Header Challenge 9th February 2011� `How you see Yourself`

How I see myself has been chosen for the header theme by imac this week.

Now I�m sure my fellow headbangers imac, Lanny, fishing guy and Gailsman will agree we all see ourselves in

different ways.

I see myself as being Scottish�

I also see myself as a proud family man�

This was taken whilst visiting Pompeii in Italy whilst on a family holiday. Thanks for getting me around and over all those cobbles.

What you will find is that I also see myself as a photographer. Not an exceptional one but one who is constantly experimenting new techniques and visiting new places always with camera in hand.

 

As my friends will know I�m also a bit of a techy so you will also find me surrounded by gadgets whether they be cameras, computers, phones or anything remotely technological�

So as you can see, I see myself as a Scottish family man with a penchant for photography and all things technological who loves to explore and record my journeys through my photographs and blog.

But then as you can see from my header this week this is one photographer who enjoys warping that reality too.

Let me know what you think via the comments section and then drop in on the other headbangers to see what they think of themselves, just follow the links at the top of the right hand menu bar.

Header Challenge 2nd February 2011 - Cleaning

Hello all, let me start by saying, Happy Birthday Mum! I hope you've had a great day.

This weeks header challenge has been chosen by Gailsman and he has chosen "Cleaning".

Well the first thing you have to have when cleaning is a maid to do it for you...

Well chance would be a fine thing, but, not being the minority that has numerous staff to do the cleaning for me I will just have to do it myself. First of though I will need to leave myself a note of what to do so I remember.

Well cleaning might not be the most fun thing to do but, at least we don't have to lick ourselves clean...

As Garfield our cat can be seen doing everyday...

So, "cleaning" I have decided to go with our very picturesque cat Garfield cleaning himself in the garden as my header this week. I hope you like it. Feel free to leave you comments then head over to the other headbangers to see what cleaning they have done this week. Come back soon.

Header Challenge 12th January 2011 � Water

 

Well it�s header challenge time again (or a bit past it I�m very late posting this. sorry everybody). This weeks theme is `Water` and has been chosen by fishing guy.

Water, well there has been a lot of that including coming through the ceiling from what looks like a burst pipe so I�m afraid this is a very short post.

Here's a few pictures of some water drops for your delight, I hope you like them�

Thanks for visiting, remember to leave your comments and then drop in on the other headbanger team members to see what they have done this week.

Header Challenge 29th December 2010 � Betwixed or Between.

 

This weeks header challenge is the last one for this year 2010. imac had the choice for this weeks topic and he has gone with betwixed or between as it is the week between 2 great celebrations that of Christmas and New year.

There are lots of things that are between but choosing the right one for my header is never an easy choice.

I could have gone with a photo of the magical time between day and night as the sun sets producing stunning colours in the evening sky.

Or back to the beauty of summer looking down the river as it travels between it�s banks.

Keeping on the same line of thought how about the bridges that span between the sides of a river, in this case the Samuel Beckett bridge which allows Dubliners to travel between one side of the Liffey and the other.

In the end I�ve chosen photo taken at the Waddington Airshow. It shows the Lancaster bomber between its fighter escorts. This bond between these historic and illustrious aircraft is now known the world over.

Well 2010 is soon coming to a close (I can�t believe the next header challenge will be in 2011). I hope you have enjoyed sharing my journeys and photography with me this year. Don�t worry there will be plenty more to see in the new year.

Don�t forget to leave your comments, good or bad on everything you see, good healthy criticism is the best way to grow as a photographer, and I value all your comments and suggestions.

It just leaves me to say, remember to check in on my other header challenge friends, Tom-fishing guy, imac, Lanny and Gailsman and I wish all my readers the very best for 2011, and may the New Year bring joy and happiness (and lots of photo opportunities) to you all.

Header Challenge 15th December 2010 � Anticipation

 

As most of you know each Wednesday I join some friends, Tom-fishing Guy, imac, Gailsman and Lanny to create a header based on a theme chosen by a member of the group.

This weeks challenge has been set by Lanny. She has chosen anticipation for her header theme this week.

With three kids I thought getting a picture of anticipation would be easy, but, most of the family have gone down with the flu bug over the last couple of weeks. So unless you count anticipation of getting rid of the snuffles, I don�t think they were in the mood for photographs.

So I thought I would look through my back catalogue of photos to see if I had any that would fit the theme of anticipation.

How about anticipation at the start of a relay race�

Anticipation of a lovely new day�

Anticipation of childhood new discoveries�

But I felt that at this time of year the biggest anticipation is the celebration of the coming of Christ at Christmas. So this week I have chosen to take a photo of our nativity scene to show my families and hopefully thousands of others� anticipation of the Christmas message.

Luke 2:11 "For unto you is born this day in the city of David a Saviour, which is Christ the Lord."

Anticipate and Celebrate the real reason for Christmas this year.

 

Getting the most out of your money?

So as a college student, I am constantly facing the challenge of juggling multiple to-do lists. The big question always arises: How do I insure that I use my camera on a regular basis, and make sure dust doesn't accumulate on it?

The simplest solution? Carry the camera around with you. Buy a bag or something to throw all your junk in, and just carry it everywhere you go. I've got a Tamrac bag, one strap, and it works amazingly well! It's large enough for me to put both my cameras in, along with my additional lenses, flash, filters, and random other accessories. It slings over my back, and I have gone on runs before with it on my back...

Second idea: Make it easy to upload. Seriously. It's as easy as that. If you just make the process to upload pictures really easy, it will make you much more likely to take pictures in the first place. I got a new computer, and it now takes about a tenth of the time it usually takes to upload. Since then, I've taken many more pictures, and I've found myself more likely to pick up my camera in the first place.

Third idea: Find things to focus on. Every time you pick up your camera, try to focus on a new aspect of using it that you don't normally try. For instance, if you normally take on say, Aperture mode, try switching to Shutter or Manual Mode. You'll be amazed how much more you appreciate your camera, and all the wonderful things you can do...

So until next time, I'll leave you with one of my new favorite pictures, of my youngest nephew.

~unclejoe

Header Challenge 1st November 2010 � Wheels.

Well this weeks exciting header challenge has been chosen by Gailsman and for his choice he has gone with �Wheels�.

Now the first thing you may think with wheels is cars or bikes but lots of other things have wheels too.

In our house the biggest use of a wheel seems to be for the playing of Mario Karts on the Nintendo Wii�

I�m sure many of you have also used a wheel in your house (or in Pizza Hut) when you have been cutting up your pizza�s�

Some of you will even use a wheel to adjust your heating thermostats�

and if you haven�t used any of those, how about Apples pride and joy the iPod with its revolutionary wheel interface.

If you still haven't found a wheel you have used in the above selection, what about looking on your desk at that mouse you are holding I�m sure that may have a wheel on it�

you may even be sat on a chair at that desk that has these�

castor wheels.

Many objects these days have wheels but one of my favourite wheels are just for watching and that is why I have chosen for my header this week a pair of Catherine Wheels (pinwheel) taken at a firework display at a friends house.

I hope you have enjoyed exploring wheels with me this week. I wonder how many wheels you can find around your homes?

Don�t forget to leave a comment then drop in on the other headbangers to see what they have come up with for the �Wheels� header challenge.

For those of you who also noticed it was Wheels by ACDC playing on my iPod here�s  your chance to listen to a great rock track.

Header Challenge 24th November 2010 � Collage

Now this weeks header challenge theme has been set by by my good friend imac. He has decided he wants us to have a go at creating a collage.

Having checked, a collage is described as being, derived from the French word for "gluing". It originally referred to the physical process of gluing a number of pictures, photos or drawings onto a flat piece of paper, in order to create an artistic composition.

Well I�m sure I can do that with the help of Photoshop. As for the glue well the computer has a cut and paste option  for placing your photos so there is the glue.

My first thought was a group of images, in this case flowers�

Then I thought why not be a bit more adventurous�

by turning one photo into numerous Polaroid's and then sticking them back together again.

I tried a few different ones�

some with backgrounds and some without.

I eventually decided on a photo with all my daughters in. I then laid them out and stuck them onto a virtual desk, I hope you like it.

If you want to know how I did it, leave me a request, via my comments section and I will endeavour to write a detailed explanation on it in a future blog.

Don�t forget to check out the other members of the headbangers, imac, Tom-fishing guy, Lanny and Gailsman to see what collages they have come up with for this weeks challenge.

Technorati Tags: Header,Challenge,November,Collage,theme,pictures,Photoshop,images,photo,Polaroid,photos,backgrounds,collages

Header Challenge 17th November 2010 � Childhood Antics.

Welcome to this weeks header challenge. This weeks theme was chosen by yours truly. Therefore for this weeks theme I chose `Childhood Antics`. Now I thought that would be a wide enough subject matter to produce lots of interesting headers and posts from my friends in the headbanger team, Tom-fishing guy, imac, Lanny and Gailsman.

Now being a parent I have lots of photos that could be used for this topic as you may have guessed. So for something different I haven't taken any new shots for this weeks header but dug some out of my collection,  and no I'm not just being lazy these were harder to choose than taking new ones.

We have `look at me I cute`.

 

`fun in a tunnel`

`Shall I jump?`

`Who needs toys when you have the box!`

I�m the king [queen] of the world!`

and the old time classic `swing time!`

I hope you enjoyed my children's antics and yes there are three different girls in the photos they just all look very similar, we call them clones. Poor kids.

I wonder what the girls will think when they see this post ?

Let me know what you think via the comments button and then have a look at what the other headbangers have come up with this week.

Header Challenge 27th October 2010 � Sound Creations

 

Hi this weeks header challenge is Sound Creations selected by Gailsman.

The creation of sound is something close to my heart. I like to think I create music whilst others may just call it noise. I do play the percussion after all.

My header photos though have been taken from our summer flower festival held every year in Spalding Lincolnshire.

There are always numerous marching bands of different genres dotted throughout the parade showing of their musical talents and helping the parade go with a swing.

Why not check out my other headbanger entrants just follow the links to their blogs at the top of my right hand menu bar.

Sorry fore the late posting this week but our internet went down again and I didn�t think I was going to be able to post at all so better late than never I hope you agree?

 

Technorati Tags: Header,Challenge,October,Sound,Gailsman,creation,music,percussion,festival,Lincolnshire,Creations,photos,bands

 

Header Challenge 20th October 2010 � Sepia.

This weeks header challenge has been chosen by imac. His choice this week is �Sepia�.

Sepia is the name given to the photographic development process used to enhance its archival properties and to give the photograph a warmer hue. The process got its name from the adding of a pigment to the chemical development of the photograph, derived from the Sepia officinalis cuttlefish found in the English channel.

With modern digital developments and printing processes the sepia pigment is no longer required to assist the photographs protection against the elements. Now sepia toning is mainly seen in either very old photographs or new photos digitally enhanced to look old.

Most photo editing software can now change a colour image into a sepia toned image giving the illusion that the photograph is old or just to add a warming effect to enhance the image.

The effect can be subtle as in the above photograph. just to add warmth to an image.

It can also be used to give an illusion of age to a photograph�

 

helped in this picture by the addition of period costume.

Pictures of historical societies can also be enhanced by the technique�

as in this group riding their period bicycles through Spalding in Lincolnshire.

 

Changing the tone to sepia has helped to give the illusion of age to the scene, even though it was actually taken this year.

The technique can be used to Add warmth to an image instilling not necessarily age to the picture but atmosphere.

Sepia has a wide range of applications now other than its original meaning.

Let me apologise for the scarcity of my posts over the last 2 weeks but this has been due to a telephone line fault resulting in the loss of internet access other than via my mobile phone. Hopefully the fault will soon be fixed, we have internet now, but, it is very slow as the fault has only partly been resolved.

Tell me your thoughts on sepia, do you think it is still a viable option to enhance photographs?Let me know your thoughts via the comments section regarding anything about my blog, good or bad.

Why don�t you drop in on the other headbangers and see what they have devised as a header and post for Sepia. Just follow the links at the top of the right hand column.

Technorati Tags: Header,Challenge,October,Sepia,pigment,English,photo,image,Pictures,technique,Lincolnshire,comments,photos,bicycles

Throwing light on the web

The web in question belongs to a tiny spider who thought it nice to build his web under my desk lamp.

I apologise for my post today, I only have internet on my phone as we have a fault with our home telephone line. I hope to be back to normal posting soon.

Header Challenge 6th October 2010 - Harvest

 

This weeks header challenge has been chosen by Lanny. Her choice for this week is Harvest.

Now locally in Lincolnshire a lot of the harvest has already been gathered in, but, luckily I had the foresight to take some photographs of the farmer gathering his in, in the field next to our house a few weeks ago. You never know when photos like that will come in handy, thanks Lanny.

 

This is what the field next to our house looked like before he started harvesting.

During the Harvest the harvester headed straight towards our house allowing for a great opportunity for a photo.

According to the local farmers if the bales are round then they are set to be used for animal feed. If they, like the ones next to us, are square (well square-ish) they are destined for use in a local power plant to be burned for eco-fuel.

Its great to see the fields harvested in, although the dust created does mean all the windows in the house need to be shut tight.

Why not drop in on the other headbangers and see what they have come up with as their banners this week. Just follow the links to them at the top of the right hand column.

Technorati Tags: Header,Challenge,October,Harvest,Lincolnshire,farmer,harvester,photo,photos

WordPress Tags: Header,Challenge,October,Harvest,Lincolnshire,farmer,harvester,photo,photos

Lincolnshire Project 1st October 2010

Well today is Lincolnshire day so I thought it was a very apt day to update my Lincolnshire project. My Lincolnshire project is to take a photograph in the same spot of Southern Lincolnshire every two weeks for a year. The hope is to catch the changing seasons and weather in a digital and visual record of the scenery of Lincolnshire.

October 1st marks the fifth official 'Lincolnshire Day' and historically, the date commemorates the Pilgrimage of Grace, which began in 1536 - the widespread revolt against the rule of Henry VIII. For more information visit the official Lincolnshire Day website.

Today's photo across Lincolnshire is unfortunately shrouded in rain as it has been very wet all day here.

The hedgerow in the left of the frame has been recently trimmed opening up a bit more of the horizon to be viewed. The field of sugar beet is yet to be harvested and the tree in the dyke on the right of the frame has completely died.

Happy Lincolnshire Day everybody.

Technorati Tags: Lincolnshire Day,Lincolnshire,Project,October,scenery,photo,horizon

WordPress Tags: Lincolnshire Day,Lincolnshire,Project,October,scenery,photo,horizon