Happy New Year everyone. I hope your Yuletide and New Year celebrations have been plentiful and that the year ahead offers you good health, prosperity, happiness and endless photo opportunities.

To kickstart the new edition of the fabulous "Show us your great photos" thread, I offer not a pic but a video. We took this last night and it shows, in all its glory, the incredible firework display we offered our neighbours from the comfort of our balcony. If you watch the video you'll see our neighbours' fantastic fireworks going off in the background - and then there's ours. 

This is what you get when you buy a box of mini fireworks from your local cheapskate supermarket (Albert Heijn) for the princely sum of 10 euros!  Still, it was so crap it was a laugh, which means it actually offered great value for money. I hope the vid of our box of damp balcony squibs also raises a smile with you.

Happy New Year!

 

 

 

Edited June 3, 20177 yr by coops

This beauty has appeared down the Gaunless Valley Woods, near Butterknowle in Teesdale tis Yellow Pimpernel, sadly in the south of England it has declined due to woodland being felled and conifers planted.  It is habitat specific just like the Wood Stitchwort also in flower, this loves shady, damp deciduous woods and hedgerows.  Forgot to say it is yet another Ancient Wood indicator 3.6.17

Edited June 4, 20177 yr by suzannek

Green Veined White roosting on Bugle flower 30.5.17 down Gaunless Valley Woods 

On 2017-6-2 at 11:45, Winsford Soul said:

Here's a couple more from me before I make my yearly pilgrimage to Pembrokeshire.

Chiffchaff in dappled woodland light and a Reed Warbler just chilling in the sun

Steve

Both pictures fantastic, just interested how you got the background effect ? I know about depth of field but to me it just looks more than just a wide aperture.

10 minutes ago, SHSDave said:

Both pictures fantastic, just interested how you got the background effect ? I know about depth of field but to me it just looks more than just a wide aperture.

Dave. Thanks for the kind comments.  It is just depth of field using either f2.8 or f4.0 aperture.  Getting the right distance from the subject helps as does the right light. Thanks again. 

Steve 

A few from me from a very wet and windy Pembrokeshire. The cottage has finally embraced the 21st century and has wi fi.

House Sparrow. Badger

Steve

On 02/06/2017 at 17:57, Winsford Soul said:

The lens was definitely worth the months of should I or shouldn't I. 

I personally can see the difference with the pictures so I'm chuffed to think other people can too. 

Steve 

I would agree Steve, I can see how your images have improved, that Reed Warbler with the out of focus reeds and colours in the background is lovely 

32 minutes ago, martyn pitt said:

I would agree Steve, I can see how your images have improved, that Reed Warbler with the out of focus reeds and colours in the background is lovely  (

Thanks Martyn.  It was mentioned to me on Sunday at Bury Nighter that my pictures are getting to your level. ( no names ) To which I replied . That you are  my inspiration and target level

Steve

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Dave. Thanks for the kind comments.  It is just depth of field using either f2.8 or f4.0 aperture.  Getting the right distance from the subject helps as does the right light. Thanks again. 

Steve 

Amazing Steve, I'm well impressed mate 

5 minutes ago, SHSDave said:

Amazing Steve, I'm well impressed mate 

Thanks Dave

Steve

Had a wonderful day out at Bishop Middleham Nature Reserve which is basically an old quarry, but is part of the magnesian limestone grassland species rich.  Butterflies galore, Common Blues, Durham Argus, Dingy Skipper, Small Heath.  Lots of other butterflies I didn't photograph, anyway here the photos.  All taken with Samsung Galaxy S5 Neo phone camera.  It was blowing a gale which made things difficult and they fly a 100 mph  taken 4.6.17

Edited June 5, 20177 yr by suzannek

On ‎03‎/‎06‎/‎2017 at 18:16, Catriona said:

Giant puffins? Xxxx

Ha Ha. . XXXX

8 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

A few from me from a very wet and windy Pembrokeshire. The cottage has finally embraced the 21st century and has wi fi.

House Sparrow. Badger

Steve

Steve, did you see the badger in the day ? In my area they only go out at night, in the day they stay inside their holes.

some fun Instagram piccies, as you can see I like visual puns...

Milton Keynes, a town Daleks dont fit in lifts..

Edited June 5, 20177 yr by Mal C

Rear Window...

Edited June 5, 20177 yr by Mal C

Mono-tone Rose

Early Journey...

Angel through the window...

Morning coffee

Don't Drop your Knickers...

What are you 'Dummies' Looking at?

Edited June 5, 20177 yr by Mal C

Microwave Cooking

'Throwing Brexit!'

Edited June 5, 20177 yr by Mal C

'Conservatism' something that doesn't wash off in the bath!

Edited June 5, 20177 yr by Mal C

10 hours ago, Philippe said:

Steve, did you see the badger in the day ? In my area they only go out at night, in the day they stay inside their holes.

Philippe. Good morning my friend.  Like in France the Badgers where I'm staying in Pembrokeshire are generally nocturnal . The picture was taken just before sunset ,so there was still just enough natural light available to take the picture without having to use the flash gun

Steve

10 hours ago, Mal C said:

Microwave Cooking

Haha

55 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Philippe. Good morning my friend.  Like in France the Badgers where I'm staying in Pembrokeshire are generally nocturnal . The picture was taken just before sunset ,so there was still just enough natural light available to take the picture without having to use the flash gun

Steve

Hi Steve, the same here : most of (big) wild animals go out on twilight, deers, badgers and boars.

Your badger looks really cute ! Here they are enemies of farmers having corn fields that they destroy big time. Once a badger even came inside a neighbour's garden to eat the strawberries !

13 minutes ago, Philippe said:

Hi Steve, the same here : most of (big) wild animals go out on twilight, deers, badgers and boars.

Your badger looks really cute ! Here they are enemies of farmers having corn fields that they destroy big time. Once a badger even came inside a neighbour's garden to eat the strawberries !

Philippe. If you look closely the badger has no ears or outer ear tufts. Due to the many fights that they have to maintain there dominance within the sett. I guess.

Over here the badgers are the enemy of the farmers because of there alleged spread of bovine TB. The dairy industry in this country uses Friesian cows which have only been in the UK for approx. 100 years . Which in my book says that the badgers having lived here for tens of thousands of years are not to blame. There is a inoculation available against TB but the farmers are on the whole not willing to use it Because they have to pay for it.

Steve

Rabbit

Steve

 

Edited June 6, 20177 yr by Winsford Soul

56 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

Rabbit

 

Welsh ? 

Cracking image Steve ... love it 

A classic Dutch scene - the historic windmills of Zanse Schans.

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Rabbit

Steve

 

Wonder if they're related. 

Zambujeira do Mar june 2017

Male Broad bodied Chaser

Steve

 

Edited June 7, 20177 yr by Winsford Soul

Gary Farrington asked me to post this on this topic  for him 

need to click to download and  play

video-1496829969.mp4

2 minutes ago, mike said:

Gary Farrington asked me to post this on this topic  for him 

need to click to download and  play

video-1496829969.mp4

Squirrel! And it looks as windy there as it is here!

4 minutes ago, mike said:

Gary Farrington asked me to post this on this topic  for him 

need to click to download and  play

video-1496829969.mp4

Thanks Mike.

Gary had sent it to me but it wouldn't open.

Steve

Beach Art. Tenby. Pembrokeshire. Everyday somewhere in Pembrokeshire two guys draw fantastic shapes on the beach. (  These shapes are tens of metres in size. ) Only to be washed away when the tide returns. the tide had already turned when I took this photograph.

Steve

Male Blackbird

Steve

Jay.

Mmm these peanuts are nice

Steve

3 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Jay.

Mmm these peanuts are nice

Steve

MM and the peanuts?   steve 

23 minutes ago, baz1 said:

MM and the peanuts?   steve 

Baz. What label is it on JayBoy 

Steve

A very humble and rare offering from me - me garden, taken on my i phone. The Christmas tree on the right is the first tree me and my ex partner had together. Replanted it in the garden - its been there for 20 years now. You can also see a nice Rosemary shrub and my Johnson Blue. I am very lucky to have no neighbours on one side just fields, stables and the canal.

 

Edited June 9, 20177 yr by Peter99

I have just reclaimed part of the drive to extend the garden a bit. Here's the newish fence and gate. Still need to sort out the extra area - probably going to install some raised beds to grow some herbs and vegetables. I have spurts of motivation amongst my low mood and depression so things take a little while with me. I'm very fortunate to have my brother who kicks my arse into gear when necessary.

 

15 minutes ago, Peter99 said:

A very humble and rare offering from me - me garden, taken on my i phone. The Christmas tree on the right is the first tree me and my ex partner had together. Replanted it in the garden - its been there for 20 years now. You can also see a nice Rosemary shrub and my Johnson Blue. I am very lucky to have no neighbours on one side just fields, stables and the canal.

 

Great to see a Picture of your garden my friend Looking good. I would be fishing in the canal .

Steve

Cielo rosa

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Baz. What label is it on JayBoy 

Steve

  

42 minutes ago, milliontearsoul said:

Cielo rosa

Stunning Sunset

No birds in the bird sanctuary in Portugal last week, but these fellas were in plentiful supply at the murky end of the lagoon.