your picture to highlight it, and then click 'Open'

Now you will get a security box that you have to type some words into to prove that you are not a robot.

(You might actually be a robot, otherwise how could you have resisted me for all these years?)

When your picture appears on the screen, copy and paste the 'Code for message boards and forums' on to blonde and Bobs your Uncle.

It looks complicated, but it takes about a minute once you get the hang of it.

Ps- Any probs, let me know.

PPS- XX.

Super helpful Red  :kiss:

(http://i39.tinypic.com/148eww1.jpg)

I call this 'Follow the red brick road' :)

It was taken during one of those very rare moments of pure tranquility...

Stunning!

Did you take it?

Your tranquillity picture reminded me of this one, which I took a couple of years ago. I was in the middle of a big city and I needed somewhere to chill for half an hour.

I found this spot, totally deserted, not 20 yards from where the roads were clogged with cars and pavements were clogged with people.






(http://img716.imageshack.us/img716/3760/train0241.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/716/train0241.jpg/)

Superb photo, Zelda, & welcome back to blonde.

Many of us have missed you greatly, & we mentioned your absence daily. Tom mentioned your absence once, too, in 2006 I think.

Beautiful picture Red! I fine place for a picnic.  :)

Yes I took it myself.  We were out at sea and it is a moment I revisit many times, when the stresses of life threaten my mental state :P

Haha Tikay - me and Red have a psychic connection that needs no words :p

Perfect. I always knew I would have your picture on my bedroom wall one day.  ;)

A couple of late entries for the winter theme.


Rainstorm.


(http://img19.imageshack.us/img19/6265/p1050212i.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/19/p1050212i.jpg/)



(http://img10.imageshack.us/img10/248/p1050210m.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/10/p1050210m.jpg/)

I am a sucker for rain related photos, love the rain. The sound of it and the smell of it. Plus paves way for practical joker drivers to drench pedestrians, what's not to like?

Me too ant. I've always lived under a tin (Or aluminium) roof, and I can hear even the lightest rain falling.

I hate it when I've been in a ' building and then walk outside only to find out it's been raining and I didn't know about it.

I once took part in a project that looked into why Gypsies have an aversion to living in bricks and mortar. and I said "Well at least I know when it's raining".

The finished article became known as the 'I know when it's raining' report.

http://www.robertdawson.co.uk/product.php?f=332

When on my walks I have generally baked some toffee or banana loaf which I carry with a flask of tea. I've been pretty busy weekdays for a while as I have been training new starts to the company and also upskilling some others so am generally knackered when I get home.

The last few weeks when I've been exploring my new found fondness of photography I have been generally making stops at cafes. Am actually a tea drinker at home and like others mentioned earlier in Reds thread, I'm not really keen on having someone else make my tea so I always opt for coffee when out, usually Lattes.

Anyway, I have taken to photographing my wee treats

Frosted jam donut with latte

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Duddingston%20and%20Musselburgh/154-1.jpg)

Scone, cream and jam with coffee

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/New%20camera/030-1.jpg)

Coffee and walnut cake with coffee

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Union%20Canal%20and%20Colinton%20Dell/006-1.jpg)

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Union%20Canal%20and%20Colinton%20Dell/005-1.jpg)

Geo

Isn't it amazing that you can focus on distant birds and close cake with the same lens?

What's more, I bet it would work just the same with close birds and distant cake.

taken with the i phone in Portugal October last year

Well this last line made me lol, simple but effective.

From our geocache walk today

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0816.jpg)

I guess I'm kinda into close ups...

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0835.jpg)

.

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0818.jpg)

A lot of your pictures have been really excellent Dawn. What camera are you using?

Cheers Tom.  It's Jack's Canon G11 and we've no idea how to use it apart from 'auto' mode.  I'll be having a read of the manual tomorrow.

It's a bit bulky for stuffing in your pocket during long walks, so I'm hoping to get one of those cameras like the one suggested for Tony last week.  It seems a fair bit slimmer and the pictures posted from it have been nice enough.

Great pics Laxie. Immense colour!

Not much in it size wise Dawn.


Cannon:  112.1 x 76.2 x 48.3 mm

Nikon: 109.9 X 76.5 X 78.4 mm

Ugh.  You're right.  I hunted down the Nikon link again just to see.  Had it in my head it was smaller, but not sure why I ever thought it would be. 

Don't suppose there is such a thing as a proper good quality compact camera?

It'd be no good to you Dawn, it requires skilled handling, & it is pretty high-tech stuff, too, so not ideal for female use, imo.

Is that Nottingham station, Jon?

Says the King of Blur.  Not convinced it's you taking the photos you've posted anyway.  Reckon you've had more help from that skirt wearing bloke you hang out with.

May I join in?  I'm liking the photos posted on this thread a lot.

A pair of swans and their signets on Southampton Common that Leo and I passed on a bike ride a while back.

(http://i.imgur.com/W3oFs.jpg)

A rare sight these days, a stag beetle I found wandering across the lawn in my back garden.

(http://i.imgur.com/yyfvF.jpg)

It was keep the catapillars or keep the brussell sprouts, we kept the catapillars.

(http://i.imgur.com/PkVqS.jpg)

Love the beetle pic!
Im not going to get to take any more this month as work is manic, on another Photographic subject my daughter has just got her date for an interview at Falmouth Uni for Fashion Photography, she has just had an interview at London College of Fashion for the same course( something like 1500+ apply and there is 28 spaces, lol), she is so excited, only downside if she gets in would be all the camera gear going :(

Great stuff Mr Machka.

All these peeps looking at the world....   I love it.

Yes there is Dawn.

Have a browse of these sites, Find something you think you might like, and then read the reviews carefully.


http://www.cameralabs.com/buyers_guide/compacts/best_compact_digital_camera.shtml


http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews/

For what it's worth, this is my recommendation.

It's a bit pricey but It's a great camera.

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5596076/Trail/searchtext%3ETZ18.htm

Terrific photos Aaron (Machka), keep them coming, loved that beetle!

You took those photos with that little compact camera of yours? If so, amazing.

PS - I believe the correct spelling for baby swans is "cygnets", not "signets". The wonders of the English language. Swans, I'm sure you are already aware, almost always "mate for life", which is good, but they also seem to inbeed a great deal, which is not so good.

Personally, if I were recommending a compact super zoom I would go for my camera (well, I did!).  A Canon SX 220 HS.

http://snapsort.com/compare/Canon-SX220-HS-vs-Panasonic-TZ18

Those were actually taken on my antepenultimate camera, which was a super compact, think a pack of cards size!

http://www.photographyblog.com/reviews_canon_digital_ixus_90_is_4.php

Yes, I knew it was cygnets no idea why I wrote signets.  Next thing I'll be confusing Jimmy Carr with David Mitchell.

LOVE that word!

Could we have a "preantepenultimate"?

It's a really close call IMO Aaron.

Both great compacts.

Got me some flowers.


(http://img217.imageshack.us/img217/1494/dscf6003i.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/217/dscf6003i.jpg/)




(http://img822.imageshack.us/img822/6364/dscf6004i.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/822/dscf6004i.jpg/)

Think I'll be going with this bad boy...

http://www.argos.co.uk/static/Product/partNumber/5596124.htm

It's got a good zoom on it, it's smaller than what I'm currently using (105x58x33 mm) and compared to the newer TZ25 and 30 models, it's actually rated much better.  Thanks for the links guys.  Only for them, I'd have gone blind searching, got all confused and just given up in the end.

Well done!  I tried getting photos of the striped variety and wasn't happy with the shots.

Great pics, loving the flowers and the cafe pics and especially the raindrops.

This is a pretty good deal http://www.magazine-group.co.uk/magazine/hobbies-leisure/photography/digital-slr-photography-magazine
Remember just to cancel the DD with your bank if you don't want to continue. I've bought the mag a few times and picked up some nice tips.

Liking this, maybe we could have a macro theme for a while.

Geekfact: if you line all the animals and all the plants on the world right now in one big row, every fifth one is a beetle.
Wp beetles.

No it's just Hastings station on my way to work.

When it won't get in the way I often have my camera with me 'just in case'

The only bit of Nottingham station I think might look similar would be flipped the other way around anyway (if I recall correctly).

All these super close ups have inspired me to go out this weekend looking for something like that to add.

If I don't post anything it's because all my shots turned out rubbish.

Although that probably won't stop me posting them anyway.

I had  a similar Ixus (think it was the 70) great wee camera, unfortunately it disappeared from the poker table at APAT Cardiff 3 or 4 years ago when I left it at the table during the break..

Chaos here at Chez Geo as the 2 Grankids are coming on my walk tomorrow and I stupidly suggested they should stay over tonight so we can have an early start. Home made Toffee Loaf is now in Oven and all backpacks done.

We all have a camera so will be interesting to see what the kids come up with.

Going to do the Cramon/River Almond walk again with them.

Nana and parents have never been happier fml

Geo

Look forward to the pics Geo. I think you walk more in a week than i do in 2 months. I get a bit bored walking, taking the camera more should break things up a bit.

Got this one this evening on the way home. Obv messed around with flickr a bit, I risk getting slayed by the purists ;)


(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7193/6926708923_68e5e69dd1.jpg)

Before I had the 90 I had an Ixus 60 which was even smaller but still a brilliant camera.  I have pretty much stuck with Canon's since my Ixus 60, then my Ixus 90, Ixus 130 and now my SX 220 IS.  Every camera was point and shoot and always produced amazing results for the little effort it took to take the pictures.

From my preantepenultimate camera, a Canon Ixus 60, a photograph of 2 slugs getting jiggy.

(http://i.imgur.com/xFKz4.jpg)

Tremendous photo, Aaron!

What is that white thing they are eating? Wy does the slug nearest camera have a hole in its back?

Great photo, but how do you know they were getting jiggy?  Maybe they were squaring up to have a nasty bar fight.

Big fan of this! Never used flickr. But i like.

What is that white thing they are eating?

oh, lol.  Can I answer its penis?

( from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug )

Slugs are hermaphrodites, having both female and male reproductive organs.

Once a slug has located a mate, they encircle each other and sperm is exchanged through their protruded genitalia. [ The white thing ]  A few days later the slugs lay around 30 eggs in a hole in the ground, or beneath the cover of an object such as a fallen log.

Apophallation is a commonly seen practice among many slugs. In apophallating species, the penis curls like a corkscrew and during mating often becomes entangled in the mate's genitalia. Apophallation allows the slugs to separate themselves by one or both of the slugs chewing off the other's penis. Once its penis has been removed, the slug is still able to mate using only the female parts of its reproductive system.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FhVi4Z6CjZk (I'll leave this as a link so as to not spoil the photographic nature of this thread.

Why does the slug nearest camera have a hole in its back?

( from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Slug and http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Pneumostome )

On one side (almost always the right hand side) of the mantle is a respiratory opening, which is easy to see when open, but difficult to see when closed. This opening is known as the pneumostome.

The pneumostome (or breathing pore) is a feature (the respiratory opening) of the external body anatomy of an air-breathing land slug or land snail. It is a part of the respiratory system of gastropods.

It is an opening in the right side of the mantle of a Pulmonata or subcladed Stylommatophora or snail. Air enters through the pneumostome into the animal's single lung, the air-filled mantle cavity.

The pneumostome is often much easier to see in slugs than in snails, because of the absence of a shell. The pneumostome is usually very clearly visible on the right side of the animal when the pneumostome is wide open. However, the position of the pneumostome is often not at all easy to discern when the pneumostome is closed.

The pneumostome opens and closes in a cyclical manner. The frequency of pneumostome closing and opening is typically less than 0.5 closures per minute in fully hydrated slugs and snails. The rate of closures per minute increases the more dehydrated the slug is.

I didn't know until I googled after I took the photo either, I hope they didn't think I was being a voyeur!

See my answer tikay's question about "What is the white thing they are eating?".  Unless you are of a nervous disposition, in which case pretend you never asked!

It must be a bugger for slugs born with a left-hand thread.

We've definitely never met.   rotflmfao

Today I took two shots of basically the same thing.  I realised I'd cropped a bit the first time, hence the second attempt.  Didn't take much notice until we got home and they were uploaded, but WTF?!  How can two shots be soooooo different when all I was doing was 'point and shoot'?

I prefer this one by a country mile.  Pity about the cut off at the bottom...

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0901.jpg)


In an attempt to improve it, I mucked it up imo...

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0902.jpg)

This one turned out to be the overall winner on the day in the pine cone category...

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0903.jpg)

As we were walking through Old Dalby Wood...

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0892.jpg)


We came across a patch of trees with red bark.  It was kinda cool to see a random patch of them right in the middle of your standard bark type trees.  What are they?

(http://i11.photobucket.com/albums/a167/Laxie/geocache%20walks%202012/IMG_0890.jpg)

Shy trees?

I'm not sure if it's been mentioned elsewhere but if you look at the crescent moon tonight or over the next week you'll see this (note that Up/North isn't up, if you know what I mean, I rotated the camera to fit the 3 objects in):

(http://i.imgur.com/YUyyi.jpg)

Closer shot of the moon and its neighbour.

(http://i.imgur.com/mbfZl.jpg)

This is Venus next to the moon and at its north-west is Jupiter.

These were just hand held shots I took using, shock horror, digital zoom!  I never use digital zoom, but for some weird reason it actually makes these look better.

Full sized images below.

http://i.imgur.com/YUyyi.jpg

http://i.imgur.com/mbfZl.jpg

More details here:

http://earthsky.org/astronomy-essentials/visible-planets-tonight-mars-jupiter-venus-saturn-mercury

With the grandkids with me today it was pretty much impossible to search out the normal interesting or wildlife pics. They ran me ragged all day as wanted to climb and investigate. decided to concentrate on getting some decent pics of them instead. Quite like these two. I had been placing them in the various windows of an old ruin where they had spent an age running around. They decided they wanted to sit in windows at oppsite ends of the ruin and shout over to each other.

When I moved round to take some pics of the wee man I noticed that I could also view the lass at the other end.

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Ailee%20and%20Brandon%20Cramond/112-1.jpg)


(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Ailee%20and%20Brandon%20Cramond/111-1.jpg)

Geo

Google Sky Map on an android phone (probably on iphone as well) is great for helping navigate the night sky.

Do I sense some "attitude" there Geo? Exactly what you want to see in youngsters, imo.

WOW! My kids pointed these out to me earlier, they really stood out as different than the "usual" but I wasn't sure what they were.
I've just shown them this post and they were really excited, we all went out for another look but I cant find them now :(
We'll definitely be on the look out tomorrow evening though!

Im back again, with mild hypothermia and a crick in my neck from being stood outside in my pj's past midnight.
Been having a quick google off whats going on up there since I came back in, and I really think you should post that fantastic moon pic here, Machka,

f you snap an amazing photo of Jupiter, Venus the moon or any other skywatching target and would like to share it for a possible story or image  gallery, please send images and your comments to SPACE.com managing editor Tariq Malik at tmalik@space.com.

Your pic was a lot better than the one they're showing at the moment, theirs didn't have that incredible "darkside" that you can see in yours.
Really great shot, I didn't quite realise how good it was until I just had a go, my camera could only "see" one really bright star, and that was all blurry!

Love these, composition is great.
Subject matter pretty gorgeous too.

I'll have another go Sunday evening if it's a clear night.  I do have a proper tripod I bought but never used so maybe I'll bring that into play and see what I can get when I go semi-serious. :-)


Off topic - but can I ask what's the etiquette for replying here on blonde? 

I do see most replys include the full previous post which I think clutters the page. 

But if that's the done thing then I'll just continue what I'm doing.

I tend to go with - what makes sense.

Usually that involves some cutting in the quote to make it smaller.

It can just be replying straight after and not quoting at all.

But obviously if a post was at least the previous page then some sort quote is needed to make it clear what you're referring to.

I don't think there's any standard practice though.

Pretty neat photos of stars & stuff, Aaron, well done.

Laxie? Nervous disposition? Hmmm.

Imgine TRIP5, on speed. Getting the drift? Then imagine a box of frogs.

Thanks TK and Redsgirl for the comments.

You're spot on TK. The wee man started life as a pretty poorly kid but things going really well.

Like me he is extremely inquisitive nosey, he questions everything and his catchword throughout the day was "this looks interesting" any and all nooks a crannies were investigated with Grandad expected to follow, covered a fair bit of climbing and distance I can tell you.

The two of us are heading up Blackford Hill by the observatory today so should get some good shots of the city.

Enjoying Grandads Toffee Loaf:

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Ailee%20and%20Brandon%20Cramond/077-1.jpg)

Geo

You must be very proud Geo.

I was a bit worried you may misinterpret "attitude", but I think you got my precise meaning.

Lovely to see, & enjoy your day with them today.

These are not 'artistic' but I love how it shows the growth of these magnificent creatures...

2 weeks old...

(http://i44.tinypic.com/2rwkcj4.jpg)

About 7 weeks old - they loved to snuggle on my lap :)

(http://i43.tinypic.com/34opn5t.jpg)

About 3 months old - waiting to go out...

(http://i42.tinypic.com/35n3nkp.jpg)

Suffered for my art today. Blisters on both heels. The wife and I started the North Kesteven 'stepping out' initiative which is 15 sites across Lincolnshire with 2-5 walks at each site. Each walk ranges from about 2miles to 12miles. Some of the routes have outdoor art type stuff for you to see. One of the things we saw today was The Seated Lady at
Scopwick which apparently represents a tree spirit or Dryad.

I'm not much of a map follower so just went were my feet took me, which was all over the place today! Easily covered 8miles + which is a lot for me! Nothing more tilting than walking miles to a great looking forest, all eager to take some snaps, getting to the edge and being met by a sign saying 'Private - Keep out' or words to that affect.  If i wasn't with the missus I would have probably just ignored the signs and pleaded ignorance despite hearing gunshots and seeing shotgun shells.. but alas she is a god fearing, law abiding citizen.

A not so interesting fact: The Lincolnshire dialect word ‘barff’ means a hill running parallel to lower ground.

Struggled to find decent stuff today. My highlight real is below. One day if i ever do a bink again I will treat myself to a decent camera.

YouTube: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Z-Ow4Smo7g4

Another shot at doing colour splash.

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/Milligan84/FormerRAFMetheringham.jpg)

Don't all hills run parallel to lower ground?   ;carlocitrone;

Milly. Good job. Isn't it great to get out?

I like the colour splash and the fuel tank.

fyp

Zelda!

Chickens do not love to snuggle on your lap.

Now me on the other hand.....

what do you camera lot reckon to this? Looks good to me, but I know nowt about cameras really.

http://mashable.com/2012/02/27/nokia-808-pureview/

Sorry if I missed this but after Geo went back for it did anything happen???

Wouldn't touch it with a bargepole.

But then I'd say that about any cameraphone, for taking "proper" photos. Tiny sensor, noise is always going to be a problem, even more so with high pixel count. This uses pixel "oversampling" which means it's not actually 41Mp. And why would you need 41Mp anyway? You can print A4 perfectly happily (300dpi) from about 7Mp. Teeny tiny lenses, any imperfection is going to be magnified. Etc etc

Is Nokia that company that used to make mobile phones?

Plus, it's on Symbian.

I went back and recovered this. Initial investigation is it is not the same as the stones that Tom linked as there are no carvings.

I am looking at another Avenue as to whether it has a link to another item found in the same area as it appears to be of similar stone. no joy as yet though

http://www.nms.ac.uk/highlights/objects_in_focus/cramond_lioness.aspx


Geo

Hey Geo.

Is it possibly an old sandstone finial from an old wall? Was it found on an old estate, with a now demolished house?

Cutting, but good.

Nah, piece of shite.

My view would be aligned with that of Rex.

The first Red Admiral I've seen this year in my garden.

It was very tolerent of me so I photographed it with no zoom and was pretty much poking it with the lens!

(http://i.imgur.com/jhkNl.jpg)

Full sized : http://i.imgur.com/jhkNl.jpg

Nice.

Nice shot.

OK Boshi. Time to choose a 'winner' and pick a new category.

Found this by the window, it's a dead admiral  :(

(http://i454.photobucket.com/albums/qq267/ppokerfan/SNV80661.jpg)

Burial at sea imo.

Top 5 imo.

A winner?  Surely blonde and photography are the winners!

I'm not qualified to judge the winner.  I can pick some I like if you want?

Apt, porcelain sea shoot it is.

Just spotted this post. I have some 'actions' for photoshop that help make a nice B&W version of shots that aren't washed-out.  Will dig them out and upload them for peeps.

Oh I agree. I'm just going by this post from the beginning of the thread.

I still don't think we need to pick a winner, just a new theme.

People

Swans.

Trees.

(http://img84.imageshack.us/img84/7116/testing019.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/84/testing019.jpg/)

There was a category... oh.

Don't worry. The category is in addition to posting anything you like.

Good god, that poor woman...I thought my roots were bad.  

Ever wonder what was going on in their minds when you take those random shots Tom?  If it weren't possibly dangerous and probably a little nuts, I'd say get yer sneaky shot and then walk up to them and ask.  

I've considered the ethics of it Dawn, and I've concluded that so long as I only photograph people in public doing what everyone can see them doing anyway, it's OK.




(http://img577.imageshack.us/img577/1194/resizedh.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/577/resizedh.jpg/)

Would you ask him ^^ for permission?

Which makes me think - it's a good theme for now, but I'm thinking when it gets hot and sunny we should revisit this theme again   ;D

Ha, Andy Grays twin.

Oh, I'm not at all questioning the ethics of it!  I totally agree with you on that side of it.

I look at the pictures and all I can think is, "I wonder what's going through that person's mind just there".  Apart from the obvious food thoughts anyway.  I guess I'm just a curious sort.

And not in a month of Sundays would I have the nerve to ask him what was on his mind most days.  But if ya caught me in one of my mischievous moods, anything's possible.

swans you want, swans you got:

http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=54004.0 6d (http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?topic=54004.0 6d)

OK.  I've picked three (ish)....

(http://blondepoker.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=56701.0;attach=33653;image)

(http://i1233.photobucket.com/albums/ff384/Milligan84/cropped.jpg)

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-ash4/381180_10151137178760204_850755203_22620118_1081652579_n.jpg)

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Ailee%20and%20Brandon%20Cramond/112-1.jpg)

Sticking my neck out a bit here, but I'd vote swans too. Great effort by Tikay on the main blonde photography thread already.

They seem to do quite well in Wildlife Photographer of the Year also, both of these were category winners

Ellen Anon (United States of America)

Whooper lift-off

'My fingers, double-gloved, had gone numb. Waves on Japan's Lake Kussharo, Hokkaido, were starting to freeze solid, and I was in awe that these gorgeous birds could face the water. By now, the wind had churned the lake up into white peaks that echoed the snowy mountains behind. When one swan began to taxi along the churning runway, I managed to make my frozen index finger release the shutter just before it took off.' Like its close North American relative the trumpeter swan, whooper swans are named after their distinctive loud call, heard from flocks on the water or in flight. The yellow base to their black bill typically extends to a point beyond the nostril, distinguishing them from the smaller, but otherwise similar tundra swan.

Canon EOS-1D Mark II + Canon 28-300mm f3.5-5.6 lens; 1/800 sec at f11; ISO 400.

(http://www.birdsasart-blog.com/baa/wp-content/gallery/cache/1655__800x800_eanon_p5x4715.jpg)

Yongkang Zhu (China)

Snow swans

'To photograph the swans in their environment meant I had to endure the same conditions - snowstorms and high winds that roll the snow across the flat land in great waves. The storm was so bitter I wished I could have escaped along with the swans.' Every winter, huge flocks of whooper swans migrate from the far north of Europe and Asia to warmer lowlands. The Rongcheng Swan Lake nature reserve in eastern China is a major overwintering sanctuary for whooper swans. But even here, when the fresh water freezes, the birds are forced to feed in the fields, digging through the snow for grass.

Canon EOS 20D + Sigma 300-800mm f5.6 lens at 300mm; 1/1250 sec at f6.3; ISO 200; tripod.

(http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2008/10/30/article-1081790-0249CAE2000005DC-741_634x470.jpg)

Its a beautiful clear night.
Come on Machka, Get tha' camera aht fo' t lads!

Stunning, very nice find

Geo

A sentence from the passage that Manuelsmum put up with the glorious swans pic says it all for me:

To photograph the swans in their environment meant I had to endure the same conditions

I get far more pleasure having to put myself out to get a pic, knowing that it just wouldn't be the same without having done so.

Editing/cropping etc doesn't really do anything for me at all. Whilst it may provide a really good end result, the pic will always be tainted in my mind.

Geo

those swan pics are incredible, have they been touched up at all?

Is it possible to tell?

Abs loving the work  in the photos guys.

Thanks Phil, it'a a gift I have.

That Kang fellas were ok too Tony

 :)

:D Wp Tony

I love Wildlife Photographer of the Year, loads of inspiring stuff.
Never considered that retouching question, I'm sure it's taken into account, and they probably look for as little of it as possible. Maybe dust-spot removal is ok.
I do know that they like the 'Wildlife' bit in the title, one guy won with an incredible shot of a wolf jumping over a fence. Then the biologists etc who knew of such animals came forward and said that they just wouldn't do that. Turned out, the guy had used a 'trained' wolf, lost his prize.

For the second pic Tony used "Canon EOS 20D + Sigma 300-800mm f5.6 lens at 300mm;

Lots of space between shooter+swans = loads of nice snowflakes, as we were discussing.

That sounds a bit tough, even if you train the wolf to jump its surely the taking of the photo that wins the prize.

I didn't realise you were such a purist Geo.


And here's me thinking you used that 21X zoom lens to artificially get 21 times closer to your subject, and then used a vast array of automatic in-camera processing features like auto light metering, auto focus, auto white balance, auto noise reduction etc before going on to use a computer programme to electronically re-size your photographs ready for uploading...   ::) :D


Seriously though Geo, all photographs are "Edited".  Even when film is developed the photographer or technician has to decide how big to print it and how long to leave in in the fluid.

Cropping is exactly the same as taking a pair of scissors and cutting a bit off a photograph before pasting it into the album.

Quite like the idea of a birds theme, swans is perhaps a bit too specific.  If I lived in the tundra or the northern most parts of somwhere cold I'd be up for it but the only swans around here are on the brown Thames and are pretty uninspiring.

A bit tough, yes, however the others have to brave freezing weather etc and the vagaries or chance to get great shots, a staged shot would be much easier

(http://newsimg.bbc.co.uk/media/images/47152000/jpg/_47152368_wolf.jpg)


Jumping wolf photographer loses wildlife prize

By Victoria Gill
Science reporter, BBC News


The judges concluded that the wolf was probably a trained model

The winner of the Wildlife Photographer of the Year award has been disqualified after judges ruled that the featured wolf was probably a "model".
The 2009 winning image, dubbed the storybook wolf, was taken by photographer Jose Luis Rodriguez.
Mr Rodriguez strongly denied that the wolf was a trained animal, according to a statement from the organisers.
His photograph was chosen out of more than 43,000 competition entries in October 2009.
Louise Emerson from the Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition office explained that the judging panel had been "reconvened" and had concluded that it was likely that the wolf featured in the image was an animal model that could be "hired for photographic purposes".
This, she said, was in breach of the competition rules which are made available to all entrants.
"The judging panel looked at a range of evidence and took specialist advice from panel judges who have extensive experience of photographing wildlife including wolves," continued Ms Emerson.

http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/8470962.stm

Maybe not worded it properly but will have a go again.

The camera/lenses and other accoutrements are the tools for attempting to capture the "right" picture and the challenge is to use that equipment and then defeat other challenges such as subject's avoidance, elements and other barriers.

Much like sportsmen who have their equipment/tools for their sport which they use to achieve as much as they can and at as high a level as they can. Some choose to "cheat" by using drugs

Editing suites are the "drugs" of photography imho

I have seen some amazing images over the years and unfortunately learned later that they had been enhanced on editing suites and not merely gained by the cameraman's skill in using the basic tools created to "take" an image but has deemed it neccessary to alter the image to receive praise.


Geo

"Editing suites are the "drugs" of photography imho"

Really?  I agree that taking a car and photoshopping it on the moon is cheating but I see nothing wrong with enhancing colours or taking out unsightly things that are unwanted in a photo (for example)

But surely the challenge is to be able to capture the picture without the unsightly things, not to just take pics then sit on an editing suite to produce fakes??

Geo

But a camera equipped with all that technology isn't a basic tool.

You use your 21x zoom to get close to your subject. Someone else uses a 12x zoom, and crops to the same level. You both took the photograph from the same distance, under the same conditions, but he's a cheat and you're not....

What if you alter your camera's colour saturation, or sharpness setting, is that enhancing?  

What if you use your camera's on board crop feature?

I think we will agree to disagree on this one Geo.

It's not always possible to capturer perfect shot. Imagine I see a Golden Eagle flying around just out of reach from my zoom lens, then it perches down but right behind it is a skip full of rubbish (it's just an example)  I'm sure as hell gonna photoshop that unwanted bird out of my shot to capture my subject correctly.  It could be a grey day where the colours and light aren't so good, a quick touch up in Photoshop will sort that out to save a dull image.

Those shots with the swans will have been taken as they are, just enchanced for our pleasure, everything in there is real.

What about digital vs film cameras?   

Yeah no probs, I'll stick to basics, it's like the arguement over should poker players use tools to gain an advantage in a poker game I suppose, some will say yes, others will disagree and say they shouldn't be allowed

Geo

You mean the way you use your 21X zoom to gain an advantage over the man with the 3X zoom?

Yeah, pwned obviously

Geo

I love you Geo.

I missed it last night, but I'll keep checking.

 ;yellowcard;

Any one agreeing on a theme for this month, I think Birds is a good theme.

Fakery


I think Red Dog did a pretty good description of why editing on a computer is no different to editing on a camera and that is no different to editing with developer fluid and scissors in a dark room. But the odd thing to add...


It's all fake

Photographs are all covered in the same way Magritte covered this:
(http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/en/thumb/b/b9/MagrittePipe.jpg/300px-MagrittePipe.jpg)

If for example you take a photo of a harbour arm you will get what the camera saw as the colour of the sea and the sky

(http://i39.tinypic.com/11me1bk.jpg)

But you were there - so you might think, actually it was darker and bluer than that - and you can make the picture represent what you saw

(http://i43.tinypic.com/ilh95j.jpg)

If that looks more like it actually was - is it more fake because you've edited it?
Or if the camera doesn't quite capture the colours correctly - is that fake because that's not exactly how it 'really' looked?

Nearly all of the time I use any editing software for photo's it's to make them look more like how I saw the image to start with - and I can't see any argument for that being any more fake than if you just left it as the camera 'saw' it.

Nearly all of the time I use any editing software for photo's it's to make them look more like how I saw the image to start with - and I can't see any argument for that being any more fake than if you just left it as the camera 'saw' it.

This!

It's only fake if you start adding stuff that wasn't actually there in the first place.

And if you were in a particularly odd mood you might have seen the same scene in a significantly different way

(http://i41.tinypic.com/9tiq2h.jpg)

But then we might get into the realms of impressionism and  'artistic' representation - which might upset Tikay as obviously photography has absolutely nothing to do with art   ;D ;whistle;

Thanks Jon,

Told the missus you wouldn't let me down  ;)

Geo

 ;marks;

Personally the horizon usually looks horizontal to me

(http://i41.tinypic.com/70hyko.jpg)

Last time I was there a bloke wearing a dodgy syrup was threatening to commit suicide.

Did tikay take it?

(http://i.imgur.com/o6AdD.jpg)

For me post processing photo's is a bit like auto-tune in music.

I don't think too many people regard using keyboards, electric guitars, etc as cheating, but as soon as you auto-tune someone who can't sing then it's a different matter.

Isn't auto-tune pretty much like Red's suggestion of adding something that wasn't there in the first place?

Which can be done with post processing - but isn't really what "we're" looking at using it for - musically it's more like if you had recording technology which added a hiss, you can use technology to take it away so it sounds more like the person did to start with (best analogy I could come up with :D )

This has made my day, well played

 ;applause; ;applause;

Geo

+1!   rotflmfao

Did actually laugh out loud with that one.  Gives me an idea too...

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/tikay-photographs-plane.png)

 ;applause;

 rotflmfao  The gift that keeps on giving

I would like to post some photos I've taken over the pay few years would that be okay to share

Please do.

 ;popcorn;

When I'm back from the club on Monday il get posting ... I might have a few on my phone I can upload which I have taken an saved... Does it have to be anything specific or can I upload a few of my fav snapshots?

My mum brought me a Lumix G1 a few years ago and I have used it about 3 times, I'm really into photos but not really good at using a complicated camara.. I used my iPhone alot il post some
Pictures from my phone which IMO I think are okay quality

Post whatever floats your boat babe, The more the merrier.

We don't got no swans, but we got ducks standing up.



(http://img638.imageshack.us/img638/7323/p1070525j.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/638/p1070525j.jpg/)


(http://img213.imageshack.us/img213/343/p1070516x.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/213/p1070516x.jpg/)

Brilliant ! I just made a Flickr account , can I get a code from
That to upload on forums ?

I don't use flicker but I should imagine you can.

Keep it clean btw, this is a family forum. (You can PM me the rude ones)

A more conventionally orientated duck.



(http://img813.imageshack.us/img813/5524/p1070464j.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/813/p1070464j.jpg/)

A close duck



(http://img43.imageshack.us/img43/2644/p1070477v.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/43/p1070477v.jpg/)

This squirrel seems to have more than a hint of red in him too. They're getting redder I tell you



(http://img192.imageshack.us/img192/3937/p1070498y.jpg) (http://imageshack.us/photo/my-images/192/p1070498y.jpg/)

crispy-aromatic-duck

Oh God. I lurrve crispy duck  :P

Would you believe I was going to put this up the other day and ask the same?

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Ailee%20and%20Brandon%20Cramond/049.jpg)


BTW that was one of my grandsons pics they both had cameras with them on Saturday

(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Ailee%20and%20Brandon%20Cramond/042-1.jpg)
Geo

Much love to Boshi

Geo

Have we got a new theme?

Yes, but we don't know what it is.

I vote for old machinery.

You going out on the bike again?

I like the old machinery theme. Tomorrow I'm off along the next stretch of the Union Canal to Ratho (about 12 miles there and back.) When you say old machinery can we include old parts?

These are a couple of old workings from some of the now gone mills which used to line the waterways around Edinburgh


(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Union%20Canal%20and%20Colinton%20Dell/163-1.jpg)


(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Union%20Canal%20and%20Colinton%20Dell/161-1.jpg)


(http://i704.photobucket.com/albums/ww48/geo_album/Union%20Canal%20and%20Colinton%20Dell/158.jpg)

Geo

(http://i219.photobucket.com/albums/cc43/kinboshi/l.jpg)

Old Machinery, is a good shout. I vote for that too.

Why does it have to be old ?

I'm pretty sure we're on about 6 different themes at the moment.

I took this last year in the docklands - so for now that's my old machinery contribution

(https://fbcdn-sphotos-a.akamaihd.net/hphotos-ak-snc6/263445_10150304093321043_732861042_9681822_7487054_n.jpg)

HDR <3 rust

What's HDR?

Geo

Used to be lots of machinery in here, Paisley Cotton Mill

(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7004/6803269015_be37667937_b.jpg)



(http://farm8.staticflickr.com/7189/6800978468_b0fc704dcb_z.jpg)

WINNER!

Noooooooooooooooooo!

It's a way of enhancing the shot Geo. The problem to be solved was that in terms of exposure and contrast, photos were a compromise: there were bright areas that needed one exposure setting, and darker areas that needed another, you just couldn't get them all right in one shot. So they invented this technique, it takes several photos of the one scene: one normal, one 'overexposed', one 'underexposed', and then they are put together, creating some nice high-contrast shots.
For the purists who say 'it's not real', it could be retorted that what you see with your eyes is not very 'real' either. Your visual system has a similar compromise setting, and will sacrifice contrast-detail in order to present you with a comfortable scene that you can better interact with over all. So HDR is letting your eyes see what was really there.

Many modern DSLRs will have an 'exposure bracket' setting. This is for HDR, and lets you set where the hi, low, and regular exposure will be. 3 shots taken of one scene, so a tripod is a good idea. There will be 'ghosts', eg a bird in flight will show up thrice, good software will take out the extra ones. Since there are 3 shots, including one long exposure, they create lovely effects often with drifting clouds or falling water.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/High_dynamic_range_imaging

Some amazing shots on the web.

(http://cdnfiles.hdrcreme.com/15117/medium/Steam_Train_Engine_Room.jpg?1267741101)

Suggested theme - Spring. (That is "Spring", NOT "spring", as you are all such smartarses in your arty farty club).

Why not wait until Spring for that one.

Not my pic, I just couldn't resist though.

Nice post Jon, good analogy I think.

By the time you lot make your mind up, it will be.

Hurry up boys, my finger is poised.

I specifically chose the harbour arm to illustrate fakery by the way

Partly because I thought that Tikay might enjoy all the concrete of course.

Here's a com bit of old machinery

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/Myanmar343.jpg)

I can see my shot now: an unadorned, RAW image of a swan, nestling with some daffodils in a nice old rusty plough.

(http://i444.photobucket.com/albums/qq167/Andr4w/Myanmar630.jpg)

Excellent.

There will be NONE of those lol

You can get a code, when you see the image, you right click on it, it will offer you a few sizes. left click on the one you want. Once that one is opened, just right click again and choose 'copy image url'. Then Hit the little pic icon on blonde (two along from youtube) and press ctrl v

Come on, Someone pick a theme. The weekend is the only chance I get to go out with the camera.

Ok, machinery old or new it is

Geo

Hello,

Here are a few photos I have taken, Let me know what you think

(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/CRUSTY2006/IMG_0693.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/CRUSTY2006/IMG_0696.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/CRUSTY2006/7227_178379491186_508636186_4144975_7121628_n.jpg)
(http://i56.photobucket.com/albums/g186/CRUSTY2006/7227_178379461186_508636186_4144974_8267570_n.jpg)

fabberleous!

I dont think i have any machinery photos.. but when I go home Monday il have a dig around..

The idea is to go and take some this month mate.

ahhh okay cool.. il do that then :) thanks for telling me :)

I like these, especially the single daisy

Geo

hi blonde camera club,


 i have a Sony cybershot dsc-t900.....

http://www.trustedreviews.com/sony-cyber-shot-dsc-t900_Digital-Camera_review

 which has died when  it got wet and never switched on since

do i get it repaired ....or claim on house insurance?
and get a better ...different one ?

i know nothing about cameras and bought this one from a mate who was skint!
it stands me at only £50