Same jug, different backgrounds...which do you prefer?

Scary isn't it - this was going to be my entry into CJs Snapsfactor3 Competition

Was I afraid - what do you think?

It seems that it's a case of right place right time or third time lucky because this time I won! Thanks to those bloggers who voted for my snap. Thanks also to CJ for organising it - I now claim my prize of a picture of you in your tuxedo!!!!

Also converted to sepia , but witht an old photograp effect, wwhich puts cracks on the picture.

More from the Veterans day, converted to sepia for effect

I don't know what it is but i do like this, it may be the colour it just appeals to me.

Morning all!
Seeing as I am up and have time to post on here I am posting my favourite "thinking" place. Covered with the most wonderful wisteria it is just such a lovely place to be and think.

Good Morning Bloggers!

It looks like it might be yet another lovely day here today

 wish I had this view from my window !

Wish my garden was as nice.

Hardwicke Hall Derbyshire earlier today.
I spent a very happy few hours there with a friend Ive made from blogland. Despite a heavy shower we enjoyed a walk round the gardens.

In the Grande Place, Brussels, taken from the window of the Roy D'Espagne cafe, 15th June 2008

Between the showers at The Barrhead Dams.

Fishing boats travelling from the West to East Coast and image captured in Muirtown Marina. See more images by clicking here.

If, as I suppose, this small boat crossed the North Sea from Sweden to the Moray Firth [then Beauly Firth entering the Caledonian Canal and into Muirtown Marina] I consider the crew to be very brave.

More images are to be seen by clicking here.

 And another trophy for the shelf.

Here is a picture of my lovely dog Holly. This was taken last December
I'm sure that pet lovers among you will appreciate why I like this photo.

My lovely wife Michelle.

To Vote for your Favourite

CLICK HERE NOW!!!

Scottish Wild Cat: I just love this picture, the composition focus are good but I like to think I have captured the very essence of this cat, its viciousness and ferocity are there for all to see its face.

Lake Windermere – Misty Morning: Ths was taken early on a crisp autumn morning in October, I love the soft tones and the peace and quiet the picture instils, this is my number 2 and whats exciting for me, is that its actually been published in a book.

Joe posted his best pictures and then asked us to post ours, well for me it was a difficult choice but here we go.

Tiger – Number 3 in my list, I have loads of pictures of tigers some probably better than this, but I like the composition on this one, for me it also captures the power, efficiency and effectiveness of this magnificent animal.

Despite reaching Kessock Bridge at 8 30am this morning, I missed the restart of the race. Nevertheless this graphic image of a 'record holder' taken the night before is more than I would have seen as the boats left Inverness on the outgoing current rather than under power. Apparently, because of the boats being a threat to native dolphins, full power was not allowed until they were 12 miles out!

More images can be seen by clicking here.

This image shows the unashamed luxury of one of the boats taking part in the race. More images may be seen by clicking here.

These house martins were nesting in sluice underground, at minsere, i jsut saw the parents flying out looking for food, if it wasn'r for them I would have known thet were there.

These weren't taken at Minsmere but at a local reservoir, the Red Crested Pochard according to the RSPB website there are only 29 breeding pairs in the UK.

.......... for people with weak hearts or dodgy ankles

You were warned!

That includes you Rampage - hop it!!!!

I notice that many bloggers on this site enjoy photographing wildlife and birds in particular,
having just returned from the North East and a visit to the Farne Islands I must recommend a visit to this astonishing place, you may have seen it on "Spring Watch" last year.
I never thought it would be possible to see these birds at such close range.

For joebangles!

Why? - because it's different!

For many years I have been making "peace pipes" for people.

Some small 18ins personal.

Some ceremonial pipes with stand as long as three feet.
I always decide on the design and the finish. No two pipes are ever the same as I use whatever materials are to hand when they are being made.

Give the track 5 seconds to start

I think that this is the best pic that I have ever taken. It was taken at "The Dams", Barrhead, Glasgow, at the end of December 2006. I had been given the digital camera as a christmas present.

How about posting your best picture?

This however is a Reed Bunting

I shot this at Minsmere and am sure not sure what type of bird it is, it could be a Reed Warbler or a Wheateater or mabe none of the above, so if anybody can help it would be greatly appreciated.

Captured at Minsmere

I discovered participants in the Round Britain Power Boat Race were arriving today in Inverness some via Loch Ness and some strangely by road [ those too fast for the Caledonian Canal ; 4 or 5 mph ].

More images should appear shortly by clicking here.

Well yes and no; a boat called Loch Ness doubles as a restaurant berthed at Muirtown Marina . I saw a for sale sign and snapped it to catch this unusual headline news ! More related images can be seen by clicking here.

More like Rescue Rangers!

It was reassuring to see the beach patrol out in force today. They worked in pairs patrolling the area on foot. Each one had a personal radio set. This was their emergency vehicle on standby.

I just spent fifteen minutes on my knees feeding our robin.

He has quite a healthy appetite for a little one

But he never talks with his mouthfull

It actually has stopped raining for more than five minutes, but, my God, it certainly makes the garden grow.

there's nice souq (market) here, near Omayad Mosque in Damascus.

This squirrel got fed up with eating the seeds on the ground, so he went after the source

The local residents of Minsmere enjoying a picnic

A bud of a flower I posted yesterday, this is the Rose of Sharon

Click to enlarge.

Tom.

My wife said this was called a Dog Daisy, I know it looks like a daisy but the actual name I not sure of, but of course I trust her, like all my pictures it gets bigger if you double click on it.

Shot this in my local park on Sunday

We had come out for a fortnight's enjoyment on the river, and a fortnight's enjoyment on the river we meant to have. If it killed us! well, that would be a sad thing for our friends and relations, but it could not be helped.

Quote from Jerome K Jerome's story, "Three men in a boat".

Several more can be found at, http://workinghumor.com/quotes/boat.shtml

In a Scottish country garden, unfortunately, not mine.

All taken at Minsmere last Friday, never seen so many rabbits in one place.

This is not a new type of duck or unusual markings on this young female mallard, this is an elastic band stuck round her head, I wasn’t able to get hold of the duck, although I didn’t think I would have it I could. But I did contact the local RSPB member and he got the RSPA involved but we still could get hold of her. Fortunately the band came off as she was grooming herself so all was ok, but it does goes to show the dangers wildlife faces when we discard rubbish the way we do.

A member of the band entertaining Liberal Democrats at Tulloch Castle, Dingwall last Friday night. The celebration was for Charles Kennedys 25 years as a Member of Parliament. More images can be seen on my web site by clicking here.

OUCH!

This the path through the dunes, it goes on for about 1200m quite difficult walking with all my equipment in the heat of the day

I didn't realise until I got to Minsmere it was next to the nuclear power station Sizewell B, was there a Sizewell A?

Taken from the car park, I just liked the cloud formations

These are the roots of "The interesting tree" gives a better impression of how big that tree really is!

Here is another view of the tree.

I took this picture of a tree at Brodsworth Hall when I visited there on my birthday.

No not expenses this time. The image was captured at a dinner dance arranged to celebrate 25 years in Parliament by the Rt Hon Charles Kennedy. Not only our local MP but a national figure being the only leader of a major party to oppose the invasion of Iraq which has been a disastrous episode in terms of lost lives and economic cost.

More images will be posted on my web site seen by clicking here.

Here is the image of a band member playing the accordian at Tulloch Castle Hotel on Friday 20th June 2008.

More images of Charles Kennedy's 25th Anniversary of his entry as a member of Parliament may be seen tomorrow by clicking here.

In my back garden

I'm pretty sure this is a poppy,but i could be wrong

I do know this is Fox Glove, all the shots were taken at Minsmere on Friday, I have loads to come hope you all enjoy them.

Again I not sure what this is, I beleive it is a Iris Pseudacorus - Yellow Flag, but if we have a expert out there any help would be appreciated. I didn't notice the fly on the rear petal until I down loaded it.

I think this plant is a Southern Marsh Orchid, but am not an expert so if anybody knows I would be greatly appreciated.

The competition is over for entries. Pop over to find out how you can vote for your favourite

I have just come across an excellent tutorial on how to make great-looking HDR (High Dynamic Range photography) images from your photographs and just had to share it with you straight away.

The tutorial is called 'Beginners Guide to HDR' and it shows you how to make HDR images from your photos using a piece of software called 'PhotoMatix'.

Now that I have read this fantastic tutorial and downloaded the 'PhotoMatix' software - which can be downloaded as a fully-functional trial version - I'm just waiting for the optimal moment to take some shots that I think will look great when I apply what I've just learnt to them.

If all goes well, I'll be uploading the HDR photographic images that I make, here for you all to see. And if you follow the tutorial, download the software and make your own HDR images, I'd like to see you post them here too.

Till later, my fellow shutterbugs...

I took this yesterday at Minsmere, it was a fantastic day out, will post lots more tomorrow when I get the chance

Took this picture at a local Gala, it reminded me of childhood, days at the seaside.

This isn't a particularly high quality picture: I was shooting straight into mixed light and dark areas, the lamp-post is in the shot, and because I was in a hurry I didn't have the chance to resize it, so I had to crop this bit that I wanted out of a larger picture. But still, I think it evokes the moment I saw from my balcony rather well.

What do you think?

Cheers, Tom.

It was my son Oscar's very first sports day last Friday, so I went along armed with my camera and camcorder to capture these precious moments. Oscar actually won most of the races he took part in, which made me very proud.

Anyway, here's a great photo of my boy in action, followed by a photo slideshow that I put together with some of the other photos that I took.

Enjoy...

And here is the photo slideshow for you to enjoy... just click on the 'Play' button.

I also edited the video footage that I took on the day and put together a rather nice music video that you can see here:

http://thefurnace.blog.co.uk/2008/06/19/my-son-s-first-sports-day-photos-and-vid-4337848

My boy made me feel so proud on that day...

If you are interested in entering this competition, you only have one more day to get your entry in. Check it out here

Copyright-Dean Christopher,2008.

www.dcphotoart.blog.co.uk

In the gravel garden, OK, I'm strange, I collect bits of wood.

Acer and Silver Birch.

I know that it's mucky, but I love this wee part of my garden, thinking about taking it to the RHS Flower Show next year.

They are simply gorgeous!

To find out what these are look at my next posting.

Just to prove I do know the difference between hollyhocks and foxgloves!!

I copied Esspee's idea and got up at 4AM this morning. Had a two hour walk with the dog and took over 800 pictures. Some of them are OK, and here are the first two. I'll post a couple more later.

They get bigger if you click on them!

Cheers, Tom.

I knew it was a full moon, but wasn't expecting this:

Looking through a window

Such shameful filth!

lol, not the one you are thinking of

Good Morning Bloggers!

05.45 CET

Anyone for coffee?

This was taken from my terrace 15 minutes ago.

HEALTH AND SAFETY

Only child's play?

Obviously not!

SeasideMan's recent post "Making Pretty Patterns with Stones"
reminded me of the fun and creative time children can have
at the beach. This time with shells and feathers.

This was a photo taken when I was at a temple sometime ago. This place was supposed to be the abode of Daksha- Shiva's wife Sati's father.

The Legend says that Lord Shiva and his wife Sati were in Kailash mountain home, and Daksha, father of Sati, was doing a big yagna (fire ceremony).

Sati went to the yagna without an invitation from her father. Daksha was very proud, and out of his great pride, he was disrespecting God Shiva. Sati could not tolerate it. So she jumped in the fire of yagna and finished Herself.

When Lord Shiva heard about this incident, out of fury, he was on the threshold to destroy the universe. It was only when other gods interfered and calmed down his anger that it was saved. He took his wife's burnt body and headed towards Kailesh where he went into deep meditation.

This statue was built on that story.

A young fledging Corn Bunting, there were a few around eating the seeds i9n the hedge row

And then she ponders some more...

Darling little Penny-poppet ponders the source of her next tit-bit

This pic taken from a bridge 60 foot above the River Avon in Hamilton, Scotland, note the reddy/brown colour at the bottom middle of the shot.

Enlargement of that area, What do you see? What is it?

ENOUGH TO GIVE A MAN ANOTHER HEART ATTACK. BUT I'D RISK IT.

SHOUT FIRE

NO HEALTH AND SAFETY IN THOSE DAYS. WOULDN'T DO FOR TODAYS DUSTMEN.

CHECK THE NAME

JUST FOR USKY