[Top servise, very unusual!]

I reported recently the purchase of a New Nikon D80 Camera. Well, things have not gone to plan, the white balance was acting up. Purchased from SRS in Watford, Hertfordshire, part of my old stomping ground before we moved to Suffolk. SRS is a shop I have dealt with on and off with for nearly 20 years.

 

After adjusting everything in the menu that was adjustable, and there is loads. I finally admitted defeat, its not me its the camera? I took it back today expecting a fight, of the 'blinding with science' variety . . . No off it the manager listened, then systematically went through the possible causes . . . yes, "the camera has an inconsistency in its white balance", says he. "We can send it back to . . . " I butted it, no, its 10 days old . . . "yes of course, you would like a new one"?

 

And so, all praise, no real fight, no puffing and blowing, no teeth sucking, the new body was duly handed over. Hazel and I finished the day of with a bit of enjoyable shopping and a 'Mc'y D', I know how to show a girl a 'good time' Thats the first MD we have had for a couple of years, Hazel had a Chicken burger, I had a Bean Berger, with fries . . . I know, it had to be with fries. At least we did not stoop to reconstituted shoe leather cant wait for another 2 years

 

Not had chance to do anything with the new body, did not get home until 7 o'clock, drivers trying to knock down lamp posts on the motor way!! Looking forward to some weather??

 

SRS have a web site, very fair. SW

 

PS

I'll be judging the Jan comp over the weekend, 24 hours left!!

[Photos autoreducing in size - testing]

I set it to reduce them, as they bugger up the page rendering otherwise, forcing readers to scroll right to view them and the text on a thread.

 

If you click on them, they will show full size.

 

 

Elton, we been posting them 800 size for a long time now, why the sudden change??? Smaller size spoils it for me, a bit, dont know about anyone else? Personal opinion of course.

 

SW

 

PS, Ive just flicked through the comp entries, the smaller size makes some of the pics a bit 'blocky' (pixelated) the portrait entries are unaffected therefor show full size, as this months judge its a pain! having to scroll click, scroll click, scroll . . . As a future entrant will the unaffected portrait entries have an advantage? . . . . . . ban portrait pictures I know, its silly but . . .

[Adjusting picture tilt with Adobe 7]

Can anyone give advice on this?

 

Adobe Photoshop 7 allows me to "rotate image" but only in discrete amounts of 90 degrees.

 

I want to be able to make small adjustments to the orientation of an image (say to correct a horizon that has been taken on a pitching boat at sea) I know it is possible because I have seen others do it, but I can't seem to find the right menu buttons on Adobe - or do I need another program altogether?

 

Any help much appreciated, Thanks.

 

 

I use PS Elements, click 'Image' on the header bar, in the drop down menu 'Rotate' where it says 90 left, 90 right there is a 'Custom' option as well, this gives the anything from 0.1 degrees left or right. So logically I would look for 'Custom', hope this helps?

 

SW

[I desperate need of advise . . .]

[Splish-Splash . . .]

[Splish-Splash . . .]

[I desperate need of advise . . .]

[I desperate need of advise . . .]

[I desperate need of advise . . .]

[I desperate need of advise . . .]

[On the advise trail . . .]

SW Deleted post.

[Picture Of The Month .. December 07 .. Winner]

 

What we would like to see now is those 87 people picking up their cameras, and getting pics into the Comp !!

 

Wiggly.

 

NO NO NO, not this month when I'm judging the comp . . . . please Dont forget 'I'm SW snap shot, sharp shootings me' name, sharp shooting the game'. No technical 'mumbo jumbo' here, if it take me' fancy, thats good enough for me, its a 'snap shot'.

 

 

SW

[I'm still around . . .]

The 50-500mm is great idea, however, at 86mm filter size, that going to coast an arm and a leg just for a 'sky and a circular polarise' if you can get them? appear to be special order items? On reflection, I think a new APO 70-300mm optimised for digital as a replacement to my non optimised, vintage version would be wiser. Cheap, value for money, I have filters, and if I feel the urge for something like 500mm, I can fit a 1.4 x converter. Much more sensible Its got a 1:2 macro facility as well.

 

SW

[I'm still around . . .]

London is a fascinating city . . . ? for a photographer . . . I have promised myself a day on foot up there some time, all sorts of interesting areas within walking distance. The Gherkin and Lloyd's building are not far way, and of course all the sorts of interesting angle I spy as I 'drive around' The Embankment, Tower Bridge and some great night shots along the Thames from the Bridges. I have seen them all, just need to find that day and somewhere to park the car at a reasonable cost!!!

 

Got a few ideas how to reduce costs, as the od Taxi would be helpful? Its the night views from the bridges I find haunting!

 

SW

[I'm still around . . .]

Good to see you about. How's the Mitchell?

 

Elton,

What you mean this Mitchell

 

 

Shes shaping up well, now afloat and catching fish . . . when the weather allows Had an 'old mans' half canvas cover put on, couple of overcoats warmer in there, and we keep the cabin clean by not needing to go in! Plenty of customising to do but essentially we are, 'with rod in hand'!

 

looking forward to some serious photography this year, see my previous post. Thats a lens and a half, hire my self out as a 'PI' . . . taking some interesting photos?

 

SW

[I'm still around . . .]

Been looking at the Sigma sight, and spied this little beauty, I think? 50-500!!! the media review at the bottom of the page rate it. It takes over nicely from my from my much liked kit lens. Thats an incredible range and put a x 1.4 or x 2 converter on it and wow! Any one had any experience of this lens, of anything like it. Do converters present any major problem other than in this case a solid tripod and the need for a remote shutter release.

 

http://www.sigma-imaging-uk.com/lenses/telezoom/50-500mm.htm

 

SW

[I'm still around . . .]

Here we go peoples, one of my 'see it' and 'snap it' shots taken a few days ago, on a dull, early 2008, January day in White Chapel, (Ripper Country) London. Haven't put to much up recently, been around watching though, but life has been a bit negative recently for old SW? Still waving the A640 about, however I feel like I'm getting out of touch?

 

Double take . . . !

 

 

 

Considering digging the D70s out again, its not seen the light of day for at least 6 months! Perhaps treat myself to a new anti shake 'Elephants trunk' (tele/pp lens) ?? The old Sigma 70-300APO is a bit heavy and long in the tooth these days? I like my original Nikon kit 18-70 lens, but avoid the long Sigma because of the weight, although I have a decent tripod now?

 

Going to get out on the river this year, hence the idea of a new (better?) long lens. All sorts of activity on the estuary around here, twitcher every where, some great water shots, still life . . . can you call misty, moody, nothing on the face of it moving, capturing the moment, 'still life'? You know what I mean.

 

SW

[fishing in the river orwell]

Blimey thats a large estuary / river.

 

Cod up to the Orwell Bridge, some good ones if you can get out in a boat.

 

Carp can be caught as far down as Foxes Marina.

 

Small Bass every where, fly fishing only please

 

Flat fish every where, close in.

 

You might want to try Landguard point or view point

 

Hay, flat fish, not seen too many of them for a year or three!! Carp at Foxes, not seen that since I have lived in the area. Small whiting, school bass, the od dab and flounder, a keeper cod (just) or two if your are lucky, best on a boat in the Harbour. Flounder have all but disappeared in the past 3 or 4 years, heard it said the bass have cleaned out the flounder fry? Might coxe a sole at night? and of course, plenty of mullet in the summer.

 

SW

[Picture Of The Month .. Dec 07. Competition.]

Entry No: 1

-----------

 

 

and 'Relax' . . .

------------------

 

by Sutton Warrior

 

 

Model: Canon PowerShot A640

Date/Time: 2007:12:23 09:38:38

Resolution: 800 x 504

Focal Length: 14.9mm (35mm equivalent: 336m...

CCD Width: 1.60mm Exposure Time: 0.0020 s (1/500)

Aperture: f/7.1 Whitebalance: Auto

Metering Mode: matrix

ISO:80

[Photo Of The Day.]

Clean and shinny . . . a fluid look . . .

 

[Photo Of The Day.]

Just to let you know I am still about . . .

 

There I was, sitting in my car eating my sandwich lunch, when I spied this little fella tucking in as well. Not a perfect pic by any stretch of the imagination, a 'snapshot' even? but he was not going to sit there to pose for long. Canon 640, ISO was set at 200 from a previous picture and I had to use all the digital and manual zoom, no tripod, everything else on auto 'P' no time to mess about. It gave me pleasure to see it, when I got home, hope you like it?

 

 

Lunch Time in Autumn . . .

 

 

 

 

O well, perhaps not

[Raymarine C80, GPS, VHF for sale]

Have a Raymarine C80 Multi Display unit + GPS + VHF radio, all boxed with manuals

 

Came with the new boat, personally I prefer Garmin, so I am looking to change, therefore the above is for sale, PM/email me.

 

SW

[Bad boats]

Thats all sad news As you say, "a fish ain't worth it" . . . "changes the way one looks at life" . . . . . . . mmm

 

Pushing at an open door thats fine, I just hope the young'uns see sense. Some of these '20 something foot' craft are built to a 'just enough' standard! Secondary fittings are often not good enough! Maintenance is often a weak factor with owners, especially on out-drive equipped boats, some of the service checks are 50/100 hour or 6 monthly and may requiring a lift out, they cant afford it! or cant be bothered, the old 'red mist' does seem to descend from June to October, bass, bass, bass, bass .

 

Its amazing how uninformed some owners are with respect to the operation of the fundamental drive/power operation of their craft. Go wrong at sea, they dont even have a basic idea of where to start looking!

 

I can relate how one owner went 30 miles off shore changed the fuel filter 4 times!!! First time was at 6 miles on the outward bound leg! why did he not turn round?? This owner constantly goes 40 miles off in F4-5 winds, it often blows up more in the day, craft; a 24ft Hardy, fine sea boat I say, but 'one day' will be once to many? Last 'nearly whoops' was a few weeks ago, 35 miles off, the O-D leg got stuck in the up position! An hour of wiggling wires, any wires, whilst being tossed about in not the best of weather, found a bad joint to the electric hydraulic pump! Just in case, the leg is now never raised when off shore.

 

Why should I worry, its not my life . . . . .

 

SW

[Bad boats]

Here, here, that makes a lot of sense to me. Me, I'll book the odd charter or a space on a mates boat if I'm lucky, otherwise I'll just go shore fishing.

 

 

Trouble is 'Norm', fact and reality ain't so exciting . . . . 'Peddle to the metal' much more to capture the imagination . . . . the antics to catch 'big fish' is going to catch someone out sooner or later, probably sooner??? Already had the life boat out a couple of times recently!!!

 

I find it sad that we cant enjoy our boats for what they are, instead of chasing a dream. In fact I started to chase the dream and discovered, that is all it is, a 'will of the wisp'. Reality; 20 something feet boat dead in the water 35-40 miles off shore, weather breaking wind rising, how do you get back? Even if not disabled, these hi-speed 'small' craft ain't so hi-speed in heavy seas with 30 + miles to travel. I have seen some of the crews on their return, they behave as though drunk

 

This thread started as 'bad boats', every boat is potentially a 'bad boat' in bad conditions and no power, a 5hp auxiliary wont help much! Up till now, those in my area that have failed at sea have done so in good conditions. They got away with it, that includes me, my steering failed 35 miles out, good conditions, an emergency tiller and a 'very good, no panic' crew member were my saviours. I could relate a number of other 'nearly' stories this year, besides the two 'life boat' call outs. We are pushing these 'just about craft' that rely on speed to get out and in as a safety factor. One day soon we are going to see headlines . . . 'SMALL BOAT and CREW LOST . . . . '

 

What happened to proper, old fashioned sea boats? sobering thoughts, SW

[Bad boats]

The past 3 or 4 years have been very traumatic for me, loved ones and personal health problems and work (or the lack of it!) playing a major roll! Boats and my love of them has taken an equally major hit At 60, one is finding that the attraction of tramping 30-40 miles off shore at 20 knots is loosing . . .??? . . has lost its attraction. The amount of times I would want to go is dictated by weather, as one would expect. However, what has become 'painfully!!!' obvious, the young'(er) bloods see a F4, wind against tide at some time during the trip as OK The number of times this year, in my humble opinion, I would or could and did go, was once, weather was very good, however the bass banks were churning up the sea, not so bad I suppose but it took the pleasure out of it for me

 

So, with all this in mind, and semi retirement on the horizon, I have made the conscious decision to ease down, sell my much cherished and recently aquired Sea Warrior, use some of the funds to make preparation for the future.

 

The first consideration was running costs, ie, marina fees, fuel (diesel will be £1 a litre next year?) maintenance, and practicality on the social and domestic front, all this against speed!!! Speed can be very expensive in the 22ft-25ft market.

 

As I say, a long hard look with cash in my pocket nearly drove me to distraction, there are some over priced dogs out there!! My final criteria came down to bottom fishing in the winter in comfort . . . = cup'a tea, soup, hot pies and a floating picnic table in the summer with my partner Hazel, plus a few bass as we relax quietly in the local river estuary, speed? leave that to the youn'uns.

 

A 12 mile radius from Langard Point, which takes in the Wallet, Sunk, Towers, Shipwash, Whiting and Bawdsey banks, is well within my preferred 10 knots cruise. I looked from 25knots to 8knots, from 1966 to 2004, the head was hurting. It nearly came to an Arvor 230 with a 130 Nanni, problem is, this is to be my last boat, the longevity of these modern craft and the fact we are talking quite a lot of dosh for a 'fishing boat!'.

 

Finally came up with . . .

 

 

 

A modern classic, Mitchell 22 MkII, circa 2000/1. The MkII Mitchell 22 is like 'rocking horse s***t' to get hold of, built to work boat standards, a factory finished example, using all the fitting normally found on the 31, and the build standards are the same, teak, quality ply, every thing fits in a hand built way, sometimes a little quirky

 

I have some work to do, as in her previous life she was 'just used'! But with a little TLC, a few '£' spent she will sparkle as her name 'Little Gem' suggests. All in all, she will have cost me less than a well equipped Warrior 175, considerably less than the Arvor 230's I was looking at. Packed with quality electronics, best fittings, full of strength and character, she will probably see me to the end of my boating/fishing life?

 

The above is the other side of the private fishing boat story, a very personall choice. To me it is more than a fishing boat, it is a floating caravan, a house extension, something to cherish, enjoy and share, part of me

 

SW