New Forest Wildlife Center

Taken last weekend at the New Forest Wildlife Park, okay so it's kind of cheating, but nice to see them close up once in a while. If anything its good practice for the real thing, especially after a few weeks of too much moving & decorating and no where near enough photography!

ISO1600, 320mm, 1/250s, f/5.6. -2/3ev. Straight from camera.

ISO1600, 375mm, 1/160s, f/5.6,-2/3ev. Straight from camera.

My 2011 Challenge Checklist

Right, this year is going to be the year I finally get around to doing some of the photo techniques I always wanted to try out. Besides continuing my efforts to get a decent Kingfisher photo this year, here is my check-list:

- Star trails

- Light trail cityscape

- Daylight long exposures using my newly purchased 8 stop ND filter (a bargain off eBay for £6!)

- Possibly some motion shots whilst riding my motorcycle

All hopefully with an added twist to them if I can.

.. and with any luck lots of travel pics from my trip to France-Spain-Morocco-Portugal in September! We also have a few more weddings to do this year following on from the success of last years wedding - which reminds me I need to blog some of those! Also a family portrait request which should be fun and challenging and possibly a local hotel website to design & photograph for.. turning into a bit of a mini-sideline career it seems!

Off to the New Forest Wildlife Centre this weekend, so with any luck I should well and truly get my shutter finger back working again for the year ahead..

Call waiting..

An old dial phone enjoys its retirement at Blunsdon Railway station.

Safely locked behind closed doors, unfortunately I couldn't stage it into a more dynamic scene, with maybe the receiver and a few coins on the shelf. Still some nice details though.

ISO200, 24mm, 1/40s, f/5, -1ev

curves, added noise, desaturated, transparent lightening blur