28/05/12
I went on a spider hunt this afternoon in my newly acquired greenhouse. I was amazed at how many different types of spider I saw in there. I was hoping for a shot of a zebra jumping spider, the extremely aggressive little striped spider. I'd seen a couple but sadly none came out to play today. This fine fellow was sitting happy as a clam on the inside of one of the glass panes. The old Sigma 105mm macro was pressed into service but the shallow depth of field doesn't quite work for me in this shot. If he had stayed still long enough I'd have liked to try focus stacking. He didn't.
Kids aikido class as usual this evening with the amazing Lance attempting his 8th kyu grading. I'll let you into a secret - when Lance started aged 8, he was dreadful to teach. Poor concentration, never listened, always looking somewhere other that where he should have been. That and doing head spins when my back was turned. So, I had a quite word with him, of the "health and safety" type. Since then he has been the model pupil and tonight turned in one of the best 8kyu demonstrations I've seen in almost 14 years of practising aikido, either from a child or from an adult. I know my own wasn't that good. Excellent attitude, posture, balance and timing. I was well chuffed for him. He's a great kid. As his his older brother Daryl - the one on the end of the arm lock.
30/05/12
I promised no self-flagellation this week but I end up having to do some work in Carrickfergus today. Those of you who know me will know that I have some history with the place, having lived there for just under two years. I make no secret of the fact that it's a place I could never warm to and moving back to Belfast was one the best things I ever did, particularly in terms of being geographically closer to my children. I did feel oddly compelled to take some sort of photograph today while passing through. In the end, I went for a very dull black and white shot of the castle. My creative juices have shrivelled up right now. I need something to come along and give my photography a good kick up the hole.
31/05/12
Out with some of the Aikido club tonight for dinner. I had taken to the camera to get a group shot, but that went on Facebook, This was the keeper - and taken almost accidentally while trying to get the light levels right. Daphne is the club's first ever lady/female/non-male black belt and she's really rather good and very dedicated. She also takes a good picture - it's the bone structure in my humble opinion. Now to persuade her to do a proper portrait shoot. This shot was taken at way too high an ISO so it doesn't bear close inspection, but it's not bad for all that.
1/06/12
So, after a long day working in Dungannon and the most expensive half hour of my life to date in Kwik Fit at Ballyhackamore I got home and opened a solitary bottle of beer that had been hiding in the fridge. While opening it, I noticed this little chap lying on his back. Being the good Samaritan that I am, I naturally tried to poke him with my finger to get him the right way up. The little fecker clicked and leapt a good foot into the air, making me spill the solitary beer and scaring the crap out of me and the dog. Next time, he can stay on his back.
I spent all of today shooting bands at the Engine Room Stage at Pigstock, yet this is my shot of the day - these two guys just summed up everything that's great about the festival. It was strange this year not being there as part of a couple, but I have to say that it was great to meet some old friends and make some new friends. Katie and Conor were fabulous craic and there was a smidgeon of beer and red wine consumed. I also think that the crowd seemed smaller this year that last - especially around the main stage. Recession? Or maybe it was that the Download Festival is next week and people have chosen to go to it. Anyway - more pics from Pigstock can be found here:
A spider at the start of the week, a beetle in the middle and a snail to finish it off. Saw this wee fellow this morning at around 7am as I was having a smoke at the back door. The light was just lovely on the leaves and the background blurred really nicely at f2.8.
2/06/12
I spent all of today shooting bands at the Engine Room Stage at Pigstock, yet this is my shot of the day - these two guys just summed up everything that's great about the festival. It was strange this year not being there as part of a couple, but I have to say that it was great to meet some old friends and make some new friends. Katie and Conor were fabulous craic and there was a smidgeon of beer and red wine consumed. I also think that the crowd seemed smaller this year that last - especially around the main stage. Recession? Or maybe it was that the Download Festival is next week and people have chosen to go to it. Anyway - more pics from Pigstock can be found here:
3/06/12
A spider at the start of the week, a beetle in the middle and a snail to finish it off. Saw this wee fellow this morning at around 7am as I was having a smoke at the back door. The light was just lovely on the leaves and the background blurred really nicely at f2.8.
No comments:
Post a Comment