Motorcycle Scrambling

I tried a variety of shutterspeeds and lens length at the local Motorcycle Scrambling yesterday.The first shot is two stitched images taken at 1/2000th; shots 2 to 4 are panned at 1/200th;  shot 5 panned at 1/100th (all manual exposures). The remainder of the shots are taken at 1/1600th. We left at the point the dust affected the autofocus and we were worried about the dust getting into cameras and lenses.

Springfield Festival Gardens Spalding

My room at Spalding Travelodge looked over the beautiful Springfield Gardens in Spalding. 

The Springfields Festival Gardens feature Chelsea-style celebrity showcase gardens, including designs by Charlie Dimmock, Chris Beardshaw, Kim Wilde and Steven Woodhams, and a spectacular Japanese Garden by Sansui Design. The Gardens were completely redeveloped in 2004,  in conjunction with Springfields Horticultural Society, a charity dedicated to the improvement and growth of horticulture and floral design in the Spalding region.

Thanks to Pinchbeck Photographic Club for their very friendly welcome.

Chilford Hall Vineyard Tour

 We had been given a tour of the vineyards as a present last year and just got round to using the vouchers. It proved a very interesting morning - I had no idea of the complexity of growing the right grapes for potential weathers, different pruning methods and how the wine is processed.

Angels in Tower Hamlets Cemetery

An intrepid seven Members of CCC explored Tower Hamlets Cemetery yesterday following a visit last year to Abney Park Cemetery. I decided to continue the theme from that visit of taking the stone angels with Infrared and a Tilt and Shift lens. The Cemetery covers 31 acres and it is now a designated nature reserve.

One Project Completed

I had been planning to put together a book of my favourite and most successful images over the last 10 or so years and this month, I competed it. The printed book or a pdf are available from Blurb. I have had one copy printed on their Proline Uncoated paper - the nearest to the art papers that I use for many images. This is an expensive option so the one offered for sale is the cheapest version with standard paper and soft cover. Even with 122 pages this retails at £30 which is why I favour Blurb for my books (especially as there is nearly always a money off discount). Click on image to go to Blurb Bookstore.

Paxton Pits Miscellany

Another cool and windy trip to Paxton with 7 CCC members but a few shots to remember the day. Wrens were everywhere, singing their hearts out. There are apparently 14 pairs of Nightingales at Paxton but we only heard (and saw) one pair in the usual spot. An obliging Heron perched fairly close on a branch; not many insects were about but here a St Mark's Fly, Large Red-tailed Bumblebee and a Green Nettle Weevil; there were colourful patches of Common Cranesbill and Ground Ivy. 

Bearded Tits etc at Pensthorpe

We visited Pensthorpe on our way back on Thursday and I spent a long while enjoying the antics of the Bearded Tits. They were busy courting, displaying, collecting nest material etc. The plumages of the male Teal and Ruffs were pristine while the Avocets were busy incubating eggs and changing duty every half hour or so.