Llanerchaeron

By shendyNo Comments
The final stop on our Welsh trip was to Llanerchaeron, near Aberaeron - a John Nash house with an enormous pair of walled gardens. These were full of more fruit and vegetable plants than you could imagine.   Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/500 @ f3.5, ISO 100 There is also a working farm, with some particularly inquisitive pigs!   Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/500 @ f3.5, ISO 100 Some of the plants in the walled garden were covered with more bees than I've ever seen - I assume they've got a hive or two somewhere. There were also plenty of butterflies - I seem to have hardly seen any since I was a child (and that's going back some way now...). I was surprised by just how close I could get to it with the macro turned on on the compact camera.     Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/500 @ f3.5, ISO 100 Having mentioned on a previous post about the fogged infra-red film at Dyrham...
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Bosherston

By shendyNo Comments
We also visited Bosherston in Pembrokeshire, where three small valleys were flooded in the 1800s to form a large series of lakes. These are full of water lillies, and look fantastic. Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/800 @ f5.6, ISO 100 Having walked for a mile or so along the valley, you suddenly come out at Broad Haven beach - completely unexpected and very picturesque. Without wanting to sound rude, you wouldn't guess it was Wales, would you? Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/800 @ f4.4, ISO 100 And on the walk back, we came across this cormorant, which happily sat there for ages while I took photos. Panasonic FX-37, 130mm equivalent, 1/125 @ f5.9, ISO 200...
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Llansteffan

By shendy1 Comment
We spent a few days in Wales in early September, which coincided with several days of fantastic weather. For a change, I deliberately left my digital SLR at home and shot a bit of film. I'll post those up when I get them back from processing and scan them - these shots are from my little digital compact. I'm so impressed by the macro facilities you get with them, making shots like this dead easy. Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/640 @ f5.6, ISO 100 Llansteffan was lovely - it was really quiet, and at times all you could hear was a bit of wind and some seagulls. The tide times were just right, which enabled us to walk out surprisingly far onto the sand banks. And yes, we did take care to make sure we weren't cut off. Panasonic FX-37, 26mm equivalent, 1/800 @ f5, ISO 100 And finally, I resurrected an old family habit of drawing "DON'T PANIC" in the sand (from Hitchhiker's Guide...
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Abbey House Gardens

By shendyNo Comments
A visit to Abbey House Gardens in Malmesbury in early September. I seem to have taken quite a lot of photos of bees this year, and am quite pleased with these two. Nikon D200, Cosina 100mm macro lens, 1/250 @ f11, ISO 250 Nikon D200, Cosina 100mm macro lens, 1/320 @ f8, ISO 400 And finally I rather like the colours, light and shadow on this. Nikon D200, Cosina 100mm macro lens, 1/640 @ f8, ISO 160...
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Northampton Saints v Rotherham Titans

By shendyNo Comments
To Franklin's Gardens in late August for The Saints pre-season match against Rotherham. This was combined with the club's open day, so the players not involved in the game were hanging around in the "village" area posing for photos and signing autographs. This is Neil Best - I asked if I could take his photo, and he paused and then posed for me. He was the only one to really pose - everyone else just stands there and lets you take the photo. Top bloke! Nikon D200, Nikon 18-200VR lens at 55mm, 1/125 @ f8, ISO 100   This is prop Soane Tonga'uhia (aka "Tiny" - all 6'3" and 19 stone of him) scoring. Nikon D200, Nikon 70-300VR at 300mm, 1/125 @ f8, ISO 100   Centre Jon Clarke takes a bit of a hit. Nikon D200, Nikon 70-300VR lens at 250mm, 1/1600 @ f5.6, ISO 400   "Tiny" might be a big old lump, but he's very athletic and an amazingly good runner. When you watch...
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