Bath -Testing Fuji Stablisation

I took a few shots during a short evening stroll around Bath on Wednesday (after a long day at the ARPS Assessments). I wanted to test out the minimum shutterspeeds that I could reliably handhold the Fuji XT1 and 18-135mm lens. Although some images from as low as 1/4 sec were acceptably sharp, generally the cut off is 1/8 second - still very good for a largish zoom lens.  

Laycock Abbey

I called in at Laycock Abbey yesterday on my way to Bath for the RPS distinctions. I hadn't visited before and only had a short while to look round but here are a few images reminding me of its various roles in history first as a nunnery, then as a family home after the Reformation, the home of William Fox Talbot, inventor of the photographic negative and, finally, as a Harry Potter film location. The autumn trees looked wonderful in the glimpses of sunlight (tree images straight from Fuji with no adjustment!)

Goodbye to Our Canine Friend

We had to say goodbye to Millie today - she has been our companion for 14 years and seen the addition of playmates Sadie and Meredith to the extended family circle. Blind and deaf in her last year or so she managed life with the same general happiness as long as food was on the scene. If you are reading this Derek and Ling - it was all very peaceful - she damaged a leg falling on the step but was not in pain and Simon was very gentle with her.

Anglesey Abbey Cyclamens and More

The cyclamens at Anglesey Abbey (NT) this year are probably the best I have seen them., while the autumn colours still have a little way to go. Lovely soft October light made the walk round the grounds a delight.

Chastleton Windows and Stairs

As promised a few of the interiors from Chastleton house - many retaining original Jacobaean woodwork. Taken with Fuji X-10 with 10-24mm lens; in some cases, three bracketed shots were taken 1stop apart and processed through Lightroom HDR but often a single exposure gave sufficient tonal adjustment.
Also shown one of the two croquet lawns, originally laid out by Walter Whitmore-Jones in the 1860s. His version of the rules of croquet published in The Field in 1865 became definitive, and Chastleton is considered the birthplace of croquet as a competitive sport (Wikipaedia). Thanks to Sue B-H for pointing this out to me.

Chastleton House, Oxfordshire, Location for BBC Wolf Hall

A rare gem of a Jacobean country house, Chastleton House was built between 1607 and 1612 by a prosperous wool merchant as an impressive statement of wealth and power. Their descendants later lost their wealth and so could not afford to update the original building. For that reason Chastleton has remained an exceptionally well-preserved time capsule. It was last occupied in the 1950s but hadn't been updated since the 1930s. More interiors to follow with details of camera, settings etc