Cloudscape (or travels with my Ixus)

Cirrus Clouds

I had a conversation with my mother-in-law this weekend about how nobody is a winner when a photographer goes for a walk with a non-photographer. The photographer wants to spend time taking the perfect shot (or lots of imperfect shots in my case) but feels guilty about it, the non-photographer can’t help but look bored and they also feel guilty. The result, few or no pictures and more standing around than was really required. However, this is where compact point and shoot cameras come into their own.

I have had my Canon Ixus for a few years now and it goes almost everywhere with me. I can put it in my pocket and forget about it if there are no photo opportunities. (If I have heaved the DSLR and associated lenses with me I am bloody well going to take some pictures dagnabit!) I even won a small print competition at the photo club with a picture that I took with it when walking to work. Unfortunately this is the disadvantage – the light was a bit low, and the picture is grainy about 7×5″, so it is no good for other competitions.

So, where am I going with this. You can get perfectly good results with a small camera, you are more likely to get some great pictures with a small camera because you have it with you, and you will not annoy anyone that has gone for a walk with you as you endlessly arrange a shot, you are more likely to get the shot and go.

This picture is inspired by the club set subject competition for this year – the subject is clouds. Whilst I am hoping to get some better shots by April, I liked the way the clouds seem to be rushing in the opposite direction to that in which the trees are being blown. I am also a sucker for white against cornflower blue!

For those of you interested, the settings chosen by the camera were 5.8mm (the widest setting), f/5.6, 1/1500 secs and my default choice was ISO200 which I had forgotten to change from taking some macro shots earlier!