One Hand Clapping

I've been silent for wayyyyyyyyy too long. Anyway, I've decided I'm back again. My picture a day project is still going strong, but I am always looking around for new ideas. I stumbled across this yesterday...

365 Portraits

I think, perhaps, that as a non-people photographer I may have to work up to this idea! But then, I have been trying...

Quote of the week

"When all is said and done, there's nothing left to do or say"


The following is from "What the Duck"

Blast from the Past

Remember these?

Careful you don't spill!!

Candy Coated

As seen on Bobbi+Mike , perhaps this is the real me?




Do yourself at http://www.becomeanmm.com/

Cuba

Ok, I admit I have been blog-shy of late, but I arrived back from a holiday in Cuba today. Over the next few days I will be wading through the images I took, and posting some here.

I've also one or two observations to make :)

Photography in Words

I notice in "Black and White Photography" that Permajet are running a series of banner advertisements featuring quotations. The ones used this month are

"There are no rules for good photographs, there are only good photographs" Ansel Adams

"Most things in life are moments of pleasure and a lifetime of embarrassment; Photography is a moment of embarrassment and a lifetime of pleasure" Tony Benn

"The hardest thing in photography is to create a simple image" Anne Geddes

So true, all of them. Especially the first, as it is on my business card!

Jo and Jane

Joanne is my hairdresser, together with her sister, Jane, they own their own salon here in Okehampton. Try it, they are both very good and professional!

Oh, and Jane just happens to be my neighbour!

This evening, I shot a portrait session at their salon. We all agreed the available light portraits worked best.


Jo and Jane


Jo


Jane

Acceptances - WCPF Annual Exhibition

Before even attending the seminar yesterday, these images were recently accepted into the WCPF Annual Exhibition, which will be held at Shire Hall, Bodmin from 14th to 26th May 2007.


The Gallop (Ribbon Award winner)


Leading the way home

Exhibition Day

I've spent the day at a photography seminar run by the Western Counties Photographic Federation (WCPF), which was targeted at getting images accepted into exhibitions, but actually was aimed at improving photographs in general!

A fun day, and yes held at a rugby club... North Tawton.



John Tilsley (WCPF past president) explaining the subtlties of an exhibition quality image to a couple of attendees

Thoughts on "Pearls Before Breakfast"

Mike Johnson over at TOP has produced a very thoughtful follow up to the experiment that the previous entry discussed. One argument being that approximately 3% notice rate is actually quite good! Many of his commenters noted that there was a similarity between this experiment and his notorious "Great Photographers on the Internet" post.

My personal comments, in no particular order are

• Do need Art, or any other form of entertainment, to be in context for it to be truly appreciated? What if the Mona Lisa were graffiti? Would it then be treated with the same reverence that it is?
• Is Art entertainment? Should the presentation change depending on the circumstances in which it is presented? Would Joshua Bell have been better off playing in a Clown costume for example?
• Is there an element of "Emperor's new clothes" syndrome? Because the artist is "good" then we should always notice that artist? Or is it more important that our perception and appreciation of the artist is personal and shouldn't be governed by what other members of society dictate?

These sort of things could keep me awake at night!

Pearls Before Breakfast

I first read this on The Online Photographer today, but thought it was so noteworthy I am posting the link...

Pearls Before Breakfast

I will take notice when I pass buskers from now on...

Lost Appetite

errrmmm I will just have some bottled water please...

Beijing's penis emporium

0001

Okehampton, Devon

Of course, I should have chosen a more interesting image for my first pic with my D200!

Old, Blue and New

Meldon, Devon

Rosemoor

Frittillary
Rosemoor, Devon


Hanging Teazles
Rosemoor, Devon

You know you are a photographer if...

oh dear, so many of these are true.... Margaret (my wife) has been nodding sagely to them...

You're a Photographer if....

What Not To Do

Some ideas for things to do with your camera. Or Not. Perhaps

How far can you run in two seconds? It helps if you are Dutch I think...
Running from Camera

Camera Tossing - warning, could invalidate your insurance, sanity or whatever...
Camera Toss

Nautical

Clovelly, Devon



Hartland Point, Devon

Ruling the Roost

Bondleigh, Devon

Cloisters and Shadow

Norwich, Norfolk

Signage

Abbeyford, Devon

SP Day

A Camera for a friend

I mentioned on the 26th February that a friend of mine was looking for a new camera. Well, she decided on a Pentax K10D. Having handled it it feels superb! She got the kit lens with it, and also the 55-200 which feels sooo light I had to double check that it was indeed a 55-200!

At times like this I wonder why I sold all my Pentax film gear 6 years ago!

Springtime

Okehampton, Devon

This year there has been signs of growth for a few weeks, since the middle of January it has been so mild, but now, lots of the trees and shrubs are beginning to bud. I am so relieved!

Lunar Eclipse

View from my house, Okehampton Devon, just after totality

Food as Medicine

We went out for a meal tonight, to The Pickled Walnut in Okehampton. I think I may have discovered a cure for my cold - the Quesadilla was loaded with Chilli! My nose is now suspiciously clear!

I'll see how I sleep!

Egypt

I have been to Egypt twice. Yes, as a tourist, but I have covered a significant amount of the country. It is an assault on all the senses. I love it! Favourite locations, in no particular order:

• Abu Simbel - yes, it has been relocated due to the flooding of Lake Nasser, but the sheer scale of the work involved is awesome... Remember that all this work is thousands of years old.
• Temple of Abydos - Off the beaten track, simply stupendous in its scale and lighting
• Great Pyramids of Giza - not overrated at all. The site is so vast that it is possible to become lost away from the tourist-trap parts of the area. Take your time and drink the history in.
• Any of the lesser Pyramids! - The area along the Nile between Cairo and Luxor is not part of the normal tourist trail. However, there are about 100 pyramids scattered across the desert, that were built before the Giza pyramids and vary in design and size
  
• Floating above the West Bank at Luxor in a Balloon
• Mt Sinai - an exhausting slog before dawn but so atmospheric
• Red Sea at Ras Mohamed - Awesome coral reefs and marine life, learn to snorkel!
  
• Drifting down the Nile, sipping tea and taking the country in. The Nile is Egypt

Church Candid

Norwich, Norfolk

Monday Stuff

I am full of a cold still - very sore throat and lots of coughing and spluttering - I really will spare you all the gory details. The damp winter we are having doesn't really help me either - sometimes I wish it would either be very cold, or we could leap straight to errr say June straightaway. That is, weatherwise, I am not wishing my life away!

I am currently discussing with a friend of mine buying options for a DSLR. I have to say the choice is much of a muchness for someone who isn't bound to any particular system. I know everyone has their favourites, but there really isn't much to distinguish one model from another. I think it will really come down to a "in the hand" test.

Congratulations to Helen Mirren - a long overdue Oscar won!

Holsworthy Window Shopping

Holsworthy, Devon

A good night out...?

Okehampton, Devon

Recovery

Okehampton, Devon

Catchup Mode

Last weekend I went up to London to meet up with a load of wonderful friends from the Pbase community... eat drink and be merry for all! Saturday was spent in Camden Town and Sunday covering the Chinese New year celebrations. Memo to self, take a longer lens next time!

See here for my photos from the weekend.

However since then I have been struggling with a huge dose of man-flu.... coughing and spluttering and oh I will spare you the details! I'm getting a bit down about it because I can't get out much at the moment, without sneezing all over the place...

Self Portrait

Welllllll I think the likeness is uncanny!

Bought to you by http://www.sp-studio.de/

Rain

It is meant to be traditional for us English to moan about the rain, especially here is wet Devon. However, having spent two weeks soaked to the skin some years ago in Costa Rica, then following it up a couple of years later by another two weeks going mouldy in Borneo, I can assure you that we have nothing! Even on the greyest of days, the weather is moist, not wet, in comparison.

Lambing

Bondleigh, Devon

Devon

Devon can be very wet - this I admit. But it can be so beautiful as well, very green too! It isn't all Ponies and Clottled Cream, nice that they are, but the size of the county makes for incredibly diverse landscape and industry. The pace of life is slower than the south east of England, something for which I am so grateful for.

Meldon Viaduct

Meldon, Devon

Remember...

Paul Young? Singer in the 1980's?

Well, he is hanging around with a few of his mates in a band called Los Pacaminos and are appearing in Tavistock tonight.... I plan to have fun :)

Tequila anyone?

Songs of Praise

Sourton Church, Devon

Postings

I don't think I ducked early enough before I was annointed as the webmaster for Okehampton Camera Club. My thoughts when I took this on, were that many such websites are not visual enough - by that I mean the photos are a poor second. As a showcase for the camera club, and to attract new members, I constantly try to update, especially with images. Of course I may not succeed! Today I've managed to complete a gallery for the winners in our last competition...

Now all I need to do is remember to make sure that people can find it!!