Tulip

This is an image I took of a tulip and decided to change it digitally to look like a Lith Print. Because I'm not getting around very well due to a bad case of sciatica to take landscapes which is my passion, I am having to concentrate on studio work which I have barely touched on till now. Anyway, after a talk we had on Friday at a camera club I go to on black & white images and different techniques, I decided to try out some of them. Lith printing was the first. With the help of a book I have called "Creative Digital Photography" by Lee Frost, this is my first attempt at a digitally manipulated image of a Lith print. I'm quite pleased with the outcome.

Pears

Bought these pears today and thought they'd make a great photographic subject. Just to add a bit of interest I added some water. They were taken in natural light coming from a window.

Settings

Aperture Priority
Lens - 17.5-45mm
Aperture - f/22
Shutter speed - 1/80 sec
ISO-200
Focal Length - 30mm
Exposure compensation -1.7 step

A piece of art

Above is a piece of digital art manipulated in Adobe Photoshop. The image is the underside of a gerbera. I decided i'd try out a technique a friend has shown me. The image was put into photoshop, a new layer made, and then inverted. The colour was altered with the Hue slider then softened with the saturation slider by desaturating slightly. A play with flip/rotation and crop, the adding of a border and that's it, all done.

Below is the photo of the original image.

Dinner Time

It was a little bit windy today when I took this on my way back home from work. The sheep were all fighting for a place to eat the hay. Not a great shot but I thought it would be a change from the still life ones.

Settings

Lens - 200mm
Aperture - f/4.5
Shutter speed - 1/80 sec
ISO-100
Focal Length - 200mm
Exposure compensation 0 step

Masquerade

A quick photo for tonight. Took this mask down from my bedroom wall and decided to lay it on a silk scarf for added effect. I hope you think it works. I've always wanted to go to a masquerade ball.

Settings

Lens - 17.5-45 kit lens
Aperture - f/22
Shutter speed - 0.8 sec
ISO-200
Focal Length - 17mm
Exposure compensation -0.3 step
Spot metering
Light Source - Tungsten

Smoke gets in your eyes

I've been trying to capture smoke from an incense stick but it's been such a hard task for me. I haven't got a remote flash which you need so i've spent two hours trying to fathom a way round it. I finally managed this with a flash attachment pointed up towards the ceiling. It's not the greatest of shots but it's not bad for a first attempt I suppose. Any advice would be gratefully received.

Settings

Lens - 17.5-45 kit lens
Shutter Priority
Aperture - f/8
Shutter speed - 1/3 sec
ISO-400
Focal Length - 17mm
Exposure compensation -4 step
Spot metering
Light Source - Tungsten

Left on the shelf

Poor Pineapple left on the shelf because no-one wanted it all bruised. I know it's not the best of specimens, but I couldn't resist buying it for 20p in the supermarket (they were selling it off). Not to worry, It's only for practicing with LOL)

Settings

Lens - 17.5-45 kit lens
Aperture - f/18
Shutter speed - 1.3 sec
ISO-200
Focal Length - 17mm
Exposure compensation -2 step
Spot metering
Light Source - Tungsten

Oh and it would've been Mum's Birthday today. Happy Birthday Mum, I know you are always with me, maybe not in body but always in spirit!

Mother's Day

Dedicated to my Mum who passed away in 1975

Mum, I miss you so very much
On every Mother’s Day;
And not just then, but every minute,
Since you went away.

You were the center of my life
Before your soul passed on;
It’s sometimes hard for me to believe
That you are really gone.

But I celebrate the life you lived
And all the things you gave me;
My wonderful memories, Mum, of you
Are the things that will comfort and save me.

Please think of me, as I think of you
With heart so full of love;
I'm looking up at you, sweet Mum,
As you look at me from above.

(By Joanna Fuchs)

Birds

A few bird images taken today from the Thornley Woods Hide.

Robin

This little robin is very tame. I heard there was a robin at Far Pastures near Rowlands Gill that eats out of your hand. This one came right down and sat on the roof of my car waiting to see if I had anything to eat. Unfortunately I'd forgot to pick the food up for it. It eventually flew into the trees when it knew I had nothing for it to eat. It's a cute little thing don't you think.

Settings

Lens - 200mm lens
Aperture - f/3.5
Shutter speed - 1/640sec
ISO-100
Focal Length - 182mm
Exposure compensation -0.7 step