Ham House shadows - # 112/10

Another one of those "Ham House moments" when the play of shadows catches your eye.

Russia through my window - # 01/10

Don't worry about the room. Look at the birch tree and the way it catches the light. (Lying in my bed, set up in the living room) I have the pleasure of spending hours looking at this scene.  I had to snap it with the lens available because for the time being that's how life is: just be grateful for what you have, and indeed I found I am rich in friends. 

In Russia there is tradition of painting gorgeous miniatures on little lacquered papier machee boxes.  There are, I recall, three distinct styles (names escape me) and I collected them when I travelled on business to Russia.

The birch tree and everything about it captures those lovely paintings that are so uniquely Russian.

For those of you who worry about me: I am now learning to walk again and trying to bring my useless shoulder back to its normal power and range of movement. My right leg is re-inforced with a very long titanium metal bar, and this is screwed into my hip to stop the leg dropping off!  At least that's what the x-ray looked like when I saw it.  It was indeed a "nasty fall".

In a month from now I hope to be "normal".  Thanks for all your kind wishes.

Girl in the window - # 09/137

Texture and shadow........ - # 09/134

..........and a lot of obscurity.

The macaroon and the coffee cup - # 09/132

Playing about with my "Lightroom 2.5" I produced this. Now I feel unnerved and disconcerted. Why? At least I did not do this on an iPhone.

Shadow - # 09/121

Those commenting on yesterday's photo rightly reminded me that certain parts of Europe have suffered from extreme heat. So, here's something that might help to calm and cool us all down. The utilitarian, squared-off little box is a climate control sensor. What irony! What pleasant tones.

Cat's Cradle- # 09/78

I liked the way this mooring rope formed a sort of cat's cradle as it was reflected in the water.

Clear signs of Spring 4b - # 09/47

A big change of mood, but only tiny changes in time. This image was taken a few moments before yesterday's. In that time the rapidly moving grey clouds (building up on the right) swept across and inspired me to convert the second image into the dramatic B&W event you saw yesterday in # 09/46. I could not have achieved the same effect using this sparkling record of a delightful Spring day.

Clear signs of Spring 4a - # 09/46

The rising angle of the sun begins to bless the northern hemisphere after a rather grim winter. The very clear light and the changing season bring dramatic skies and cloud effects that delight the eye. The large trees are still bare skeletons, the shrubs are greening up.

This is a long winded way of saying: "Bet you didn't expect this for a Spring shot!" The lighting effect was briefly quite dramatic and then passed on, carried away by a brisk breeze. I couldn't resist it. This is my vision of that moment.

Evening water - # 09/27

There's still not much going on under these skies, and there's even more rain and cloud forecast for the coming days.

This is an excuse for not finding much inspiration, and being unwilling to set up my tripod in the kitchen to do intriguing macro photos of rotting fruit (Ah! An idea!!!!).

However, yesterday evening the Thames at Kingston looked attractive as it reflected the (briefly) brightening sky. I enjoyed just standing and looking at it.

Desaturation - Separation - # 08/284

Shining light reflected by water - catching the eye and demanding attention, arresting my thought, uplifting: figures dressed colourfully but separate and alien patrolling dark asphalt: too early to illuminate, too late to expose: only nature is alarmingly bright in leaves that refuse to fall.

I just had to photograph this scene - but I can't work out I why it moved me so much.

Cold comfort - # 08/280

The dark river looks very forbidding and unattractive. The quayside is deserted, and the bright lights cry in vain trying to attract visitors to the restaurants and bars. Some will come a little later in the evening, but it's mid-week, and quite cold in that sort of damp unpleasant North-East Wind kind of way that you get used to if you are British.

If you are not sure what a North-East Wind is like, find the city of Hull on the map, and go there in winter. The wind blows straight out of the arctic and bites you in half. It's good for your moral fibre. Eskimos will understand.

Late opening - quick fix - on the Town!- # 08/275

How do I look? How am I doing? Where am I going? Who will I meet? Such trivia! Such style! We are not savages, you know!

El Mariachi! - # 08/274

I really must go. But Baby, it's cold outside. I really can't stay. But Baby, it's cold outside. ...............Ahh, but it's cold outside.

Camera: Olympus E3. Lens 14-35 1:2.0 Hand held. Total weight 2.0 Kg. Clothing: extra thick padded winter trousers; 100% wind proof coat with special padded inner layer worn over thick Shetland pullover; touch sensitive, thin, warm high-tech gloves for camera operation; cotton, wind proof sailor's cap. Sometimes I ask myself "Why?"

The secret is in the detail - # 08/266

Many of you enjoyed yesterday's insight. Here's a detail. Imagine the brownish shreds to be pink and if you enlarge the photo you will get a taste of the intense blue of the original. Amazing! Brilliant blue and pink. This shot used the macro setting on the versatile and highly capable Olympus C7070 wz.

You also enjoyed the appearance of yesterday's photo. Once again, it's a matter of detail. You need a tripod. By paying very careful attention to the siting of the camera and choosing the right metering you can do it. I chose a low ISO, an aperture of f8.0 (for good detail and depth of field), and used centre-weighted metering to make the best of the wonderful lighting effect. A few test shots, a little experimentation as to the points from which the light is metered and an appreciation of how your camera works will guarantee a happy outcome. It's in the detail rather than in the equipment. That shot was done on the Olympus E3 using the 14-35mm f2.0 lens which delivers a beautiful result thanks to the way it handles the available light.

Light on water, Pen Ponds, Richmond Park - # 08/246

A tiny f 22 lens aperture and a high shutter speed broke up the continuous carpet of glare from late afternoon sun to form a sprinkle of magic dust particles scattered across the water. The birds posed in nicely co-ordinated positions and the long grasses parted conveniently to allow the camera a nice low view point. Just for once the camera captured the magic I saw, but that may not be the case for everyone who sees the photo.

Richmond Riverside with airliner overhead (night) - # 08/243

A chilly night beside the river is a good opportunity for photography but be careful that the swiftly rising tide does not catch your feet and dampen your shoes!

Discussion: the "string of pearls" is a fortunate accident as the plane came over set up for landing at Heathrow. I chose not to crop the image, preferring to leave the mass of darkness in the left foreground because it symbolises the dark rushing river and contrasts dramatically with the (false??) security of the lights of the bars and restaurants. I set the aperture at f16 to provoke the attractive little star burst effect in the street lamps. It begins around f8 on this lens.

(On this occasion no police arrived to ask if I was a terrorist because I was using a tripod to support a giant camera. Do terrorists always use tripods and highly conspicuous cameras when they pretend to be doing perfectly legal things?)

Technical (for those who want to know): Camera Olympus E3 set to Manual, ISO125, Aperture f16, Shutter held open for 19 seconds, Plus 1.5 Exposure Values added in post processing to brighten it up a bit.....so, a 30-35 second exposure may have been a better choice first time round. Lens Olympus 14-35mm f1:2.

The play of light on a great picture - # 08/240

I love the way that the sun floods in through the east facing window and the outline of the window frame is reflected. The masterpiece (Venus and Adonis) hides in the gloom of the great stairway, but for a brief period it shines in the light.

I've made several attempts to catch this tricky exposure, and finally managed it. It is worth clicking on the picture to enlarge it and admire the colour and the expression on the faces.

The story: Adonis is keen to go hunting wild boar. Venus fears for his safety and begs him not to go. The boar kills him and Venus is distraught.

Study in curve, shape, structure and tonal effect, with cobweb - # 08/239

I couldn't resist trying to capture this vision as the bright sun streamed through the cellar window.