Grain

Long Shadows

Camera: Diana F+ with 20mm fisheye lens

Film: 120 Kodak Professional Ektar (ISO 100)

Some light leaks I think actually enhance an image, like on this one, but others are really intrusive and spoil the pictures (more of those to come!)

I couldn't work out why it was happening and then realised it was because the film counter is permanently open at the back and lets light in. It doesn't usually seem to be a problem but becomes one in sunny conditions. I'll cover it with tape from now on and just peel it back to wind the film on. Something else I have learned!

The Lubitel doesn't have this issue as you manually open and close the film counter window at the back when you wind it on. Much more sensible :)

I'm still learning how to use my new 45mm extension tube. Until I figure it out I'm content with my mistakes.

Dust and all.

A young man who has yet to learn the merits of... not to query the Sat Nav capabilities of one's partner.

A young athlete gives it his all in the high jump at the Balquhidder, Lochearnhead and Strathyre Highland Games and Gathering. As the bar wobbles and begins its descent, it’s a gentle reminder that every great leap starts with a few stumbles. In the Highland tradition, it’s not just about clearing the bar, but about the courage to jump again.

Un jeune athlète donne tout dans l’épreuve du saut en hauteur aux Jeux des Highlands de Balquhidder, Lochearnhead et Strathyre. Alors que la barre vacille et commence à tomber, c’est un doux rappel que chaque grand saut commence par quelques faux pas. Dans la tradition des Highlands, il ne s’agit pas seulement de franchir la barre, mais du courage de sauter à nouveau.

Whilst I've got some good results with my Canon cameras, I'm not getting any younger and they do weigh a certain amount.

I was looking for something smaller and lighter but still as good as I could get, saw a deal for the original Olympus (sorry, 'OM system') OM-1 and got it. This image (and a few others to follow) are the first experiments.

So, a slight bit of editing in lightroom (I've cropped the image and removed a few bits of dirt from the petals) and here we are. First thoughts: I like the colour balance and there's a pleasing level of resolution in the centre of the lily, but I was expecting different aperture behaviour from a micro-four thirds sensor. I thought it would naturally behave as a narrower aperture than it does, and have shot more wide-open than perhaps I needed to. It's a first learning point and there will, I'm sure, be many more.

But still, first steps. I liked the lighter weight of the set-up I used a great deal. And if you use lightroom, or photoshop, or any of the equivalents you'll have come across lots of discussion about curves without anyone really mentioning the most important one of all; the learning curve. I have a lot to learn as I move along it with this camera.

I wanted a shot of the Jo Nakashima Goose design to present two versions for a project for a doll group. I didn't have time to search for paper so I was making do with what I had. This picture shows all 5 trials (#2 is the flat one leaning against the screen). In retrospect I should have tried the model with a different colour for practice. I would have made the same mistakes, but I'd have had a clean sheet for my good fold.

It took all five folds for me to work out the bugs in the process and I was able to salvage the first model for my project. The closest to the actual design was model #5, keeping in mind that I made some neck mods to suit my needs. I wet folded the head bend of model #1 to compensate for the damage I did to the neck since reworking had weakened the paper.

Model #1 = 8" kami orange/white

Model #2 = 8" kami (very thin, bonded to 8" solid orange with Pritt stick) I was not able to complete all the steps.

Model #3 = 8" kami (very thin, transparent)

Model #4 = 8" off white drawing paper cut square

Model #5 = 8" solid orange origami paper

Note about size of top bill: There has to be a better way to get the fold without it being so tiny. My vision and stubby fingertips don't like it. Maybe it needs a pleat early on in the corner setup. WWRLD? (What Would Robert Lang Do?)

Just for the sake of experimentation I did a beakoplasty with a piece of the tucked wing on #3. This gave me the idea to fold the corner piece slightly larger on #5. This helped but reduced the available neck length.

In the picture, two of the models are holding my mini crane squares to demonstrate function of beak. I made a trial knife out of paper that three of the models were able to hold but it was ugly. I made one with foil backed with black kami that looks better but couldn't get the end to fold in so I cut it off. Not official, but works for my pictures.

I got these little food items from an antique shop. These are actually magnets and some of the items have real food inside! I thought that they would make perfect dollhouse food.

Another one from our surgery series with my daughter doing the surgery but with a big rusty saw this time.

I do think I should have tried some different expressions though lol.

This shot was setup in my kitchen with me lying on our dining table with white background paper on my background stand.

The main light was my Elemental 600 to camera left set to 1/4 power and with a beauty dish.

To light the backdrop I used my other Elemental 600 set to 1/2 power and my Nikon SB600 also set to 1/2 power and 50mm.

The kitchen window was to camera right which acted as a fill and also I used a silver reflector to camera left to bounce some of that natural light back into my face.

The flashes where fired off camera using my Yongnuo RF-602 trigger + recievers.

Taken With

►Nikon D300s

►Nikon 16-85@38mm

►Tripod + Cable Release

►Elemental M Series Ultra Pro Studio 600

►Nikon SB600 flash

►Yongnuo RF-602 trigger + recievers

Thankyou for looking and don't forget to press 'L' on your keyboard for your ultimate surgical experience.

Went off to the motorway bridge to practise long exposure, on a very chilly evening.

Got there, too light, went to the pub!

Returned to the bridge once the sun had set. Not enough traffic, would have preferred more red lights but it was great fun experimenting! The first shot with continuous, streaming lights was soooo exciting!

2 people, a camera and a tripod, on a bridge; I wonder how many drivers thought they'd been done for speeding! :-)

#learningcurve

Please see Local Birds and wildlife set 2013 www.flickr.com/photos/wendycoops224/sets/72157632400771125/

I am trying to get to know the 10mm f5.6 Hyper Heliar. It is an extreme lens and takes some work to use. You find out that you have to be close, really close if you don't want everything tiny. Amazing lens when you get it to work - the tree is not more than 2-3 ft away (the trunk).

This bright red boat, carrying mail, stood out from all the white boats on the River Dart estuary.

This is my first attempt, in Photoshop, at re-adding colour back into a B&W photo. I'm wondering if it would have been quicker to open up the shot on my iPhone and use the "Dash of Colour" app! Maybe quality would have suffered! #learningcurve

taken this AM after a call from a dear flickr-friend here in Hawaii alerting me to the view ,of which she knew i was desirous .This is looking off my new front "lanai" a benefit of the renovation

Thank you Ms Archer's eye

learning curve

My second round from 24ft back with a .40cal, 36" blowgun using metal 4" spear tip darts. The green are the spear tip, the 4 red are standard competition darts.

My first 'shot' was what I thought was a light blow toward the curtain in front of our entertainment center about 10ft away. Yeah I know DUH... but seriously I thought it would be much more difficult and figured it would bounce off the thick material. Nope....stuck the bugger right into the DVD player, right into the ventilation grill! What a complete moron!

Next we dug out the old horsehair dart board and propped it in the corner about 15ft away. I had only assembled about 10 darts, and it was getting late so I shot a few rounds and he shot a few rounds...I out shot him by far that first night. It was late and we decided to try again the next day.

We decided we needed more distance, and the weather was still crappy enough to not want to play outside. (besides I wanted to get a grip on it before having to deal with more variables like wind). From one side of the living room straight down the hall, we can get 25ft comfortably. We hung the board and started in. My first round wasn't bad, but I learned the slight difference in the shape of the dart tip made a bid difference on how it flew. The daughter came out of hiding to try her hand and then the hubby took his turn. Round one we didn't count, practice and such... round two was for bragging rights.

Here you see my round two grouping...not too bad if I do say so myself. Notice the absence of theirs? He out shot me by 4 darts, and she smack on bulls-eyed and came way too close a second time. It's funny how we all picked up on it with relative ease...so far that is...

(for those following my online class, sitting at 89% after first 2 quizzes...11 more quizzes, and 4 writing assignments to go)

So I have d/l a trial version of Photomatix and I am having a go at this HDR processing again. I think these two are better then my last try. Please tell me how I can improve.

View Large & View On Black

Made Explore!! #338 Thank you everyone! :-)

Please see Garden Birds set www.flickr.com/photos/wendycoops224/sets/72157633027644686/

Chaos list. Lick to add description.

To view all my site you will have to alter your safe search filter to moderate.

www.flickr.com/account/prefs/safesearch/?from=privacy

This is because of a bizarre quirk of Flikr : my work is (perhaps) more suitable for adult consumption but I don't have and never have had any porn.

My first HDR experiment. Not sure if I did it right, based on some of the other examples of HDR I have seen.

Surfer on the St. Lawrence River Rapids

LaSalle, Quebec

(again, he was fine! =D)

Photo details: Canon 24 -105 f/4 L lens

On my bike route, I always stop and shoot here for awhile

Diptych

Slight Orton effect and vignetting (on purpose ;D)

View (same size, but) On Black

The first nuthatch I've seen in ages... knew they had nested in the woods but hadn't spied any since. These are from my first trip out with the 70D, focus not quite perfect - think that is me, not the camera! (managed other sharp shots later in the morning of other subjects) but these seem to have a sort of 'watercolour' feel to them that I rather like.

Please see Local Birds and wildlife set 2013 www.flickr.com/photos/wendycoops224/sets/72157632400771125/

Best of a bad bunch. So far, I suck at this off camera light thing. Anyway, I rather like this one because of the accidental wave movement I captured.

Ring's beach, Coromandel. © Copyright Paul Green 2007.

Strobist: single bare Vivitar 285 to camera left zoomed to max and triggered via Pocket Wizards.

Blogged.

Frank Bretschneider

⚫️

Book :

François Morellet

Galerie Nationale Du Jeu De Paume

2001

CD :

Adam Basanta

Circular Arguments

901 Editions

9ED008

Design . Mote Studio Berlin

iMusic :

Tortoise

Learning Curve (Oval Remix)

Thrill Jockey

THRILL12.09

CGMA ...

With the new processing options now available on flickr I am on a new learning curve. Here is a result. I'll get better.

Isle of Mull, Scotland.

Playing with my new camera.

The first nuthatch I've seen in ages... knew they had nested in the woods but hadn't spied any since. These are from my first trip out with the 70D, focus not quite perfect - think that is me, not the camera! (managed other sharp shots later in the morning of other subjects) but these seem to have a sort of 'watercolour' feel to them that I rather like.

Please see Local Birds and wildlife set 2013 www.flickr.com/photos/wendycoops224/sets/72157632400771125/

She posed very nicely for me....

Please see Local Birds and wildlife set 2013 www.flickr.com/photos/wendycoops224/sets/72157632400771125/

Step 2 of my first stained glass project, all pieces edged with copper foil and ready for soldering. I spent an entire day (8 hours) and another 4 hours the following day on that stage.... back to normal work tomorrow, the soldering will have to wait till next day off....

The Boy. One of our 2 cats. He is always coming home dirty, scratched up & missing chunks of fur (notice the 5 or 6 claw marks on his nose). I like this pic of him. He does have a very dark side and I think I got a bit of it in this image.

I've entered this pic of The Big Bad Boy in a Photo Competition at Competico. If you like the image, please consider taking a moment and giving it a vote. Details in this post on The Learning Curve Homepage. (Sorry about the bounce from here to there to there but flickr keeps giving me an error everytime I try to post a direct link. The URL I'm trying to post is a link to my profile which I just created this morning but flickr thinks it's spam. If anyone has any feedback, let me know. Thanks.)

Shameless Self Promotion:

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Prints:

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This time of quarantine has given many people a new appreciation for technology that has been available to us. In addition to Zoom meetings, I produce a weekly video on Facebook Live.

I've always used projection and Powerpoint technology for public speaking, but certain components have been in the hands of others. It's been fun, the last few weeks, to experiment and learn new things.

Scotty's parent's celebrated their one-year anniversary of being parents today. Still suffering just a bit from that "First Child" syndrome, but hey, they're getting the hang of it.

It's a lot of responsibility, being a parent. They are totally dependent on you. On YOU! If their childhood sucks, that's on you. If they don't get the education or healthcare that they should, that's on you too. So it can be a little intimidating.

But the truth is that kids are tougher than they look. Resilient, even. And forgiving. And mostly what they need is love, and there's no shortage of that here. With love, the rest comes naturally, so these guys are gonna be just fine.

Happy Birthday, Scotty - and congratulations, Justin and Chasity. Ready? One.. two.. three.. Blow! —

“In an old house in Paris that was covered with vines

lived twelve little girls in two straight lines.”

I only have six, but you get the idea…

ODC 354 In Order

114 Pictures in 2014 - Theme No. 109 - Illustrate a Children's Book Title

ADAD

Got my experia android based phone for 1 penny including shipping. Buds blackberry and Cass's android were also a penny each with a year contract, no strings... the new beta site for amazon wireless came through big time. They handled setting up the contract and it is completely customizable for each phone. No penalty to add/change/remove services as long as we keep the minimum plan. We have data, 3g, and all kinds of blingy stuff I am clueless about.... but even all the added and actually having service across the state, were still paying less monthly! Like 1/4-1/3 less!

SO,, I celebrated by having a custom skin made. This is the back, the black on left will be mostly cut away with the shape, and in theory the headlight should be the camera/antennae/light or whatever it is.

OK, so here's where I admit that although I am one of the biggest computer nerds, a true technogeek.... this android system phone whatever is a challenge. I went from the second nextel made with 2way for near a decade.... to the equiv of a laptop slightly larger than a credit card, and much more dangerous too! Who knew these buggers actually stalk you and teach themselves to anticipate what you may do eventually... then tadaa! they spring it on you... hey you there fumbling around making everyone snicker... yeah you... guess what? I, your phone, (who by the way is programmed to have no free will, or independent intelligence, really i promise), thought of something totally new and off the wall to throw you off base even more!

LOL, it's a trip... but I will eventually win! and may even outsmart the sucker, any day now!.... it could happen!

We were at a huge antique show over the weekend and this adorable Madeline is one of the dolls that came home with me. I have a huge Madeline collection but I certainly don't have anything like her in it.

This is my new friend Alanna Simenson owner of Mad Hatter Bookbinding Co. I visited Alanna today, for the first time, and found myself in a whole new world. It was a world of craftsmanship, hides (cow, calf and pig), gold leaf, dilapidated old tomes and tools that looked, to me, like implements of torture.

Video featuring, in part, a project in which Alanna is involved. lostinaseaofblogs.wordpress.com/tag/bookbinding/

Experimental processing in GIMP. Filters->Artistic-> Clothify

All my images are protected by copyright, Please do not use in any blogs, websites or reproduced in any way without my specific written permission. Any unauthorized use is strictly prohibited.

Spin/ spinning 12/116

I was determined... but learning to spin a dreidel and capturing that spin with the camera... was harder than I imagined! After dozens of takes I finally got what I wanted... with the smaller of the two dreidels! ;D

Taken at The Regency, Laguna Woods, California. © 2015 All Rights Reserved.

My images are not to be used, copied, edited, or blogged without my explicit permission.

Please!! NO Glittery Awards or Large Graphics...Buddy Icons are OK. Thank You!

Many thanks for every kind comment, fave, your words of encouragement, and the inspiration of your fine photography,

my friends! You make my day every day!

*******************************************************************************

Edgar W Nelson - town memorial

Edgar W Nelson Sherwood Foresters 28th March 1918 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=310045

Norlink: No match

The war diary of the 15th Battalion is summarised on line - www.1914-1918.net/Diaries/wardiary-15Notts.htm

But states the 28th March 1918 was quiet

*******************************************************************************

Herbert E Nichols - town memorial

Herbert E Nichols R .Engineers 26th June 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=552140

Unit was 208 Field Company

Norlink: No match

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Robert Nokes - town memorial

Robert Nokes HMS.Indefatigable 31st May 1916 Jutland - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2866850

Norlink: No match

Were lives wasted when the Indefatigable was sunk - www.learningcurve.gov.uk/snapshots/snapshot16/snapshot16.htm

******************************************************************************************

E Lawrence Offord - town memorial

E Lawrence Offord Buffs 3rd May 1917 France - Church Memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=779913

Son of Edgar T. and Ellen Offord, of Camping Land, Swaffham, Norfolk. Unit 7th Battalion The Buffs (East Kent Regiment)

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

George Oxborough - town memorial

George W Oxborough Norfolks 19th April 1917 Gaza - Church Memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=650997

Norlink: No match

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Sidney Papworth - town memorial

Sidney Papworth 2 Duke of Cornwalls Light Infantry 14th March 1915 France - Church Memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1623217

husband of Lily Ada Papworth, of Roseline Cottage, Campingland, Swaffham, Norfolk.

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

George E Parker - town memorial

George E Parker 1st Essex 12th October 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=206190

Norlink: No match

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Maurice Peek - town memorial

Maurice Peek - 2 Norfolks 22nd April 1917 Mesopotamia - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1658585

Norlink: no match

******************************************************************************************

John A Philo - town memorial

John A Philo 8th Royal Fusiliers 31st July 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1548134

Norlink: No match

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Charles H Powley - town memorial

Charles H Powley 1st Essex 22nd November 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=31600

Norlink: No match

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Philip C Preston - town memorial

Philip C Preston Norfolks 15th October 1915 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1767067

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

Ernest Precious - town memorial

Ernest Precious Norfolks 6th May 1915 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=201185

Norlink: No match

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Robert Rasbary - town memorial

Robert Rasbary Norfolks 1st July 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1550246

First day of the Somme

The 6th Battalion, Royal Berks went over the top alongside the 8th Norfolks on the first day of the Somme. The story of what happened to the two units can be read here,

www.6throyalberks.co.uk/1stJuly/default.html

Norlink: No match

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Walter Read - town memorial

Walter Read Norfolks 15th September 1915 France - church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=534629

Son of Walter Edward and Harriett Read, of Island Cottages, Westacre Rd., Swaffham, Norfolk. Native of West Raynham, Fakenham, Norfolk Deceased 15th September 1916.

Roll of honour has deceased 15th September 1916.

Norlink: No match

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Walter Rallison - town memorial

Walter Rallison - Royal Garrison Artillery 13th November 1915 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=180987

Died 14th November 1915

Roll of honour has died 14th November 1915

Norlink: No match

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Albert Rallison - town memorial

Albert Rallison Oxford Light Infantry 27th February 1916 Mesopotamia - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=634945

Norlink: No match

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John W Reeve - town memorial

John W Reeve 12 East Surreys 14th March 1918 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=505137

Husband of Gertrude Reeve, of London St., Swaffham, Norfolk.

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

George Regester - town memorial

George Regester - Rifle Brigade 23rd February 1918 Southampton - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=2803478

Son of Charles Salisbury Regester and Emma Regester, of Station St., Swaffham. Born at Holme Hale.

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

William Regester - town memorial

William Regester City of London Rifles 6th July 1917 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=160729

Roll of honour only has this only as a probably.

Norlink: No match

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Leslie J Richardson - town memorial

Leslie J Richardson, Civil Service Rifles 15th September 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=261011

Son of James and Elizabeth Richardson, of Old Bank House, Swaffham, Norfolk

Norlink: No match

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A Raymond N Smith - town memorial

A Raymond N Smith - 130th K C O Baluchis J R 10th July 1919 India - Church memorial

A Raymond Richardson on Roll of Honour is actually A Raymond N Smith on Church memorial

Name: SMITH, ALAN RAYMOND NOEL Initials: A R N Nationality: Indian Rank: Lieutenant Regiment/Service: 130th King George's Own Baluchis (Jacob's Rifles) Age: 19 Date of Death: 10/07/1919 Additional information: Son of Walter and Eleanor Smith, of "Oakleigh", Swaffham, Norfolk. Casualty Type: Commonwealth War Dead Grave/Memorial Reference: 2. C. 10. Cemetery: RAWALPINDI WAR CEMETERY

www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=909715

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

Clifford D Smith - town memorial

Clifford D Smith Norfolks 23rd October 1918(?) France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=40160

Lt Clifford D Smith, deceased 23rd October 1918. 5th Battalion attached 9th Battalion.

Norlink: No match

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Donald G Smith - town memorial

Donald G Smith - Royal Fusiliers 18th October 1916 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=505918

Son of Walter and Eleanor Smith, of "Oakleigh," Swaffham, Norfolk

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

Joseph Smith - town memorial

Joseph Smith Norfolks 9th May 1917 France - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=1653722

Husband of Annie Elizabeth Tibbett (formerly Smith), of Northwell Pool, Swaffham, Norfolk.

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

Arthur Spencer - town memorial

Arthur Spencer Royal Engineers 19th December 1916 - Church memorial

CWGC: www.cwgc.org/search/casualty_details.aspx?casualty=545064

Norlink: No match

******************************************************************************************

Just found an old Polaroid Reporter camera at an antique store. I'm very excited about it. I will be even more excited about it once I learn how to use it.

This was a self-portrait attempt, using the Mac featured in this photo.

The black and white film for the camera is super high speed and most of them had almost no image on them at all. So this scan is extra dirty looking because I had to increase the contrast a tremendous amount to even get this. I have a lot of learning to do.