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.

1 hour ago, Alison H said:

Last week a family of swans decided to show their beaks along the canal.

 

Are they dealing in drugs? Looks like a strip of some sort of tablet in the grass! 🤣 

2 hours ago, Alison H said:

Goodness that’s brilliant! You have a great zoom lens!!  I love foxes 

Thanks 👍 I think the zoom is about 30x optical which is good for this type of video. We get them quite often going through the garden but not managed a decent photo yet.

10 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

Thanks 👍 I think the zoom is about 30x optical which is good for this type of video. We get them quite often going through the garden but not managed a decent photo yet.

I'm with you Andy.  Get them in the garden occasionally but no pictures yet. 

2 hours ago, Alison H said:

Here is a photo I took at the beginning of May of a Mallard with 11 babies. Sadly, she has only got 9 now but they’re growing fast so it looks like the 9 may survive.

Last week a family of swans decided to show their beaks along the canal.

The tree photo. No explanation, I just find it fascinating.

Photos took on my iPhone

I'm the same with trees Alison, they're a bit spookily fascinating when they've died or keeled over.  Love the photos with the swans and ducks!  In fact they're so good.... I'm sitting in the garden and a wasp just came and hovered in front of the image, having a right good look! 👍🏼

1 hour ago, Flamingemeralds said:

I'm the same with trees Alison, they're a bit spookily fascinating when they've died or keeled over.  Love the photos with the swans and ducks!  In fact they're so good.... I'm sitting in the garden and a wasp just came and hovered in front of the image, having a right good look! 👍🏼

Did it get a buzz out of looking  Mrs.  ?

2 hours ago, Winsford Soul said:

I'm with you Andy.  Get them in the garden occasionally but no pictures yet. 

I did see a family, a couple of years back, playing in the neighbours garden as they made home under the shed. We used to wait till the security lights went on to see if we could see them. I managed this short video one evening as the whole family showed up. I was a bit pleased 😁 not a great video but brilliant to watch when it was happening 

 

Edited May 30, 20204 yr by Soulandy

10 minutes ago, Soulandy said:

I did see a family, a couple of years back, playing in the neighbours garden as they made home under the shed. We used to wait till the security lights went on to see if we could see them. I managed this short video one evening as the whole family showed up. I was a bit pleased 😁 not a great video but brilliant to watch when it was happening 

 

Brilliant video.  Thanks for sharing it mate

1 hour ago, Winsford Soul said:

Did it get a buzz out of looking  Mrs.  ?

Oh definitely, it flew off doing loop the loops with a trail of pink smoke in its wake Winnie me ole mate!   I'm just watching Basil the friendly blackbird in the garden. They are funny.  The way they stop then scoot.  He's been throwing dead leaves around in the borders trying to see if there's anything lurking underneath. I bought a bird bath, but no-one has used it yet? Do I need to put towels and shower gel out? 🤔

There, White Musk shower gel from The Birdy Shop....and some white fluffy towels....

Fantastic photo's,you can't beat Mother Earth's images.

Looks like someone is standing on the top of the tree with their

arms up stretching !!!!!......

 

Wonderful keep them coming

 

!!!!!!!  DON'T KNOW WHAT HAPPENED WITH THE PHOTO'S,ALL DONE BY QUOTE ???  !!!!!!!

Edited May 30, 20204 yr by Mustang

6 hours ago, Alison H said:

Here is a photo I took at the beginning of May of a Mallard with 11 babies. Sadly, she has only got 9 now but they’re growing fast so it looks like the 9 may survive.

Last week a family of swans decided to show their beaks along the canal.

The tree photo. No explanation, I just find it fascinating.

Photos took on my iPhone

Fantastic photo's,you can't beat Mother Earth's Images.

Looks like someone is on the top of the tree with their arms

up stretching !!!!!!.......

 

Wonderful,keep them coming.

31 minutes ago, Flamingemeralds said:

There, White Musk shower gel from The Birdy Shop....and some white fluffy towels....

Mrs Big bird 5ft 7 1/2 " You will never fit in that bath as big as it is and those towels will never dry you !!!

Imagine the tales that tree of Alison's could tell.. Even when 'dead', trees can still portray character..

Seeing one's that have died ALWAYS has me pondering as to what things they have seen in their long lives.. If only they were able to write a book !!

42 minutes ago, Ficklefingers said:

Imagine the tales that tree of Alison's could tell.. Even when 'dead', trees can still portray character..

Seeing one's that have died ALWAYS has me pondering as to what things they have seen in their long lives.. If only they were able to write a book !!

They can help in writing a book Johnny.  Make em into paper.  🙃

Anyone watching the Space X launch ? live build up and launch on NASA channel now.  Wish I was there with my camera !! Launch at 8.20  (hope thats right )

 

Edited May 30, 20204 yr by Veedub

Hey, that's great! I was just looking on the BBC news to see what was going on but this is far better!👍🏼

7 minutes ago, Flamingemeralds said:

Hey, that's great! I was just looking on the BBC news to see what was going on but this is far better!👍🏼

Soul source has always been better than the BBC 😎

1 minute ago, Winsford Soul said:

Soul source has always been better than the BBC 😎

Yes, even Captain Kirk  was just on, wished them all the best !

9 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Are they dealing in drugs? Looks like a strip of some sort of tablet in the grass! 🤣 

Oh damn, must have dropped out of my bag 😉 .... only joking lol 

1 minute ago, Alison H said:

Oh damn, must have dropped out of my bag 😉 .... only joking lol 

They,re mine. i saw them first but didnt let on because i was going back for them later 🤭

8 hours ago, Flamingemeralds said:

I'm the same with trees Alison, they're a bit spookily fascinating when they've died or keeled over.  Love the photos with the swans and ducks!  In fact they're so good.... I'm sitting in the garden and a wasp just came and hovered in front of the image, having a right good look! 👍🏼

Ha ha I’ve run out of likes, not that I like wasps, but I like your response.

Cheers 👍

6 hours ago, Soulandy said:

I did see a family, a couple of years back, playing in the neighbours garden as they made home under the shed. We used to wait till the security lights went on to see if we could see them. I managed this short video one evening as the whole family showed up. I was a bit pleased 😁 not a great video but brilliant to watch when it was happening 

 

Oh flippin heck that’s amazing !!

You made me laugh when you said to your wife “bloody hell, the whole family is out”  lol

Cheers for sharing 👍

36 mins to takeoff.

 

5 hours ago, Mustang said:

Fantastic photo's,you can't beat Mother Earth's Images.

Looks like someone is on the top of the tree with their arms

up stretching !!!!!!.......

 

Wonderful,keep them coming.

Oh so it does !!!

That’s quite cute ! Like it’s glad to be alive  

i don’t know how to reply with the photos & am using comment to reply
 

1 minute ago, Alison H said:

Oh so it does !!!

That’s quite cute ! Like it’s glad to be alive  

i don’t know how to reply with the photos & am using comment to reply
 

Ali. I will show you next time we get to meet up 🤣. X

29 minutes ago, Winsford Soul said:

They,re mine. i saw them first but didnt let on because i was going back for them later 🤭

Ha ha ha you’ve got a long walk Steve. Set off now & I’ll see you in a few days Leeds/Liverpool Canal 😊

Just now, Winsford Soul said:

Ali. I will show you next time we get to meet up 🤣. X

You’re on Steve 👍 I’m bloody useless on here & any other platform for that matter 😂

15 minutes ago, Veedub said:

36 mins to takeoff.

 

Ooh this is super 👍

The capsule on top looks like a ghost from Pacman.

1 minute ago, Steve Lane said:

The capsule on top looks like a ghost from Pacman.

😂 so it does. I’ve got the Pac-Man noise in my head now 

Awesome !!!

10 minutes ago, Veedub said:

Awesome !!!

Mike, thanks for posting this, as you said "awesome".

Ste.

It's just amazing! The clarity of the images is brilliant!  So glad you posted this!

4 minutes ago, Widnes63 said:

Mike, thanks for posting this, as you said "awesome".

Ste.

Cheers.. At 15.27 tomorrow  live docking on the same channel.. 

Hopefully it will orbit over UK tonight while i,m listening to the virtual nighter. Camera is ready

1 hour ago, Veedub said:

36 mins to takeoff.

 

That was incredible!! 

I felt sick tho as I didn’t want it to end up like the Challenger Space Shuttle from the 80’s ☹️

I counted down with them & almost cried when it launched successfully.

I got goosebumps when one of the Astronauts said to the guys on the ground, I’ll speak to you from Orbit 🪐

I did get confused when the presenter kept saying “of course I still love you”  & then realised she was talking about the landing pad in the Ocean. Wish they had caught the moment the discarded bit had landed on it  (I don’t know what it’s called lol, probably worth billions of dollars so calling it a “bit” is an insult really but hey ho) 

What a fascinating & brilliant thing to watch

Thanks a million for sharing it 👍

Alison, yeh, I too was shocked they didnt show the section land on the ship ! what a cock up by  the cameraman !! ?? 

 I was nervous too, the ten second countdown .. gulp ! thank God it went well !! lets tune in for the docking and opening of the hatch tomorrow at 15.27 . 

 Cheers, Mike

2 hours ago, Veedub said:

Alison, yeh, I too was shocked they didnt show the section land on the ship ! what a cock up by  the cameraman !! ?? 

 I was nervous too, the ten second countdown .. gulp ! thank God it went well !! lets tune in for the docking and opening of the hatch tomorrow at 15.27 . 

 Cheers, Mike

Sorry to be a pain, but.. Maybe best posted in a different thread to this one. This is about photography, and pictures members have taken. Hope you don’t mind. 

Some fine photos sent in to BBC News by readers.

Images here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52771655

48 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Some fine photos sent in to BBC News by readers.

Images here: https://www.bbc.com/news/uk-england-52771655

I actually sent in my baby blackbird photo to the BBC and it was shown and read out by weatherman Owain Wyn Evens, I think he may be Welsh? 

40 minutes ago, Steve Lane said:

I actually sent in my baby blackbird photo to the BBC and it was shown and read out by weatherman Owain Wyn Evens, I think he may be Welsh? 

Nice one. I had a pic published online by a UK newspaper in their selection of reader photos. Think it might have been the Daily Telegraph, but that was years ago.

17 minutes ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

Nice one. I had a pic published online by a UK newspaper in their selection of reader photos. Think it might have been the Daily Telegraph, but that was years ago.

I always used to look in readers wives 😇to see if I knew anyone.  🤫

On 30/05/2020 at 07:48, Alison H said:

Here is a photo I took at the beginning of May of a Mallard with 11 babies. Sadly, she has only got 9 now but they’re growing fast so it looks like the 9 may survive.

Last week a family of swans decided to show their beaks along the canal.

The tree photo. No explanation, I just find it fascinating.

Photos took on my iPhone

Lovely photos Ali. We have baby goslings around the local fishing lake which is also home to various ducks and swans and there is certainly a "pecking" order (pun intended) amongst the birds. Had to smile when one of the goslings came across a Mallard duck in its way as it walked the edge of the lake and gave it a peck to move it out the way. The Mallard which was about four times the goslings size but was very compliant. If only I had the camera with me.....

We spent all day and night on the balcony yesterday and even managed a small barbecue. Caught sight of the SpaceX rocket as well, which rounded off the day perfectly.

Buzzards circling overhead. There were five of them, but they were never close enough for a group pic! This one's been heavily cropped as the birds were way out of range for my limited zoom lens.

A balcony visitor...

23 hours ago, Alison H said:

That was incredible!! 

I felt sick tho as I didn’t want it to end up like the Challenger Space Shuttle from the 80’s ☹️

I counted down with them & almost cried when it launched successfully.

I got goosebumps when one of the Astronauts said to the guys on the ground, I’ll speak to you from Orbit 🪐

I did get confused when the presenter kept saying “of course I still love you”  & then realised she was talking about the landing pad in the Ocean. Wish they had caught the moment the discarded bit had landed on it  (I don’t know what it’s called lol, probably worth billions of dollars so calling it a “bit” is an insult really but hey ho) 

What a fascinating & brilliant thing to watch

Thanks a million for sharing it 👍

The "discarded bit" is the stage 1 of the Falcon 9 rocket,this is the main rocket engines which powers the

whole rocket vehicle up to the edge of space to get it to the required speed at that point,that then

separates and lands back on the barge/ship to be reused again,similar to the solid rocket boosters

that the shuttle used.

The upper stage 2 rocket then fires and powers the Dragon,the Capsule on the very top in to

space 200 miles above the Earth at around 17000 mph,that then separates and the stage 2

rocket is controlled to burn up in the atmosphere to destruction.

Dragon is then on it's own at the required speed to complete the mission.

 

Hope this helps Alison,not trying to be a smart arse,Ron.

Edited May 31, 20204 yr by Mustang

8 hours ago, Soulfusion said:

Lovely photos Ali. We have baby goslings around the local fishing lake which is also home to various ducks and swans and there is certainly a "pecking" order (pun intended) amongst the birds. Had to smile when one of the goslings came across a Mallard duck in its way as it walked the edge of the lake and gave it a peck to move it out the way. The Mallard which was about four times the goslings size but was very compliant. If only I had the camera with me.....

Awww that sounds delightful that the Mallard simply moved out of the way of the cheeky gosling 👍

1 hour ago, Mustang said:

The "discarded bit" is the stage 1 of the Falcon 9 rocket,this is the main rocket engines which powers the

whole rocket vehicle up to the edge of space to get it to the required speed at that point,that then

separates and lands back on the barge/ship to be reused again,similar to the solid rocket boosters

that the shuttle used.

The upper stage 2 rocket then fires and powers the Dragon,the Capsule on the very top in to

space 200 miles above the Earth at around 17000 mph,that then separates and the stage 2

rocket is controlled to burn up in the atmosphere to destruction.

Dragon is then on it's own at the required speed to complete the mission.

 

Hope this helps Alison,not trying to be a smart arse,Ron.

Hey Ron

Thanks for the explanation & it does help a great deal, I mean, it’s not rocket science, oh hang on ...... 

Cheers  Ron 👍

 

8 minutes ago, Alison H said:

Hey Ron

Thanks for the explanation & it does help a great deal, I mean, it’s not rocket science, oh hang on ...... 

Cheers  Ron 👍

 

😂😂😂😂

Hi all, 

I was going to treat you to a little video of the swans & cygnets but  I can’t do it from an iPhone video so here’s some flowers for you instead 😊.... Temple Newsam, Leeds, 30/5/20 

 

 

 

35 minutes ago, Alison H said:

Hi all, 

I was going to treat you to a little video of the swans & cygnets but  I can’t do it from an iPhone video so here’s some flowers for you instead 😊.... Temple Newsam, Leeds, 30/5/20 

 

 

 

Looks Lovely Ali. X