Close-up Filters

I was given a few 49mm, close-up filters for my 35mm SLR and I can't wait to try them out. I have put them on my 50mm lens and I will use them outside tomorrow; in the garden.



I currently have a colour film in the camera so it would be quite good if I could find some of the ladybirds that have been hanging around recently. If not, the forget-me-nots will be fabulous.

Thanks Bec, for my excellent birthday gift xx

Spring is here

I had a lovely trip to Edinburgh today to visit my cousin. Her hair was so vibrant and amazing against the colours of spring that I wanted to take a photo of her amongst the daffodils.
Fortunately, for me, she was very obliging :)

These are the first photos that I have taken since I lost all of my photos due to a large breakdown/breakage in technology. It breaks my heart to have lost so much important data. I have even lost my images of the wild salmon and deer. Sigh.

However, you cheered me up loads today so thanks Bec. You looked fabulous as always xx

A tough challenge

I've been lacking motivation on the photography front for a while now so I decided to set myself a fun challenge for 2011. It will probably not be achievable in just one year but I'm going to do my best.

Challenge: To obtain a photograph of each of Scotland's wild animals in their natural habitat.

http://wildlife.visitscotland.com/species/

Anyone who wishes to join me on any of my trips is more than welcome and any handy tips will be greatly appreciated.

Floating and Tiny Me!

On holiday in Gairlochy, near Fort William, the weather was unbelievably bad with winds up to 131mph, destroying really old trees in the area. It was really fortunate that my brother and I went for a walk near this tree a couple of days before it was blown down.



Being trapped in the cabin was far from boring. I was so relaxed on this holiday that I decided to take some experimental shots and work with photoshop elements to prepare myself for some ideas I've previously had for images.
I didn't have my mouse with me so the touchpad had to suffice. The final results are therefore not great. However, now that I know roughly what I'm doing I'm going to plan how to make my original ideas work.



Please excuse my rubbish pose and facial expression but I had to run up onto my chair and throw a 'floating' pose that wouldn't look like I just jumped in the air in the space of the 10seconds that my timer allowed me.

A loss in The Shire

I decided to take a walk in the field behind my parents house today, during the 'golden hour' before sunset. I got it totally wrong and the winter sun was behind the houses rather than behind my favourite two trees, where it sets in the summer.

As I had planned to take some photographs I was a little disappointed by my light failure but it was nothing compared to when I discovered the loss of one of the trees!

Near the top of the furthest-away path from the field, leading up to the Renfrewshire cycle route, is where my two trees lived. Both so close together, spread out in perfect symmetry and forming the illusion of a single tree. The trees confuse the brain in the Spring and Autumn months when the foliage and flowers/seeds on both sides form different patterns and colours - the time when I had always planned to photograph them but never got around to it.

The left tree - the prettier of the two - blooming tiny, white flowers in Spring, is no longer there and the remaining stump gives the impression that it has fallen due to decay.

I am utterly disappointed!

{The Remaining Tree: photo update 02/12/10}