Vagueness and the Aftermath - A sporadic diary

[Geo the Sarge]

Geo - VERY impressed with the clairty of those photographs with the new camera.

What sort of camera is it, if I may ask?

Those are lovely paintings Mr Van Gough. What sort of brush do you use?.

Seriously Tone, Geo's camera would do your job admirably, as would many of the other super-zooms. So would a nice DSLR with a selection of lenses.


This is Geo's camera.

http://www.techradar.com/reviews/cameras-and-camcorders/cameras/compact-cameras/nikon-coolpix-l120-939597/review?artc_pg=1

That looks - I think - "just the job". However, could you please explain - using short words if possible - how that camera does not need different lenses, whilst a traditional SLR would?  Does it have some sort of "variable lens" setting? And does that impair quality? By "impair quality", I mean to a degree that I, personally, would notice, if you get my drift.

It's not that I want to produce art, or paint a picture, I just want a camera that takes nice photographs. It is a given, of course, that if I used the same make & model camera as, say, Bailey, or the late Lord Lichfield, my photographs would come out identical to theirs. It's photography, not art.

I am wholly ignoring your Van Gough jibe.

Yes I can explain. but I have to go to work. But basically it does everything with the one lens. A DSLR would be better in some circumstances, but only if you had the relevant bits of extra equipment and knew how to use them.

Does it have some sort of "variable lens" setting?

Yes, there are a bunch of pre-set 'Scene modes' You just turn the knob to the one that seems most appropriate.


And does that impair quality? By "impair quality", I mean to a degree that I, personally, would notice, if you get my drift.

No.

I don't mind at all Tom and TBH TK I don't think you need much more than this for what you want. I see that Argos are still doing them at 1/2 price at the mo

http://www.argos.co.uk/webapp/wcs/stores/servlet/Search?storeId=10001&catalogId=1500002951&langId=-1&searchTerms=NIKON+COOLPIX+L120

Tom,

I had the MOST frustrating couple of hours this morning.

I headed out to Gypsy Brae as a starting point with the intention of walking along the shore to Cramond and the River Almond walkway then cutting across town a bit to take the Water O' Leith walk up Colinton and home.

I started at Marine Drive which runs along what used to be a huge Scottish Gas plant and was one of the biggest employers in the area some years ago, sadly now demolished and is lying as waste ground with plans to build another housing estate there. The whole area is currently undergoing a major redevelopement.

As I started down Gypsy Brae there is a large house (tall security fencing and an abundance of cctv cameras) with a huge Rolls in the driveway. As I passed the rather large garden my eye caught what I thought looked like a very large rabbit sitting up and at first I though it may be a hare which would be rare around this part I would imagine.

As I turned to look the bloody thing flew up and into a large tree in the garden, it was slightly obscured by a large tree/bush but it was clear that this was some sort of huge hawk type creature. I raised my camera to try to get a closer look with the focus but it took off across the road into the previously mentioned wasteland. I kid you not when I say it looked awesome, possibly twice the size of any seagull around this place.

I went on the pursuit. Just before the wasteland (which is all fenced off with security warnings.) There is some parkland with a pathway going through it so I made my way up this on the search. Next thing the bloody thing flew over my head and settled on a fence post at the other end of the park about 200 metres away.

I couldn't get the thing in any sort of view suitable to take a pic so I inched my way across towards where it was now perched. I got to within about 100 yards and decided to try focus in but the bugger decided to take off again back into the wasteland. I was devastated.

I went back to the fence at the wasteland and started looking for any sign of an "entrance" with no joy. A security guard appeared and I had been too obvious in my intentions as he warned me off that I should not try to enter.

I asked him what he knew of the bird and he said "yeah, it's a large hawk, been here a while, a large sparrowhawk I think" Sparrowhawk my arse thought I, it really is too big to just be a sparrowhawk. I'm no expert but judging by the pics put up earlier I expect this thing to be easily twice that size (am starting to sound like a fisherman.)

I got talking to the guy who is probably 10 years younger than me, explained I was brought up in the area and asked if he was local. He was and we chatted for a bit and we talked about when this was the gas works and the 3 large towers which were part of the Edinburgh skyline back then and lay directly under the flight path to Edinburgh Airport. We both also knew a couple of families from the area in days gone by.

He told me that there are also about a dozen deer settled in the grounds now too. He also showed me the tree where the hawk can be found most early mornings.

So, all that gabbering leads to this - Geo is going hunting, I haven't had a good recce for years and I really need to track this bugger down and get decent pics. I spent the next hour and a half walking the perimeter, noting weak points and also possible areas within the wasteland that may offer some good cover. I will be down there tomorrow at sparrow fart o'clock, which also affords me the chance that the security night shift guys will be in knocking off mode and tired.

So tomorrow it will be back into fatigues and bush hat and the search begins, this is a google image of the area:

Click to see full-size image.

Geo
(the great white hunter)

[david3103]

On a slightly connected note - this was tricky to take a decent picture of, but any thoughts on the creator of this imprint on our lounge window?



and how do i get the image to be a bit bigger?

A really big bird?  Smudge marks at the bottom too, so I'm going with pheasant. 

We don't see many pheasants round our way..

and I'm pretty sure it ain't no pigeon

[tikay]

Geo,

OK, done, that's the camera I will buy. Thank you.

If I feel I need to upgrade, once I've "mastered it" (some hope...) I can do, after a year or so.

GREAT "hunting" story, can't wait to read, & perhaps see, the outcome.

At this point, what is your hunch as to what it may be?

[Geo the Sarge]

Geo,

OK, done, that's the camera I will buy. Thank you.

If I feel I need to upgrade, once I've "mastered it" (some hope...) I can do, after a year or so.

GREAT "hunting" story, can't wait to read, & perhaps see, the outcome.

At this point, what is your hunch as to what it may be?

I really don't know tbh, I haven't a clue about these things. I've studied again the pics of the sparrowhawk earlier in Toms diary but it's definately a lot larger. Hasn't got such nice colouring either from what I could see. It was very dark in colour and I didn't get a chance to see it's head properly.

Had a very slow laborious wing swipe if that makes any sense, 3 flaps and it had travelled a fair distance.

I'm really looking forward to my wee challenge tomorrow, looks like I could be upsetting the authorities again - lol


Edit: Have been looking at an Edinburgh hawk watch forum and there is only mention of the following being commonly seen in the city:

Kestrel  Peregrine Buzzard  Sparrowhawk

Out of that list from pics I've looked at the closest is the Buzzard

Geo

[Karabiner]

Geo,

OK, done, that's the camera I will buy. Thank you.

If I feel I need to upgrade, once I've "mastered it" (some hope...) I can do, after a year or so.

GREAT "hunting" story, can't wait to read, & perhaps see, the outcome.

At this point, what is your hunch as to what it may be?

I hope you've already clicked the "buy" button Tony as that camera looks fantastic and a real bargain to boot.

I almost bought one myself after seeing Geo's snaps and then following the link but I'm just crap at photography.

I just have to accept that I don't possess the necessary artistic bent to take great photos.

[RED-DOG]

Geo,

OK, done, that's the camera I will buy. Thank you.

If I feel I need to upgrade, once I've "mastered it" (some hope...) I can do, after a year or so.

GREAT "hunting" story, can't wait to read, & perhaps see, the outcome.

At this point, what is your hunch as to what it may be?

I hope you've already clicked the "buy" button Tony as that camera looks fantastic and a real bargain to boot.

I almost bought one myself after seeing Geo's snaps and then following the link but I'm just crap at photography.

I just have to accept that I don't possess the necessary artistic bent to take great photos.

Ralph, with a digital camera you can take 1000 pics a day at no cost. It's great fun looking to see what you've got and you're bound to get a good un sooner or later.

[tikay]

Geo,

OK, done, that's the camera I will buy. Thank you.

If I feel I need to upgrade, once I've "mastered it" (some hope...) I can do, after a year or so.

GREAT "hunting" story, can't wait to read, & perhaps see, the outcome.

At this point, what is your hunch as to what it may be?

I hope you've already clicked the "buy" button Tony as that camera looks fantastic and a real bargain to boot.

I almost bought one myself after seeing Geo's snaps and then following the link but I'm just crap at photography.

I just have to accept that I don't possess the necessary artistic bent to take great photos.

Not biting.........

I'll try & get that camera tomorrow, or Saturday.

[tikay]

Geo,

OK, done, that's the camera I will buy. Thank you.

If I feel I need to upgrade, once I've "mastered it" (some hope...) I can do, after a year or so.

GREAT "hunting" story, can't wait to read, & perhaps see, the outcome.

At this point, what is your hunch as to what it may be?

I really don't know tbh, I haven't a clue about these things. I've studied again the pics of the sparrowhawk earlier in Toms diary but it's definately a lot larger. Hasn't got such nice colouring either from what I could see. It was very dark in colour and I didn't get a chance to see it's head properly.

Had a very slow laborious wing swipe if that makes any sense, 3 flaps and it had travelled a fair distance.

I'm really looking forward to my wee challenge tomorrow, looks like I could be upsetting the authorities again - lol


Edit: Have been looking at an Edinburgh hawk watch forum and there is only mention of the following being commonly seen in the city:

Kestrel  Peregrine Buzzard  Sparrowhawk

Out of that list from pics I've looked at the closest is the Buzzard

Geo

I'm going for "buzzard".

[RED-DOG]

I should have gone to fetch gas this morning, but I'm so easily distracted.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

I think this is a dunnock, a la Geo.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[tikay]

Are the top two female blackbirds, Tom? If the other ones are dunnocks, thats a great spot.

Nice photos, too.

[RED-DOG]

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Hen blackbird, yes. And that one above is the cock giving her some verbal.

[RED-DOG]

Our clog dancing woodpigeon. (Woodpigeons and tin roofs don't mix).

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

I'm a leg man really.

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.

[RED-DOG]

Click to see full-size image.

Click to see full-size image.