Not Like My Day

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A very busy day today, so this is a backup image from a few days ago.

Calming Blue Hour

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I went the opposite way to usual by the river today.
I saw loads of bats flying around in the dusk. I'm tempted to buy a bat detector - but then I'm easily tempted by a new instrument of some sort!
It was rather nice.

Sitting by the river in the dark

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...watching the reflections, getting a cold backside, and musing on the stupidity of large companies, and the lengths to which small companies will go to appease their ever-more lurid demands.

A conference of empty vessels

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A madly busy and rather frustrating day at work today, and then out this evening meant no time for photos, so here's a backup one from my Highfields trip last week.

Empis Livida / Ominous Sky

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I think this is an Empis Livida, although I can't be totally sure - entomology isn't really my thing!

I rather liked the threatening sky behind these lines of stubble in a fallow field (after the jump)

Three Panoramas

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I went out for a bit of a drive round this evening and got these.
I wasn't deliberately fishing for panoramic shots, but I felt these all worked better at this aspect ratio than the as-shot ratio.
First one is with the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary + 1.4x teleconverter @ 600mm (840mm effective).
Last two after the jump.

(Mostly) Failing to find Ospreys

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Went on a boat trip at Rutland Water this evening to try and see ospreys.
We did catch a glimpse of a couple in the distance, but even with a 600mm lens, plus 1.4x teleconverter, mounted to a 1.6x crop sensor body for an effective 35mm equivalent focal length of over 1300mm, they were not very large in the frame.
Still a fun trip though...
One of the two frames actually containing an osprey after the jump.

Highfields Walk

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Very pleased with these ducks.
A couple more after the jump.

Aphids

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I was about to bin these old roses when I noticed some aphids living on them.

Counters(t)ink

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One spotted by my colleague today. He was countersinking some metal plates for a prototype we are working on, and noticed the cutting oil was making interesting smoke patterns.

I could have done with some more light and time on this one, but you do what you can with what you've got on hand!
I might have another go at something like this in the future, I think it could be better with some flashes and a bit more setup effort.

One more from last night too, also fitting the mono theme, after the jump.

Fun with Trams

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Far more fun to be had photographing them than riding them...
One more after the jump.

Let's go back the way we came

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Very late posting this one...

Till tomorrow

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Another sunset, and another weekend walk with Mum, Dad, and Bailey.
A couple more after the jump.

Whopping Daisies

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I’ve got Bailey for a few days, and we went to the local park this afternoon.
There were some enormous daisies in flower today. They must have been about 40 or 50mm across (1.5 – 2”).
Probably an ox-eye daisy, Leucanthemum vulgare.
I thought it was an optical illusion when I caught sight of the first one, so went over and had a better look at it!

A few more after the jump.

Pic 4 is the dog tax, as is customary.

Pedal Power

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A backup image today - one from last night's damp trip.

Reflected hurry-up

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Took a little magic hour wander tonight in the very wet weather. Worth getting soggy for, I think.
One more after the jump.

2024-05-15

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Late posting this one, I was out with the family, and then ended up doing some work when I got home, and ran out of time and energy to post yesterday!

Serene

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One more after the jump.

Teasel at Sunset / Dandelions at Dusk

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Backup pics today, taken a few evenings ago.
More after the jump

Sunny Spring Afternoons

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Another very, very lazy morning today, followed by a little walk.
A few more after the jump.

Celestial bombardment

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I was hoping the forecasts of more auroral activity for this evening would pan out, but it seems that it's not going to. Oh well, yesterday was an evening I won't forget in a hurry.
Yesterday's aurora must have been the most photographed in history. It's been great to see the widespread international enthusiasm online today.
While it's not a technically good photo, I like the memory captured in the selfie after the jump - cameras on phones have certainly come a long way in the last few years!

Realisation of a long-held dream

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Ever since I first read about the aurora as a child, I longed to see it for myself.
Tonight that dream came true, in more spectactular detail than I had ever imagined possible in this country.

Such a special moment.

Several more after the jump

It's a habit of mine, to watch the sun go down

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I might not be on echo beach, but I do enjoy a nice sunset all the same.

One more after the jump - I was quite pleased with both of these, and it was serendipitous to catch the first little sliver of the moon after the sun had set, I hadn't planned that!

River evenings

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It's been a really warm day again today. It finally feels like summer is round the corner.
I had been out earlier in the evening, and went for a quick wander by the river as the sun set and the street lights came on.
A surprisingly muted sunset today, with just a few very mild pastel colours in the sky.

More splashing around

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I came across a reel on Instagram earlier that showed washers being dropped into a tray of liquid in slow motion, and it inspired me to try the same effect with stills.
The hole in the washer creates a little jet in the middle of the main splash, which I think is rather interesting.
I've added a high-speed video from my initial testing where you can see the development of a splash - after the jump.

The friendly face of government

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A backup image today, because it's been a busy one for me, and I didn't get round to shooting much of anything.

This is a multipurpose government office in Nottingham.
I wonder if the reception one receives on entering is as severe as the exterior appears?

Cheers!

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We went on a trip to the Beefeater gin distillery today. A very interesting tour and tasting.
Didn't take many photos today, but did get this one that I was reasonably happy with.

This was the first time I'd been on the tube since 2019. Bit of an odd experience, and I was quite uncomfortable being so close to so many people.

It was a fun day though.

Pollinator

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I'm with my in-laws for the weekend, and their garden is a real fiesta of bee activity.
It's not perfect, but I was quite pleased with this one.

So, which way is up, anyway?

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Manky weather today, and I'm tired, so here's a backup image from earlier in the week.
I'm looking forward to the long weekend!

Sunset Dreams

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Bit of a mixed day today. Very busy at work, but all in all, fairly productive.
I had a counselling session, which was difficult in places. Definitely worth doing, but hard to do.
Finished the day with a sunset walk with my parents, which was really lovely.

I'm really pleased with these. The first one isn't my usual style - I usually like something to be bitingly sharp, but I think this one has a dreamlike quality that I really enjoy.
One more after the jump

One Third

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One hundred and twenty-two days.
Yes, it's an unconventional way of measuring the year, but I am something of a non-conformist, and I feel like it - so I'm going with thirds.
Also being a leap year, it divides nicely into three.

So, some stats.
47.5% of the photos were taken with the 6D Mk II, with the 80D coming in at 26%, the M6 Mk II at 22%, and the rest being the drone, phone, and Sony RX100V.
My most used lens was my Sigma 105mm f/2.8 Macro, followed by the 70-200 f/2.8. All the other lenses were under 10% each.
I posted 9 backup images (where I didn't shoot anything, or anything good enough or publicly shareable on the day), meaning that over 92% of days so far this year, I've managed to take at least one photo that I'm happy enough with to share on a public platform.

Some days have been tough, but on the whole, I'm enjoying this project so far.