Hobbies and Crafts

I have an old Ricoh 35mSLR KR10 for which I have small tripod .. great for night photos, but it isn't digital . Don't suppose other than camera enthusiasts have heard of it. Still love it , cos you have to 'create ' the photo yourself.. not just point and shoot.
Digis are great, tho they all differ, not fussed on my dau's or the one we had before but the little Sams*ng I have now is brill.
Just wish we had more exotic birds to photo.lol

My digital 'Hybrid' which is a Panasonic Lumix FZ45 can be either used on programme or can be used like the 35mm SLRs where you can 'creat' the photo yourself. Asuper camera, very pleased with it, although I admit to being lazy mosy of the time and using it on programme.

Suddenly remembered about 3 mins before Countryfiles finished....turned it on to see Christopher and fingymajig feeding the Redkites:o)) and saw the 2 Whitekites too:o))

Island...were you in the that bit of film??

Jane..thank you re the moon photo, l need a tripod though. There is so much to learn about this camera, but so far its great:o)

Von...look forward to that:o)...where in California are you?

Ann...thats one licky blackbird!!

Jane..hows the rabbit and rat prob?..we found a dead rat the other day but still not seen any others.

jude

Jude
We're staying in San Francisco.
We've been down the pacific highway to Arroya Grande,
Across to Yosemite national park and up to Lake County to Clear lake then down the Nappa valley back to San Francisco.
Have extended the trip by a few days to spend Easter here.
Whereabouts are your relatives?
Take care
Von

Von...sounds like you're having a brill time:o)
One family live in Paso Robles, 3 families in Santa Barbara area, some in New York and my half sis and bruv in Colorado and their families.

Been to Yosemite, is'nt it amazing?? also to San Francisco:o)

Enjoy, good journey home:o)

jude x

Yosemite, wonderful place for photography. Have you ever seen the black and white photos taken there by Ansell Adams. We stayed in one of the hotels inside Yosemite, had a fire alarm in the middle of the night which was not a lot of fun.... False alarm.

Hi
Ann Yes we did have a look in the Ansell Adams gallery. Brilliant photos.
Our son managed a beautiful one of mirror lake.

Our only disappointment was not seeing bears. Son saw them on last visit there but there was still a lot of snow about.
The waterfalls were great as the snow is melting.
We stayed at the Ahwahnee hotel and after dinner went outside and the sound was amazing with the calls of the frogs.
I'm looking forward to looking at the photos. We've transfered some but not from the main camera yet.
Coming home tomorrow so last day of sight seeing today but it's raining at the moment.
Take care
Von

Hi Everyone
Been to the country fair at Thame today.
It was good. Lots of gun dogs, some sheep dog displays, falconry................. though they "lost" a bird of prey.
We also saw lots of Kites again they really are doing well in that area.

At home the finches and tits are still eating masses of sunflower seeds. I will have to fill the feeders again tomorrow.

Linda :o) XxX

That sounds great Linda:o)

Did anyone watch Spring Watch this evening, oh l do so like Chris Packham. LOved the programme tonight too:o)


jude

PS...Sandie...no not heard of your camera, but then l am a novice, Ann's the pro:o)

nite nite x

Beautiful photo's on the blog from Huia:o))

Thanks Huia

jude x

Jude have you tried the camera on macro and macro zoom? it is very impressive.

Nooo, will have a look:o)

My Ricoh is over 25yrs old Jude, but I still love it cos unless you put it on automatic your have to all the focussing yourself,,very satisfying to get a smashing quality wildlife picture. Of course the digital cameras are superb and so convenient.
Not sure if there is a nest in our neighbours tree, but another neighbours cat has been climbing it recently , 4 magpies descended on on it..the cat. circled it and stalked it , they saw it off quite quickly:)
Must have a look on the blog before lights out:)
Sandie.x

23.51

Hi everyone
I have a Fuji Finepix, pretty powerful for a pocket size camera. I love digital! gone are the days of having to eek out frames over a holiday and being chuffed if one photo was any good - but hanging onto the rest anyway.
It was over a year before I was able to sit down, read the manual and find out what else I could do with it apart from pointing and shooting - I spent a day taking lots of photos from the same chair in the garden at Gigrin, then tested out all the settings on everything from sunrise to sunset, blue skies to heavy cloud. I'll still shoot the same subject several times using different settings though.

Jude, sorry for the delay, I typed up a reply a few days ago, accidently threatened the wrong key or mouse and the page changed. I was too cheesed orf to do it all again!
No, I'm afraid I wasn't an extra on Countryfile LOL
The filming was done the day before we got there but Colin was very excited to tell us about it as soon as we arrived. There was some lovely footage which Chris had filmed in the winter when the colours are really vivid and crisp. Max the springer was in on the act too, bless his little waggie tail.
I found it a particularly interesting ep of Countryfile as they featured hospital patients food and how some are using local produce to improve things. Also, extracting something (the name has escaped, oh the irony!) from certain daffodils to treat Alzheimers. Both subjects having been close to home.
We plan to go to Gigrin again in August so will let you know.

I'd love to see your blog, thank you for asking. I've been doing some 'short story' ones such as growing Amarillys and one day will catalogue my birds and hols at Gigrin.... but I'm happy to share.

On the birding front... we visited Rutland Water last weekend, lots of water birds from Little Egret to Common Sandpiper and Gadwall. There was also a pheasant lurking around the hide and making me jump out of my skin by souning off every time I forgot about it.
The stars of the show were a pair of Osprey which are siting on eggs three eggs. For obvious reasons, they're a bit far off to see well - a tower hide would be good! - but there is a webcam.

Happy birding. Don't forget the suncream!

Jude I think the Rabbit and Rat problem has reduced.Probably due to the fact that my son is like Rambo with the air rifle.He hasn't actually hit anything ,but has done lots of pops lol.I am sure they are just in hiding and will rear their heads at some point .
We watched in fascination earlier .A Red Kite with a Crow right on its tail chasing it off.I wish I'd had the camera .It's always the same .When you have the chance of a good pic the camera is in a room at the other side of the house !!!! So frustrating .It would have been a cracking pic.
I hope everyone has a great Bank Holiday .

Morning:o)

Jane...we are definately getting more holes again, but no other signs. So seems like a day of filling holes up again!!
Typical is'nt it, but never mind l'm sure you'll get a good one oneof these days:o)))

Island...who is Colin? Chris is the son is'nt he? Have met Max, or atleast we have met a springer..lol
We missed the bit about Alzheimers, but have heard of this before, very interesting!!
l must nag vic to go again, he loves it there, but its abit of a journey. Keep us posted re when you go again.

l have put more photo's on blog....some from Huia andone of a dragonfly/damselfly...not sure which it is...am also about to add some more from Huia:o))

Did l send you the blog?? wouldlove to see photo's

Ann...no not seen those pictures, or atleast don't remember them, where were they

jude x

What pictures Jude?

The Dragonfly and Sparrows.....lol

off out now to get some horse hair from a lady offering it on Freecycle:o)
l want to repair an old Loyd (sp) Loom chair a neighbour gave me....gawd l have so many projects to do....lol x

jude

Jude I am sooo confused now. you said in a post at ten hours ago.

"Ann...no not seen those pictures, or atleast don't remember them, where were they "

And I asked what pictures?

I can't see where I have referred to any pictures in a recent post.

Ohh Ann...l remember now, l was referring to Von and her visit to USA...Yosemite, you said something about some photo's by some bloke????

lol

jude

Did you enjoy your holiday?? x