Rush Hour In The Rain

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 1/10 sec, f/4.5, ISO 400
Previous · Current · Next

I was standing just outside Borders until the worst of the rain passed, and so got some shots of people walking by. This was actually my first shot and was really to see how it would come out. Had my umbrella in one hand and my camera in the other, so it was a little tricky :)

It wasn't my best shot technically, but i liked the effect and the sense of motion created.

Fade to Black

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1 sec, f/3.5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Walking over the footbridge I noticed that the lights looked interesting in the slightly misty air. I was annoyed I didn't get this shot perfectly symmetrical, but c'est la vie.

ARGHHH!!!

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 1/60 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

A late attempt to get a shot in for the Fujimugs "People in Action" challenge. Didn't fare too well, but I thought it was kinda fun :)

Shady

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1/640 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Jennifer, if you're reading this, don't check out the previous picture :)

I thought this would make an interesting, if somewhat unusual, shot. And don't tell me that I need some fill flash!! :)

Warning: Spider!

Fuji S7000 @ 47mm, 1/60 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

I don't think you really want to know where I found this little fella!

I used my fuji with a reversed 50mm f/1.8 and my SB-800. It couldn't have been more than 2mm in length. Now that's what I call shallow DOF!

Edit: I've just found out that this isn't a spider - it's a tick! Thanks Craig (aka bug boy)

Under Cover

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 1/100 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Sleep tight, and don't let the bed bugs bite!

Big Break

Fuji S7000 @ 8mm, 1.3 sec, f/3.6, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

This shot was actually taken last night, so I still had my S7000 with me. I had the Fujimugs current theme "People in Action" in mind, but I wasn't expecting much from the shot. I made novel use of a spider rest turning it into a makeshift monopod. It worked surprisingly well considering the 1.3 second shutter speed. I'd like to try this shot again with a proper tripod, and my SB-800, perhaps on strobe mode. Although the trails from the balls is quite cool.

Rainbow

Fuji S7000 @ 31mm, 1/160 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Driving home from my gran's I noticed a nice rainbow, so pulled over and grabbed a few shots.

Master of Puppets

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 1/60 sec, f/5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Can't think of much to say about this one - just some puppets that hang from the ceiling in my gf's bedroom. Used the SB-800 in wireless mode.

New Neighbour

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1/100 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Yaas, I've got me a flat.

Just renting, but it's a sweet little mews flat literally 3 minutes walk from where I'll be working in a few weeks time. I was getting worried for a while there, thinking that I'd never find anywhere I liked, so I'm delighted. As for starting work... well, that's a completely different matter!

Oh, that's Edinburgh Castle btw, taken yesterday.

Watching

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1/800 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

I went flat hunting in Edinburgh today and so didn't really spend much time with the camera out. We did take a quick walk through Princes Gardens though and caught some of the Fringe action.

The Narcissist

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 1/125 sec, f/5.6, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Let me introduce you to... well... me. I'm really not that much of a poser. Honestly!

I wanted a few shots to put in the about this site section that I've just included, so my girlfriend swapped sides of the lens with me. She took the shots, I did the PP work.

Next!

Thou shall hev a fishy...

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1/100 sec, f/10, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

... on a little dishy. Thou shall hev a fishy when the boat comes in.

Last week I was invited to go fishing. I've never tried it before, so I though why not. I couldn't imagine it would be the most exciting thing in the world, and was actually looking forward to just getting out on the little boat we hired.

But... it was brilliant, really. We must have been on the boat for 7 hours and the time just flew by. Admittedly I did think it was a little cruel at first, but you soon get into the swing of things :)

So this is Michael, the Captain of our ship, and experienced seaman. Still, the newbies ended up catching more fish... must be beginners luck, eh? :)

The Falls II

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 2.5 sec, f/25, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Taken further down stream from the Falls of Falloch

Fishing Private

Nikon D70 @ 50mm, 1/80 sec, f/2.8, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

There was something that drew me to this sign... I just had to photograph it! Taken near yesterday's shot.

Falls of Falloch

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1 sec, f/22, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Another shot from yesterday. I've driven past the sign for the Falls of Falloch a number of times, and finally decided to stop and explore them. Well, I'm glad that I did!

Kilchurn Castle

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 5 sec, f/22, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

I picked up a few tourist information guides of Scotland the other day, to get some ideas of areas to shoot. I came across a picture of Kilchurn Castle and thought it would look great at sunrise.

But then I realised that sunrise is at 5.30am at the moment, and it would take me at least an hour and a quarter to get there. Oh well, better set my alarm for 4am then!

Well, my body isn't used to going to bed at normal hours, so I ended up only getting an hour and a half of sleep. Anyway, I thought, it will be worth it to get a nice sunrise.

The only problem was that when I got there the weather was sh!t. I mean come on, I got up at 4am, the least you could do is supply me with some nice light. I'm not sure the sun ever did rise, but I definitely know that it rained. Good job I had my umbrella.

Anyway, I persevered and walked down to the shore. Took a quick picture to see how it would come out and was quite surprised with the result. Took a few more and eventually ended up with one that I was happy with.

I'm quite glad that the weather was bad - hopefully it's made for a more interesting shot.

Unintentional Pop Art

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 1/60 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

"What the hell???"

That's what I thought when I saw this on my lcd screen. This effect was not achieved by post processing. Something went very badly wrong when I took this shot. I got very worried, and almost couldn't bring myself to try the camera again, but thankfully it was fine. So I haven't a clue what happened.

But I'll tell you what - it's definitely a more interesting picture that it would have looked had the camera worked normally! :)

Me to You

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 30 sec, f/10, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Is this not just the saddest little bear you've ever seen? :)

After the 'Green' shot a couple of days ago I wanted to try the blown out background effect again, but with a different subject. I'm quite pleased how this one turned out.

Old Timer

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1/100 sec, f/5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

It was just one of those days today. The weather was very overcast and miserable, but I went for a drive up to the Trossachs area anyway. I thought I'd stop by the Lake of Menteith to see if I could get a shot of the pier, but it wasn't as nice as I remembered. So I drove further down the lake, and spotted this interesting tree. It's roots had made an interesting pattern in the mossy earth beneath it on the other side of this picture, but on further inspection I found this view to be the most interesting.

Green

Nikon D70 @ 70mm, 2.5 sec, f/8, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

So who can tell me what this green thing is? I really like the minimalistic look - definitely my kind of plant! :)

The Land That Time Forgot

Nikon D70 @ 22mm, 1/10 sec, f/22, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

I've been participating in Fujimugs - an online photography challenge site - for quite a while now and I was fortunate enough that this shot won 1st place in the latest "Nature" challenge. Here is the actual entry with accompanying comments.

This was taken when I was at Glencoe a couple of weeks ago. It was actually the first shot I took on that day, at 7.59am no less. This is one of my favourite locations in Glencoe. The two Caledonian Pines set against Loch Tulla and the huge mountains in the background is quite a view.

Fire!

Nikon D70 @ 29mm, 1/125 sec, f/4.5, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

I almost forgot about this shot. Perhaps it's because I wasn't fully compos mentis when it was taken. When you know you've got absolutely nothing to do the next day, going to sleep doesn't always seem important.

So I was sitting at my computer at 5.30am and something didn't feel quite right. I looked out of the window and thought "The sky's on fire!!" This was by far the most spectacular and intense sun rise I've ever seen. It was absolutely phenomenal... honestly. And this shot probably looks fake because of it. I just wish that I had been outside in a great location to capture the beauty of the sky properly. Instead, the view from my bedroom window will have to do.

Starry, Starry Night

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 30 mins, f/5.6, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Yeah, it's rubbish, I know. But I wanted to give the whole star trails a go and felt I had to post my first results. I've been waiting for ages for a clear night to try this out, but such a thing seems to be rare these days. It wasn't actually that clear tonight, as you can see from the thin clouds passing by, but I took the shot anyway. I'm treating this as practice for the real thing.

I've seen some awesome star trail pictures, and would love to get a good one some day. It's a lot more difficult than you'd think though. You need to find a good location with something reasonably interesting in the foreground. But something that's not so bright that it'll just blowout with the huge exposure. You also need clear skies and be far away from the city. So while you're in the middle of nowhere taking your picture (probably alone as well) you need to find something to do for 30 mins while you wait for the camera work its magic.

The quality of the image isn't great because it's a 30 minute exposure - quite a lot of noise, and the dead pixels are noticeable. If I ever manage to find a good location for this kind of shot, I'll make a composite of multiple 1-2 minute exposures and stack them. One day...

On the bonny, bonny banks

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 1.3 sec, f/22, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

Had nothing planned tonight and it was a nice evening, so I drove to the Duck Bay Marina on Loch Lomond to see what was happening. The sunset wasn't up to much, neither was the scenery... so this was all I could get.

Edit: I've updated the picture with a newer, more saturated version. Here is the original posted image

Windy

Nikon D70 @ 25mm, 1.3 sec, f/10, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

So here's the final installment of my three shots from Loch Arklet. This one was my original favourite, but having looked at yesterday's shot a little more I can't quite make up my mind. Which one do you prefer?

Grey

Nikon D70 @ 44mm, 1.3 sec, f/10, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

This is the same tree as the one I posted yesterday, but taken a few minutes later. The weather quickly changed, and it was actually raining at this point, so keeping the lens dry was quite a challenge.

It's very rarely that I'm completely comfortable with any of my shots - there's always something I'd like to have changed - but I'm happy with this one. Maybe it's because it's a change from the dark contrasty look I go for in my b+w shots. I like the almost high key effect on this one and how the image is primarily grey and white.

I know I said I'd post my three shots from yesterday in reverse order, but I think this one might be my new favourite :)

The Trossachs

Nikon D70 @ 18mm, 2.5 sec, f/10, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

I've been pretty bored for the last couple of days. Absolutely no motivation to do anything. The weather was cr@p but I had to get out of the house... out of the rut.

So I drove up to the Trossachs, not expecting to get much, if anything. I stopped at Loch Arklet, having spotted a couple of lonely trees. I was hoping I might get a break in the clouds, but after a while I knew it wasn't going to happen. I got out my car and looked for a shot nonetheless.

I've come to realise though, that my infra red filter can save the day sometimes. I often read that you should only do IR on bright sunny days, but I find it's much more useful when the weather's terrible.

I only took a handful of photos, but came back with 3 that I liked. I'll start in reverse order, this one coming in at #3.

Don't Try This At Home

Nikon D70 @ mm, 1/160 sec, f/6.3, ISO 200
Previous · Current · Next

So, I was sitting in traffic just before the Kingston Bridge. My D70 was riding shotgun, so I thought I might be able to get an interesting shot of the queues of traffic. But before I knew it the traffic cleared and I was suddenly driving along as normal, steering with my right hand and holding my cam with my left. It certainly makes it a challenge changing gears. Even more difficult is trying to hold the camera steady and compose a shot. I'm quite amazed actually that this shot came out exactly the way I imagined it.

Again, I've been a little slow in updating this, but I've got a few good shots coming up :)