Snatcher

Well below freezing here in Whitley Bay now and the snow has returned with a vengance Would not be so bad if I had not given the kids sledge away years ago John

The snow off our roof has just been dumped onto the front path. There is a rapid thaw now in progress here on the coast so just hoping it will all be gone by morning time,it would be nice. I am sure it will be a different story a few miles inland though John

Yes was down on the seafront yesterday morning before sunrise. Not an angler in site the softies Its not as extreme as cod fishing off Whitley Bay beach at daft o'clock in the morning,wading around in the freezing surf and trying to thread frozen worms onto your hook with numb fingers Well it may come a close second though !!! John

Aye Elton used to do it myself. Older and wiser now Leave it for the younguns John

Probably both Andy. Some folk really are clueless about driving on snow and ice. My car is in my garage and is staying there until the snow has gone !!! John

Had a load of snow come off the roof at the back off the house blocking the back door Have just be out clearing it when the rest of it slid off and landed on top of me. Just pleased I had a padded hood on and it was not too compacted Still snowing here in Whitley Bay and more forecast. Newcastle Airport was closed this morning and hear that Teeside airport is now closed. Not the best is it. John

Like I say,took this shot last month over in Drummore,Mull of Galloway where we spend most of the summer. I could kick myself for not seeing that the lens was covered in condensation On reviewing my first shot on screen it looked fine. I think it was the excitement of the situation that made me forget to zoom in to check the detail. I will never do that again Anyway here is my shot. Even managed to get the Plough into the frame !!! John

WOW WOW WOW John

Had a walk along the seafront at sunrise this morning and took a few photos. The main roads had not been gritted at all and only a couple of motorists were chancing their luck. My car is in the garage and there is no way I could get it out and down the lane at the moment. Tynemouth Long Sands Cullercoats Bay It has just started snowing again here with heavyfalls due tonight John

Cheers Tony,forgot how funny Bobby was Must have seen him 5 or 6 times. His timing was immaculate John

Well whats the weather like around the country then ? Here on the NE coast (Whitley Bay) had a "white out" for the last 3/4 hours Just got about 7/8 " but no buses/cars/gritters moving. Just a bit further north heard that they had 15" of snow and that was before it became nasty. Pleased I am retired so just cabined up in a nice warm house with plenty of beer in the fridge !!! What you got in your part of the UK ? Photos would be nice. Will wedge one on tomorrow. John

Rab C !!!! understand every word. I think all of the raping and pillaging that has taken place over the centuries between the Jocks and Geordies has mingled our "gene pool" Well after all Geordies are only Jocks with their brains kicked out Geordie John

Saw it from Drummore,Mull of Galloway back last month First time I had seen it. Even managed a few photos of it (blurred) Had been doing a star trail shoot when I noticed the Aurora to the north. Never noticed the condensation on the lens though !!!! To the naked eye it was shafts of white light. Turned out red and green on a 30 sec exposure. John

As in the total dark Newt??? Experiment A tripod is essential. Would try manual mode for starters with a high ISO 1600,lens wide open. Shutter speed? again experiment,you may have to go onto bulb exposure if your camera has it. Also switch on noise reduction facility if your camera has it. Anyway Newt that would be my initial approach and just tweaking all the parameters until I was happy,aiming for the lowest ISO possible. Let us know how you come on mate. Happy snapping John ps nearly forgot,would also try manual focus. Get your focus sorted first before turning the lights out

Cheers Fred She is open to the public this weekend. I was aboard 20 years ago so will skip it this time. She is due to make her final departure midweek so will try and get a few photographs and will wedge them onto here John

The Ark Royal entering her home port for the last time today 19 Nov 2010. It was a very cold and foggy day as she entered between the River Tyne piers. She is going to be decomissioned John

Some good and interesting shots there Chris,cheers Would like to see some of the original shots before they were "manipulated" Don't get me wrong,I Photoshop images when necessary but just do minimal stuff ie,white balance,levels,red - eye reduction,the odd bit of cloning when required. Once had to clone a painter and his ladders out of 3 wedding shots !!!!! I suppose I come from the old fashioned school of photography. With most of my landscapes/seascapes I purposely do not like to touch them at all in Photoshop apart from cropping. It makes you a better photographer in the long run I reckon John

Yes Ken it was a good display. Was lucky enough to see (and photograph badly!!!!!) the Aurora Borealis over on the Mull of Galloway last month. Was really pleased to have been given this live web cam link Was even more chuffed to watch it live last night. John

Just been given this link so thought it worth passing on. You never know your luck you may just catch the Aurora Borealis John

Aye Tony a couple of beers sounds like a plan New Years Day the tug of war is at the Rockcliffe Arms again. Could do without the snow this year though !! John

What will the collective noun for that be then ? I reckon a "stink" of Snatchers has a nice ring to it I have to be honest and say I prefer the classical statues that were dotted around Chatsworth House. Here are a few I photographed Chatsworth is well worth a day out with plenty to see. Decent photography inside the house was a bit of a challenge mind. Virtually all of the rooms had low light conditions and all of the shots were hand held. Here are a few shots I took inside the house itself. John

Here you go then,a couple more from Chatsworth What do you make of this lot then Just noticed I can see myself 5 times in the last one !!! John

Epson for me John

Nice find Steve,that will be my chap then Again the gardens at Chatsworth House,what is your opinions on these ones? Artistic or not !! John

See ya next month Tony Will be testing the Rockcliffe Arms beer tonight John