June Rebellion via Canon G12

The little G12 was put to the test again yesterday, during a superb regional performance of 'that' musical based in 19th Century France.

 
The resulting images indicated that there were possible metering/focusing difficulties with the shots bathed in the low light from the red end of the spectrum, resulting in more noise. (Photography, exposure, dark rooms and red lights always appear to be linked) Scenes, such as the one above, using light from the blue end of the scale, proved to be far more successful. Certainly the images in the optical zoom range were far superior too, confirming that the digital zoom range is best used with discretion or if there is no alternative.

Then flicking into movie mode, and with no preparation, a very acceptable recording of both sound and image was achieved (not published here), proving that this little camera really is the handy all-rounder to carry around to events of this nature.

Finally, whilst students involved in uprisings might well be sustained by sturdy ales, closer inspection of the stage props revealed the use of items from a well known East Anglian brewer.
Always did suspect that the region had influence over more than just the Romans!

(Big thanks and well done to all those involved in this splendid production)

Autumn?

I certainly haven't been trying to hurry the year on with my last two postings, but it is becoming clear that the year is moving on 'To Autumn'. With today being the 1st September, is it a landmark in the calendar? To those working at the meteorological office, yes it is. They believe that today heralds the first day of Autumn, but for many, the day of the Autumnal equinox, this year falling in the 23rd, is truly the first day of Autumn.

I set out to see if I could find the signs of Autumn today, and in just a very short walk, I was able to amass the above collection. Surely this must mean it is Autumn? Well, as you can clearly see, the sunshine was glorious. So much so, I was far too hot with the jumper that the early morning glance from my window had suggested I might need. Actually, this is a typical happening for this time of the year, chilly mornings and beautiful warm sunny days. We all recall returning to school after our summer holidays, stuffed up in all of our new uniform, only to find we could still do with our summer attire. These beautiful summer-like days at the beginning of the Autumn term are always a delight. In fact, I would almost go as far as to say they are some of my favourite of the year, but they seem neither Summer or Autumn.

So, what are they?
Well I propose that these first 20 or so days of September between the met office and traditional beginning of Autumn should actually be called AuSum as the weather at this time can be, well, truly awesome.


(Clicking on the image will open it in a larger window)

To Autumn II

A couple of abstracts of these two-inch-wonders that appear over night in the current mild, moist conditions.

To Autumn

Season of mists and mellow fruitfulness, and everything else that accompanies Autumn, is catching up on us.

Over the Rainbow

It has been a classic sunshine and showers day today, so another ideal opportunity to test the G12.

With the dramatic grey skies and the intense sunlight, the rainbow(s) easily became over-exposed in auto mode, so after a few experiments, this image was taken at 1/125th on f3.5. Following up with conversion of the RAW file, it provided a satisfactory record of the scene although the noise in the sky was a little more than I would have liked.

Buzzards and Hawks

The morning rain had passed through and the sun had once again put in appearance in the beautiful blue sky, albeit still dotted with the odd fluffy white cloud. The afternoon had finally turned into something nice enough to venture out for a walk with mutt.

No sooner had I got out of the car than I was alerted by the call of a buzzard, in fact, three buzzards jostling with each other high above me. Quickly scanning the sky with my big lens, I was able to grab a couple of shots before they vanished from sight. Moving quickly to a more suitable vantage point at the edge of a stubble field, I hoped they might just venture back into view for a better shot.

I waited but nothing. Not even the 'keee' call but out of the corner of my eye I became aware of something else. Something a lot smaller. Something actually quite substantial for its type though and it was making haste through the stubble. With the big lens on my DSLR, I needed to revert to my G12 and unfortunately had to grapple with a reluctant zip in an attempt to extract it from the small bag I always carry with me. This fumble was taking too long and I was forced to pick up this gallumphing privet hawkmoth caterpillar before it disappeared forever into the leafy field edge.

I knew exactly what the consequences of this action would be - a curled up 'if I stay still that big bird won't get me' pose. The caterpillar should have feared not, as this big bird certainly wasn't going to attempt to eat it and the other big bird wasn't going to get it. Afterall the buzzard had gone and they don't pick off caterpillars as a rule. In fact, all I could hear above me were the last few swallows of summer chattering plans for departure.

Again I found myself waiting, a pastime common for those who enjoy watching nature. This time it was for around twenty guarded minutes. Guarded, as I didn't want mutt haplessly running over the coiled caterpillar thus resetting the 'uncoil timer'

Finally Sphinx ligustri, our largest resident hawkmoth, gathered enough courage to fire up the little engine again and off it motored on its quest to find a safe place to bury itself for the winter, just as I heard a 'keee' overhead.

Masters at the Minories

Work by Miranda Hart

Work by Miranda Hart

I have finally managed to get to see an exhibition just before it is due to close at the end of this week. I had been keen to see it as in part, it focused on Book Art - one of the other hats I wear along with photography.

Having completed graduate studies in Book Art at LCC, I too have explored the possibilities and stretched the boundaries within the art. So naturally I wanted to take a look at the exhibition of work produced by the graduating Masters students at The Minories in Colchester.

I was particularly drawn to a body of work by Miranda Hart, (illustrated above) influenced by the stories of her fathers' journey through Africa. Using materials sympathetic and appropriate to the subject matter, her work had a thought provoking quality, renewing my desire to once more, stretch the boundaries of 'the book'.

The recently completed album featured here on my blog, is just one direction in which I take my book art. However, I am equally happy to discuss any ideas for book commissions of a more unusual nature too.

I look forward to hearing from you!