The archives for 2010

1. Empty Seat

   Cold, lonely, Wintry – this photo captures the mood of the Country Park on the Sunday before Christmas.

   • 29^th Dec 2010
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2. Waves

   A slightly abstract snow scene taking whilst waiting for someone to get ready for a walk.

   • 26^th Dec 2010
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3. 

   Out for a Winter walk.

   An early attempt at a very vertical picture.

   • 23^rd Dec 2010
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4. Frozen

   Even if a picture is not perfect, it is still permissible to like the feel and idea behind it.

   • 19^th Dec 2010
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5. 

   Same Tree, Different Day

   Going back a day or two later to get a better or different shot, as I have mentioned before is not always a bad thing. Even though there were only a few days in between shots and they were taken from approximately the same position, I have managed to get two very different shots.

   • 16^th Dec 2010
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6. 

   Trees

   Cropping in on a detail that is of interest often works, but sometimes it can leave the picture feeling unbalanced, possibly because this is not how you originally composed the picture in the camera.

   • 16^th Dec 2010
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7. 

   The World Through My Eyes

   Sometimes an accident turns out to be serendipitous.

   • 12^th Dec 2010
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8. 

   Cold

   A library shot turned out pretty well. An advantage to shooting an area week after week is that you can see the changes with the changing seasons.

   • 9^th Dec 2010
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9. 

   Winter Tree

   It is always possible to improve on a picture if you get a subject that you like. Even though I took a photo a couple of years ago that I was really pleased with I think this is still an improvement.

   • 6^th Dec 2010
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10. 

    World In Miniature

    Although Winter is trying to make its way in, there are still plenty of things to photograph waiting out there – just for you.

    • 4^th Dec 2010
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11. 

    Mini-Tree

    I turned round and saw a tree that I knew was there but had never photographed before resulting in a photo that I really love.

    • 2^nd Dec 2010
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12. 

    I have a new lens!

    A new, fast lens allows experimentation with different apertures even in Winter when the light is not so bright.

    • 29^th Nov 2010
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13. 

    Autumn Turns to Winter

    This year has brought a lot of changeable weather, wind, rain and now early morning frosts. Fortunately, leaves have some reason to be photographed whatever the weather.

    • 26^th Nov 2010
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14. 

    Autumn Leaves (in the dark and the rain)

    I try not to use any of the automatic settings on my camera if I can help it, but the temptation to take photos using streetlight made me switch to a low light level setting on the camera – I was pleasantly surprised.

    • 10^th Nov 2010
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15. 

    Autumn Fields

    Sometimes a scene is worth taking at different times of the year, or because it is in a favourite place.

    • 7^th Nov 2010
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16. 

    Autumn Colours

    Sometimes pictures should be taken just to remember a scene.

    • 2^nd Nov 2010
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17. 

    Autumn Colours, Reflections and Straight Lines

    Conveniently cut into thirds, with bright colours and a strange depth, sometimes there is no particular reason why a photo appeals.

    • 30^th Oct 2010
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18. 

    Sun, shade, metal, possibly too many variables for an outdoor photo shoot.

    Taking photos of something with a reflective surface outdoors is hard enough, when it is a friend’s piece of art – then the difficulty increases.

    • 28^th Oct 2010
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19. 

    Triangulation

    Three items in a photo automatically suggest a triangular shape which the brain then fills in.

    • 25^th Oct 2010
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20. 

    X marks the spot

    More lines, this time diagonal with reflections and a circle thrown in for good measure.

    • 22^nd Oct 2010
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21. Not quite a textbook case

    Two points in a photo should create some tension, but only if positioned correctly.

    • 20^th Oct 2010
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22. 

    Lines

    Vertical lines, horizontal lines, rectangles, they are all there in this incredibly neat industrial unit.

    • 17^th Oct 2010
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23. 

    A burst of colour.

    A close up of a flower’s centre only works if everything is sharp.

    • 14^th Oct 2010
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24. Fungi

    A more traditional view of a pair of mushrooms, but despite being a bit ordinary and brown, I think they are quite pretty.

    • 12^th Oct 2010
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25. 

    Burnt Out

    Finding something to photograph in an area that you think you know well can be difficult, but sometimes it pays to just start taking photos of things that might be interesting.

    • 11^th Oct 2010
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26. 

    Standing ‘Shroom Only

    I decided to take a different viewpoint when I came across a large group of mushrooms all together.

    • 7^th Oct 2010
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27. Lupin Leaf

    Leaves are just as interesting as flowers, if not more so.

    • 30^th Sep 2010
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28. Cyclamen

    Plant portraits may not be the most creative, but then, nature has already done that for you.

    • 26^th Sep 2010
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29. Almost Blown Away

    A moment in time captured, the sun on my back and on this little seed, both of us trying not to be disturbed by the wind.

    • 22^nd Sep 2010
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30. 

    Almost but not quite

    Sometimes almost getting a shot that you see is worse than not even seeing the shot in the first place. Grrrrr……..

    • 19^th Sep 2010
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31. 

    Dandelion

    A dandelion with a twist in the tale (or stem).

    • 17^th Sep 2010
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32. Triangulation

    Coloured and textured bark, pine needles, trees; nature can be very munificent to photographers.

    • 10^th Sep 2010
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33. 

    Unzipped

    The intricacies of nature are often revealed when taking macro shots.

    • 1^st Sep 2010
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34. 

    Form and Texture

    Close ups of leaves can highlight a lot of detail that you would otherwise miss.

    • 29^th Aug 2010
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35. Hanging On

    I love the extra detail that you notice in a photograph that you miss at first glance – in this case the clarity and delicacy of the wings.

    • 19^th Aug 2010
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36. 

    An attempt at commercial photography

    Taking a shot of a mundane object, without any excuse of poor lighting or lack of time to compose a shot is incredibly difficult. This is my first venture into studio shots for some time.

    • 15^th Aug 2010
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37. 

    Colour that hits you in the face.

    If you like a subject, don’t be afraid to keep taking pictures of it – each time you will refine it – it will either be better compositionally, or technically – maybe even both.

    • 13^th Aug 2010
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38. 

    Another Bumblebee on Lavender

    Finally, a photo that may not be perfect, but I can’t think of anything I would change.

    • 6^th Aug 2010
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39. 

    Echinacea (and hoverfly)

    Most of the picture ticks the boxes for composition and sharpness, there is just one little problem…..

    • 3^rd Aug 2010
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40. 

    White Tailed Bumblebee

    Going on a bee identification course gave me the perfect excuse to take some photos of bees (as if I needed such an excuse).

    • 1^st Aug 2010
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41. 

    Hoverfly

    In this natural history shot I made a conscious effort to concentrate on the composition as well as the sharpness of the subject.

    • 25^th Jul 2010
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42. 

    Shades of green

    A limited range of colours can make a photo feel quite subdued, but, that is something that a photo sometimes needs.

    • 21^st Jul 2010
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43. 

    The Fly – 2

    A step closer to getting a good picture of a fly, but there is still room for improvement.

    • 13^th Jul 2010
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44. 

    Parsley

    Trying to take pictures of things that you see every day is something I enjoy, but something of a challenge. Today I decided to look for shape and texture in the garden where I would normally be looking for colour (and insects!)

    • 10^th Jul 2010
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45. 

    The best laid plans

    I set out with a vague picture in my mind of the photograph I wanted to capture. Unfortunately, mainly through circumstances beyond my control, it didn’t come off and the pictures were not very good. Who knows whether I would have been able to translate my imagination onto the sensor – but there is always next time.

    • 6^th Jul 2010
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46. 

    Colours

    If you take a shot that can, with hindsight, be improved, don’t be afraid to go back. If your photography skills are improving then so will the photograph.

    • 1^st Jul 2010
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47. Sunset

    It is easy to pass something every week and think that would make a good shot, I must remember to bring my camera. Next time, take your camera, take the shot and see if it lives up to your imagination.

    • 29^th Jun 2010
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48. 

    Poppy

    A simple, but effective shot, made by the strong light.

    • 26^th Jun 2010
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49. 

    Logpile

    Ferns, trees, everything I could ask for, unless of course there was an insect in view!

    • 25^th Jun 2010
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50. Out in the rain.

    Take a photo, just because you want to – it might not be there tomorrow.

    • 22^nd Jun 2010
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51. 

    Spirals

    Landscape photography is not just about taking long distance shots of hills and trees, sometimes a macro lens is the best option for taking shots of the ‘intimate landscape’.

    • 18^th Jun 2010
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52. 

    Line of Trees

    What do you want from a landscape photo – composition, great lighting or just a picture that reflects its subject. Two out of three isn’t too bad.

    • 15^th Jun 2010
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53. 

    Unnoticed

    Whilst others were looking at owls, I found a rather nice weevil in a farm hedgerow.

    • 12^th Jun 2010
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54. 

    In the spotlight.

    The right light highlighting a subject can make even the most common of grasses stand out from the crowd.

    • 9^th Jun 2010
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55. 

    Close-Up

    The idea was right, but the execution needs a little bit of work.

    • 1^st Jun 2010
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56. Another Buttercup

    Simplicity and fortunate lighting are often the key to botanical shots.

    • 27^th May 2010
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57. 

    Busy ants.

    I nearly threw this one away, but after a judicious crop the photo grew on me.

    • 24^th May 2010
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58. 

    Frosted Buttercup

    An unexpectedly frosty morning in May gave me opportunities to test out the macro functions of my S90.

    • 22^nd May 2010
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59. 

    Spring Colour

    Another case to prove that whenever you go out you should take a camera with you – you never know where you may end up – imagine being in the bluebell woods on 1st May with no camera! Unthinkable.

    • 12^th May 2010
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60. 

    Just because….

    Sometimes beauty is in the eye of the beholder, or photographer. This picture reminds me of the reason I like living in Northamptonshire.

    • 9^th May 2010
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61. 

    Yellow and Blue

    When planning a photography trip, sometimes it is best to try a few places, and not be too focussed on your initial goal.

    • 2^nd May 2010
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62. 

    On the way to work.

    Even industrial estates have flowers just waiting to be photographed – whilst I don’t like these enough to put them in my garden they do enhance an otherwise bare piece of grass – they also look good in photos.

    • 25^th Apr 2010
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63. 

    Dew Drops

    Despite many attempts this is one of the first, interesting shots of dew drops that I have managed with the drops looking pretty sharp.

    • 19^th Apr 2010
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64. 

    Architecture Project

    Trying to find inspiration for a Club Project on Architecture is proving something of a challenge.

    • 10^th Apr 2010
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65. 

    More on camera sharpening

    I have tried changing the sharpness of the images in my new S90, but the results were not entirely expected.

    • 31^st Mar 2010
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66. 

    First pictures with my new camera

    I bought another Canon compact because of their excellent macro capabilities – I wasn’t disappointed.

    • 27^th Mar 2010
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67. 

    Lighting

    A back lit leaf can be every bit as photogenic and interesting as the flowers that it is feeding.

    • 24^th Mar 2010
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68. 

    Always learning something new.

    No matter how long you own a camera, there is always something new to discover, and changes you can make. I have now sharpened up my images in camera, so I don’t need to try and do it at the development stage.

    • 21^st Mar 2010
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69. 

    For no other reason than I like the picture

    I put this photo up for the Ladies v Men selection – no one particularly liked it, but it doesn’t matter, because I like it – it turned out (after some severe cropping) more or less as I had imagined – it is not often that happens!

    • 13^th Mar 2010
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70. 

    A constant problem – how hard can it be to photograph a snowdrop?

    Taking a decent photo of a snowdrop is becoming a bit of a mission. Poor winter light coupled with a small, white, low growing subject seems to be beyond my capabilities – how do others do it? I think they must cheat!

    • 5^th Mar 2010
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71. 

    Seize the Moment

    Conditions may not be perfect, but as I have said many times, if you don’t have your camera with you then you may miss some shots.

    • 2^nd Mar 2010
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72. 

    A combination of texture and colour

    Spring buds can make surprisingly interesting pictures, but getting the shot in low light levels can be hit and miss.

    • 27^th Feb 2010
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73. 

    S-Curves

    S-curves in a photo are a classical compositional tool.

    • 26^th Feb 2010
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74. 

    Abstract

    The light was good, I had a camera in my hand and I wanted a different flower shot – instead I got one of my best abstract shots – sometimes things turn out better than originally planned.

    • 20^th Feb 2010
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75. 

    Shapes

    Nature provides interesting shapes in a variety of ways. This dead tree stood out amongst the hedgerows on the edge of an industrial estate. It could be virtually anywhere in the world, not necessarily Daventry!

    • 31^st Jan 2010
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76. 

    Natural History Competition

    When judging a natural history photography competition, you should at least have some knowledge about natural history.

    • 23^rd Jan 2010
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77. 

    Lights in the Mist

    An experimental shot in the semi-dark.

    • 15^th Jan 2010
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78. 

    Small Print Competition

    Small prints give you the chance to try something different.

    • 9^th Jan 2010
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