View allAll Photos Tagged pocketrocket
#SlidersSunday
#MacroMondays
#Travel
Please zoom in.
The new Macro Monday theme is "Travel". I was prepared to skip, because I'm not much of a traveller. Of course I'm interested in world cultures and different places, especially in being there and going exploring, getting to know everything. But getting there... Packing luggage, getting on the train (and, forbid, the aeroplane), hoping to catch my connection... and then, on repeat once it's finally going home again: horror.
But then, this Thursday, the motif literally came to me. At a favourite park, this little green guy, a buffalo treehopper, had decided to travel on my 9mm wide-angle lens for a while. The treehopper walked around along the lens hood, stopped for a few seconds, walked on, rested, and so on, flexing its tiny wings in between. It stayed on my lens for several minutes, even as I moved the camera around, and only flew away when we walked too far away from its home tree.
Since this cute little critter was a first, I had to take a few photos. The "problem": The lens with the excellent close-up abilities – my 9 mm PanaLeica ultra-wide-angle lens (small, super-light, plastic, but truly fantastic) – was mounted on my OM-3: as the treehopper's travel vehicle ;) So my tiny Sony came to the rescue. It doesn't, per se, do close-ups; at least you can't get truly close to a subject with it, certainly not anything as small as this guy. But the zoom range makes up for that. Here, I probably wasn't even far enough away. I checked the info, and according to that, I took this photo at 32,7mm (= 91,5 mm in full-frame terms). Maybe I could have achieved better "critter magnification" at the full 200 mms, but at that moment, it didn't even occur to me to get farther away from the tiny green fellow.
Since this isn't a true macro in the sense of a 1:1 magnification, I cropped in to meet our MM size requirements. Pixel-wise, this left me with quite a small crop (about 2100x2100 pixels); so I doubled the pixels in Gigapixel for better "viewability". If this should be against our MM rules, I'll accept it if the photo is excluded from the pool; likewise, if the image doesn't fully meet the theme requirements (evoking a feel of travel).
Size info: The treehopper was about the size of my pinky's fingernail, so just about the size of a grown specimen: 9 mm/0,35 inches. The lens's diameter (barrel included), as you can also see in the photo, is 5,5 cm. Since not all of the lens is fully visible in the frame, I'd say that, background included, we are at about 6 x 6 cm/2.3 x 2.3 inches total.
Happy Sliders Sunday, and Happy Macro Monday, too :)
#sliderssunday
That "corner around my corner" across the street is an endless source of beautiful motifs. After the poppies, irises, and other June bloomers, there are now lupines (methinks), dog roses, and the annual Black-eyed Susans. They last super long, well into autumn (and sometimes beyond). About two weeks ago, the first of them popped up in their well-established two different spots in front of the tiny house next to the old, derelict (but heritage-protected and inhabited) house. That old house also provides the somewhat gritty, yet oddly appealing background of crumbling plaster, faded lettering (here only visible in the upper left corner) and decay.
I've photographed (and posted) these coneflowers often over the years, but since there's always a long break between the coneflower-related Flickr posts, I thought I could slip you yet another variation of these sunshiny beauties ;) If you zoom in, you can find a half-hidden tiny critter sitting on the right petal of the centre flower.
In Analog Efex, I added a vintage paper texture (with reduced opacity at 28 on the slider) to the background only.
HSS, Everyone!
#Freitagsblümchen
#FenceFriday
A fence-defying, very pretty rhododendron shrub in the neighbourhood, taken on my recent first "flower close-up test walk" with the tiny Sony. Since then, I've taken many more flower photos with this "pocket rocket", and most of the time, I'm very happy with the results.
There are many beautiful, flowery front gardens and many old fences in my neighbourhood, and it's always fun to go on a leisurely walk (or at least keep the camera within reach at all times), especially at this time of year. There's an ant on one of the petals (one of many that we can't see, I assume), maybe you can find it ;)
I did exposure bracketing, so this is a true HDR (mainly processed in HDR Efex). The image is a little grainy (HDR Efex often adds grain back in), but with scenes like this, I actually quite like it, as it looks more natural and "film"-like.
HFF and Happy Freitagsblümchen, dear Flickr friends!
I was (and will be for the next few days; hopefully not any longer) mostly off Flickr due to my first eye surgery five days ago. I had hope to be able to take part in the super interesting MM "Proverb" theme, but, knowing how my MM photo sessions can get a little out of hand, especially if I have a specific idea for a theme, I reluctantly decided to skip to not interlude in the eye's healing process (and am once again hoping for a Redux at the end of the year). I hope I will be able to partake in next week's MM.
So here's a friendly little interim flower from around the corner (it seems to invite us into its realm; at least it's what it looks like to me); and thanks to "circle to search," I know that, most likely, it's a Geum coccineum 'Borisii' ;)
So long, dear Flickr friends!
#Donnerstagsmonochrom
#MonochromeThursday
An attempt at street photography on the Marschallbrücke, one of the many heritage-protected bridges across the Spree in Berlin's government district. This bridge is located at the heart of the government district, with many of the most important government buildings (particularly the Reichstag building, the seat of our government) within walking distance.
On a sunny afternoon, the bridge's railing creates a nice shadow play. This was the day before the heatwave started, so many people were out and about, enjoying a work break or simply the sunny weather. I still managed to get a few shots of the empty bridge with only the shadows, but found the "human element" made it more interesting. I was kneeling to get a low POV and fill most of the frame with the shadow patterns, and when I saw a woman approach, I decided to include her walking legs ;) This also spared me from having to anonymise her face.
In case you are wondering what the round shadow behind the lady's shadow is: It's from a lifebuoy on the bridge's railing.
Happy Monochrome Thursday, dear Flickr friends!
And moments matter, too :)
Some street fun for Wednesday/hump day.
A few weeks ago, I had to apply for a new identity card. I don't know how it is in your countries, but in Germany, carrying an ID card with you is mandatory. And my ID card had expired, well, a while ago. What can I say? There's nothing more convincing than a friendly reminder in an official letter asking you to fulfil your duties as a citizen, garnished with a hefty fine threat ;)
So I hastily headed for the citizens' registration office, and on my way, I spotted this little scene. I nearly walked past it in one of those "I look stupid if I take my camera out now" moments (the tiny, nondescript Sony of all!), trying to convince myself I could still snap a photo on my way back. But then I thought, "Don't be silly. Who knows if that toy car is still there in an hour." The moment I had taken just two shots, the Mini drove away. And when I came back from the office, the toy VW Beetle "parking" next to the rusty dumpster container was gone, too...
This is the type of street photography I prefer, because no people are involved. And if this moment reminded me of one thing, it is that you should always take the photo, even if you are afraid of looking silly.
P.S. I manipulated/anonymised the license plate.
Enjoy the rest of your week, dear Flickr friends!
I had my second eye surgery last Wednesday, so I have to skip MMs again. Progress seems slower than the first time around, and my right eye still feels a little like the Dahlia bud on the left, but it's getting better. But my left eye is very good now, bright, and with excellent vision, and with a little more patience, it will be the same with my right eye.
I hope to be back soon :)
;)
#UrbanPoetry
These are not the same poppies that I photographed with their buds still tightly closed (please see the first comment, if you like), but they grew in the same front garden across the street. I'm glad I stopped by there a few times while heading for errands, because right now, most of this delightful bloom is gone. The lilies: deranged; the poppies: ceased. And anything that could follow next isn't ready yet. We are in the tight grip of the "Schafskälte" (which one might translate as "sheep's cold/chill"), a cold snap and Central European meteorological singularity that occurs around mid-June. Not every June, but definitely this one; it's grey and brrrrr.
This small front garden is special. There is a (truly) tiny house, more of a hut, actually, and next to it a heritage-protected small apartment house, and both decay away, but are in use/inhabited. This small hut, which here provided the bright background, was once used as a recording studio (years ago). Who uses it now and what for, I don't know, but I often see a Vespa parked right in front of the house, and they do a nice job with the planting each year.
And again, I'm pleasantly surprised by the amount of background blur the 1" sensor (and at F/4.5) creates, rendering even the lily blurry.
Have a nice weekend ahead, dear Flickr friends!
BR Standard 76079 is about to pass Sword Loch in some very changeable Rannoch Moor weather and manages to pass through a glimpsing patch of sunlight on October 11th 2008.
#sliderssunday
A little bit of a cliché scene, at least for me, because it's a favourite, often visited spot, so you've seen something similar before. But what the tiny Sony had done with the sun on that pleasantly warm 1st of May, turning it into a dominant, relentless ball of light, visualises the momentary heatwave so aptly. And it's Sliders Sunday, so why not?
Technically, in terms of sharpness and detail, the OM-3 with the 20mm lens did a far better job (as expected), but I still like the mood in this scene. And I hope that today, there aren't as many people in that park on this hot Sunday as there were back in May. From tomorrow, the heatwave moves south-eastwards. I hope for our neighbouring countries that it will get weaker on its way.
Happy Sliders Sunday!
This little chap was being harassed by a Magpie, he did stay a while after the magpie got bored, and cleared off.
Boeing B757-200 reg G-LSAI, one of the odlest passenger carrying B757's in 2024. Built in 1987, serial number 24016 due to retire by January 2025.
Kawasaki ZX-10RR - Bournemouth Kawasaki/JG Speedfit Kawasaki Team - British Superbikes - Brands Hatch - kent.
In a seawall scene that's changed beyond recognition BR Standard 2-6-0 76079 works away from it's Dawlish stop and heads southwest hauling the Exeter St Davids to Plymouth leg of "The South Devon Coastal" railtour on August 5th 2001.
The iconic architecture of Selfridges at the Bull Ring in Birmingham city centre. A nice bit of colour in the sky as the sun set this evening - I was glad to have the little Sony in my pocket.
Sony RX100 Mk1
Explored - 18/12/2016!
I've been teaching Poppy photography, take a look at her Flickr.
BR Standard 4 No. 76079 eases into Grosmont as Southern Railway S15 4-6-0 No. 825 waits to depart on the North Yorkshire Moors Railway on 21st September 2021.
No. 76079, built at the Harwich works of the former Lancashire and Yorkshire Railway in 1957, proved to be a popular and versatile locomotive. Passed for main-line running, it acquired the nickname "Pocket Rocket" – small, but powerful!
Inside il Vino Fore Street Hertford.
In the toilet is an amazing picture of Venice, not your normal tourist shot but a little side alley under a bridge showing the classic washing in the street. It's worth visiting just for that and I love the coffee too.
For the record I did not want to include any of the customers faces because it was time to enjoy a coffee not some photographer taking their picture.
NSU 1000C (1963-72) Engine 996cc S4 OC Tr
Production 196000
Registration Number TBN 168 J (Bolton)
NSU ALBUM
www.flickr.com/photos/45676495@N05/sets/72157625592228550...
The Prinz 4L evolved into a larger bodied sibling with a longer wheelbase and more passenger space, powered by a light alloy four cylinder engine, transversely mounted at the rear producing 40bhp. The car retained drum brakes, a rather harsh ride and simple ventilation bu had a modern all synchromesh gearbox.
With its low weight and excellent handling the car represented excellent value for money. The NSU 1000 C weighs a claimed 640 kg at the kerb. Its maximum speed stated is 130 km/h, which is 81 mph.
Diolch am 97,511,387 o olygiadau gwych, mae pob un ohonynt yn cael eu gwerthfawrogi'n fawr.
Thanks for 97,511,387 amazing views, every one is greatly appreciated.
Shot 21.08.2022, at Lupin Farm, Kings Bromley, Staffordshire REF 163-258
Taken at the Wyoming Exotic Wheels and Wine car show held in the Wyoming suburb of Cincinnati, Ohio.
This is a closeup from a MV Agusta Tre Pistoni Motorcycle which is an exotic Italian brand you won't see many of in the USA.
How do you get a 3 cylinder, 4 stroke engine to balance correctly? Sounds like they figured it all out.
Their web site:
Will we ever see the like of this again, or is the incompatibility of fitting ERTMS systems to steam locomotives going to ensure the Cambrian remains steam free for ever? On 28th August 2007, during the last week of the 2007 'CCE' season, Ian Riley's 'Pocket Rocket' heads West Coast Railway Company's
'Cambrian Coast Express' around the curves alongside the picturesque Dovey Estuary on the approach to Penhelig. Copyright Photograph John Whitehouse - all rights reserved
View from the tent across Lochan nam Breac towards Luinne Bheinn, in the depths of Knoydart. This was the evening after a long but fantastic walk up and over Ben Aden from Sourlies. I can't remember what I was cooking up but I bet it tasted VERY good regardless!
45428 'ERIC TREACY' - STANIER BLACK FIVE CLASS 5MT 4-6-0
NAME AFTER - 'ERIC TREACY' - THE RAILWAY PHOTOGRAPHER.
NYMR 20th MARCH 2016
BR Standard 4 accelerates away from the Glaisdale stop in fading light with the returning "Whitby Flyer" tour train to York on 18th March.
Some sunset warmth for midweek :) I took this in January, but the colours are quite "golden autumn"-ish, methinks.
The bridge in view is the Moltkebrücke, one of the historical bridges over the Spree. It was built between 1886 and 1891 and is named after Helmuth von Moltke, who, from 1857 to 1888, was the chief of the Prussian General Staff. Moltke died unexpectedly just before the bridge was finished, so the bridge's inauguration was antedated to the day Moltke's coffin was transported across the bridge to former Lehrter Bahnhof (now Berlin's modern central railway station, the Hauptbahnhof).
The building behind the bridge is the Federal Chancellery of Germany. You can also see the tip of Tiergarten's Carillon tower behind the Chancellery (centre frame).
Happy Hump Day, dear Flickr friends!
Replacing an earlier scanned 6"x4" print with a better version 27-Feb-22 (DeNoise AI).
This aircraft was delivered to Court Line Aviation as G-AYOR in Mar-71. Court Line ceased trading in Aug-74 when the Clarkson Travel Group failed, the aircraft was repossessed by the British Aircraft Corporation and stored.
It was sold to Dan-Air Services in Jan-75 and re-registered G-BDAT the following month. Dan-Air operated it until Nov-92 when it was sold to ILFC International Lease Finance Corporation.
It was immediately leased to British Air Ferries as G-OBWA. British Air Ferries was renamed British World Airlines in Apr-93 and they bought the aircraft in Oct-94.
It was wet leased to Air Nostrum (Spain) in Feb-98 and returned to British World the following month. The aircraft was retired and stored at Southend, UK in Dec-00.
It was sold to Air Leone (Sierra Leone) as 9L-LDL in May-02 and ferried to Malta still in full British World Airlines livery for maintenance.
Reading between the lines, it wasn't airworthy and Air Leone sold it to Fast Aerospace two months later. It languished untouched at Malta for another 14 years, still in full British World livery until it was finally broken up in Jan-16.
76079 charges out of Little Burrs Cutting with the 14:00 from Bury on the 5th January 2003. When it was cold and sunny like this, you couldn't go wrong with the Pocket Rocket on the ELR.
76079, running as 76001 and not cleaned on purpose, approaches Brighouse station with a "Cotton Mill Express" from Manchester Victoria to Blackburn on the 13th December 2008. Given the dire weather, I didn't think it was worth going any further. The Standard 4 did a few Cotton Mill Expresses on it's own around that time, which seems a little surprising now.