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Dave's Photo Blog

Dave's Photo Blog
My favourite photos from my world travels and life in general covering everything from landscapes to creatures to macro to arty, plus various musings.

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Articles

Arachnophobia
2007-07-29 01:09:00
I was busy the other day with some DIY - putting together some new furniture - when I noticed a spot on the wall ... only small but it hadn't been there before. I guess it depends on the size of your monitor, but the spot was probably not much bigger than this O. As I got closer I realised it was a spider. I'm not a big fan of spiders, but I don't mind them too much - just don't want them crawling over me. This one looked friendly enough though, so I thought I'd get in closer for a better look.I could be wrong, so excuse me if I'm mistaken, but I think this is a jumping spider - they are the most common type of spider in the world though so maybe that's a safe assumption to make. It never moved while I was watching it though - let alone leap in the air - so I can't confirm that.Nikon 105mm VR, 1/60sec, f/20, SB-600
More About: Phobia

Splash (staged attempt)
2007-07-26 20:45:00
My last post about trying to capture a rain drop as it hit the ground reminded me of a similar shot I got a couple of years ago. I had just got my first digital SLR and was playing around - so this shot was staged in a pan in the kitchen sink with the tap dripping constantly. I think I only took ten or so attempts to get this one and it turned out lovely. That time I did pop the flash so froze the action completely.Nikon 18-70mm at 70mm, 1/500sec, f/16, flash
More About: Splash , Lash , Temp

Splash
2007-07-24 23:43:00
What with all the rain we've been having in the UK recently there hasn't been the opportunity for rambles outdoors to capture nice summer images. So, instead, one day last week while the rain was hammering down on the conservatory roof I sat just inside the door for a while and attempted to get a shot of the raindrops splashing onto the patio outside. This really is just pot-luck - its very difficult to time a shot like this: by the time you register a moment it's gone. It's simply a case of firing off a load of shots and reviewing them later. So, how did I do? Not great - this image was the best of over one hundred clicks, and the drop is just out of focus. Next time will be better - and maybe I'll remember to use a flash.Nikon 18-200mm VR at 200mm, 1/90sec, f/5.6
More About: Splash , Lash

Crane Skyline
2007-07-23 23:01:00
Cranes dominate the skyline over Somerset House - I liked the pattern and the colours at sunset.
More About: Skyline , Cran

Black Rebel Motorcycle Club
2007-07-21 18:09:00
A while back I had a little rant about the additional charges applied to ticket prices when buying from somewhere like Ticketmaster. Well, the event for which the tickets were purchased finally arrived this week - Black Rebel Motorcycle Club at Somerset House. For some reason I neglected to put a reminder in my diary and I almost forgot about it. Fortunately I was reminded in time. We were (again) pretty fortunate with the weather - Somerset House is an outdoor venue - and we had a perfect evening with not a cloud in the sky. The gig was amazing - an hour and a half of all BRMC's best tracks.As seems to be happening more often these days, I didn't have my camera with me, so had to make do with the Nokia N73. It did surprisingly well considering it was dark.
More About: Lack

Eight Things About Dave
2007-07-20 16:18:00
I have been 'tagged' by Livingsword. Normally I would ignore these things and move on, but this one I'm going to do - if only because I am off work with a cold and it has given me something to do.First, there are some rules to this game:Each player must post these rules first.Each player then posts eight random facts/habits about themselves.At the end of your post, you should choose eight more people to tag - list their names.Leave the eight people a comment telling them they?re tagged.So, here are eight things about me that you may not have known already.1) I used to smoke. I don't think I was ever really addicted in the same way that many people are - I could go hours, days or weeks without thinking about a cigarette - I just liked a smoke. Some months I would smoke a lot, but I was never anywhere near a 20-a-day guy. All of a sudden a couple of years ago I just went off them - no idea why, but I haven't smoked since and have no desire to again. One thing I do know though is ...
More About: Dave , Things , Eight

More Manx
2007-07-19 18:52:00
Some more shots from last weekend's trip to the Isle of Man - from which I still haven't fully recovered after the long wet ride home.Here are two shots from different areas of the island - firstly a view of part of the wall surrounding Peel Castle in the west, and secondly a shot of the old fog horn attached to the lighthouse at the Point of Ayre in the north. Here's another link to a page that contains a map of the island so you can see where these places are in relation to each other.

Isle of Man Weekend
2007-07-16 22:47:00
Last weekend a friend and I went to the Isle of Man to ride the famous TT course - a 37 mile road circuit taking in some of the best, and fastest (there is no speed restriction outside of towns) roads in the country. After the awful weather we have been having here for the last couple of months we were a little worried about our prospects, but we were incredibly lucky, with sunshine for both days (until arriving back in England that is).I haven't had a chance to go through my photos properly yet, and only had my phone with me to take shots with, but here is the first - my Suzuki GSX-R600 on the mountain road, with a view towards Ramsey.
More About: Weekend

Thought they were weeds
2007-07-08 20:55:00
I've had some plants growing in the garden for a couple of years now that I always thought were weeds - mostly because they generally looked a bit messy. I've been pulling them up every time I'm doing a bit of gardening and have seen some. Recently I haven't done much work in the garden and the 'one that got away' has had a chance to flower. Looks like I have been wrong all this time. I don't know what they are exactly, but here are a couple of shots from yesterday. Nikon 105mm VR Macro1/60sec, f/16, flash ; &nbs p; &nb sp; 1/160sec, f/5, flashEdit: I have just found out these flowers are Alstroemeria or Peruvian Lilies - thanks to my parents-in-law (who probably planted them for me originally).
More About: Thought , Weeds , Were

Delice de France - imported sarnies?
2007-07-04 23:52:00
I found myself travelling home from London slightly late the other night after stopping for a couple of Guinnesses after work. As often happens in this situation I hadn't eaten so decided to grab something from the station. In the past I would have had a Burger King, but I'm going off them (the ones from Euston anyway, plus I had one for lunch!) and wanted something different. The kiosk closest to the appointed platform was Deli ce de Franc e so I swung by and ordered a panini and a pastry. As I stood on the train and ate, something on the packaging caught my eye:This produce has been manufactured in France using only the finest grades of flour from specially selected wheats.What? Are they blatantly lying or do they actually make sandwiches in France and drive them over to the UK - a big lorry full of rolls, stopping at every Delice kiosk from Dover northwards until demand outstrips supply? Either they're just being plain stupid and breaking the Trade Descriptions Act or they reall...
More About: Imported , Import

Donnington Moto GP - Casey Stoner
2007-06-29 01:05:00
My personal favourite photo from the Donnington Moto GP last weekend - Casey Stoner navigates the Esses at the Donnington circuit at the British Moto GP. I think this is my favourite because of the line that starts in the bottom left and leads the eye across, up, back and across to the biker in the top right - even though he didn't follow that line, you can almost feel that it was the line that he took to get where he is.Nikon 80-400 VR at 400mm, 1/640sec, f/10
More About: Casey Stoner , Tone

Donnington Moto GP - Capirossi, Barros, Pedrosa
2007-06-27 20:35:00
Another battle for position from last weekend's Moto GP, at least during the first few laps, was seen between Loris Capirossi (number 65), Alex Barros (4) and Dani Pedrosa. The photos below show just how close they were. Unfortunately Capirossi slid out due to the wet conditions, leaving Barros and Pedrosa to finish seventh and eighth. Nikon 80-400 VR280mm, 1/1000sec, f/9 &n bsp; & nbsp; 400mm, 1/640sec, f/9 &n bsp; & nbsp; 400mm, 1/640sec, f/9
More About: Rosa , Ross , Ossi

Donnington Moto GP - Valentino Rossi
2007-06-26 13:55:00
Valentino Ross i started the Donnington Moto GP second on the grid, next to his team mate Colin Edwards, but got a bad start from which he never recovered. Nikon 80-400 VR at 400mm, 1/500sec, f/10 1/1000sec, f/9 &n bsp; & nbsp; ; &nbs p; &nb sp; 1/1500sec, f/9
More About: Valentino , Valentino Rossi

Donnington Moto GP - Edwards vs. Stoner
2007-06-24 20:42:00
Today I went up to Donnington for the British Moto GP (and managed to stay mainly dry despite the rain). You may have seen some bike racing on the TV, but until you actually go you can't really understand how LOUD the bikes are. Its an amazing experience.Over the next few posts I will be showing some of my photos from today, all taken from the inside of the track, with a view towards the Esses and Goddards corners. Some of them will look a little blurry and I apologise for that - I was standing behind a chain-link fence.The main battle of the race was between Colin Edward s and Casey Stoner . Edwards started in pole position and had a good start, while Stoner started fifth and didn't get a good launch. However, within a couple of laps Stoner was back up to the front and the following few laps saw him battling for an overtake. Eventually he got it and Edwards could do nothing to catch the Ducati.Here's a shot taken while Edwards still had the lead.Nikon 80-400 VR at 400mm, 1/640sec,...
More About: Tone

Birds of Prey Centre
2007-06-22 23:41:00
On our last full day in Cornwall the other month we decided on a visit to the Birds of Prey Centre , the other side of Newquay from where we were staying.It's a relatively small place, but even though neither my wife or I are especially fanatical about raptors we had a good time. The weather was looking a bit dodgy when we arrived, and it wasn't certain if the flight display would be able to proceed later on. We had nearly an hour, wandering around and looking at all the birds, before it started chucking it down. Instead of the display the owners decided to host an impromptu talk in one of the inside areas. I think I actually enjoyed this more than I would have the flight display - instead of fiddling with the camera all the time trying to get 'the shot' of a bird in flight we actually got to chat with the owners. It quickly became obvious how much they care for what they do and how much regard they have for the birds. They brought a couple of the birds in - a Harris Hawk and a B...
More About: Birds of Prey

Boat Jumble
2007-06-21 23:38:00
While walking along the beach/harbour front in St. Ives, Cornwall I spotted this pile of upturned boats and the mixture of colours and weathered textures caught my eye.Nikon 12-24mm at 16mm, 1/400sec, f/8
More About: Boat

Doctor Who - The (Robotic) Companion
2007-06-20 22:08:00
The last couple of posts have both included only Doctor Who baddies. This is because there weren't really many series good guys at the exhibition. This is probably unsurprising - they tend to be played by real people (and I doubt David Tennant would be willing to stand still at the exhibition for eight hours a day), whereas the baddies are generally large alien costumes (which might have people in them in the shows, but exist on their own after the cameras are switched off).There was one 'good guy' there though - K9 - the Doctor's faithful robotic companion.Nikon 12-24mm at 12mm, 1/60sec, f/11, flash
More About: Robotic , Compa , Robo

Doctor Who - The Bad Guys
2007-06-18 22:08:00
Yesterday I posted my first picture from the previously mentioned Doctor Who Exhibition at Land's End. I'm not one hundred percent sure why there would be a Doctor Who exhibition at Land's End, but due to the rain (and the fact that Doctor Who is just plain great) we decided to take a look. It doesn't take long to wander around - and there is a bit of a gap towards the end, where they are obviously waiting for some Series 3 paraphernalia to arrive - but it's good fun none-the-less. You can get really close to the exhibits, and although probably against the rules you can even touch things like a Slitheen and the Cyberman.Below are some of the baddies the Doctor has encountered - a Clockwork Droid (from The Girl in the Fireplace), a Cyberman and a better view of the Dalek from my last post. Nikon 12-24mm
More About: Guys

Do Not Touch The Dalek
2007-06-17 20:10:00
I don't think this photo really needs an explanation - hopefully everyone knows what a Dale k is and shouldn't need the warning.Nikon 12-24mm at 24mm, 1/60sec, f/11, flash
More About: Touch , The D

Shipwreck
2007-06-11 20:41:00
A shipwreck, seen from Land's End in Cornwall. I could be wrong, but I think this is the RMS Mulheim, which ran aground in March 2003.This is the only decent shot I got at Land's End from our recent visit due to bad weather (the only outdoors shot anyway - some from the Doctor Who exhibition coming soon). A shame as we quite fancied a stroll along the cliff side path.Nikon 18-200mm at 170mm, f/9, 1/125sec
More About: Ship , Wreck

The Lizard Lifeboat Station
2007-06-05 23:47:00
A couple of shots of the lifeboat station at Lizard head - built in 1914 according to the sign above the door.With it's lighthouse, famous pasties and at least two tea rooms claiming to serve the most southerly afternoon tea in the UK, this spot is a magnet for the tourists. Even when the weather is bad it is fairly busy here. This particular day was very windy and overcast, but we were fortunate that it was still clear enough for a fantastic view. Nikon 12-24mm14mm, f/18, 1/125sec &nb sp; &n bsp; & nbsp; ; 22mm, f/13, 1/125sec
More About: Station , The Lizard

Cliff flowers
2007-06-04 21:29:00
The last two posts of the cliffs around The Lizard in Cornwall have shown an area that looks pretty bleak. However, the hostile conditions don't stop things from surviving there. These flowers cover the cliffs here and at other places in Cornwall, including Land's End.Nikon 18-200mm VR at 130mm, f/6.3, 1/250sec
More About: Flowers , Cliff , Lowe , Flow

Inhospitable
2007-06-03 18:54:00
A shot of the cliffs at The Lizard. Converted to black and white it really gives a sense of how overcast and windy the weather was that day - there weren't many other walkers about to enjoy the views with us.Nikon 12-24mm at 12mm, f14, 1/500sec
More About: Spit

Isolation
2007-06-01 23:57:00
A bench sits alone, facing out to sea at The Lizard, the most southerly point in the UK.Nikon 18-200mm VR at 105mm, f10, 1/250sec
More About: Isolation

Seal Sanctuary
2007-05-31 22:31:00
I mentioned the National Seal Sanctuary (in Gweek) the other day, because they also have Asian Otters.Surprise, surprise, there are also seals at the seal sanctuary. While we were there we saw the feeding - including a cheeky fish-stealing heron - and I thought I took a load of photos. After we left I was reviewing my images though and realised I really didn't take too many. Oh well, never mind. Here's my favourite from the day out.Nikon 80-400 VR at 220mm, f/5.6, 1/250sec

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