After getting excited at finding these little caterpillars and taking a few pictures i decided to try and find out about them and what kind of moth/butterfly they would turn out to be, It turns out they are not what they seem as they are the larvae stage of the Sawfly and they wont be turning into anything nice and pretty (depending on your viewpoint) so im still looking for a couple of real caterpillars to make a chrysalis and show the kids...Bah !
Thursday, 25 June 2009
Sunday, 21 June 2009
Fixing a 430 EX
Whilst playing with my flash + umbrella + light stand i managed to drop my 430 on the carpeted floor which I didn't think had caused any damage.
Sadly this wasnt the case as when i turned off the flash and then turned it back on again it gave a scary sounding grinding noise and wouldnt switch mode, I realised this was due to the motor not operating as it should so with all due care ( and thoughts of zapping myself silly with the inner workings of a strobe) I removed the 8 screws hiding under the circular parts on the sides of the head which allowed the case to come apart.
A little slight pressure on the front of the flash (with the fresnel screens removed) and i heard a little click as the motor re-engaged and with a quick test i was ready to put it all back together again.
PHEW another strobe saved ! its all working as it should again.
Sadly this wasnt the case as when i turned off the flash and then turned it back on again it gave a scary sounding grinding noise and wouldnt switch mode, I realised this was due to the motor not operating as it should so with all due care ( and thoughts of zapping myself silly with the inner workings of a strobe) I removed the 8 screws hiding under the circular parts on the sides of the head which allowed the case to come apart.
A little slight pressure on the front of the flash (with the fresnel screens removed) and i heard a little click as the motor re-engaged and with a quick test i was ready to put it all back together again.
PHEW another strobe saved ! its all working as it should again.
Thursday, 4 June 2009
The importance of notes
Once again i have fallen foul of my own short-sightedness/laziness as I have been out taking pictures without notes, So what ? you may ask.
Take this picture as an example while taking the four or five different angles it wouldnt of hurt to take a picture of the label that was at the base of the plant and i would of been able to tell you the common and latin name of this beautiful plant, I could of added the names to the tags in Flickr helping out some other lazy person with a shot of the same flower and maybe even driven some views to my account as they searched for pictures of the same, As it is its just a pretty flower that i do not know the name of.
All that for the sake of a few seconds to take a picture or make a note, No contest really is there ?
Take this picture as an example while taking the four or five different angles it wouldnt of hurt to take a picture of the label that was at the base of the plant and i would of been able to tell you the common and latin name of this beautiful plant, I could of added the names to the tags in Flickr helping out some other lazy person with a shot of the same flower and maybe even driven some views to my account as they searched for pictures of the same, As it is its just a pretty flower that i do not know the name of.
All that for the sake of a few seconds to take a picture or make a note, No contest really is there ?
Saturday, 23 May 2009
Lightbox !
So anyway adding more to the DIY lightbox topic, I found the walls made from white tissue x2 are very thin and fragile so im going to try to update it next week when i have time with some tracing paper or greaseproof paper and take some test shots to see if there is any sort of colour cast or any problems.
The lightbox is fun to use and I have a queue of items that need to be photographed so if anyone is watching my Flickr stream i will say sorry now as it may get a little lightbox heavy as i play with the materials its made from and the actual lightsources used for illumination.
The lego picture is rather grey at one side due to the single lightsource but overall im happy with how this first image turned out.
The lightbox is fun to use and I have a queue of items that need to be photographed so if anyone is watching my Flickr stream i will say sorry now as it may get a little lightbox heavy as i play with the materials its made from and the actual lightsources used for illumination.
The lego picture is rather grey at one side due to the single lightsource but overall im happy with how this first image turned out.
Wednesday, 20 May 2009
DIY Lightbox
I thought i would get off my lazy behind and make a lightbox with the basic design coming from Strobist.com
Mine is very similar and gives nice results ready to shift some stuff that I no longer use with a view to buying some nice new Lee ND filters.
Hopefully the photographs will make people spend more as they look better and it only cost me about £3 as I had most of the items anyway so its a win win situation.
The Sigma lens im selling is a great lens if you have plenty of light or you compensate to allow for it, Sharp and light enough to carry about all day for a walk around lens.
So people make yourself a light box even if its just to have a play about with as its fun and cheap to do and you never know when you might need to take a few "product/stock" shots.
Mine is very similar and gives nice results ready to shift some stuff that I no longer use with a view to buying some nice new Lee ND filters.
Hopefully the photographs will make people spend more as they look better and it only cost me about £3 as I had most of the items anyway so its a win win situation.
The Sigma lens im selling is a great lens if you have plenty of light or you compensate to allow for it, Sharp and light enough to carry about all day for a walk around lens.
So people make yourself a light box even if its just to have a play about with as its fun and cheap to do and you never know when you might need to take a few "product/stock" shots.
Thursday, 30 April 2009
Exploring Blue and Green
Flickr has this strange algorithm that can grab one of your pictures and throw it into explore, While it has no bearing on subject,composition focus or technical ability people still seem to chase after the mystical HDR bokeh loving Donkey that is the explore picture picker.
Im happy if real people like my pictures and if a picture does make explore (like this one) i just hope it draws more people towards my stream and garners me more comments which helps me progress as a photographer.
More comments = happy me !
Im happy if real people like my pictures and if a picture does make explore (like this one) i just hope it draws more people towards my stream and garners me more comments which helps me progress as a photographer.
More comments = happy me !
Monday, 20 April 2009
Chinese imports
Out in Clumber park and on the lake was this great Mandarin duck, Part of the British wildlife yet was an original import from China.
As my photography progresses so does my knowledge in wildlife so it seems to be a hobby that just keeps expanding my knowledge in more ways than one.
As my photography progresses so does my knowledge in wildlife so it seems to be a hobby that just keeps expanding my knowledge in more ways than one.
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