Happy New Year to one and all.

The start of a new year means the start of a new photo thread. This is the 11th photo thread, which is rather remarkable and a testament to its continued popularity. Thanks to everyone who contributed pics last year, and thanks too to the many who participated by liking or commenting on images.

Here's a pic I took from our balcony a few days ago. The house opposite is being renovated and the builders put together some lights on the side of the house. It says "Prettige Feestdagen" in Dutch, which translates as "Happy holidays", or at this time of the year, "Merry Christmas". 

Here's to lots of great photos in 2023!

 

Here's a couple I took after  a London stayover for the 6t's West Hampstead Special at the 100 Club:

Towers of London -

Stone and glass angles -

Managed to find a small bit of blue and got to snatch a few frames with the other new lens.

A Sigma 150-600C that I got mainly for wildlife but I hoped would double up as a grab and go Solar/Lunar tool too.

A 2x TC at the back and a 95mm Baader ND5.0 filter up front on the Canon 2000D off the everyday Manfrotto tripod.

I need to mount a dovetail on the lens tripod collar so it'll fit the HEQ5Pro as 1200mm on a triopd's no fun with a moving target ...

Single jpeg shot 1/500s @ f13 ISO 100. Just cropped square and tweaked in Gimp.

  

Had my lunch very pleasantly interrupted today by the unmistakable sound of a pair of fast approaching Rolls-Royce Merlins ... 

Shot outside right sharpish with the Canon 2000D and Sigma 150-600mm in hand to use the combo for its intended purpose. 

Had a lovely 15 minute display as they circled the village numerous times in close formation.

 

Shot 104 frames and kept 91 of them ... a considerably better average than I get when imaging the Sun ... 

Link here to the album on Flikr so as not to clog up the site. Shots straight from the camera unedited yet.

Please click on the photo to be sent to the full album on Flikr.

And a little bit of history for anyone who might be wondering why one of them is wearing American markings ... http://www.wwiiaircraftperformance.org/31st/309th.html

 

 

Edited May 19, 20231 yr by Woodbutcher

A few from the Isle of Barra in the outer hebrides last week. Stunning little island 

On 15/03/2023 at 20:33, Alan T said:

Ko Phi Phi Don island in Thailand, taken about 3 weeks ago.

 

We have visited it lots of times ,there is a small island near phi phi called viking Island it has carvings inside of viking boats thousand yrs ago 

Was out trying to locate this year's nest when I found this lass rummaging around the various piles of wood scattered around the garden.

Didn't fancy getting within three inches with the new macro lens so used the 150-600mm at a sensible distance ... 

Well worth clicking on number 4 for a close-up view of the hairy little madam ... 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 19, 20231 yr by Woodbutcher

Don't blame you....it looks like one of those invasive  species ready to create havoc on all and sundry!!

1 minute ago, Okehsoul1952 said:

Don't blame you....it looks like one of those invasive  species ready to create havoc on all and sundry!!

No need for unwarranted scaremongering  , it's just your everyday normal 'Vespa crabro' , European Hornet ... 

 Guess they must have some rivalry from the 'Lambretta crabro' contingent?!!!!

3 minutes ago, Okehsoul1952 said:

 Guess they must have some rivalry from the 'Lambretta crabro' contingent?!!!!

If you can't tell the difference between a European and Asian hornet I'd be surprised if you can distinguish between one silly scooter and the next ... 

By the looks of things, it's a red wasp (Vespula rufa)...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespula_rufa

 

2 hours ago, Amsterdam Russ said:

By the looks of things, it's a red wasp (Vespula rufa)...

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Vespula_rufa

 

Definitely Vespa crabro ... 

Missed him on the way out ... but thanks to the flight tracker (https://globe.adsbexchange.com/) I caught him on the way back 20 minutes later ... 

Again the Canon EOS 2000D + Sigma 150-600mm C.

Click on pic to get to Flick album.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Edited May 21, 20231 yr by Woodbutcher

A few more from a Scottish road trip 

A great red roofed place to stay in near to Shieldaig 

Boats at Port an Eorna, Diurinish 

Diurinish village with free roaming Highland cows 

Plane ready for take off at Isle of Barra Beach Airport 

 

I have had zero chance of late of getting any wildlife shots, so here is one of my grandsons

The thinker ... 

Lovely sight of the 16.5% illuminated crescent Moon and Venus against a clear blue evening sky.

Single frame snapped with the Canon EOS 2000D and the Sigma 150-600mm F5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary (at about 400mm FL)

 

This unusual blackbird came for a visit to my garden this morning 😁

The annual car show in the village that my grandparents lived in was graced by a flypast from the Battle of Britain Memorial Flight Spitfire this afternoon and I was there to catch part of it ... 

The roar of a 27 litre V-12 coming in hard and low over the trees never fails to raise the hairs on your arms .... 🥰

Canon EOS 2000D + 150-600mm f/5-6.3 DG OS HSM Contemporary .

A couple of shots here and the rest on my Flickr album

https://www.flickr.com/photos/76292235@N05/albums/72177720308631240

 

 

 

 

Had my breakfast interrupted today by a couple of F-15s , a KC-135 Stratotanker and a Herc from RAFs Lakenheath and Mildenhall doing numerous circuits over the house ... 

So down went the toast and out came the 150-600 ... 

Link here to the whole album on Flickr ..... https://www.flickr.com/photos/76292235@N05/albums/72177720308645526

And a few tasters ... 

 

 

 

 

Edited June 8, 20231 yr by Woodbutcher
Tweaked photo.

Last Monday whilst waiting for three Rockwell B1B Lancers to come into RAF Fairford(they will be there for a couple of weeks more)one of the TU-U2’s came back from its daily missions ....

A few from Saturday in Snowdonia 

Great view down Dyffryn Mymbyr and Ogwen Valley

Reflections on Llyn y Coryn 

Looking down Llyn Cowlyd 

Looking down Dyffryn Mymbyr towards Snowdon from Y Pincin

Snowdon from Plas y Brenin 

 

A brief , late , and somewhat distant glimpse of one of Duxford's finest ...

Must get myself in that back seat very soon ...

 

 

just rekindled my life long on/off photography hobby. I'm doing birds for now, here's a couple from this year so far.

I had "that" feeling that I was being spied on as I packed away the solar imaging rig today ... 

Lo and behold I caught this one keeping a beady eye on proceedings ... 

 

 

 

 

 

3 hours ago, Woodbutcher said:

I had "that" feeling that I was being spied on as I packed away the solar imaging rig today ... 

Lo and behold I caught this one keeping a beady eye on proceedings ... 

 

 

 

 

 

Red Kite, in flight shots always tough to get, were you using the Sigma 150-600 C?

 

Edited June 8, 20231 yr by Kegsy

We are in Flamborough at the moment and whilst talking to a twitcher he told us there are three pairs of peregrine nesting between Flamborough and Sewerby didn’t see them ourselves but also told us about this photograph taken in the area last Thursday

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65648680

40 minutes ago, Smudger said:

We are in Flamborough at the moment and whilst talking to a twitcher he told us there are three pairs of peregrine nesting between Flamborough and Sewerby didn’t see them ourselves but also told us about this photograph taken in the area last Thursday

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-humber-65648680

I've seen that photo, quite amazing.

2 hours ago, Kegsy said:

Red Kite, in flight shots always tough to get, were you using the Sigma 150-600 C?

 

Hi Kegsy ,

Sorry I forgot to add the details ... yes it was with the Sigma 150-600 C @ 600mm and the EOS 2000D.

Have just this minute grabbed a pre-loved EOS 90D bargain to accompany the lens in future , traded in the Sigma teleconverters for it in PartEx as they were an unnecessary step to be honest , but you have to try these things ... 

I'll use the 2000D with the Laowa 100mm F/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO now as a permanent macro set up.

8 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

Hi Kegsy ,

Sorry I forgot to add the details ... yes it was with the Sigma 150-600 C @ 600mm and the EOS 2000D.

Have just this minute grabbed a pre-loved EOS 90D bargain to accompany the lens in future , traded in the Sigma teleconverters for it in PartEx as they were an unnecessary step to be honest , but you have to try these things ... 

I'll use the 2000D with the Laowa 100mm F/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO now as a permanent macro set up.

I've got the same lens, it really is superb, I've got it hooked up to an old Nikon D4, which was best in class at the time and the resolution is truly amazing. 

5 minutes ago, Kegsy said:

I've got the same lens, it really is superb, I've got it hooked up to an old Nikon D4, which was best in class at the time and the resolution is truly amazing. 

There are some great bargains out there at the moment as all the hipsters are jumping over to mirrorless , MPB , WEX and Park Cameras have had their fair share off me of late , and having used SLRs and now DSLRs for 44 years I shall see my days out on them ... 

9 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

There are some great bargains out there at the moment as all the hipsters are jumping over to mirrorless , MPB , WEX and Park Cameras have had their fair share off me of late , and having used SLRs and now DSLRs for 44 years I shall see my days out on them ... 

Me too and as you say bargains galore.

On 29/05/2023 at 14:03, Mgm 1251 said:

Last Monday whilst waiting for three Rockwell B1B Lancers to come into RAF Fairford(they will be there for a couple of weeks more)one of the TU-U2’s came back from its daily missions ....

Served 2 tours (Army) in Akrotiri, Cyprus, the U2s went up eveyday around 5am, noisy as hell, if i remember right a couple of land rovers used race after it to prop wings up on landing. 
 

Busan 

14 hours ago, Woodbutcher said:

Hi Kegsy ,

Sorry I forgot to add the details ... yes it was with the Sigma 150-600 C @ 600mm and the EOS 2000D.

Have just this minute grabbed a pre-loved EOS 90D bargain to accompany the lens in future , traded in the Sigma teleconverters for it in PartEx as they were an unnecessary step to be honest , but you have to try these things ... 

I'll use the 2000D with the Laowa 100mm F/2.8 2X Ultra Macro APO now as a permanent macro set up.

Here's an example of the kind of resolution I'm getting with this kit.  Zoom in.

Edited June 9, 20231 yr by Kegsy

Well I guess Mr Buteo was feeling a little left out so he gave me a show today ... 

And an airliner bisecting the blue just because ...

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

I nearly forgot this little fella I spotted today ... a new one on me.

Turns out its a"Scorpion Fly"  or  Panorpa communis ... 

 

Amazing photographs.

Well done everyone.

Peter

Just took delivery of the 'new' Canon EOS 90D ... and now the whole new learning cycle begins ... 

12 hours ago, Woodbutcher said:

Just took delivery of the 'new' Canon EOS 90D ... and now the whole new learning cycle begins ... 

400 and odd page manual, no doubt,  such fun 😀

On 08/06/2023 at 23:28, Soulfulsolutions said:

Served 2 tours (Army) in Akrotiri, Cyprus, the U2s went up eveyday around 5am, noisy as hell, if i remember right a couple of land rovers used race after it to prop wings up on landing. 
 

Thank you for your service...👍

Yes,I think there are two Dragonlady U2’s at RAF Fairford(have been for a few years now) and one goes up everyday early AM....and you are correct,they are very noisy,bearing in mind,RAF Fairford is in a very sleepy part of SE Gloucestershire....😀

 

Just now, Mgm 1251 said:

Thank you for your service...👍

Yes,I think there are two Dragonlady U2’s at RAF Fairford(have been for a few years now) and one goes up everyday early AM....and you are correct,they are very noisy,bearing in mind,RAF Fairford is in a very sleepy part of SE Gloucestershire....😀

 

...yes there is a chase car that is right behind the U2 as soon as it has landed,and as soon as the plane has come to a standstill the stabilisers are attached to the wing tips,as it can’t stand upright without them...

2 hours ago, Kegsy said:

400 and odd page manual, no doubt,  such fun 😀

Came with no manual , I've just got a 400 odd page PDF to wade through ... 

1 hour ago, Woodbutcher said:

Came with no manual , I've just got a 400 odd page PDF to wade through ... 

Good luck

 

I love to watch the bees at work, snapped this on my phone in the garden 😊

Magpie showing not everything is just black and white.  

1 hour ago, Kegsy said:

Good luck

 

It's only a camera , how hard could it be ... 

7 minutes ago, Woodbutcher said:

It's only a camera , how hard could it be ... 

Lol

 

Was quietly minding my own business cooking my tea when I spotted this one casually walking towards the kitchen window ... 🥰

Luckily the 100mm Laowa macro was on the 550D after I'd been messing about with the 90D earlier , I bought it for getting close up and personal with tiny creepy-crawlies but it makes a fine portrait lens too ... 

There are some benefits of single glazing after all  , shot from 3 feet ... 

And people keep asking me why I don't move into town to be nearer civilisation ... 

 

 

 

 

Just another day at the office installing another offshore jacket for a new topside platform installation.

 

 

 

 

Edited October 21, 20231 yr by Wally Francis

Pulled out a great picture book today, it’s a Photography book, by a guy called steven shore, called 'uncommon places'.  Here is a short synopsis...

Originally published in 1982, Stephen Shore's legendary "Uncommon Places" has influenced more than a generation of photographers. Shore was among the first artists to take color beyond the domain of advertising and fashion photography, and his large-format color work on the American vernacular landscape inaugurated a vital photographic tradition. "Uncommon Places: The Complete Works ...

Anyhow, it struck me that these scenes must have been very familiar to folks on here who visited the US in the 7ts and 8ts... these are great period pictures, of a country, like ours that has for the most part, changed completely...

enjoy them :-O)

Edited June 16, 20231 yr by Mal C