Note: For scale reference Pip currently measures a monstrous 30cm at the shoulder.
Thursday, August 31, 2006
Supersize postage...
I bought a spare compact flash memory card this week, nothing amazing about that, but the packaging was quite amusingly overkill - as demonstrated by Pip below..
Monday, August 28, 2006
Butterfly World
..Nr Swindon. Was really good, but very hot and humid - ideal for loosing weight while photographing. My camera survived the humidity after misting up for 5 minutes until it had warmed up. (note to self - keep camera in a sealed bag with silica gel until acclimatised next time)
Sunday Cinemafest
Mov Rev: Snakes on a Plane
My film of the day, fantastic b-movie style horror comedy all the way, mixed with an almost feasible realism. Good fun.
Better than mother***king Anacondas, not as good as delivering one-liners like mother***king Samuel L. Jackson.
Mov Rev: Nacho Libre
My close second favourite film of the day. Almost made me want to dress in stretchy pants and start practicing clothes-lining strangers. A fascinating insight into Mexican wrestling and religion through the eyes of Jack Black, including some classic musical moments.
Better than nachos, not as good as wearing stretchy pants.
Mov Rev: Miami Vice
Last place comes Miami Vice, which was ok. I could cope with the haircuts but found it pretty generic. The action was dramatic when it very occasionally appears, but although it may have fitted in with the Miami Vice style, the boats, cars and love story bits just weren't very interesting.
Better than nuts in a vice, not as good as CSI:Miami.
My film of the day, fantastic b-movie style horror comedy all the way, mixed with an almost feasible realism. Good fun.
Better than mother***king Anacondas, not as good as delivering one-liners like mother***king Samuel L. Jackson.
Mov Rev: Nacho Libre
My close second favourite film of the day. Almost made me want to dress in stretchy pants and start practicing clothes-lining strangers. A fascinating insight into Mexican wrestling and religion through the eyes of Jack Black, including some classic musical moments.
Better than nachos, not as good as wearing stretchy pants.
Mov Rev: Miami Vice
Last place comes Miami Vice, which was ok. I could cope with the haircuts but found it pretty generic. The action was dramatic when it very occasionally appears, but although it may have fitted in with the Miami Vice style, the boats, cars and love story bits just weren't very interesting.
Better than nuts in a vice, not as good as CSI:Miami.
Sunday, August 27, 2006
Saturday, August 26, 2006
Rain
Tried out my waterproof camera system on wednesday, it worked well, but is a little noisy when windy otherwise I might have had some Heron photos here.
Monday, August 21, 2006
My Camera Info
I use a Canon 350D DSLR, I bought this for two reasons, first that I used to use a Canon eos1000 film SLR with Sigma lenses, second was financial restrictions and it's just a darn good camera - I guess that's three. Turns out my old Sigma lenses didn't work, so most of the photos here have been taken with the kit 18-55mm Canon lens that came with the camera which seems good for close up macro and landscape.
My new lens is the Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, bought 'as new' for a bargain from an eBay supplier, due to the shortage of image stabiliser lenses in highstreet shops at the moment. This lens has been excellent - all the below zoo photos were taken with this lens. Both have Hoya UV filters on for protection and haze reduction.
The body, two lenses, hood and spare battery etc just about fit into a Crumpler Stunner bag. I guess I will need to look for something a bit bigger if I can afford to pick up a Sigma 105mm macro lens, hopefully later this year. If I'm feeling keen I also lug about a Sony tripod, which is cheap, light, some good features and build quality was reasonably good. It has worked fine for me so far, the main drawback is the quick release head which doesn't screw to the camera tight enough to hold the 75-300 lens horizontally in portrait orientation. I also have a flashgun floating about somewhere too, but don't use it enough to remember what it is.
I also have a highly sophisticated £1 poncho taped onto a lens hood for taking photos in the rain without the aid of an umbrella assistant, which I am expecting to become a priceless piece of kit with the UK autumn just around the corner. (note that the hood rotates during zoom/focusing but works well enough)
Kit I'm looking at buying in the nearish future: 105mm macro lens, probably Sigma. Circular polariser filter. Graduated neutral density filter (have cokin holder). Teleconverter or extension tube(s). Maybe a ring flash and a Canon 1ds Mark2 if I win the lottery.
My new lens is the Canon 75-300 f/4-5.6 IS USM, bought 'as new' for a bargain from an eBay supplier, due to the shortage of image stabiliser lenses in highstreet shops at the moment. This lens has been excellent - all the below zoo photos were taken with this lens. Both have Hoya UV filters on for protection and haze reduction.
The body, two lenses, hood and spare battery etc just about fit into a Crumpler Stunner bag. I guess I will need to look for something a bit bigger if I can afford to pick up a Sigma 105mm macro lens, hopefully later this year. If I'm feeling keen I also lug about a Sony tripod, which is cheap, light, some good features and build quality was reasonably good. It has worked fine for me so far, the main drawback is the quick release head which doesn't screw to the camera tight enough to hold the 75-300 lens horizontally in portrait orientation. I also have a flashgun floating about somewhere too, but don't use it enough to remember what it is.
I also have a highly sophisticated £1 poncho taped onto a lens hood for taking photos in the rain without the aid of an umbrella assistant, which I am expecting to become a priceless piece of kit with the UK autumn just around the corner. (note that the hood rotates during zoom/focusing but works well enough)
Kit I'm looking at buying in the nearish future: 105mm macro lens, probably Sigma. Circular polariser filter. Graduated neutral density filter (have cokin holder). Teleconverter or extension tube(s). Maybe a ring flash and a Canon 1ds Mark2 if I win the lottery.
Friday, August 18, 2006
Bristol Zoo
Happy Birthday Angela who was 30 yesterday. We had lots of fun and visited Bristol Zoo. I struggled taking many good photos though. I have plenty of excuses from perspex screens to bad light and me not changing settings properly, still here are a few of the best pics (some resized due to poor quality).
Poison Arrow frog and coconut shell house
My favourite - the Chameleons
3 month old Namoki
Bored looking Red Ruffed Lemur in the excellent new Monkey Jungle
Moti the sleepy Asiatic lioness and a young Javan Langur.
A baby DeBrazzas monkey and mother.
Fighting meerkats.
Poison Arrow frog and coconut shell house
My favourite - the Chameleons
3 month old Namoki
Bored looking Red Ruffed Lemur in the excellent new Monkey Jungle
Moti the sleepy Asiatic lioness and a young Javan Langur.
A baby DeBrazzas monkey and mother.
Fighting meerkats.
Monday, August 07, 2006
Hereford and Gloucester
Another (mostly) sunny weekend, went camping near Hereford. Nearly had a photography nightmare when I left my battery in the charger at home, but was saved by a very nice man at Melgray photography in Hereford city center who conjured a fully charged battery I could buy! http://www.melgray.freeserve.co.uk/
A rebellious ladybird jumps the traffic light berries..
Black and white ship rigging in the docks
Railway crane gears also on the docks
A rebellious ladybird jumps the traffic light berries..
Ruined church of St John the Baptist at Llanwarne - http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Llanwarne
Local farmers train their sheep to block roads and ambush stray walkers, tourists regularly vanish without a trace in these dangerous lands. (allegedly)
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Stopped off in Gloucester on the way home..
Black and white ship rigging in the docks
Railway crane gears also on the docks
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