time

...there's never enough of it, is there? I'm aware I've neglected this blog for a while now, so this is my attempt to catch up. I've been keeping up with my 365, which is good, although there may be some variety in the quality of my work(!). I keep 'investing' in new kit, like a new bag, strap, air blower, filters...

I tell Melissa it's all stuff I need - honestly!! However, I know it's just stuff I want, and at the end of the day it's just 'stuff'. This guy uses a point and shoot camera, and free editing software, and produces some amazingly creative pictures - much more than I can ever achieve. It makes me wonder if saving up for the next lens or the newer camera body that I 'need' is really what I ACTUALLY need. Something to think about...

snow in March...

It's weird. In February it was beautiful sunshine and you could wander around in a t-shirt - now it's almost Easter and we're buried under 6 inches of snow(!). However, this does mean lots of nice photo opportunities, so here are some snowy shots:

Here's hoping for a snow day off work tomorrow(!)...

been a while...

...since I posted anything. Life has just been pretty hectic since returning to school after Christmas, and time has been limited. However, I am now 49 days into the 365 challenge and loving it! Here are some of my favourites so far...

It's been a challenge getting a shot every day, especially if I'm trying to make it a bit more technical, or just a bit different from the day before (there are only so many shots of the turtles that I can tolerate...). I'm proud I haven't given up yet though :)

In other (photo) news, I won the HDR competition with this shot:

Thank you Wollaton Hall! Next month's theme is black and white, so have been hunting around for suitable shots. Not a technique I've really looked into before, so should be fun. The graffiti/abandoned building obsession is still there (Melissa despairs of me) so may provide opportunities for this theme...onwards!

HDR

This is the monthly competition theme for January. HDR stands for high dynamic range, and can look really unnatural:

However, I think I like it(!). I went out to Wollaton Hall (also known as Wayne Manor from the latest Batman film!) yesterday, with the aim of taking nice pictures of deer and things, and possibly getting some images I could combine to create HDR images (using some software called photomatix - I can't work out how to do it otherwise!). It was freezing cold, and I came away with some (average) deer photos and some nice shots of the building, which I then HDR-ified. I was pleased with the results:

The last one is my favourite, I think, and probably the one I will enter into the competition. So, as my first venture into the world of HDR I'm pretty chuffed :) Let's see what the competition results say in a few days (I've done really badly recently, so would be nice to get a good result...or at least a vote...).

day 2...

No, I won't be putting up a new blog post every day, but today I did something a bit different (for me). I did some 'urban exploration' - up to a point. True urban exploration this was not, but for me it was something a bit outside of my comfort zone. I went on a graffiti hunt :)

This involved wandering around some dark alleys with my camera, and (possibly) trespassing - although in my defence there were no signs telling me NOT to approach the dark abandoned warehouse...ho hum. So here you are - Derby via graffiti!

This 'angry face' is seen all over Derby in various colours and shapes - this one was on Raynesway. Also along this path were the following:

I wandered towards the warehouse next, snapping this landed octopus on my way:

The warehouse itself was covered, so here are just a couple:

I had fun, although the adrenalin nearly pushed me inside the building (which I fear would have been a bad idea in the near-dark)...somewhere to return in the light, I think! I now seem to be travelling around Derby with one eye on the walls around me in case I spot something particularly good. A new obsession? Perhaps...just don't tell Melissa(!).

new year!

...and my project is....? The 365! This means a new picture every day. That's EVERY day. Not just when I feel like it(!). The hope is that my photography will improve, as well as my editing skills, and also that my wife won't divorce me...So, here is shot 1/365:

Only 364 to go...

If anyone fancies supporting me, I'll be uploading on my Flickr page so check in every now and again to see how I'm getting on :)