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rabster

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Posts posted by rabster

  1. That looks a beautiful location FF. I love to see old bridges like that.

     

    BM, that crab is a little cracker, I hope you put him back after he posed so nicely for you?

     

    It was cold, grey & windy here yesterday AM, I think I can see Steve Randles waving to us from the snow capped South Lakeland fells in the background. :bye1:

     

    cleveleys_0904d.jpg

  2. Our paving, before and after. A friend did the driveway for us but we had to do the rest by ourselves. Three full weekends of bloody hard work but very happy with the results. Still have to do the back.

     

    Spooky, it must be a hemisphere thing as we did the back last year & have the front to do this year. :blink:

     

    I didn't get to drive one of those Bobcats though, a whacker & cement mixer were all I got to play with. I agree about the hard work though, it's certainly back breaking, but looking at the fine results you've achieved it's been well worth it - it looks mint.

     

    Back to members photos, I quite liked my granddaughters expression on this one, she's maybe thinking "Right, I've caught the pesky alien, now what do I do with it?"

     

    moggy_0904g.jpg

  3. Some terrific photos added on here since I last looked in - there's too many to comment on them all, but here's my thoughts on a few of 'em.

     

    I see Blue Marlin is still trying to make us all jealous with his photos of idyllic locations, beautiful deserted bays, clear blue sea & not a cloud in the sky <_< Hmmm, well it's working BM. :angry:

     

    Bikerian - that black swan is a rare sight indeed, where did you see that? The bike shot is a real beauty, a great action pic.

     

    Alnaths toothpaste shot is very inventive, why don't I ever think of doing a shot like that?

     

    bob, that frog peering out of the plant pot is superb, nice one! :clap3:

     

    Den, your Grebes head doesn't look like its attached to the body, it's a great shot though.

     

    Love the one of Newt racing around the track. :bigemo_harabe_net-165:

     

    & medwaygreens flower shot is a beauty, roll on summer.

  4. I think you've made an excellent choice buying the 20D Sam. I would've gone for one if I could've afforded it when I bought my DSLR in December.

     

    I'm looking forward to seeing some of your photos now Sam. :)

  5. what type of camera/lens did you use?

     

     

    Cheers all for your kind words. :)

     

    I was using a Konica Minolta 5D (DSLR) together with a 400mm fixed focal length lens, so I couldn't zoom out to fit any more of the swans in. The lens has a closest focusing distance of 2.5 metres, I was in a bird hide & the two swans kept coming closer than that & I had to hangon for them to move a bit further away before I could lock onto them.

  6. Hidden behind the trees

     

    riverwyre_0104cc.jpg

     

    By Cliff

     

    Exif data

     

    Camera make: KONICA MINOLTA

    Camera model: DYNAX 5D

    Date/Time: 2006:04:01 09:36:51

    Resolution: 700 x 465

    Flash used: No

    Focal length: 400.0mm (35mm equivalent: 600mm)

    Exposure time: 0.0025 s (1/400)

    Aperture: f/20.0

    ISO equiv.: 200

  7. Blot on the Landscape

     

    riverwyre_0104_b.jpg

     

    By Cliff

     

    Exif data

     

    Camera make: KONICA MINOLTA

    Camera model: DYNAX 5D

    Date/Time: 2006:04:01 09:35:19

    Resolution: 700 x 466

    Flash used: No

    Focal length: 70.0mm (35mm equivalent: 105mm)

    Exposure time: 0.0025 s (1/400)

    Aperture: f/14.0

    ISO equiv.: 200

  8. Not been here for a while.. usually just give them a passing glance, but the sun came out..

    Den

     

    Nice one Den, Mallards do seem to be looking particularly colourfull at the moment. I photo'd one t'other day that seem to have a purple rather than green head, they (the wise ones) tell me that the colour of the head changes depending on the angle & level of the light. As you say, it's an often overlooked bird.

     

    I was more than lucky capturing my POTD, I just happened to be in the right place at the right time, I just wish the right place I was in was that little bit closer.

     

    57917030.BarnOwl_2903a.jpg

  9. Well heres mine, as always I'm still learning, so comments welcome on the photos, especially "technical" stuff ;-)

     

    Hey Mat, you've got two very sharp & well exposed photo's of your strapping lads there. Re the "technical stuff", the composition of the photos is slightly spoilt by the distracting items in the background. I would either try & crop these shots a bit more tightly to your subject, or when taking the shot try & zoom in on your subjects, which will reduce depth of field & throw the background slightly out of focus, making any objects in the background less distracting.

     

    Blue Marlin & Finepix - 'triffic cat shots there, I love the ones in the basket BM. :clap3:

     

    Cameraman, smashing shot :) , my granddaughter looked just the same when we had her on sunday & her Great-grandma gave her a Jaffa cake.

     

    TB, love all the B&W shots, you've got a very photogenic family. Do you shoot in B&W? Or convert it afterwards?? I really must give it a try sometime.

     

    Nice family shot Wirral, I take it that's you bottom right, I'm not brave enough to post my piccy. :ph34r: Is "The old girl" trapped down the back of the cushion? :lol:

     

    My contribution, Granddaughter Morgan, refuelling at her Great-Grandparents.

     

    morgan_2603d.jpg

  10. I know jaybee from a Fauna/Flora website he hosts, so have seen a lot of his photos already & I'm fast running out of superlatives to describe the quality of his work, but I never tire of seeing his photos, in fact I've even got a disc full of them that I use as a screensaver. Jaybees shots certainly make you aspire to oneday take photos of the quality he does.

     

    Great shots. :thumbs: (BTW - they've got better smileys here than you've got :spiteful: )

     

    Hmmmmmmm.. now I have to make a choice...fishing or photography.....fishing or photography...."

     

    Den, I made the switch & decided to take a break from fishing 6 months ago to pursue wildlife photography & I'm loving it. Problem is that I've spent that much money on camera gear that I'm having to flog my fishing tackle to fund it.

  11. With reference to Chippy's shot I have pm'ed him to gain confirmation on the date taken.

     

    I will say this though, that I have seen some of Chippy's work in the past long before this photo forum came to be, and I know he is an accomplished photographer that could without any difficulty take on and complete the challenge.

     

    Rabster noticed what we think is the date in the file title of the shot, and I have to agree with that, also about the leaves on the trees. Although saying that he could well have been on vacation to another country.

     

    What I think has actually happened and its my honest opinion is the thread was quickly read (well the title and description was) and he thought "I have a shot for that" and he posted it. This is obvious as yes there was no exif info, no title, wrong pixel size and yes probably taken last October.

     

    Its my firm belief that this is just an innocent mistake and not an effort to cheat as no effort was made to change the filename. However I have asked for a response (just in case he was on vacation somewhere) by the end of today (midnight) at which stage I will remove his entry from the poll vote leaving only two for this challenge.

     

    I think thats the fairest thing I can do at this stage an in the absence of an attached exif info

     

    Steve...:)

     

    Steve, I agree 100% with what you've said above. I've checked out Chippy's images on his website & they're stunning, so as you say this challenge is clearly well within his capabilities & if the image was taken outside the qualifying window I'm sure, as you think, that it's just an oversight. :) It's a great shot, whenever it was taken & I'm looking forward to seeing more of Chippys pics.

  12. Thank you Cliff,

    (2) Ugly brute aint he? :)

    (3)I wouldn't know how to photoshop it. If you mean the way the catkins stand out,I think it's just the flash that has done that. The range of the flash is fairly short and so the branches in the background remained unlit by the flash while the catkins became highlighted.

     

    Cheers PTB, I thought is was going to be something like that, or that the sun was picking out the catkins & not the branches.

     

    They're both terrific shots & I'm looking forward to seeing more. I wish I had your vision.

  13. There goes the neighborhood. :bleh:

     

    Now this guy (who happens to be one of my birding/wildlife mentors :notworthy:) can take photos!

     

    Welcome to the photography forum Jaybee, although it looks like you've put the mockers on the weather, bloody Jonah. :lol:

  14. My thoughts on this challenge.

     

    There are a few missing links now & I can't properly remember what's gone, but my favourites from what's left & I'll put them in order of preference: -

     

    1) Ayjay - Waxing Crescent

    2) Pass the biscuits - Hubby with his habit (very close to 1st with Ayjays)

    3) Pass the biscuits - Catkins (if that's not been photoshopped (& I'm not suggesting it has) it's terrific!)

    4) Chippy - No title (** see note below)

    5) Cameraman - Going up

    6) Hellbelly - Looking Up at Tommy

     

    OK, I know it's all subjective & I've chosen six, not three, but those are my favourites.

     

    Right, so from the top three Gillies has selected, I was on the point of voting for Chippy's, which has been given the title "Tree Tops" (presumably by Steve?) until I read this: -

     

    " Tree tops" where was it taken? no leaves on trees for miles around where I live (in the "sunny" south east) barely even a bud!

     

    Lovely shot though, really stood out for me...the vision and composition first class.

    So I thought I'd check the exif, none available, I note Chippy resides in Jersey, so doubt the trees won't be anymore in leaf there than where Poledark is. I also note the filename of the image is
    So my guess is that Chippy has missed the bit in the rules about the shot has to be taken during the comp open window & in the absence of exif no one has picked up on this. But maybe i'm wrong????

     

    If you're looking in Chippy, can you please clarify so I can cast my vote.

     

    Cheers

     

    Cliff

  15. Not managed to get on AN for a few days, so there's a few piccies I'd like to comment on.

     

    Gillies - Stunning series of beach shots, All terrific but No.1 is my fave, a combination of the effect on the water running over that lovely white sand, the incredible clouds & that rock in foreground all adds up to a very well composed shot.

     

    Medwaygreen, whereabouts in France was that taken, judging by the boats in the background it's somewhere with a decent marina, Cannes maybe? Makes me long for my hols in France later this year.

     

    Blue Marlin, any idea what that critter is you've posted?

     

    Ollie Jay, can you lend me twenty quid? :sneaky2:

     

    Bikerian - the swan shots are all excellent, the 1st is my fave, but have you cropped a bit of it's head off, or is it out of the camera like that? If it's the latter I did the same with the breast of the one in my avatar. :(

     

    Finepix - I'm with tony & reckon Spoonbill.

  16. Nice shot Alnath should have entered it in the comp

     

    Whilst walking thru town today couldnt belive my eyes when i seen this

    superlambbanannafronton.jpg

    it used to yellow :D:D

    i Belive the council commisioned this at about £120,000 a few years ago its called superlambbannana. Art or a waste of money ill let you decide <_<

     

    £120,000, I reckon it's a baaa-gain!

     

    I see many more great shots have been added - Alnath's shots keep on impressing me, love the starling & paul mc, that cutting thingy shot is awesome! :clap3:

     

    I've been birding again, I got a few shots I was pleased with, this is probably my fave.

     

    57401310.stonechat_1803a.jpg

     

    in fact, here's another I also liked.

     

    57402084.blackheadedgull_1803b.jpg

  17. OI OI

    right try again computer keeps telling me i dont have enough room,?? so i've reduced this by 50%

    its a shot of my back yard, ( i hope )

     

    :sun::sun::sun:

     

    its a start.

     

    Bill, I've gotta say, each time i read your Oi Oi intro it makes me chuckle. :lol: It looks like you had plenty of snow there, I hope it wasn't wheely bin day.

     

    Blue Marlin - re 'Coin de Mir' is that French for Whitley Bay, maybe not I've just seen the catch of the day, I blame global warming. Both great shots mate, was the Coin de Mir shot panoramic or cropped?

     

    Finepix, love the crocuses/croci?? & bobj's orchid also.

     

    Alnath - I've seen two of your shots now & they're both, from a technical side of things, terrific.

     

    Just a quick edit to add my POTD - I think it's a Bank vole & would be greatful if anyone can confirm one way or t'other?

     

    57339091.bankvole_1603c.jpg

  18. Yes Finepix, the main feature on 'KT' is constant hot running 'tea' :lol: Behind is a a full 4 burner hob and under is the fitted oven and grill. We also have hot and cold running water, and a double sink. I like it old and cossy, but I do like some modern home cumforts :hypocrite:

     

    The whole idea is that we can creep off down the river, where its quiet, think of the picture opotunities, at bird chirp, I get up to do some bass fishing but the birds and wild life, its a stunning setting, the sun rising over the trees, an early morning mist gently rises from the water, puttin that eire 'Hammer' feeling to the scean. Ducks and water birds of all sorts wade in the shallows going about their busines as the tide ebbs to uncover breakfast. Gulls of verious species fly up and down, suddenly drop into the water for some unsuspecting fish fry. And there is yours truly, rod and line, fishing for those butifull silver bars, sea bass.

     

    Hazels down below, in our double cuddle, still driving them home, its 4am :lol::lol: She eventualy surfaces about 8am, and gets a full English on the go. Strange, its the only time we eat a fried break'y, at home its a couple mugs of tea and a bowl of grapfruit.

     

    The photo oportunities are endless, you have seen a few of my sunrise/sunsets. The gulls almost come and sit on the rails, we get seals, and mullet, they can be photographed with a poloriod filter. Then of course jump in the dinghy and row to a lonly beach, inaccessable by land, drift wood, birds, ducks . . . yes, we like our boat.

     

    Out to sea, O'yes, but thats strictly deep see fishing!

     

    Cliff

     

    Cliff - I was on that boat with you as I read that, beautifully written my friend.

     

    Kindest regards from your namesake.

     

    Cliff

     

    BTW - keep the piccies coming & after writing that I hope the reality isn't a half submerged Ford Anglia & a shopping trolley.

  19. Just use an old 50mm SLR lens held reversed next to the lens of your cameras lens fully zoomed out or you can use a reversing ring for convenience. I use a lens that cost £2 from a car boot sale, this is some sugar taken using it handheld up to my G6 http://alnath.fotopic.net/p19781865.html

     

    Jesus Alnath, that shot is very impressive! :clap3:

     

    That takes me back a few years....using a reversed 50 mm lens and what about extension tubes? and stopping down to f22 with flash for insect pics....what fun we had in the "old days"

     

    Den

     

    Den, I'd love to see some of those insect macro shots, any chance you can post some?

     

    Cheers

     

    Cliff

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