Me and my Canon

Harmony

2010-10-28T08:48:00.001-07:00

Harmony, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I was looking out of the window of our apartment while on holiday last weekend and the early morning sunlight crossing the path caught my eye.

I tried to compose this the best i could, with thirds and leading lines in mind.

Taken with my pocket Lumix camera and the Lomo effect (too much?) was added by DUMPR.NET.

ALIVE!

2010-08-26T11:50:00.001-07:00

ALIVE!, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

My son calling out to the sea. I am not sure what goes through his mind but he seems to think the sea can hear him - he calls to it to come an get him and you know what it seems to respond...

I guess we only get to the sea once or twice a year and the weather hasn't been great this week so when given the chance he grabbed it with both hands and went, well a bit mad!

My fave shot from our holiday by a long a way!

Evening Stroll

2010-08-24T13:52:00.001-07:00

Evening Stroll, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

The best shot I think have taken so far with my Sigma 70-300mm.

I still have loads to learn I think; however this was at full zoom of 300mm using a monopod and the results are great.

Camera Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture f/7.1
Focal Length 300 mm
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV

Pebbles in the low sun

2010-08-24T13:35:00.001-07:00

Pebbles in the low sun, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Taken with an Opteka uktra wide adapter on my Canon EOS 400d this evening at Boscombe. Finally some nice weather and beautiful light this evening.

I am pleased with this shot though I think that I need more practice with the lens.

Also please note that I am reviewing photos on my netbook - the screen viewing angle isn't great and I can't be sure of the colours.

Hope you like it.

Huts

2010-08-24T08:47:00.001-07:00

Huts, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I like how these huts look like sports fans standing on terraces. The different colours could be their team colours The small round windows look like big eyes as they stand watching over the game or the beach.

I took this with my Sigma 70-200mm zoom lens - I was about 50m away and the lens has flattened the huts so they look much closer together than they actually are.

The Rain Won't Dampen Our Spirits

2010-08-22T13:43:00.001-07:00

The Rain Won't Dampen Our Spirits, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Pretty rubbish weather today in Bournemouth. The kids coped well and kept smiling throughout, my son walked nearly 4 miles in the drizzle.

This photo was taken under a tree in the Lower Gardens while having a picnic.

I hoped to photograph the Red Arrows or the Vulcan Bomber, but there were very few flights today at the Air Show. Hopefully better weather tomorrow.

Toes....

2010-08-21T12:06:00.001-07:00

Toes...., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

This was taken with my Lumix DMC-FS8 and is the first of my alternative holiday photos. I want to take a serious of less obvious holiday snaps this year. My wife wont get them but I will.... And hopefully so will you guys..

Let me know what you think and come back to see more.

EXIF data below:

Camera Panasonic DMC-FS8
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/640)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 5.5 mm
ISO Speed 80
Exposure Bias 0 EV
Flash Auto, Did not fire

Buzz Lightyear Macro

2010-08-18T11:12:00.001-07:00

Buzz Lightyear Macro, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

So this is Buzz, as if you didn't know from Toy Story.

I took this picture with the MACRO half of my new Opteka lens kit (the full kit is for wide angle / Fish-eye photos.

This picture is part of a handful i took today with the macro lens - each subject is about 2-3cm away from the lens.

Caen Hill Locks, Devizes

2010-08-18T05:33:00.001-07:00

Caen Hill Locks, Devizes, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Definitely a good use of a Fish-Eye lens... I need to play with this some more to get the right combo of ISO, Exposure and Aperture.

Camera Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure 0.002 sec (1/500)
Aperture f/14.0
Focal Length 18 mm (but with a .35 Opteka Fish-Eye)
ISO Speed 400
Exposure Bias 0 EV

iStockphoto Stock Photographer Training Manual | iStockphoto.com

2010-08-17T12:58:00.000-07:00

I decided I would join iStockphoto.com... These are the rules / guidelines for getting images accepted!

Surely some of these are subjective and open to artisic interpretation?

iStockphoto Stock Photographer Training Manual | iStockphoto.com:
Stockphoto - Stock Photographer Training Manual
2.0 - Quality Standards

iStock welcomes all experience levels of photographers and non-photographers, but reserves the right to decline files in its discretion, including reasons based on the following criteria:

* Poor Focus
* Poor Lighting
* Excessive Noise, Grain & Color Distortion
* Compression Artifacts
* Over Filtering
* Poor Isolation & Cropping
* Dust & Debris in Scans
* Upsampling or Rezzing up Images
* Poor Composition
* Inappropriate Title or Description
* Copyright / Trademark Infringement or Risk
* Adult Content unsuitable for iStock
* Profane or Violent Images

Applebys Cafe Wide Angle

2010-08-17T05:32:00.001-07:00

Applebys Cafe Wide Angle, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I got a new toy today - a Super Wide Angle (Fish-eye) lens from Opteka.

I attaches to my normal lenses coverting the focal length to something wider. Not being an expert in such things I can't guarantee what i am about to state is accurate but....

The lens is listed as a .35; I imagine this to be a multiplying factor of some sort which makes this 18mm shot 6.3mm..

Someone correct me if I am wrong...

Never chuck em away

2010-08-16T07:43:00.001-07:00

Never chuck em away, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Chuck Taylor All-Stars, or Converse All-Stars, also referred to as "Chucks" or "Cons" are canvas and rubber shoes produced by Converse. They were first produced in 1917 as the "All-Star," Converse's attempt to capture the basketball shoe market.

Chuck Taylor All-Stars

The shoes were not particularly popular until basketball player Chuck Taylor adopted them as his preferred shoe. He was impressed with the design so he became the shoe's leading salesman.

After proposing a few changes to the shoe, the shoe got its current name and Chuck Taylor's signature on its ankle All Stars patch. One change was the switch to nonslip soles. Although classic black is the most popular, Chuck Taylor was himself known to prefer unbleached white high-tops (known in his day as simply "white").

Consumers demanded more variety from the shoe – particularly with respect to colors in order to match basketball teams – so colored and patterned shoelaces became popular to complement the two colors, blacks and whites, available before 1966. Afterwards, more colors and styles became available. Low-top or "Oxford", high-top, and later knee-high, versions were produced. More materials were offered for the construction, including leather, suede, vinyl, denim, and hemp. Some versions of the shoe were offered without laces, held up instead by elastic. These new versions of the shoe were also co-designed by Chuck Taylor, just before his death in 1969.

A full biography of Chuck Taylor was published by Indiana University Press in March 2006 under the title Chuck Taylor, All Star: The True Story of the Man Behind the Most Famous Athletic Shoe in History, with a foreword by the retired college basketball coach Dean Smith.

Fans of punk rock have adopted the shoe as a fashion trend since the late 1970s and many popular punk rock bands, such as the Ramones, have supported the trend by wearing the sneakers.

All-Stars were worn by the entire athletics team in the movie Grease.

All-Stars became popular again in the '90s to fans of the world as famous grunge-punk band Nirvana emulated the band's frontman Kurt Cobain, who had worn All-Stars for many years prior to the '90s due to the influence of different punk rock bands he enjoyed in his youth. Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello was (and still is) also known for commonly wearing Chucks, and U2 guitarist The Edge has been seen wearing All-Stars onstage in recent years. Jackass star Johnny Knoxville is also known for his signature black hi-top All-Stars.

Garlic and The Car Keys

2010-08-14T14:11:00.001-07:00

Garlic and The Car Keys, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I am not sure why I chose these two items; I was in the kitchen preparing dinner for the family and playing about with my camera and just thought that I would have a go at some abstract still life.

Abstract Still Life is probably not the correct term, more like random inanimate objects on the kitchen work top.

I like the textures and shadows and it would only work in black and white I think.

EXIF Data for those interested:

Camera Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/2.0
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias -1 EV
Flash Off, Did not fire

Sweet Peas 70p - Remixed

2010-08-12T02:14:00.001-07:00

Sweet Peas 70p - Remixed, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I took this photo earlier in the year while in a small village in Gloucestershire called Berkley.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Berkeley,_Gloucestershire

http://www.sweetpeas.org.uk/

It was just a simple display of shrubs and flowers outside a small shop in the high street. I snapped the sign with the price on with my 50mm and instantly thought this would look nice in black and white.

Today I decided to do some processing with Flickr's photo editing partner Picnik and am pleased with the results.

Here is the EXIF data for the unedited shot:

Camera Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure 0.001 sec (1/1250)
Aperture f/2.2
Focal Length 50 mm
ISO Speed 100
Exposure Bias 0 EV

Click the picture to visit my Flickr Photo Stream.

My Other Camera is a Canon EOS 400D

2010-08-05T05:59:00.001-07:00

Camera bokeh, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

My Other Camera is a Canon - I thought I would post a picture of the camera that has been responsible for most of the recent posts.

My Panasonic LUMIX DMC-FS8 is great fun and I use it all the time. I have finally got used to the shutter lag compared to my CANON EOS 400D. It is actually great for macros and shots of the kids in the garden and the video mode is more than enough for capturing some fun moments with the kittens.

I took this shot to enter the Bokeh Wednesday group of Flickr - there was a time when I was posting everyweek and couldn't wait for HBW!

Anyway, I like this shot, though I think it would be better if I had more of the subject in focus or perhaps picked out the word LUMIX on the case.

EXIF Data for those interested:

Camera - Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure - 0.04 sec (1/25)
Aperture - f/1.8
Focal Length - 50 mm
ISO Speed - 200
Exposure Bias - 0 EV
Flash - Off, Did not fire

Stop it with the photos will you!!!

2010-08-04T07:39:00.001-07:00

Stop it with the photos will you!!!, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I promised not to, but I can't resist it.

This little basket was for one of my daughters fluffy cats (ie stuffed toy), our kittens like to snuggle into it. In fact the reason this is in black and white is because my daughters toy kitten basket is PINK!

Jerry left, Buster right.

Best Buddies

2010-07-19T05:35:00.001-07:00

Best Buddies, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

For those looking for more Canon photos and less cat photos you are in teh wrong place... I am sorry but it's just too easy to pick up my Lumix and snap the cats sleeping on the sofa.

If you are wanting more Canon photos stay tuned for new photos coming soon.

In the mean time - aren't they cute?

Black and White Kittens

2010-07-06T14:02:00.001-07:00

Black and White Kittens, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I am really pleased with this one. I am desperately trying to get a good portrait shot of out new kittens while they are still tiny.

Would have been perfect if both had been looking in my direction. Got a few weeks I reckon while they are still this size.

Fingers crossed.

His name is Buster

2010-07-04T11:55:00.001-07:00

, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

He doesn't really look like a Buster, but that was the name he was given by my 6 year old son.

8 weeks old and he and his brother came to live with us today.

I will try not to over do the cat pictures, I promise!

Be A Lert, Your Country Needs Lerts

2010-07-04T11:50:00.001-07:00

I am sure I will get much sharper pictures of the new kittens with a little practice. The is Jerry, and no his brother is not called Tom (though that was the plan). My son has called the other one Buster!

Stay tuned for more cuteness from Jerry and Buster, or is it Buster and Jerry?

Welcome to the kitchen...

2010-07-01T13:44:00.001-07:00

Welcome to the kitchen..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Using the new Flickr interfaces... Not sure I like it. It looks clean but all the buttons like the blog it etc are hidden away.

Anyway, this is just a collection of gadgets on the kitchen work top. Taken with my Lumix.

EXIF data below for the geeks - Edited in Photoshop.

Camera Panasonic DMC-FS8
Exposure 0.033 sec (1/30)
Aperture f/2.8
Focal Length 5.5 mm
ISO Speed 320
Exposure Bias 0 EV

Closed until the Summer

2010-07-01T05:38:00.001-07:00

Beach huts closed, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Not long to go now. Its the 1st of July today and we will be off to Dorset again in August. I took quite a few photos 2 years ago - when my EOS400 was new and the 50mm lens practically became fused with the camara body.

I might try to get a new tele/zoom lens before I go this year as we will be in Bournemouth for the air show again.

There are so many photo opportunities at the beach and generally in Dorset and on the south coast. I will be taking too cameras this year, so may have to change the name of this blog as my other camera is a Lumix.

Motion/Radial blur...

2010-07-01T05:32:00.001-07:00

Motion/Radial blur..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I have just renewed my Flickr pro account and have been looking through some old photos... Thought I would blog a few.

We are getting kittens this weekend so be prepared for photos far cuter than this very soon...

Lumix DMC-FS8 Macro test shot

2010-05-04T06:34:00.001-07:00

Lumix DMC-FS8 Macro test shot, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Ok, So this wasn't taken with my Canon EOS 400d. Maybe my blog title will have to change - who knows...

Anyway, this is a Macro shot taken with my new little Panasonic Lumix DMC-FS8. I looked around for a while before buying a small point and shoot - so far I am pleased with this camera.

Camera: Panasonic DMC-FS8
Exposure: 0.008 sec (1/125)
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 5.5 mm
ISO Speed: 80
Exposure Bias: 0 EV
Flash: Off, Did not fire

It just does...

2010-04-19T01:52:00.001-07:00

It just does..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I saw this road sign and had to snap it. I like the fact that it has been used for something else or perhaps there's a mystery as to why the road narrows.

As far as the actual photo is concerned, the sign next to the post and the old buildings just looked interesting. The blanked out words were the finishing touch. A low F number helped to draw attention to the subject and the red triangle was a nice contrast to the browns and greys.

What do you think?

"Andy"

2010-04-17T02:47:00.001-07:00

"Andy", originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Andy was (is) holding a sign or a tray - I can't remember - outside a small antique barn in Gloucestershire, England. I though his face was full of character. I am convinced then when they made him, the creator had someone in mind and I am sure the memory of someones Grandfather lives in this small statue.

In Your Honour (Honor)

2010-04-05T08:49:00.001-07:00

Don't forget, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

These are dog tags from the filming of Thin Red Line - I was an extra while travelling Australia.

Aero Film: "The Sandpit" - A short film by Aero Director, Sam O'Hare!

2010-03-05T01:21:00.000-08:00

This is an absolutely amazing film compiled from 35000 still photographs - I am not going to try and do this justice by explaining how it was done - just got to the blog post and check out the video on Vimeo...

Aero Film: "The Sandpit" - A short film by Aero Director, Sam O'Hare!

Happy pens...

2010-02-20T02:02:00.001-08:00

Happy pens..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

These pens were corporate giveaways that our Chinese partners gave us for use at a trade show - they were a big hit! I gave these to my kids and they have had them in the pencil tub for ages.

They looked cute so I got the camera out today as part of my new drive to take more photos.. I like how this came out.

Red Arrows - Close Pass

2010-02-20T01:32:00.001-08:00

Red Arrows - Close Pass, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

We have booked our trip to Bournemouth to see the Air Show 2010. Might try and get a new lens before July...

A different view of Avebury

2010-02-20T01:26:00.001-08:00

A different view of Avebury, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I have been looking through old photos on my Flickr stream; trying to remind myself How to take photos... I really like the compostition of this shot with the stones and the tree.

Spring is just about on us in the UK and I shall be getting out with my camear much more often. I alos need to work on a routine/workflow - taking, deleting, editing, uploading, storing and printing photos...

Indiana Jones and the Big Freeze

2010-02-01T03:53:00.001-08:00

Indiana Jones and the Big Freeze, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Taken in January 2010 during the Big Freeze! It was cold and we couldn't get to work, but a few days of snow and ice was fun!

Camera:	Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure:	0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture:	f/5.0
Focal Length:	50 mm
ISO Speed:	100
Exposure Bias:	+1 EV
Flash:	Off, Did not fire

Using my faithful EOS400D, I took Indy out into the gardedn for a few photos. I was disappointed with most to be honest. These two were the best of the bunch and my son uses the top one as his PS3 background image!

My Photo On The BBC Website

2010-01-07T08:22:00.001-08:00

my photo on the bbc website, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

My photo as used in a 20 picture slideshow on the BBC website to depict the weather across the UK today...

Unsuitable for Motors

2010-01-07T05:25:00.001-08:00

Unsuitable for Motors, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Just off the road between Calne and Beckhampton. Took me a few goes to get the exposure right and illuminate the sign.

Cherhill Monument in the Snow

2010-01-07T05:24:00.001-08:00

Cherhill Monument, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Another shot taken this morning near my home in Wiltshire.

Cold Close Up

2010-01-07T04:03:00.001-08:00

Cold Close Up, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Photo taken this morning on the way to the work - near the Cherhill Monument in Calne, Wiltshire.

I am hopeful that the BBC will use it too.

www.flickr.com/photos/bbc_haveyoursay/4253076505/

Autumn Wallpaper

2009-10-19T05:27:00.001-07:00

Autumn, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

This is an oldie from last year. I need to find the time to get out and take some autumnal photos very soon. The leaves are turning quite quickly and now is a good time.

Check out my Flickr photostream real soon for some new autumn shots.

Small bench in the early morning sunshine

2009-09-28T01:23:00.001-07:00

Small bench in the early morning sunshine, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

For some reason this shot didn't come out as well as it looked before I pciked up the camera. I have captured the light and shade which was what caught my eye, but it doesn't inspire me as a finished picture...

Wider angle next time perhaps.

What do you think?

Animal Relentless Bike Tour

2009-09-05T00:51:00.001-07:00

Animal Relentless Bike Tour , originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I took a bunch of photos in Bournemouth of the Animal / Relentless Mountain bike show. Click the picture to go to my photo stream on flickr to see the rest...

Surfing...

2009-09-01T04:36:00.001-07:00

Surfing..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I went to Bournemouth, Dorset last week and we had some great weather. I got loads of photos of the kids and some rather dodgy ones of the Air Show which I will try to post soon - once I fex them a bit.

I took some photos on my last evening there at about 8pm these guys were surfing in a decent swelling coming in from the channel.

My Tamron 200mm lense was just right for catching the action. The sun was setting nicely and it had been a beautifult blue sky day so the water looked great and the sun neatly highlighted the surfers.

Domestic violence

2009-08-19T05:28:00.001-07:00

Domestic violence, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

A cropped Punch and Judy photo, a grunde texture and some horror style writing - add them together in Photoshop and with some curve tweaking too you end up with a striking (excuse the pun) image that turns an innocent fairground sideshow into a political message.

A bit of a dark theme, but I am pleased with this.

Crumpler Pretty Boy 4000 XL

2009-08-13T16:25:00.001-07:00

Crumpler Pretty Boy 4000 XL, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Nothing special - just a bag for my camera. But there is something cool about a Crumpler, is it the name, the bright colours, the cool logo.? I don't know.

What I do know is I don't leave home without it!

The sun setting on my day...

2009-08-11T16:33:00.001-07:00

The sun setting on my day..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I have probably over boosted the contrast on this but I kinda like it this way. Taken wit hmy nifty fifty 50mm prime lens.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.003 sec (1/320)
Aperture: f/4.0
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0 EV

A River Runs Through It

2009-08-04T13:17:00.001-07:00

a river runs through it, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

If you can't think of a good title for your photo, steal a song lyric, book title or obscure movie that no one is likely to remember.

This is was taken last weekend in Gloucestershire England, in the Forest of Dean. This was at a little picnic site called Wenchford.

Frog Macro

2009-07-16T04:37:00.001-07:00

Frog Macro, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Yes another Macro shot. I really like this extension tube kit, for £9.99 I have certainly got my money's worth from it. With this shot I used the "DOF Hack" that I read about to increase the DOF.

When using extension tubes such as the ones I have, your camera has no electronic connection to your lens; this means that the camera has no control over the lens. Firstly this means you have to manually focus on your subject, this is difficult normally, but when focusing on such small subjects it becomes very tricky indeed.

The slightest twist of the focus ring can take the subject in and out of focus very quickly with such a small depth of field. So to increase the DOF you need to set a smaller aperture. To do this you must attach the lens as normal to the camera body, set the required aperture and hold the DOF preview button. With this button depressed you must now remove the lens and attach the tubes and the lens again.

The camera will still say f/0 but your lens will have been set to f/10, f/20 or whatever you chose. This choice will take practice and experience as too high a number will decrease the amount of light to the point where you will need a very long exposure to expose your image sufficiently. Not set it high enough and you will still over expose your shot.

Experience will help you set the right balance and soon you will be able to get the settings your require for your chosen shooting method. This shot was in quite bright daylight, a shutter speed of around 1/250 and the aperture was set to f/20.

If this keeps up my photography knowledge and hopefully skills will come along nicely.

If you look really closely ...

2009-07-14T16:58:00.001-07:00

If you look really closely ..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Having another go with the extension tubes. I have also processed this a little with some black feathering around the edges and a bit of a contrast adjustment.

This shot hasn't been cropped at all and shown how i framed it. Composition is vital in macro shots otherwise it just looks like a close up. Though we can appreciate the detail captured making the image pleasing in other ways is equally as important.

Hoping for some sun tomorrow to take this out doors again.

Macro Love

2009-07-13T12:18:00.001-07:00

Macro Love, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I bought some extension tubes from Amazon and they came today. These are not the expensive ones - these cost me £10.00 delivered.

OK you have to manually focus but once you get the knack you can get some great results. The subject matter is now a challenge as well as framing shots this small.

Great piece of kit for an absolute bargain! The letters above are 4mm high by the way!

Twitter Profile Background

2009-07-08T03:42:00.001-07:00

titter, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I have used some of my photos to spruce up my Twitter profile page. This has become a kind of new artform and design topic with there being loads of lists produced showing great Twitter profile designs. I will probably do something more exciting with mine soon.

Artists and web designers can use thier Twitter profile to show off examples of thier work and creativity - I want to make it on to one of those lists!

Just a few examples to get you thinking about your Twitter page design:

http://indeziner.com/design/50-awesome-twitter-profiles-part-1/

http://www.instantshift.com/2009/05/17/90-smashing-twitter-themes/

http://www.instantshift.com/2009/01/18/125-incredible-twitter-themes/

Wall•E : Don't hurt me!

2009-07-07T06:20:00.001-07:00

Wall•E : Don't hurt me!, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

This is an old one of mine from last year. But I was just looking through my Flickr account and wanted to share this one. I am pleased with the lighting and mood of this shot. The Wall•E toy has so much sorrow in his face, it's hard not to take photos of him looking sad or frightened.

How to Select and Compose a Triptych - Helen Bradley

2009-07-07T02:12:00.000-07:00

How to Select and Compose a Triptych in Lightroom

The article link above is a great little piece written by Helen Bradley and atlks about how to select the best photos to create a triptych image. The picture above is mine taken in Bowood House and Gardens about 2 years ago.

Triptychs are easy to do and can transform a few simple images into sompething much more interesting.

Helen Bradley is a Lifestyle journalist who divides her time between the real and digital worlds, picking the best from both. You can view her site at helenbradley.com. She writes and produces video instruction for Photoshop and digital photography for magazines and online providers world wide. She has also written four books on photo crafts and blogs at Projectwoman.com.

Pushing up the daisies

2009-07-02T14:38:00.001-07:00

Pushing up the daisies, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Not sure about the composition - I didn't want to crop any further. But I do like the mystical, ethereal look of this shot. I feathered the edges to enhance the effect more.

These streets have too many names for me

2009-07-02T14:27:00.001-07:00

These streets have two many names for me, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

As I got low to the ground to take this shot I wasn't sure what to expect. What I saw was a crowd of people on a busy city street. Amazing irony considering I was far from a city, people and being busy.

I know it's simple but I really like how this shot came out. Hope you like it too.

Stormtrooper vs Velociraptor

2009-06-29T01:17:00.001-07:00

Stormtrooper vs Velociraptor, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I cant remember if I have blogged this shot before (turns out I have but on my other blog - twice now!) but I figured this was noteworthy... Someone DUGG this Saturday (ie Digg.it) which resulted in more than 14000 that's 14 THOUSAND hits on the photo! Plus another 5000 Sunday has made this by a mile my most viewed photo on Flickr! Thanks DIGG!

Click here for more Stormtrooper action!

Link to the DIGG entry that started the now 22000 hits on the image and made it easily my most viewed image on Flickr.

11 Tips for Better Candid Photography

2009-06-19T08:59:00.000-07:00

Just been reading this great article on Digital Photography School website written by Darren Rowse.

The site is great and packed with tips for beginners and expert photographers. I have been reading about candid photography here - 11 Tips for Better Candid Photography.

Follow DPS on Twitter too - http://twitter.com/digitalps

Self Portrait

2009-06-04T15:24:00.001-07:00

Me, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Shameless self portrait. I think I did a good job of looking natural and relaxed considering what was going on the headphones! Faith No More!

...the circus brought some light to the gloomy day.

2009-04-30T11:58:00.001-07:00

...the circus brought some light to the gloomy day., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I really liked this contrast of light and dark, happy and sad. The circus should be a place of fun but from this angle by the grimy caravan it doesn't look like fun at all.

Green and Pink

2009-04-23T02:31:00.001-07:00

Lacock Tea Rooms, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Hello - did you miss me? Probably not, anyway i wanted to post this shot up here as I haven't blogged in a while and also wanted to see what you 2 (yes my regular readers!) thought of this shot with my 50mm.

I like the DOF that the nifty fifty provides in the shot, and the contrast of the pink in the frame against the predominant green.

Please let me know your thoughts.

LEGO Photography :: LEGO Minifigs

2009-02-08T01:42:00.000-08:00

Check out more of my LEGO snow photos here:

LEGO FUN :: LEGO Photography :: LEGO Minifigs

Snow Patrol

2009-02-05T09:03:00.001-08:00

Snow Patrol, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I haven't taken any photos worthy of blogging (or posting anywhere) in ages, but was inspired this morning.

If you like this please click on it and visit the rest I took today on Flickr.

Marlborough Christmas Lights

2009-02-04T02:04:00.001-08:00

Marlborough Christmas lights, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I came second in a photo comeptition with this photo.

The competition was for the Marlborough Christmas Lights Association:

www.mcla.org.uk/photo_competition_2008.html
www.chambernews.biz/

Snow in Marlborough (Picniked)

2009-02-02T07:42:00.001-08:00

Snow in Marlborough (Picniked), originally uploaded by ....Tim.

This photo was taken on my BlackBerry 8900 Curve. I have tweaked it a little with Flickr's editing facility (Picnik). I have cropped it to get a better aspect ratio, boosted the colours and contrast, then finally added a little glow.

I think it's a pretty good result in the end.

Here's the original : http://www.flickr.com/photos/tim_norris/3247030097/

Waggon & Horses, Beckhampton

2009-01-08T04:43:00.001-08:00

Waggon & Horses, Beckhampton, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Not taken with my Canon EOS 400D, but with my old Fuji S5600.

The reason for blogging this shot is because it got 469 view on Flickr yesterday due to someone "stumbling it. Amazing.

http://eftych.stumbleupon.com/ - She has over 300 sunscribers to her Stumble stream and they all clicked or invoked a view of this image in some way!

Cool!

Merry Christmas

2008-12-18T05:02:00.001-08:00

Christmas decorations, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

It's a bit cheesy I know, but Merry Christmas to the people who read my Blog and occassionaly send me an email.

Happy New Year too!!!

Memories...

2008-12-07T12:43:00.001-08:00

Memories..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

It's an old one - well taken this summer at Lulworth Cove, Dorset.

Obviously the camera didn't do all of the work here.. Some interesting composition by me and some colour processing on the computer did the rest.

I love this shot.

ISO 400 - Low light photography.

2008-12-03T13:49:00.001-08:00

Bill The Galactic Hero, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

This is a simple shot - taken for an ebay listing.

A rare occassion as I set the ISO to 400. I don't normally do this for any type of shot. But this was indoors, poorly lit and handheld.

In aperture priority mode (AV) f1.8 and ISO 100 the shutter speed calculated was around 1/10 of a second. This is too slow for hand held photography an dthe result is blurred.

Increasing the ISO to 400, means a slightly grainy shot (not that you would notice here) but a increased shutter speed 1/100 of a second. Much better and no blur.

The lens by the way is a 50mm prime. A general rule of thume is the shutter speed should be equal too or less greater than the lens.

ie When using a 50mm lens you should have the shutter speed no slower that 1/50. Even at this level you have to hold the camera very still.

I am actually pleased with the capture for simple ebay listing!

Frost

2008-12-01T22:41:00.001-08:00

Frost, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

This was taken last year (around this time) with my old Fuji S5600. I am waiting for some really good frost this year so I can get my DSLR on the task...

The Incredble Hulk | Wallpaper

2008-11-28T04:03:00.001-08:00

The Incredble Hulk | Wallpaper, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Taken From IMDB:

A cure is in reach for the world's most primal force of fury: THE INCREDIBLE HULK. We find scientist Bruce Banner, living in shadows, scouring the planet for an antidote. But the warmongers who dream of abusing his powers won't leave him alone, nor will his need to be with the only woman he has ever loved, Betty Ross. Upon returning to civilization, our brilliant doctor is ruthlessly pursued by The Abomination -- a nightmarish beast of pure adrenaline and aggression whose powers match The Hulk's own. A fight of comic-book proportions ensues as Banner must call upon the hero within to rescue New York City from total destruction. One scientist must make an agonizing final choice -- accept a peaceful life as Bruce Banner or the creature he could permanently become: THE INCREDIBLE HULK.

IMHO this was a great film. I was initially surprised to see Ed Norton is a Comic Book Movie but he does a great job.

By the way this was all my work apart form the shot of the Hulk. Text, blur etc all my creation.

Dark Knight / Joker Grunge Wallpaper

2008-11-26T13:55:00.001-08:00

Dark Knight / Joker Grunge Wallpaper, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I guess I am straying a bit from photography now, but I am really enjoying getting creative with photoshop at the moment...

The Dark Knight is a 2008 American superhero film directed and co-written by Christopher Nolan. Based on the DC Comics character Batman, the film is part of Nolan's Batman film series and a sequel to 2005's Batman Begins. Christian Bale reprises the lead role. The film introduces two classic Batman villains to Nolan's series: the Joker (Heath Ledger) and Harvey "Two-Face" Dent (Aaron Eckhart).

The Joker's identity is left a mystery in the film, while Two-Face's transformation from heroic district attorney to disfigured killer is presented fully. Nolan's inspiration for the film was the Joker's comic book debut in 1940, and the 1996 series The Long Halloween, which retold Two-Face's origin. The Dark Knight was filmed primarily in Chicago, as well as in several other locations in the United States, the United Kingdom, and Hong Kong.

24 Grunge Wallpaper

2008-11-25T04:40:00.001-08:00

24 Grunge Wallpaper (WIP), originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I didn't take the photos but the result is my work. Made up from a grunge texture, an image of Jack Bauer, 24 logo, map of LA and some layer blending...

I really like the result and I think I will be making some more wallpapers like this..

See below for iPod Touch, iPhone Version

Marlborough Christmas lights

2008-11-22T03:50:00.001-08:00

Marlborough Christmas lights, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Bokeh + Christmas light = a photographics partnership made in Heaven!

Here's another:

Motion Blur

2008-11-12T06:14:00.001-08:00

Autumn Blur 2.0, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Motion blur in photography is when a camera creates an image that does not represent a single instant of time. Because of technological constraints or artistic requirements, the image represents the scene over a period of time (milliseconds, seconds or minutes). This is achieved by moving the camera while exposing the shot or by the object moving (a vehicle, person, animal, moving) while the camera remains static.

As objects in the scene move, the captured/photographed image of that scene will represent an integration of all positions of those objects over the period of exposure determined by the shutter speed (also the film speed). In such an image, any object moving with respect to the camera will look blurred along the direction of relative motion.

Because the effect is caused by the relative motion between the camera, and the objects and scene, motion blur may be avoided by panning the camera to track those moving objects. In this case, even with long exposure times, the objects will appear sharper, though the resulting photo will have a blurred background.

The above photo was taken in a moving car (maybe doing 30 mph) and the exposure was only 1/20 of a second.

Autumn blur

2008-11-12T06:11:00.001-08:00

Autumn blur, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I haven't been getting out much recently. The mornings have definitely been the best part of the day for photos - unfortunately I am usually in the car on the way to work...

Autumn - when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier...

2008-10-22T13:46:00.001-07:00

Autumn - when the arrival of night becomes noticeably earlier..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: -1 EV

Autumn is a great time of the year for colours. No matter how many orange, red, yellow and brown leaves you see - you still can't beat a good sunset...

Morning has broken...

2008-10-13T13:59:00.001-07:00

Morning has broken..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/800)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -1 EV

I guess the long lens kept more of the distance in focus - I am not sure. It's whole new world without the 50mm attached!

The main advantage of the 200mm lens here was it got me closer to the bales in teh field without getting muddy and wet! I tweaked this a little to get more contrast and touch more of the golden sunlight.

Hope you like it.

How to shoot with a 200mm lens

2008-10-09T13:28:00.001-07:00

Golden Green, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Ok so this shot wasn't so hard, but I want to post a half decent shot here!

I have just bought a 200mm Tamron telephoto lens and feel like I am learning all over again - so over the next few posts I am going to share with you (both of you) my experiences and findings of shooting at a focal length of 200mm..

I now find myself using other modes of the camera and adjusting different settings to get the right result. Firstly, I am using mainly shutter priority (Tv) rather than Aperture Priority (Av) mode.

Secondly I found that with my nifty fifty i could get away with ISO 100 in most conditions - now I am speeding up the "film" (to 200 ISO in this shot).

I even found myself adjusting the exposure BIAS.. ?

I hope to understand why I did these things and learn more about shoting at 200mm.... Come back soon!

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/5.6
Focal Length: 200 mm
ISO Speed: 200
Exposure Bias: -1 EV

Wednesday is Bokeh day...

2008-09-18T06:59:00.001-07:00

LEGO - Bokeh, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

I know it's another one of those shots taken with the nifty fifty for the Bokeh Wednesday Group... The standard of shots just keeps getting higher in this group and I can't get enough...

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.067 sec (1/15)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

"We want more bokeh..."
"When do we want it?"
"Wednesday!"

This shot also made Flickr Explore - cool!

Check-out my Flickr DNA for more details...

Grunge Poster Tutorial

2008-09-12T14:29:00.001-07:00

12/09/08, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Yet more photoshopping, this time I sort of but not quite followed the Grunge Poster Tutorial on 2PhotoShop.com. What I mean was it inspired me but I did it my own way, which perhaps took me longer but I think it was the fact that my starter image had a dark background as oppose to the light one in this guys tutorial.

I am really pleased with the result and would put up my own tutorial but I haven't got the patience to screen capture all those settings... !

Anyway, hope you like it and make sure you visit the tutorial here.

JPG Magazine: People: Tim Norris

2008-09-11T06:27:00.000-07:00

I have just signed up as a user on JPG Magazine - this is an interesting concept where you submit photos to themes that can be voted into the actual magazine.

If accepted your recieve $100 and an annual subscription!

I haven't uploaded any photos yet but here is my profile page - JPG Magazine: People: Tim Norris.

Neon Spray Paint Tutorial

2008-09-10T13:41:00.001-07:00

"Tim", originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Ok - this post has nothing to do with my camera other than I found the tutorial while looking Stumbling PhotoShop tutorials.

If you would like to do something similar check this out -
http://psdlearning.com/2008/09/spray-paint-text/

"PSD learning was started on the 13th of June 2008. It migrated from a sub-domain of blogspot.com under the name Tutorials4Photoshop which was started a month earlier. This change was due to Tutorials4Photoshop being being so successful in the first month and to provide you people with a better experience and some cool extra features.

Ross Aitken, the owner and main editor of PSD learning is currently studying design in Glasgow. He has a great interest in computer graphics and writes tutorials in order to share his knowledge of this subject with others."

Though not truly a photographic website Ross has put together some great tutorials for Photoshop..

Adding textures

2008-09-08T14:00:00.001-07:00

Daddy grips the wheel and stares alone into the distance, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Adding textures to photographs can give them a grungy or old look.

Some people devote thier time to restoring old photos, yet the opposite is a surprising popular activity - taking a perfectly good photo and making it look like you found it in the attic.

This was produced using a FREE Texture from a Flickr user by the name of NinianLif.

B.C. - Before Canon

2008-09-06T02:38:00.001-07:00

Made it !!!, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

One of my photos was selected to be printed in a real actual magazine that people chose to read!!! Not a blog or a little newsletter, an actual magazine...

In the latest issue (no 16) of Cardiff Life Magazine there is a great feature on Big Pit. All photos were provided by Welsh photographers and mine was used across a half a page!

Cardiff Life Magazine , part of the Media Clash Group.

This is the full photo that was used..

As I said in the title of this post, this was before my Canon, and was taken with my old faithful Fuji S5600.

Many thanks to Deri Robins for chosing my photo for use in this feature..

The Woodland Trust

2008-09-04T12:05:00.001-07:00

Woodland bokeh, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 0.017 sec (1/60)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

The Woodland Trust is the UK’s leading charity dedicated solely to the protection of our native woodland heritage.

What they do:

By acquiring woodland sites they bring them into care and protection. Many of our woods were previously under threat from development pressure or unsympathetic management.

Woodland Trust woods are sympathetically managed for wildlife and public enjoyment. Woodland Officers organise their specialist care throughout the UK.

They also replace those woods that have been lost to landscape and create more new native woodland than practically anyone else in the UK

The Woodland Trust uses its experience and authority in conservation to influence others who are in a position to improve the future of native woodland. This includes government, other landowners and like-minded organisations.

The Woodland Trust cares and protects over 1,100 sites covering 19,000 hectares (47,000 acres). This includes nationally and internationally important sites as well as small urban and village woods.

Nearly 350 sites contain ancient woodland, over 6,000 hectares, of which 70 per cent is Ancient semi-natural woodland – land which has never been cleared or replanted by man. Many of the sites are also areas of siginificant scientific interest.

If you want to know more or join, click here > http://www.woodland-trust.org.uk/index.htm

Have you ever wondered how they do that?

2008-08-28T17:06:00.001-07:00

A Bokeh Darkly, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Inspired by the Richard Linklater movie A Scanner Darkly starring Keanu Reeves, which is based on the Philip K Dick novel of the same name.

Find A Scanner Darkly on Amazon

I am not sure of the real facts but this extract was taken from Wikipedia:

After principal photography was finished, the film was transferred to Quicktime for a 15-month animation process: interpolated-rotoscoping. A Scanner Darkly was filmed digitally and then animated with Rotoshop, a proprietary graphics editing program created by Bob Sabiston. Rotoshop uses an animation technique called interpolated rotoscope, which was previously used in Linklater's film Waking Life. Rotoscoping in traditional cel animation originally involved tracing over film frame-by-frame. Rotoshop animation, however, makes use of vector keyframes, and interpolates the in-between frames automatically.

Does that make sense? It does to me.

Originally, pre-recorded live-action film images were projected onto a frosted glass panel and re-drawn by an animator. This projection equipment is called a rotoscope, although this device has been replaced by computers in recent years. In the visual effects industry, the term rotoscoping refers to the technique of manually creating a matte for an element on a live-action plate so it may be composited over another background.

I did nothing of the sort to produce this shot - I simply applied an artistic filter in Photoshop (Poster Edges) and then with some simple layer manipulation came up with the idea of having the animated me pushing the remote, becoming the out of focus me. I like the shot and when I have a lot of spare time I might try the whole vector, colouring method of producing a shot that resembles A Scanner Darkly more closely.

...and in last place.

2008-08-23T08:00:00.001-07:00

...and in last place., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

A kind of homage to the 2008 Beijing Olympics...

When the last competitor crosses the line of the last race it will all be over for another 4 years. See you all in London 2012.

There are two layers here as the snail was a bit dark - I brightened up the bottom layer and gradually erased through until I could see enough detail.

I am really pleased with this shot and me and the kids had great fun making this work in the garden..

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1000)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Currently this shot is flying up the "interesting stakes" in my photostream at no 12.

EDIT 26 Aug 08 - now number 1 on my Flickr PhotoStream...

Recovering an over exposed sky...

2008-08-20T14:16:00.001-07:00

Ray tried to sneak up on the sheep.., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Exposure: 0.005 sec (1/200)
Aperture: f/3.5
Focal Length: 21 mm
ISO Speed: 100

As the title of this post suggests I want o talk about how I recovered the over exposed sky for this shot.. I though the early morning sun rays looked great coming from behind the tree and took a few hasty snaps (I was running late for work!)..

I don't have a polarising filter (must get one!) so the sky was completely blown out. This was the best of the bunch of shots and I wanted to share it. So I simply converted it to mono / sepia and boosted the contrast a litle.. Now the over exposed sky is almost lost in the background because the rays are enhanced and become a real feature of the shot - like yours truly intended.

I am not sure if this is called cheating or if I have actually produced a great shot - but I like it. What do you think?

Lesson 2 - Shooting positions

2008-08-18T13:08:00.001-07:00

Ray was rubbish at Hide and Seek..., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Once you have the camera in position it is important to keep it as steady as possible, especially when shooting with slow shutter speeds (well get to that!).

If you find it difficult or have "the shakes" (perhaps yor a nervous 'cos you are taking a photo of something you shouldn't be) there are other ways to "hold" the camera to keep it from wobbling and to ensure you get that rock steady picture.

1. Leaning on a solid object (like a wall or fence) is a good trick, using your elbows to support the camera. You could even set the camera down on the wall for instance and use the self-timer to take the shot. This removes that downward tendancy when the shutter is pressed. You may want to put the camera on a bag (bean bag) or scarf, jumper etc to protect it from scratches.

2. Lean against a wall or tree or similar. This will add stiffness to your frame and minimise camera shake.

3. Lying down is good, as your arms will form a natual tripod and you also feel like a sniper! Cool!

4. Of course another popular way of "holding" a camera is a tripod.

In a later lesson we will go into more detail about using a tripod and avoiding blur on slow shutter speeds.

Here endeth the lesson.. See I told you this would be fun...

Lesson 1 - How to hold your DSLR.

2008-08-18T12:45:00.001-07:00

My Son also liked the new camera.., originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Lets get comfortable with the camera first. Unless you have one of the "new breed" of DSLR with LIVE VIEW, the first thing you will find difficult when moving from a point and shoot is that you have to hold the camera to your face to frame your shots.

Getting into different shooting positions is part of the fun with digital SLR and let's face it, holding one makes you feel like a better photographer straight away. Well I thought I did anyway - my wife says I look like a tourist now! At least I look like a tourist with a decent camera, who knows how to take a photo!!!

You should grip with your right hand, with your index finger poised over the shoot button, and position your left hand underneath the lens, sort of cupping, the opposite way you would tend to hold say a telescope. Now you look like a pro! This gives the lens support and will prevent some blurring - when you move up to bigger lenses and using tripods you will find that you need to hold it more like a telescope to get the rotation.

That's enough for lesson 1... More shooting positions next..

Please note: the shot above is not a DSLR but one of the first shots I took with the EOS 400D. You don't need to see a picture of me holding the camera!

FREE - On line Digital Camera Course...

2008-08-13T07:22:00.000-07:00

Since I purchased and registered my Canon DSLR I have been asked to attend some training courses. Obviously you have to pay for these courses and I will admit to being a little tempted. However, I have decided that I already know the basics myself and the only way to learn is to get stuck in.

So I have decided not to pay for a Basic Training course on my camera, instead I am going to run and attend my own training course. That's right, I am going to teach you how to use your camera - if you already know (as I am sure you do), then skip the next dozen or so entries and have a look at my Flickr photostream.

For the rest of you and for my own benefit I am going to spend a little time over the coming weeks exploring the workings and different settings on my Canon EOS 400D and recording my tips, findings and advice. Then I am going to cover some of the more creative sides to photography as I understand them. I will also be using my own photos to demonstrate the features and settings where possible.

I will be calling on friends and contacts for advice, afterall I am no expert. I expect to learn along the way and I expect you guys to tell where I am wrong (because I am sure I will get something wrong at some point!).

Hold on tight - this is gonna be a rough ride...

Just Say No - to shaving!

2008-08-07T16:27:00.001-07:00

Just Say No - to shaving!, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Ok - so this wasn't taken with my Canon, but my old Fuji..

I was tickled today to find out that if you Googled - Good looking guys with beards you got me at number 1 on the web!!!! It shows the power of Flickr and adding notes to your image!

Of course I am also a good looking guy with a beard ! ;o)

http://images.google.com/images?q=good+looking+guys+with+beards

For the record I wasn't looking for good looking guys with beards : I was looking a the photo stats features on Flickr - this shows you where people have come from to view your images and if it was via a search engine what the search words were...

WALL-E : Explore...

2008-08-04T16:27:00.001-07:00

Wall-E : What's out there?, originally uploaded by ....Tim.

Exposure: 0.02 sec (1/50)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: -4/3 EV (I actually don't remember setting this..!)

So, I will never figure it out. Flickr Explore that is..

This shot has only had a 150 views yet it made it to explore on 30 July. Why? Topical maybe.. I am please with the photo but I didn't rate it this much! I should just accept it.

Enjoy...

Happy Bokeh Wednesday !

2008-07-19T08:39:00.001-07:00

Happy Bokeh Wednesday !, originally uploaded by They call me ...Tim.

Exposure: 1/4000 sec
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100
Exposure Bias: 0/3 EV

It's a great group on Flickr, one of my favourites - http://www.flickr.com/groups/bokehwednesday/pool/ - where all shots must be posted on a Wednesday and feature good examples of BOKEH.

Shot was taken with a Canon EF 50mm f/1.8 II Lens (find on Amazon)

I am particularly pleased with this shot taken on holiday this year with my 50mm prime lens.

Lulworth Cove Cafe - Interior

2008-07-15T13:38:00.001-07:00

Lulworth Cove Cafe - Interior, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

One of my favorite shots taken on my summer holiday to Dorset. This was taken inside a deserted cafe while waiting for a cup of tea.

It was actually warming/brightening up outside!

Exposure: 1/2500 sec
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Holiday / Vacation

2008-07-15T13:36:00.001-07:00

Beach huts closed, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

So I have just returned from a week in Dorset on the thouth coast of England, UK. This picture kind of sums up the weather and the British summer all round.

These little decks should be unfolded with with deck chairs on them, sun bathers and kids playing etc.. But this is Britain!

Still, it made a good photo - mustn't grumble!

Exposure: 0.001 sec (1/1600)
Aperture: f/1.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

Bokeh

2008-06-25T14:15:00.001-07:00

Fern, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

I haven't posted in a while and it was a bit predictable of me to come back with one of my narrow DOF 50mm shots.. I did anyway!

Bokeh (from the Japanese boke ボケ, "blur") is a photographic term referring to the appearance of out-of-focus areas in an image produced by a camera lens.

Different lens bokeh produces different aesthetic qualities in out-of-focus backgrounds, which are often used to reduce distractions and emphasize the primary subject.

Here are some links that explain the technique further and also some great examples on the two Flickr groups:

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Bokeh - the obligatory Wikipedia link..
http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/bokeh.htm - Ken Rockwell has a great sight with some really good technical explanations.
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bokeh_/ - A very large Flickr Bokeh Group
http://www.flickr.com/groups/bokehwednesday - A really fun Flickr group that should post Bokeh shots to on a Wednesday
http://www.diyphotography.net/diy_create_your_own_bokeh - A neat idea that I am going to try tonight.

For the record I use this lens for my bokeh shots - Canon-EF-50mm-1-8-Lens. Its cheap compared to other lens, some say it feels cheap and plasticy but they also say it's superb value for money. The results are great. Here are just some of my photos taken with the "nifty fifty".

Wait for me...

2008-06-17T14:59:00.001-07:00

Wait for me..., originally uploaded by ...Tim.

We had a great day on the 15th - Father's Day. My wife made sure that we got out for some fresh air and also somewhere I would enjoy taking the camera. The weather was great and the kids loved the Roundway.

50mm Velociraptor

2008-06-17T14:57:00.001-07:00

50mm Velociraptor, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

It's been a while since I posted. I have been taking some family shots and a few of the "ahem" kid's toys.. My son has this superb velociraptor that I have been having some fun with.

I am really pleased with the narrow DOF on this shot provided by the 50mm lens, keeping just the head in sharp focus.

Take a look at the set on my Flickr photostream..

Through the wire

2008-05-29T08:04:00.001-07:00

Through the wire, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

Camera: Canon EOS 400D Digital
Exposure: 1/3200 sec
Aperture: f/2.8
Focal Length: 50 mm
ISO Speed: 100

I was taking some shots of the barbed wire to get that cool narrow DOF effect when I decided to focus on the distance instead. I am pleased with the result and have cropped it to make more of a feature of the leading post and barbed wire.

The long road back home

2008-05-29T08:01:00.001-07:00

The long road back home, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

I simply love this photo of my daughter Sophie. Whe had walked to the top of the hill, had our very simple picnic and it was time to go home.. She lead the way as she was getting tired and wanted to go home for a sleep.

This was a bit of a snap really but the result is quite special.

Cherhill Meadow

2008-05-29T07:54:00.001-07:00

Cherhill Meadow, originally uploaded by ...Tim.

I took the kids for a walk on Saturday, we had a bit of a hike up to the local landmark - The Lansdowne Obelisk which was put up in 1845 by the third Marquess and which commemorates his ancestor, Sir William Petty, who was the 17th century economist. It towers 125 feet above the hill and can also be seen 30 miles (48Km) away. The hill now belongs to the National Trust. It is said that this is the highest point between London and Bristol.

Anyway the walk was fun and my kids loved it - it was an excuse for me to get the camera out...

Give peas a chance...

2008-05-23T02:21:00.001-07:00

Give peas a chance..., originally uploaded by ...Tim.

A bit more fun with LEGO. This is actually set on one of our dinner plates and I like the reflections. It's an old joke but I think this a good interpretation.

Within 12 hours this made my top 10 most interesting photos on Flickr..