Peregrine!

Well, ok, I didn't manage to get a photo of Peregrine Falcon but I did think I had for a moment. To be fair, if I'd looked hard enough at the photo I'd have easily spotted that it wasn't a falcon.

Thankfully, someone (Mr. P) brought me to my senses and informed me that my image was actually one of an Arctic Skua.
That's perfectly ok because an Arctic Skua is on my Tough Challenge list :)

This photo was taken on Orkney between Skara Brae Neolithic site, at Bay of Skaill, and Skaill House.

Same bird, enlarged and cropped for identification purposes.

Also on the list is a Gannet. I was reading on the ferry back from Orkney when I looked up to see a Gannet flying right next to my window. By the time I got my camera out the Gannet took its blue face far away from me so the photo doesn't show the bird to its full potential. It shouldn't be too hard to get another photo of this type of bird, though.

Same image, enlarged and cropped for identification (not as good quality but you can see its blue face and yellow head).

Orkney!

All going well, my disclosure will come through clean and I will be making my way to Orkney to work for 3 months *hugest smiley face*.

I'm really excited by the photographic opportunities this promises. Not least, the Orkney Vole!!! I have 3 months to find the little blighter and I'll be searching for it every day that I'm off. Along with seals, dolphins, whales, red-throated divers etc.

Fingers crossed I am successful because I am still determined to complete my challenge in 2011.

Aside from the wildlife on Orkney there are so many historical sites to visit and photograph. My favourite so far has been the Ring O'Brodgar, erected around 3000BC (it is believed). The weather was terrible when I was there so my efforts to photograph whilst the wind and rain was blowing me over were not the best. However, I will be returning to this spot whenever there is a lovely sunset to, hopefully, capture a stunning image.

Porpoise (and seal)!!!

I kept missing the porpoises on our return trip from Largs to Port Avade (via Kyles of Bute) this weekend. I would either snap too slow (it was hard to know where they'd pop up) or the boat would be rocking too much.
When the weekend was almost over I finally managed to get a couple of shots of the Harbour Porpoise.

I also managed to get the head of a seal but the image is hopelessly blurry due to distance and the fact I was on a rocky boat. It was also too far away for me to get a proper shot.

I will mark the porpoise off my list but it doesn't mean I won't still be looking out for a better image. I'd be over the moon if I could catch more than one of them in a line, jumping out of the water. A noticable landmark in the background would be even better. A dream photo that will not likely occur in 2011's 'Tough Challenge' portfolio.

Seal at Largs


Porpoise at Strone's Point, East Kyle


Porpoise at Kyles, zoomed in


Porpoise at Largs at the end of our trip

My pinhole camera arrived

I still plan to try to make one but I thought buying one (from Flights of Fancy ) would be quicker.
I was only half right as they didn't provide me with a screw to attach the shutter!

I'll need to have a look for a small screw. Once I know I can attach the shutter ok I'll glue everything together (although it's not necessary) and I may even decorate it.

I have 14 little pieces of paper and I plan to use them all in the camera/box. As they will develop as negative prints I can scan them and convert to positive on the computer. I will create proper prints using the negative papers at a later date.

Below is the pinhole camera in progress (bear in mind it is not yet complete).

Film changing bag

I received a little money for my birthday and, instead of replacing my tattered clothes, I decided to spend the money on something far more important - a film changing bag!!!



For me, this is a little step forward because, although I love my digital cameras dearly, I prefer to shoot in film. Black and White especially. My favourite camera is my Centon DF-300 (the one that the close-up filters fit - woohoo).



I also have 2 old cameras that I haven't yet tried out and this must be remedied asap!

The shutter release on my TLR is broken so it doesn't automatically close again. This will make for plenty 'shake' I'm sure but I'm interested to see if the camera functions ok aside from this. I have a film in it just now, which is half complete.



I was given an amazing camera (Vigilant Junior) from a friend (Mr C) for Christmas. It takes a 620 film so I need to be able to switch 120 film over into the canisters and now that I have the changing bag, I can do this :D
Unfortunately, though, right now the shutter isn't working at all. It just won't open. I will have to enquire about this in the little shop in Edinburgh if it's still there and hope that it can be fixed.



AND the bag will be handy for trying out some pin-hole camera photography.

All I need to do now is find my developing tank, buy some chemicals and hope that my scanner still works! I'm pretty excited :D