For a Short While – The Rain
Posted: August 1, 2014 Filed under: Landscape, Nature, photography, Portraits | Tags: bit of fun, close up, digital, garden, garden ornaments, image, landscape, nature, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, patio, photography, photos, plants, rain, rainy weather, sculptural quality, sculpture, statuary, stone, weather Leave a comment
I took these photos through the window a few days ago when we had rain as a respite from the heat wave. The forecast seems to be for a bit more of our usual weather shortly, but that’s ok cos I don’t like the heat that much! It’s probably an age thing as all the ‘olds’ I know feel the same , but the young absolutely love it!
When it rains it makes everything look different and it creates opportunities for me [when the rain stops] to search out things in my otherwise ‘samey’ little patio garden. Plus I can shoot through the glass if it’s pouring down outside. I was very pleased to capture some ‘splashes’ in front of Ollie the owl and his companion [who I haven’t thought of a name for yet].
Ollie and Friend
I will post some sedum/raindrops later today hopefully, take care all – Eileen
New Arrivals
Posted: July 29, 2014 Filed under: Flowers, Nature, photography, Portraits, Wild Life | Tags: botanical, brown, butterflies, close up, colour, colourful, digital, drama, Flowers, Gatekeeper, image, image background, insects, nature, orange, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, photography, photos, plants, purple, red, sedum, weather, Wild life Leave a comment
For weeks I’ve been bemoaning the fact that I haven’t had any butterflies in my garden – well today there have been several fluttering about and even resting long enough for me to take some pics. I think this particular lot are called Gatekeeper [Pyronia tithonus] because they have twin black eyespots with white pupils on their forewing. Anyway – I only know that because I did a google search! I’m delighted – especially as I’m getting more used to using the zoom on my camera instead of the macro setting [which I still haven’t figured out!].
I amused myself no end cropping and trying to be generally more ‘artistic’ without it looking too artificial … BUT – I do try to get the best pics I can ‘in camera’ as is always recommended. I tend to take loads of shots and discard the majority as many of them are almost the same – it’s just a matter of choosing the best of the bunch. It’s been a bit on the windy side today, so as well as the butterflies and bees being on the move all the time – so are the plants they land upon unfortunately.
I’ve deliberately kept some images high key to reflect the beautiful sunny weather – although I appreciate some butterflies suit a bit of drama more.
Even though this Sedum isn’t in flower yet, the butterflies are obviously attracted to it. I’m fortunate in having several Sedums which I love – especially this dark red variety called Purple Emperor.
I’m looking forward to posting some photos I took through the window during a downpour yesterday. I was going to post them today but the butterflies took priority!
see you soon, Eileen
Pond [er] Again
Posted: July 22, 2014 Filed under: Events, Landscape, Nature, photography, Wild Life | Tags: birds, bit of fun, digital, Ducks, feathers, Geese, image, lake, landscape, nature, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, Paintshop Pro software, photography, photos, Pond, water, weather, Wild life Leave a comment
As well as buying a new camera I went mad and bought an updated version of my Paintshop Pro software – x6. I tinkered around a bit with the colour on these duck images. They were in dappled shade which I quite liked, but I think I could probably have got more light within the shadows. If I decide to have another go I may post the results here to compare. There is a lot that is the same in my update, but a lot that’s unfamiliar to me, so I’m on a learning curve as usual.
I’ll sign off now …… please leave any comments or suggestions, or even ‘like’ or ‘share’ ! Eileen
Once More Unto the Pond, Dear Friends
Posted: July 19, 2014 Filed under: Landscape, Nature, photography, Trees, Wild Life | Tags: 'new camera', 'Olympus Stylus 1', birds, blue, change of scenery, colour, colourful, digital, Ducks, Geese, image, lake, landscape, nature, Olympus Stylus, outdoors, Park Cameras, peaceful, photography, photos, Pond, scenery, swans, tranquil, trees, water, weather, Wild life Leave a comment
Fortunately I’d chosen to visit the Pond a few days before the present heatwave really hit us. Nevertheless – it was a really bright,sunny day and I was armed with my brand new camera – Olympus Stylus 1 – recommended by a very helpful assistant at Park Cameras in Burgess Hill. Because I’m struggling with the settings etc I ended up going back to ‘auto’ . I know I could have done better, but hope I’ll get brownie points for trying!
I do feel the need for a kindly hand to guide me or a nearby class to join, but meanwhile , though it takes twice as long when you don’t know what you’re doing, I will learn by swotting and trial and error – and I will try to compensate by being ‘artistic’ …. But – I’m loving my new Stylus 1 and something I didn’t think I’d find easy is using the view-finder! My not so efficient eyesight means I prefer to use the screen to take my pics usually. But this viewfinder is a good size and switches from the screen mode automatically when you press said viewfinder to your brow. I’m sure it’s making me hold the camera steadier too.
As I took rather a lot of pics I will spread them over a couple of posts. Some are of the scenery, some of the wildlife and some of people and doggies.
This is taken from a small concrete bridge where the Lake leads into a somewhat stagnant looking canal. It is very quiet and secluded and the reflections of the surrounding greenery are lovely.
There is a little peahen[?] at left foreground in above pic …..
A little bit further along, the Lake narrows and is dissected by a road, the other side seems to be quite a little haven for the ducks and geese as they like to gather there to be fed by everybody. It’s a very picturesque part …
From another angle. I liked the shadow patterns of the tree.
Well folks, as usual, I would really appreciate any comments or thoughts on these images, if you have the inclination. see you soon with some doggie pics.
many blessings, Eileen
Time for a Stroll
Posted: June 22, 2014 Filed under: Events, Landscape, Nature, photography, Wild Life | Tags: birds, change of scenery, close up, digital, Ducks, image, landscape, nature, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, photography, photos, water, weather, Wild life Leave a comment
I was feeling very fed up last friday afternoon so on the spur of the moment , and believe me – I am not a ‘spontaneous’ person by any means, I decided to take a stroll down to The Pond again. It was a glorious, warm, sunny day to take advantage of ….
I felt well rewarded when I came across this Heron. Usually I’ve just been able to make him out in the distance, across the other side of the lake. He was still a fair distance from me , as you can see from the second image, so I used the little zoom on my camera for this one – risking a bit of camera shake in the process.
With a little bit of tweaking in my Paintshop Pro, I think it’s turned out ok. Sometimes when I see all the wonderfully sharp close up pics taken by other photographers here, I lament my lack of ‘equipment’ and camera expertise. But even if I had them, physical limitations would prevent me using them I think. I really must get my son to take me to Parks Camera shop in Burgess Hill so that I can talk to an ‘expert’ and try handling cameras!
Oh dear, I fear I’m waffling a bit …. but truly, this is something that keeps cropping up for me and I never do anything about. I could leave the planet before I ever do ! Comments are always most welcome here [ NB. I’ve been trying to learn how to attract more ‘traffic’ to my blogs recently] , and also your constructive criticism of my photographic efforts. I know there are web sites and forums where you can submit your work, but I get defeated by the technical know how – ha ha – the attention span is decreasing with age lol. Till next time then , Eileen
Thought I’d throw in these as an afterthought ….
Enjoying the Sunshine
Posted: June 10, 2014 Filed under: Landscape, Nature, photography, Portraits, Wild Life | Tags: birds, bit of fun, Canada Geese, colour, colourful, digital, drake, Ducks, feathers, Goose, Ifield Pond, image, image background, landscape, nature, outdoors, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, photography, photos, sparkle, sunshine, water, weather, Wild life Leave a comment
As it was a bright and sunny day and I was stuck indoors doing nothing in particular, I decided to take a stroll down to the Ifield Pond again. Although the scenery is much the same [although changing with the seasons of course], at least the wildlife activity varies and there’s always something different to see.
Disappointingly I’m a bit late to catch the ducklings in baby stage – they look more like teenagers, but there still seems to be a lot of courting going on.
This is a particularly nice little area, favoured by the ducks and geese because people park their cars by the roadside nearby and come especially to feed them. In fact I got slightly wary of one particular large Canada Goose who approached me – I think he though my little camera was something to eat and was waiting patiently for me to throw it for him.
This very handsome drake ‘posed’ for me , but I took the pics as much for the interesting water as any ducks on it. I confess to doing a bit of enhancing to the colour, as the sun was so bright and sparkly on the water, and what with the reflections of the overhead trees – it was beautiful to see, but hard to capture. I liked the somewhat hazy appearance.
Let me now introduce the Goose ….
Clematis
Posted: June 13, 2013 Filed under: Flowers, Nature, photography, Portraits | Tags: blue, botanical, Clematis, close up, colour, colourful, digital, drama, Flowers, image, nature, paintshop, Paintshop Pro, photography, photos, plants, weather 3 Comments
Well, of course, being England – it couldn’t last long could it? … the sunny weather I mean ! After being spoilt with the most gordeous blue skies and warmth for almost a week – it turned nasty again. I don’t mind the usual showers or even the heavy rain we’ve been getting – it’s the sudden drop in temperature that chills me poor ole bones that gets to me. Still, I shouldn’t complain when there are parts of the world that suffer so much from earthquakes, tornadoes and the like ! Hmm – I’m living on easy street ain’t I?
Before the rains came I was able to buy some plants to begin filling up the little border. As I’m now the proud owner of a little pickett fence I decided a couple of Clematis would look good scrambling over it. No matter that I discovered too late that Nellie Moser grows 10ft x 10ft ….
Oh Happy days ……
