I apologise to anyone who has been following my progress and I hope you'll check in occasionally to see if I've started again. Thanks for your comments and well wishes, they have been greatly appreciated.
I've been seeing this little brown bird at the end of my garden for a couple of weeks now and just assumed it was a wren. Finally caught it on camera and am reliably informed by hubby that it is a dunnock - also called a hedge sparrow. Not a great picture - long lens through glass but the only one anywhere near to being in focus - I'm obviously too shaky for a long lens at 7.30am!
This one didn't come out of the box but my Sis-in-law was going to throw it away so I grabbed it in case it would work well as a macro. Not sure it's a great photo but I like the colours :)
Having been ill all week, we didn't make it to a proper firework display this year so hubs bought a few bits and we did our own little bit of noise making! These are the only 2 shots I got 'cos 102 pops/bangs/whizzes in about 20 seconds doesn't make for much practise time! LOL
Next project is to try some of those smoke pictures - not this weekend though - I don't think burning incense is a good idea with both of us recovering from a nasty cough!
Caught this little fella stuffing his face so grabbed my camera, swapped lenses and crept back into the kitchen to shoot him before he flew away. I needn't have rushed, he was either very, very hungry or making sure none of the other birds were going to have any of his seeds because he stayed until he had almost cleared the bird table!
Not feeling very inspired at the moment - put my back out so can't spend too long either standing or sitting - just have to keep moving
Couldn't resist these little blighters again - this is almost the shot I wanted from the last lot - not quite but almost :) Used the light tent again but with a coloured background for a change.
Just a weird cloud/rainbow effect as the sun came out from behind some rain clouds for about 10 minutes!
That little blob by the arrow - it's a seal :) I watched him for most of my lunchtime today - it was so nice in the sunshine, I almost considered taking my coat off! Not bad considering it was 0 degrees Celsius this morning and a massive hail storm last night. I considered taking my SLR in to work today but didn't fancy leaving it in the car in such low temperatures all day - I'm definitely taking it tomorrow though - just in case this little chap is still around :) Either that or I have to work out how to zoom a bit on my phone!
Yet another clear but cold day - grabbed this shot on the phone camera again - blue sky, green trees (full of magpies & pigeons) and white arch for a frame.
Just a few days after the other shot and not only have most of the roses died off really quickly but they've changed colour a bit too. I'm always in a bit of a rush on Friday as I get in from work, grab a bite to eat then dash back out again so I grabbed this quickly in the morning just before I put the rubbish (trash) out. It's now on it's way to the great compost heap in the sky :)
Either this is badly parked or very abandoned!! LOL I dragged hubby down to the sea wall today in the hope of spotting the kingfisher again. Well, we did see it but gosh, those little birds are fast movers - by the time I'd spotted it and got the camera to my eye - it was gone :( So one or two derelict boats/debris shots later, I chose this one for today's piccy. I like the contrast between the derelict boat, the vast expanse of mud and the brand new houses and bright colours in the background.
The sun came out again today and stayed out for most of the day but there is a definite nip in the air. I changed angle today and also popped a circular polariser on - you can just see the effect in the top right corner - I obviously didn't get it quite right on this one! Once I've walked across the waste ground to get to my spot on the seawall, this is the view if I turn my back on the sea. The white sails in the centre are at a quay at the bottom of one of the steepest hills in the county. Quite a terrifying hill when you are a learner driver and your instructor wants you to do a hill start! Even now, driving an automatic car, I still hate to stop on that hill so I usually go the long way round.
The weather forecast is good for tomorrow as well so I'll take a wander along to the quay again and see what I can find over there. It's a bit industrialised so I'm not sure how much access I can get but there is a bit of a towpath the other side (heading inland) so I'll have a wander over there too.
At first, I thought the existing chrysalis/cocoon had opened but it hadn't so it looks like this second butterfly will cocoon here too. Obviously a nice piece of butterfly real estate! LOL
Carrying on from yesterday's experiment - this time, catching the drops as they hit my full water butt. Again, camera on repeat mode and shoot like crazy in the hope of getting a good splash. I like this one in particular because of the colours as well as the slight blur on the splash.
Just a few minutes walk away from my new office job. I thought I knew the area fairly well but this little corner of the estuary has escaped my notice until now. I mentioned a kingfisher the other day - well I saw him down here again today so I reckon he is definitely a local. If the weather forecast is OK for tomorrow, I'm lugging the whole kit with me - I've got my car back so that makes things easier :)
This also faces due East and the sun is rising just over the derelict boats on the far right so I reckon 2 more weeks and it should be just about on the horizon as I arrive for work - I foresee more camera lugging ahead LOL
Just a dashing through the garden type macro shot - I'm finding it quite difficult to choose what to shoot and then suddenly, it's late in the day :( But I quite like this one - probably not one of my best macros but it's a reminder of Spring so a glimmer of light at the end of the tunnel.
