Summer is a magical time at the seaside and on the beach. I hope this image captures a romantic moment.

Opinions welcomed - click the picture to enlarge it.

Cheers, Tom.

A real sign currently displayed in Scarborough, East Yorkshire.

Took thw original in the Kruger National Park, S.Africa, Jan, 2008. Must have been about twenty of these grazing close to the side of the road....Enough time to take photos...I cropped one of them to produce "All Ears" because I caught it straight on...automatic exposure. I just love the detail on the result. Have used it on my Leaves Blog! Wanted to post it here!

This little girl in enjoying, a bit separate from the older, more noisy children.

My son Sagar is Ten today.

www.prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/23/2/2008/sagar-is-ten

Though a bit blurred, these shots convey some of the changing

            Urban architecture and landscape.

            This reminded me of Berenice Abbot who did a lot of interesting

work in depicting Urban architecture and was alsopart of the straight

photography movement, which stressed the importance of photographs being unmanipulated in both subject matter and developing processes

Last time I went through Dubai, I wrote an article on the

working people who transit this great airport.

Link: www.chowk.com/articles/15013

I took this several evenings ago using a long exposure. I'm not sure if it's overbright or not and I wonder if a bit less time might have been better. Any comments?

(It gets bigger if you click on it)

Cheers, Tom.

The top picture here is the full thing, the lower one is a cropped version. I'd be most interested in any constructive criticism of the two, and to know which one you prefer.

(they get bigger if you click on them)

Cheers, Tom.

I recommend holidays in and around Scarborough . No political point made here !!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Click to enlarge

Not counting this one, 3 of the last 5 posts in this group have been political posts by davidjohn. They have all contained photographs, ones which support his words. He is, of course, entirely within his rights to post whatever he likes in this group - he is even one of the moderators of it. So, I'm keen to hear what other group members think about this. My personal view is that there are plenty of other places that politics can be talked about and it would be nice if it stayed out of the photography group. But that is just my opinion and I'd like to hear what others think.

So, what do you all think?

Tom.

Today the sad death of Ivan Cameron, David Cameron's disabled son was announced by the BBC.
I am very reluctant to comment but Prime Ministers questions was canceled as a mark of respect. Gordon Brown said ' Every death of a child is unbearable' and ' The death of a child is an event no parent should have to bear ' . I agree with that sentiment but why oh why didn't the Government think of that when sending our armed forces into Iraq with
' shock and awe '. Every Iraqi parent losing a child felt unbearable sadness as Gordon Brown describes it. And more recently when Israel bombed Ghaza hundreds of innocent children died. When politicians wake up and realize all children have equal value it will be a better world.
Today three UK families lost sons while fighting in Afghanistan. All of us have equal value and politicians should reappraise their value system.

Yesterday Jack Straw [ ' Justice Secretary ' can anyone believe the title ? ] vetoed the release of Cabinet papers relating to the decision to invade Iraq as required by the Freedom of Information Act . Shame on this government. They have wasted billions on this illegal war and caused loss of British and Iraqi lives and now the b''''ers are hiding. A real man of straw ! Shame on you Jack. Resign now ! While they were concentrating on war the property bubble was forming and our funds being spent !

Apologies to the subject of the picture who is simply included the give an illustration of a man of straw in short a scarecrow .

Found recently on a 'quest' jaunt.

click to enlarge.
Deep fat-fryer in the forest

Then a mile or two further I found this:

All found in affluent South Hampshire, a stones throw from the New Forest.

Don't you just love mankind, eh, don't you?

This boy looks very surprised maybe upon seeing the London Eye as the shot was captured on the South Bank.

The 'prudent' Chancellor of the Exchequer is a laugh a minute. On Sunday he wrote that he wanted to outlaw hundred percent mortgages. Has he been asleep for twelve years ? He is still in charge after 12 years leading up to financial disaster; laugh until you cry ! Let me have your views please.

Click and it grows!!

...or to give it its full title, 'The Hospital of St Cross and Almshouse of Noble Poverty'.

Seen here in the evening.

Regrettably this walk took quite a long time and when I got here the place was closed, (winter hours meant it closed at 3.00pm). As Arnie said,"I'll be back".

This is part of a new set which can be seen using the following link.
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennypoos/sets/72157614295312960/

There's loads of history to St Cross and the home site whose details include 'the wayfarer's dole', can be found using this link:
http://www.stcross.f2s.com/

http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2009/02/23/moon-rishikesh/

Wonderful church that I found on my latest jaunt into the Hampshire countryside. I'll post links to the full set when I've completed it.
Should anyone be interested in this church, a history can be found by following the link.

click to enlarge.

For the church, use this link:
http://www.southernlife.org.uk/michelmersh_st_mary.htm

For the village, use this one:
http://www.michelmershandtimsbury.org/history.php

For a link to the first few of the set, use this link:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennypoos/sets/72157614295312960/

Amazing what you can learn when all you wanted to do was delay the onset of 'man-boobs'

RISHIKESH-INDIA

http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2009/02/22/evening-meditations/

Couldn't resist this sweet potato. It spoke to me in the fruit shop this morning

In a park in Milan, Jan '06! Love this picture! Who took it? You tell me!

I found this interesting blog conversation on 'The online photographer'

Photogs Flee Facebook

Posted at 10:01 AM | Permalink

http://theonlinephotographer.typepad.com/the_online_photographer/2009/02/photogs-flee-facebook.html

Food for thought.

Part of  the activities of daily living shot which my Photography teacher told us to do.
Waited for him after having ascertained his route and timing and then shot this one
on the ouskirts of Delhi.
F 16- Shutter 1/30. ASA 100

Suggested further realding :Notes on Aesthetics
http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/hello-world/

Forgive me for again only posting a link, but copyright laws force me to.

Click here for an absolutely stunning panoramic view of the Milky Way over Hawaii. Hover your mouse over the picture for star details.

I seem to like this one; not sure why. Had Seasideman in mind!

Still Life

Suggested further reading:

Some notes of Aesthetics 

http://prashantbhatt.wordpress.com/2008/08/10/hello-world/

click:

I visited several churches and chapels on the island and they were all beautiful.

Grey's OK

As I was out walking one mild winter's day. I spied

Whilst out on my 'Quest' of a few days ago, I chanced upon a curiosity. Not just one mossy cone:

But, as that stupid Oirish comedian says,"...wait, there's more":

Are they from WW11 I wonder, as they were by the side of a bridge over the Test here in Hampshire.

My most favourite website today shows the photo of an unusual red glow over Minnesota, without being able to determine what caused it. There's an online discussion on this subject - maybe you want to join?

After Seasideman...this is....well......Sorry Tom!

(click the pic to bigify it)

The colours in this are very vivid, but I swear I haven't enhanced them. A small crop and that's all.

It was taken at ISO-200, 1/20 of a second at f5.6 if anyone is interested.

Tom.

REMIND YOU OF ANYTHING?

Just though I'd add one.

Sorry Usky.

See post under dennypoos for details:

http://dennypoos.blog.co.uk/2009/02/17/bonniface-5592027/

Part of my St Bonniface quest.

A few more taken recently while in Champaluc in Vallee d'Aosta, Italian Alps! Remember? An Early Learner!!!!!

Down below was grey,damp and misty and then high up in Madeira above the clouds sunshine. 

Click..

This is about as soppy as I get. Which is not very soppy but quite smartarse-y.

Dennypoos.........................Home alone, sob, sniffle, sob, smile.

Click to bigify.

Cheers, Tom.

So there I am just going to do a flower close up, (much discussed hereabouts). I take the first picture, as seen below, to see how close I can get. Ok. Pretty close. I turn to get my self adhesive water droplets and crash bang wallop! The plant pirouettes from its plinth to the floor.

Friends, I need not tell you the air was blue. No, beyond blue, indigo or even perhaps violet. I cleared up the mess, still cussing and performed, what I hope will be, a temporary expedient. See the second picture. I'm still livid at my own stupidity as I type this. Grrr.

Red Amarylis.

Poorly plant.

Time will tell of course.

A couple from my 'Old Cemetery'.

Angel in the Rushes.

Cast Iron Tomb.

Solitary Tomb.

Falen Angel.

In my ignorance I thought that people who attempted to catch fish by rod and line on inland waters, rivers, streams, ponds and lakes were Anglers. It would seem that the guys who pay shedloads of money to fish on the Test, a world renowned Trout stream, think otherwise. The sign on the fence keeping us 'oiks' out clearly states, "fishermen only". Hmmm.

click on image to enlarge.

This picture was taken at night, under just moonlight. I needed a 30 second exposure to get it. The sea was quite rough at the time, but the long exposure has smoothed it. Click the pic to bigify it.

Cheers, Tom.

I got to talking with this old guy in the cemetery at Nutshalling, (Nursling as now is) and found out that he'd worked 53yrs as a river warden on the river Test in Hampshire.

click to enlarge.

Part of my ongoing 'walks' series. The Test Way set can be viewed by following the link below. Best seen as a slide-show, full-screen and with 'info', though the captions are a tad intrusive.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennypoos/sets/72157613362159725/

Last week while my mother was taking photos to send me noticed on this lovely White Terrier looking at her, she only noticed him because he moved his head as the doggy was freezing already and yes lost! As we can see there's no trail so the poor doggy wasn't moving from that spot since a good while...and OH her first reaction was call him as he wasn't moving, she lead him off that site, as yes he knew was being rescued and let her do everything.
I already posted this on my blog, maybe some of you may recognise the photos, but yes i guess people must be allert about this, with this cold and especially the snow animals, especially dogs may lost themselves.
We don't know about the doggy, we hope he found the owner , my mother at the time took him to the most dry place nearby that was a church, and there he did run away in the direction of a group of people, my mom tried to see where he was wondering if should call the animals rescuers or not but nope, she never saw him again...at least lets hope he doesn't go to the snow again!!!
have a very nice day

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

click to enlarge

In summer, I sit here to take in the view of the lake and watch the ducks and swans for a minute or ten.

Whilst out walking with the dog a few days ago I took photos of this pony who was tied out in the open field with no shelter or blanket, poor lad, I felt sorry for him.

 After the fishermen have been out all night they like to have a game of cards until the bar opens. I think they deserve it.

click to enlarge

 I took this from our hotel balcony the day before we came home, we'd had wind and rain and then sun and this.

click to enlarge.

 While on holiday in Madeira we went to a tourist beauty spot on an excursion it was crowded with people and there in the middle of the veiwing plateform was a rope tied to a tree and a man tied to the other end. He was weeding the side of the cliff to enhance the view. Just a rope to a tree and round his waist digging away with a little tool and his mate lifting the rope every so often to let people pass from one side to the other

click to enlarge.

Beneath the white apparel hides the shape and form of a common Alpine resident! Her dress was facilitated by showering her at intervals; not known if she loved the shower!

Another View!

A very lucky capture here - click the picture to enlarge it:

Cheers, Tom.

I took this picture "wrong". The white balance is completely off from what it is supposed to be and as a result the whole thing looks blue. But I rather like it anyway. It gets bigger if you click on it.

What do you think of it?

Cheers, Tom.

In respect of the chat about the difficulties of taking photos out of aircraft windows here's an obvious example-apparent UFOs on the approach to Durham Tees Valley, together with a close up-triangular shaped craft in formation around a central vortex on the ground, probably creating a crop circle.

Close up

Note the motion of the alien craft in the bottom right. Now what's the number of the Sunday Sport again?

A couple of shots from my recent walk of the Test Way from Southampton to Romsey. It may piss me off that I don't have a job at the moment but it is a source of real joy to be able to pick and choose when I go out taking photographs.

To see the full walk, follow this link.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennypoos/sets/72157613362159725/

These are my first tentative steps in taking shots to blog; took these as we flew over the scenic Swiss Alps into Northern Italy...Zurich to Milan; I used a rather small Sony Cyber-shot; 8.1 mega pixels...what more can I say? Here goes....Fingers crossed!!!!

And then.....terra firma in the delightful village of Champaluc in Vallee d'Aosta

Picture Postcard Stuff! No justice done by me!!!

Feel the heat. Just what is needed at the moment. Taken in the Star Inn at St Just after Christmas

I swear the more I look at it the more I am convinced this cat is levitating.............

Worthing sea front on January 27th.  Yes, I snapped it through the hotel window.

"Oh I do like to be beside the sea side"

Took this while out in Africa early last year. The 'mounting' had occurred some minutes earlier but the 'recipient' continued making her way to the feeding trough, regardless, and proceeded to munch away happily during the pleasurable drama. I moved on after about another five minutes of trying to figure the unseen dynamics of the natural act.

Strange! The fascination of Nature!

(click it to enlarge it)

Cheers, Tom.

Goblin's huts in the forest

Lookie what I found today.

click on image to enlarge.

It's a detail of the ornamentation on a new church gate at St Marys, Eling, Hampshire.
You can see the full set here:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/dennypoos/sets/72157613276616348/

Looked out of the window this morning and we have snow. Not an amazing thing up north or in Scotland perhaps but here on the Solent we get very little and what we do get doesn't stay. Thirteen years since we had any that lasted over night.
Well the gist is that I hope you were all up and out photographing all and sundry.

Here's one of mine:

click on image to enlarge.