A New Year means a new Soul Source photography thread! Starting in 2013, "Show us your great photos" has proved to be a long-lived favourite - all because of the continued contributions and involvement of its enthusiastic participants. Here's looking forward to yet another year of fab photos - and don't forget that you don't need to be a photographer to post up pics. Whether taken with top-of-the-line gear or the camera on your smart phone, if you've got interesting pics, please feel free to share.

To kick off, here's a batch of pics I took today while out on a cold and misty walk in a place called the Amsterdamse Waterleidingduinen. I'd not heard of it until just very recently. Apparently it's a natural water table from which Amsterdam gets most of its fresh water. At the same time, it's a nature reserve, so now that I know of its existence, I'll have to make a point of visiting regularly.

It wasn't a good day to be out with a camera, especially with a zoom lens. The light was poor, it was misty (heavy fog overhead - we could hear geese flying over but could barely see them, even though they were quite low), and it was cold. Hopefully conditions will be better on my next visit.

Here's wishing you all a happy New Year and lots of happy shooting across the next 12 months.

5 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Looks like a juvenile blackbird, although it's difficult to be sure. 

Agree with you Russ and Steve,i have attached a blackbird image which is very similar to

the bird in the photo,particularly the beak,head/neck colour and the breast & wing

pattern.

Thanks for the replies on the mystery bird photo. 

I will snap a pic of something on the same bit of fence for scale, as it did seem a lot bigger than even an adult blackbird. 

Concensus does seem to be blackbird though. 

OK not a photo but kingfishers are a bit quick. A short video of the kingfisher I found a few days ago. I saw but didn't get any photo's of them coming and going so this will have to do for now. I have slowed it down and cut the file size down but it's still fast so don't blink 😉

22 hours ago, Soulandy said:

OK not a photo but kingfishers are a bit quick. A short video of the kingfisher I found a few days ago. I saw but didn't get any photo's of them coming and going so this will have to do for now. I have slowed it down and cut the file size down but it's still fast so don't blink 😉

kingfisher3.wmv

Brilliant Andy. Cheers for sharing mate

Not a great photo (or even a good one I was stretching & it's out of focus) so apologies if I'm stepping out of line. About 5 years ago I had been out on an early morning trip to photograph the sunrise & was walking back along a beach in Corfu when I noticed what turned out to be a piece of wood as in the photo & I just wondered if anybody can identify what it is. The grooves that you see don't appear to go through to the other side which looks the same as this side. However what I thought was a solid center could well be compacted sand/earth. It is very light & feels quite brittle so I haven't investigated further. Somebody who has seen the photo suggests it could be a leaf ??? I do apologise that this isn't about the photo but I know that there are some knowledgeable people on here who may be able to identify this, if you want me to delete this I will totally understand.

Many Thanks

Dave

 

22 hours ago, Shsdave said:

Not a great photo (or even a good one I was stretching & it's out of focus) so apologies if I'm stepping out of line. About 5 years ago I had been out on an early morning trip to photograph the sunrise & was walking back along a beach in Corfu when I noticed what turned out to be a piece of wood as in the photo & I just wondered if anybody can identify what it is. The grooves that you see don't appear to go through to the other side which looks the same as this side. However what I thought was a solid center could well be compacted sand/earth. It is very light & feels quite brittle so I haven't investigated further. Somebody who has seen the photo suggests it could be a leaf ??? I do apologise that this isn't about the photo but I know that there are some knowledgeable people on here who may be able to identify this, if you want me to delete this I will totally understand.

Many Thanks

Dave

 

Looks to me like a part of a Palm Tree or Palm Plant that has been in the

sea water for some time ,"washed" and worn by the salty water which would

have a cleaning effect over time.

The bottom part of the piece shows stranded sections which you see as the

fibrous part of the stem/trunk.

I have attached an image of a palm which shows the fibrous sections.

Edited May 12, 20205 yr by Mustang

Many thanks for the reply, I have zilch knowledge of trees plants etc so bear with me, I understand re the stranded sections as part of the stem but can't see where the other end fits in ....if that makes sense ?

8 hours ago, Mustang said:

Looks to me like a part of a Palm Tree or Palm Plant that has been in the

sea water for some time ,"washed" and worn by the salty water ...

Exactly so. Seen these countless times on Greek beaches. 

It's definitely a palm frond, this will give you some idea, though it isn't the right species

11 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

Brilliant Andy. Cheers for sharing mate

No worries. Wasn't sure if folk could view it ok as I've done it on Windows media. 

Thanks

1 hour ago, Tattoodave said:

It's definitely a palm frond, this will give you some idea, though it isn't the right species

Ah right I can see that now, so what I found isn't wood but hardened palm ? Thanks all for your replies 👍

You don't think it's a fossilised soul diva do you?

28 minutes ago, Flamingemeralds said:

You don't think it's a fossilised soul diva do you?

Reminds me of Wilson 😉

Just now, Soulandy said:

Reminds me of Wilson 😉

Do you know, I thought EXACTLY the same thing! Wilson's wife! 👍🏼

Mr and Mrs Wilson at the Blackpool Tower Soul Weekender November 2019...

On 10/05/2020 at 23:44, Soulandy said:

OK not a photo but kingfishers are a bit quick. A short video of the kingfisher I found a few days ago. I saw but didn't get any photo's of them coming and going so this will have to do for now. I have slowed it down and cut the file size down but it's still fast so don't blink 😉

kingfisher3.wmv

Don't know if its me but I've just been stopping and starting the video and it looks like the kingfisher is coming out backwards the turning itself round. Amazing if thats right.

3 hours ago, Soulandy said:

Don't know if its me but I've just been stopping and starting the video and it looks like the kingfisher is coming out backwards the turning itself round. Amazing if thats right.

It is coming out backwards then sort of  flipping over . Andy I,ve only ever seen Sand Martins coming out of there nest burrows so i don,t know mate

3 hours ago, Flamingemeralds said:

Mr and Mrs Wilson at the Blackpool Tower Soul Weekender November 2019...

Excuse this ignorant person here but who the heck are you two on about ?

You don't know who Wilson is? I thought everyone knew who Wilson is?

Wilson is a football, who starred in a film with Tom Hanks called Castaway.  Wilson didn't get an Oscar, but he should have.  Everyone should have a Wilson in their lives. So that's Wilson, at Blackpool tower, with his wife, who's a bit of an old palm, but he loves her all the same.

Mister Steve, I think it's fair to say, I've been in lockdown for toooooo long. 😔

🤗

Steve, its the Tom Hanks film, Castaway, where he make his imaginary friend, Wilson, out of a discarded ball and palm tree/coconut hair. 👍

The duck family are growing up and a nice sunset on tonights river walk

2 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Steve, its the Tom Hanks film, Castaway, where he make his imaginary friend, Wilson, out of a discarded ball and palm tree/coconut hair. 👍

Well, I'm aghast! Wilson is a volleyball! I never knew that. I thought he was a football! 😲

1 minute ago, Soulandy said:

The duck family are growing up and a nice sunset on tonights river walk

Flying saucer alert! 😧

6 minutes ago, Flamingemeralds said:

Well, I'm aghast! Wilson is a volleyball! I never knew that. I thought he was a football! 😲

Probably because its an American film and volleyball is/was bigger than football over there 🤔

On 12/05/2020 at 22:17, Flamingemeralds said:

You don't know who Wilson is? I thought everyone knew who Wilson is?

Wilson is a football, who starred in a film with Tom Hanks called Castaway.  Wilson didn't get an Oscar, but he should have.  Everyone should have a Wilson in their lives. So that's Wilson, at Blackpool tower, with his wife, who's a bit of an old palm, but he loves her all the same.

Mister Steve, I think it's fair to say, I've been in lockdown for toooooo long. 😔

🤗

Mrs. Your actually working from home, surely that cant be classed as lockdown. I don't really watch films, not been to the cinema since probably the late 70,s , don't watch much tv either unless it's wildlife, natural history type programs. I have watched night at the museum On the tv a couple of years ago . Seen a harry potter film. Like blues brothers, quadraphenia. Not even watched soul boy or stuff like that even though I have them all on DVD. Infact i have never even watched a box set or anything

Edited May 14, 20204 yr by Winsford Soul

Some pics of our wild flower garden today.

 

The  RAF C17 Globemaster was circling Burton again today !! It circled about a dozen times over 2 hours, amazing sight . Probably  landed at Donnington.

 Theyre based in Brize Norton and theres only half dozen or so still in service 

 

 

The cherub in the picture is 38 years old. When the factory where i served my apprenticeship was shut down by thatcher in 1982 the workforce was offered skills courses and one of the fitters mates went on it, learning to cast garden ornaments and my Uncle Ken who i worked with bought the very first one   and when he passed away many years ago my Auntie Agnes put it in the garage. when she herself became infirm , i was helping her sort out the garage  and on seeing it she said did i want it knowing my connection to Neil the fitters mate and my uncle Ken. So its obviously pride of place in my garden and today when the sun shone on it, i couldn,t resist the picture.

Thanks for taking the time to read the story

11 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

The cherub in the picture is 38 years old. When the factory where i served my apprenticeship was shut down by thatcher in 1982 the workforce was offered skills courses and one of the fitters mates went on it, learning to cast garden ornaments and my Uncle Ken who i worked with bought the very first one   and when he passed away many years ago my Auntie Agnes put it in the garage. when she herself became infirm , i was helping her sort out the garage  and on seeing it she said did i want it knowing my connection to Neil the fitters mate and my uncle Ken. So its obviously pride of place in my garden and today when the sun shone on it, i couldn,t resist the picture.

Thanks for taking the time to read the story

That's lovely Steve, thanks for sharing mate.

Just walked up to the pond and was lucky enough to get a snap of the Reed Warbler.🙂. 

 They're a very elusive tiny bird and skulk about low down in reed beds , usually heard but not seen. I just about managed to manually focus on him inside the reed bed.

 

51 minutes ago, Veedub said:

Just walked up to the pond and was lucky enough to get a snap of the Reed Warbler.🙂. 

 They're a very elusive tiny bird and skulk about low down in reed beds , usually heard but not seen. I just about managed to manually focus on him inside the reed bed.

 

Fabulous picture 📷. Mike. As you say so bloody hard to get a good picture. I've a very similar one, manual focus hand held 500 mm .

Thank you Steve 😃. Yes its like trying to photograph a a tiny mouse from a distance  you can hear the bird, and you can see the odd reed flicking about, then if you're very lucky the bird might just appear in an opening for a few seconds !  Then again,as you know,  if it was easy it wouldn't be so rewarding when you do get a good snap 😀

4 hours ago, Veedub said:

Just walked up to the pond and was lucky enough to get a snap of the Reed Warbler.🙂. 

 They're a very elusive tiny bird and skulk about low down in reed beds , usually heard but not seen. I just about managed to manually focus on him inside the reed bed.

 

For comparison Mike. So similar mate

 

That's uncanny Steve  !! 😃 .  Your pic is so sharp ! mines about the best I'll get with a compact digital  but Im real pleased with it .Reed Warblers are  so difficult to snap, you just get a focus on them and in a second they've pinged off out of sight   

3 minutes ago, Veedub said:

That's uncanny Steve  !! 😃 .  Your pic is so sharp ! mines about the best I'll get with a compact digital  but Im real pleased with it .Reed Warblers are  so difficult to snap, you just get a focus on them and in a second they've pinged off out of sight   

I know , they,re so similar. Mike i actually think this is one of the best i have ever taken considering its hand held, manual focus with that rather large 500 mm lens . Thanks for the compliment.  I think its as sharp as i could get it plus i dont use PS or any software editing . We are lucky enough to get the pictures we did mate. they as you say are quite elusive

Here's a thing. Whilst we were snapping the Reed Warbler, we could hear a Cuckoo very close, we heard it whilst walking down the lane. Sarah spotted the Cuckoo in her binoculars by the pool and it flew off right by the pool where the reed Warbler was singing !  Fingers crossed the little warbler isn't a victim , but then again, thats nature ..

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-sussex-52675922

This is brilliant news

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/amp/uk-england-sussex-52675922

This is brilliant news

Good news but on the other hand there's been an increase.......

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/criminals-take-advantage-lockdown-kill-18258889.amp

Edited May 15, 20204 yr by Soulandy

59 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Good news but on the other hand there's been an increase.......

https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.manchestereveningnews.co.uk/news/uk-news/criminals-take-advantage-lockdown-kill-18258889.amp

Andy. Thanks for sharing this. Unfortunately until the landowners themselves are prosecuted it will continue. . And that will never happen because the people who shoot are the judges and law makers and the royal's. There's been one gamekeeper in Scotland had about 15 criminal convictions he,s still a gamekeeper. Jail sentence no. . The system is a joke

Yeh, sounds about right. Its a money game unfortunately. Just hope they dont get any of the sea eagles that are currently knocking about.

Red Kite !!!! Just flew over our house being mobbed by crows ! First one ever here 😃

 

The church at hornsey

We got strawberries on the balcony - in May! The Prosecco, however, is very much a hardy annual! 😎😉

Nice landscape of Spurn head..

Ed

 

Went walking in the roaches near buxton

Can you see the face 

58 minutes ago, Stephen Houghton said:

 

Went walking in the roaches near buxton

Can you see the face 

Britain's answer to Mount Rushmore! 👍🏼

Out for my excercise and spotted Mum and babies on the canal

enjoying  the mild weather.

Hi Folks,

As we have all been celebrating the 75th Anniversary of VE day and the Allied success in WW2 over the Nazi's,i thought you might like to see these images of the P51 Mustang Crazy Horse which i had the pleasure to fly a few years ago.

The aircraft is a TF-51 dual control Mustang which allows the rear occupant to fly the

aircraft,which i enjoyed very much,full control of the aircraft including the 1650 HP

Rolls Royce Merlin.

I flew in Crazy Horse 1,there is another called Crazy Horse 2,both identical.

 

The hangar picture is from our camera and the other image is an in flight photo

from the internet.

Edited May 18, 20204 yr by Mustang

22 hours ago, Flamingemeralds said:

Britain's answer to Mount Rushmore! 👍🏼

Who is ? 🤪

Chaffinch on our lane. They seem quite scarce in Staffs the last few years, whereas the Greenfinches numbers are on the up. Used to be the other way round.