Floating Bulb

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This one's my submission for this week's 52Frames "Levitate" challenge. In some ways, it's a re-do of a photo I shot back in 2011, although I've changed a few things, including allowing the light from the bulb to illuminate the background directly rather than hitting it with an external flash, and this time, I eliminated most of the external reflections on the glass envelope.
It's interesting to see that the LED has now become the standard light emitter rather than the incandescent lamp I used back then - I'm not sure LED bulbs were even available at that point, or if they were, they were very expensive.

I soldered a stiff copper wire to the base of the bulb, and a thin wire to the centre contact. These wires hold the lamp up, and pass neatly through a hole in the background, hidden by the base of the bulb, where they are connected to a power source.
Needless to say, this isn't the safest use of electricity, so I don't recommend repeating this unless you know what you're doing, and are comfortable working around live electrical equipment!

Catch A Moonbeam

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I had a pretty lazy day today, recovering from the week. The weather was lovely, and I went out for a rather pleasant drive in the late afternoon / early evening.
I ended up in Queen's Park, Loughborough, where I shot this and a few others, and where I narrowly escaped being locked in by the warden!
I found two gates were locked up, and the warden was just closing the third when I got to it. I didn't realise that they closed the park at all as a routine thing. There were still quite a few other people in there when I left, so I clearly wasn't the only one who was going to be caught out.

What Are You Doing?

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I'm trying to make the most of my time with Holly and Pepper, and get some decent photos with them!

Last Rays

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I liked the way the dying light was catching these leaves.
This one's a backup photo from last night. I ended up working late tonight.

Streetlight Begins To Assert Dominance

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New (2nd hand) lens day! Unexpectedly, times two.
I've been looking at replacing my ancient EF 35mm f/2 with the newer ultrasonic focusing, image stabilised version for a while, and one came up used locally, so I went to pick it up.
While I was there, I spotted a Samyang AF 14mm f/2.8 EF ultrawide in the cabinet, and bought that too. It's quite a fun lens, and I'm hoping it might be good for some big night skies, particularly if we get Aurora again soon.

Not So Fast

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A backup photo today, shot last night.
It's been another mad day today!

Light Night, Take Flight

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It was a lovely evening after I finished work today, so I went out for a drive and put the drone up for a bit.
I think this is the first drone photo I've posted this year.

Unoccupied

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I finished and developed another roll of film this afternoon, this time shot in my old Fuji STX-2. I quite enjoyed using it again after very long break.
The last film came out pretty underdeveloped, so I gave this one longer in the developer, but it could have still taken more.
I also tried scanning this film with my EOS R5 and macro lens, using a film holder I 3D printed from a design on Printables.
It worked quite well, and was much faster and more predictable than scanning with my film scanner. As it works nicely, I think I'll try and clean up my setup to make it a bit more stable and less hacky. Currently, the holder isn't restrained, the camera is on a tripod, and I'm using an LED flat panel ceiling light as an illuminator.
While effective, it is not convenient. A smaller light, a dust brush, and something like a copy stand would seem to be indicated.
I can see myself eventually throwing money at the problem and buying a Valoi setup, but we shall see on that front.

The Boy Who Caught The Eclipse / The Eclipse

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Although only partial, this was still an interesting thing to see. I'm fairly pleased with these two.

I took a few bracketed shots that had some actual detail in the sun, including a sunspot, so I might try and merge them into an HDR photo later - I had a quick go as I was editing these, and wasn't happy with the results, so more work is required!

I'm posting this one late on here - I posted it on Instagram, then drafted the post here before I had to dash out on soundman related duties, and left without posting.
For some reason, it's had a remarkably low like count on Instagram so far.
Social media is an ugly beast. If you aren't careful to keep it in its box, it can really dent your self confidence when something you're pleased with gets ignored.

One more after the jump.

Hide And Seek / Intense Schnauzering

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A bit of a sad day today - I discovered that my days with Holly and Pepper are numbered, as they're going to be moving away from the area soon.
I'll really miss this pair of funny little furry things; they have been a significant part of my life for a long time now.
And to think I once said to Lucy "I'm really not sure I want to be in loco parentis to a dog!".
I'll have to try and squeeze in a few extra days with them in the next few weeks.

One more after the jump.

Blowin' Smoke

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A backup photo today, shot near work a couple of days ago.

Picking Up The Load.

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I felt utterly exhausted and headachy when I got home today.
I saw the light was looking interesting, and managed to drag myself out to shoot this, but then completely crashed out when I got back home.
This week is proving to be a real slog.

I'm wondering whether requesting a sabbatical would be a good idea, as I've been having increasingly frequent episodes of frustration and near-burnout for quite a while now, and this might be a way to reset things without chucking everything in completely.
The question that naturally follows is what I might be able to focus on during such a sabbatical. There are a couple of work-related projects I'd like to do more focused work on - one in particular, but there might also be scope to do something more serious with my photography.
Suggestions on a postcard...

2025-03-25

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Pink On Blue

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Dipping into the ever-dwindling backup bucket again today for this one from last week, I had a busy day and an even busier evening, leaving me with very little time to shoot anything.
One more after the jump.

Serpentine Shadows

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Yet again, I'm late and using a backup photo. On this occasion though, it's only because the things I shot today are still trapped in latent form inside the camera, and require the application of chemistry to free them.
I'm very much out of the mindset of needing to finish the roll before you can develop anything.
I think I used the EF 85mm f/1.2L II for this, but I can't be certain... there's no EXIF data on a roll of film!

Tree, Driftwood, Dog Toy, Photo

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I believe I have the chronology roughly right here!
Another late backup photo from Monday.

This one's probably going to be my 52Frames "shallow depth of field" submission.

Seeking The Department Of Lost Bricks

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A late backup photo today, shot earlier in the week.

Camellia, Show-Off.

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Lucy loved these in general, and this plant in particular; it's outside her parents' window where she spent a lot of time.
One more after the jump.

Enjoying The Sun

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I present for your delectation a backup photo, shot yesterday.

Revisiting HP5+

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I've been threatening to do it, and I did it!
I bought the kit I needed to develop B&W film again, and shot a long-expired roll of @ilfordphoto HP5+.

This is the first film I've shot in well over 10 years. I suspect the HP5+ that I shot here, which expired in 2012, was probably one of the last rolls I bought, which puts the purchase date around 2010 at the latest. This would line up with the point that I was made redundant, and almost completely gave up shooting for fun.

Amazingly, my old EOS 1N still works perfectly after a bit of cleaning, and my ancient Konica Minolta film scanner still functions too, thanks to the excellent Vuescan software.

I took a rather indifferent video of loading the camera to mark the occasion.
The video and a couple more frames are after the jump.

I Hope You're Not Superstitious!

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A random find on my walk this afternoon.

Hit Smash Or Smash Hit?

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Whatever, it's broken now!
This is my submission for this week's 52Frames "Egg" challenge. A bit of an odd one, but c'est la vie!
The egg made a pretty tolerable mug cake, too.

One Flat White, And That Seat In The Window, Please

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I've said it before, but this little camera still does a totally respectable job, even after 15 years.

A Framefull Of Daffodils

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This dense patch of daffodils caught my eye on a walk this afternoon.
I didn't manage to give it quite the amount of attention I'd like to have done, but in my defence, I was also trying to wrangle two hounds at the same time!

Flagging

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A late backup photo today, taken last night.

Out Of The Shadows

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Very late posting this one!
I took this on the way to the pub after a very interesting talk on the state of our rivers by Jack Perks

Snuffed It

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My first time trying out a new technique today - Intentional Camera Movement or ICM.
I've seen quite a bit of noise about the technique online, and some interesting results, so I thought it was about time I gave it a go. This expired hyacinth flower stem seemed like a good subject.
It's a bit of an odd feeling to deliberately go against the usual grain of maximising camera stability or panning to follow an object, but I quite like the result for a first punt.

I thought I was going to be on the backups again earlier, I felt quite ropey after work, but I eventually picked up the camera and felt a bit better.
I got too focused on work today, and forgot to drink enough.
Hopefully that's all that's going on, and I'm not coming down with whatever putrid bug people have seen fit to bring into the office 🙄.

You Silly Boy!

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You've only gone and broken it!
Again!

Part of the cause of a minor meltdown I had last week. I destroyed two small drill bits in as many minutes trying to make holes in copper parts. I thought I'd exorcise the demons by taking macro photos of the victim!
48 photos taken with the WeMacro focus rail, stacked in Helicon Focus.

Proximate Purple

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A backup photo today, taken Friday.
I'm dealing with a severe lack of creativity at the moment, but I do rather like this one.

Blackthorn Blossom Beginning

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This one's my submission for this week's 52Frames Black and White challenge.
I've included the original colour photo too, after the jump, but I think I actually prefer the black and white version.

I didn't quite get round to it in time for this challenge, but I'm teetering on the brink of ordering the kit I'd need to do some film development again.
I ditched all my developing tanks and associated gubbins when I sold my darkroom setup, and I'm finding I've got a bit of an itch to scratch now I've thought about it!

Daffadog

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I have Bailey staying with me for the weekend, so he ended up coming to work with me on Friday. We went for a walk afterwards, and I managed to get him to sit amongst these daffodils for a portrait.
I rather like this one.

Caught In A Fleeting Ray

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Late and a backup (again). This one's from last night.
I liked the way the soft spring evening sun caught the blades of grass.
Only a couple of minutes later, the sun had moved off the ground completely.

Here Lies My Last Nerve

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Something got on it.
A refreshing, albeit rather brief saunter in the last of the sun this evening was helpful to get my head past a very, very frustrating last quarter of the work day.

Paddle Your Own Canoe

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Make sure you launch it first, though...
A late backup photo today, it's been a hectic few days (yet again)

Growing Down

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A backup photo today, shot at the weekend.

Lucy's Orchid

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My friend gave this orchid to Lucy years ago when he borrowed me for a day's DIY-ing, and it's sat on the windowsill ever since.
It came with dire warnings about not overwatering it, so I've always tried to keep up with watering it, but not drowning it.
It never looked as good as when it was new though, and I thought it was slowly dying over the last several years.

A few months ago, I noticed that it was looking particularly sad, and I thought there wasn't much to lose with it, so I hoiked it out of the pot and tidied up the roots, which were growing out of the top of the pot, and had been half-eaten by bugs, and I've been watering it much more.
It seemed to like the treatment, and has had a burst of new growth. When I got home this afternoon, I noticed that this lovely flower had appeared.

Lunch Is Served

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This one's going to be my submission for this week's 52Frames challenge "Unfinished"
I happened upon this heron while I was on a walk with my in-laws, and spent a good few minutes shooting it.
I noticed it staring very intently at a patch of water, and then it went for this fish.
I'm really quite pleased with this photo.

Sunny Spot

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I'm staying with my in-laws for a couple of days, and they had these appealing little daffodils on their windowsill, just begging to be shot.
I thought this dreamy high-key look was a good option, so that's what you're stuck with. 😁

2025-02-27

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Late posting this one after a busy couple of days.
Another lovely sky on my way home from work, but a few minutes earlier this time, and a convenient tree provided a nice silhouette.

Underglow

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I spotted this interesting sky as I arrived home today. I'd have liked to get something in the foreground to add some interest, but it was so fleeting, going anywhere would have caused me to miss it altogether.

Mossy Stuff

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I was a bit frazzled after work this evening, and had very little inclination to shoot (or even do) anything.
I eventually nipped out to the car to grab something, and noticed that this chunk of moss had appeared on my lawn. It seemed like a decent candidate for a macro shot.
Once I started exploring it with the lens, I found this little patch of white-tipped fronds that I thought looked interesting.
This is at 3x magnification, and is a stack of 50 images.
Stacked with Helicon Focus.

Hocus Crocus

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A couple of backup photos today, taken Saturday.
One more after the jump.

Barcode?

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A photo I grabbed walking back to the car this evening.
It was Bailey's last day staying with me today. I don't want to give him back!
The 2nd photo (after the jump) is Bailey reinstalled in his own home. He seems quite content with the arrangement!

Keep Me Posted

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I went for a wander round Melton Park this afternoon. It was an unusually social experience - I was approached and ended up chatting for quite a while to three separate people about photography!
One of the photographers I chatted to pointed me in the direction of some snowdrops, which I've been wanting to shoot for a little while - so I've included my first snowdrop shot of the year after the jump.

Just Around The Corner

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The weather was a bit grim looking, but surprisingly warm this afternoon when I went out with Bailey.
I didn't get much photo wise, but I don't hate this one (oh, what a ringing endorsement that is 😅).

Plus a rather technically indifferent, but moderately cute submission for payment of overdue dog tax (after the jump).

Crocus Carpet

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I've got Bailey staying with me at the moment, and we went for a little walk on the way home from work.
This patch of Croci (Crocuses??) really caught my eye, and I thought the warm glow from the setting sun was a nice addition.
Payment of the dog tax is deferred, I only have phone pics of him from today!

Chopped And Changed

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A bit of a play on words, I suppose.
This caption was going to contain much detailed, frustrated yammering, but you don't want to read that, I'm sure.
Suffice to say that today has seen plans chopped and changed on top of frustratingly slow progress on everything.
Never did the phrase "more haste, less speed" seem more appropriate.

An old neighbour once said that his work felt like constantly fighting fires with a water pistol. I know how he felt.

Somewhere, Somewhen

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A backup photo today, as I'm worn out!
I walked past this interesting little bar while I was waiting to collect my takeaway the other night. I've never been in, but I thought it looked rather cute and cosy - I think I need to try it out at some point.
It looks like there are only a handful of tables in there, which I deem to be approximately the correct amount.
One more after the jump.

The Fires Within

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This has ended up looking like a thermal image, but it is in fact a 5x macro of some foam handwash with some slightly silly lighting applied.
I've included an earlier shot, and a quick behind-the-scenes snap of the contrivance I shot this with after the jump.

I have felt oddly unsettled today, and haven't been able to shake it all evening. I think it's mostly work related, but it is getting a bit old.

The Hyacinth Finished Loading...

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This is the same plant I shot a few days ago, but properly out now. It smells remarkably strong!
A couple more after the jump.