1000/374: 28 February 2011: Reed Bunting

Not my finest shot – but I spotted this rather nervous little chap among the sparrows and chaffinches helping themselves to seed on my patio. Don’t think back-gardens are really natural habitat for reed buntings – in fact this may be the first I’ve seen close to home, and is certainly a first for my back garden.

I think this one is a male, and his feathers haven't quite worn to full breeding plumage yet judging by the brown patches in his black cape. Maybe he’ll come back when he’s properly dressed and I’ll have another go.

1000/373: 27 February 2011: Stormbringer

Probably an overstated title for a shot of a lone woolly-back on a hill, but it is quite dramatic. Quite pleased with this shot, because I took it with this treatment in mind, and it delivered the goods. I rather like the effect produced by Mike Lao’s ‘300’ Lightroom preset – doesn’t work with everything, but when it does it’s special. In this one I tweaked the contrast in the sky to enhance the storminess as well.

1000/372: 26 February 2011: Seaweed

On the usual Saturday morning jaunt to Silloth. Tried stalking the oystercatchers on the beach, but needed a longer lens to make it worth the effort, so gave up and went for the detail (as usual).  The sun catching the back of this seaweed caught my eye – rather surprised at the range of colours in something that looks so drab at first glance.

1000/371: 25 February 2011: Heralds of Spring

Missed some lovely weather yesterday while we were indoors – by all accounts – but it was still reasonably cheerful in the garden when i go home so went for a few signs of spring. In the end I couldn't decide which one to post so did a sort of montage and posted four of the best.

1000/370: 24 February 2011: Glasses

Still in Blackpool and very little time between the end of the conference and the start of the dinner. Was clearing e-mails from my Blackberry, looked up and saw this shot. No idea what anyone else thinks, but it works for me.

1000/369: 23 February 2011: Blackpool today

A different hotel tonight . Am in Blackpool for the company’s innovation conference, at a hotel we’ve not used before – the Herons Reach. Seems pretty good so far and had this nicely lit folly on the lawn in front of reception.

1000/368: 22 February 2011: Culinary Adventures (ii)

Marion produced a birthday cake for my mum-in-law today. Absolutely delicious but suffering from a minor problem – she forgot to read the word ‘shelled’ when the instructions said “100gm whole pistachios, shelled”.

Caused a certain amount of hilarity around the table, and I thought the pile of shells we produced was worthy of record.

1000/367: 21 February 2011: Culinary adventures

We’ve all done it – put the sausages in the grill and read the newspaper. Believe it or not – and in spite of the smoke - the sausages survived this. It seems the smoke was from fat spitting onto the grill. It only took 30  minutes to have a habitable kitchen again and you can’t beat the smell of burnt fat as an alternative to aftershave.

1000/366: 20 February 2011: Onwards and upwards

Started my first 365 this day in 2010 with a picture of my wife, so thought I’d start the second year with my youngest. Think the green post detracts a bit from an otherwise nice piccie, but I really wanted the snowdrops in the foreground to get a bit of a spring feeling.

Have changed the title of the headings to reflect the fact that I’m now going for a 1000 on the trot. Need to stay focussed for the next couple of weeks so that I don’t get complacent. And finally – I’d just like to say thank you to everyone who has commented and offered support on Facebook, Twitter, Flickr and here.

John Steinbeck: Of Mice and Men

Read this on the way into Newcastle today. The only thing that stopped me crying at the end was the knowledge I was on a bus full of people. The ending of Romeo and Juliet seems like poetic justice by comparison.

365/365!: 19 February 2011: Yeeehaaa!! 365 project completed

This is my 365th photo so I’ve completed a photo every day for a year. Bad news I’m afraid – I’m thinking 1000 days seems like the next landmark.

An interesting day today – took the 08:30 train to Newcastle to see an exhibition at The Baltic. This would have been fine except there was some kind of signal failure at Prudhoe. In itself not a problem – these things happen, I’m British so, stiff upper lip and all that…but, note to Northern Rail – it really is crap to chuck 100 paying customers out into the pouring (and icy) rain with nothing except a vague promise of a replacement coach, and no information for the next 55 minutes – at which time we all baled out and took the service bus from Prudhoe station to Newcastle. By the time I’d reached the Baltic I was thoroughly cheesed off, freezing cold and concluding that I should just do the non-green thing and take a car next time. Oi - Northern Rail – are you listening – your customer service is rubbish!

Right rant over – I actually went to the Baltic to see some photos of Iceland by Dan Holdsworth – this one finishes today but I have to say if you’re that way it’s worth popping in to see the exhibitions by both George Shaw (paintings of social housing estates in Coventry done in Humbrol enamels – seriously) and the videos by Jesper Just.

Unsurprisingly – my 365th photo is of the Tyne from the Millennium Bridge – or the Eye as it’s often known.

365/364: 18 February 2011: Moody Sheep

Well my penultimate shot for the whole year today. Was rather hoping that the aurora would oblige, but sadly not so I’ve gone with a moody shot of a sheep in one of the local fields.

365/363: 17 February 2011: A rather tatty briefcase

Yep – it’s tatty – but then – it is more than 30 years old, and it’s been everywhere with me. It’s an original Mulberry Reporter’s Bag from 1977 if my memory serves me correctly – in fact it’s the prototype and it was given to me as a leaving gift by the then MD after several summer holidays working at Mulberry  during my time at uni.

It’s covered in scars  - acetone and nitric acid from my time in the labs, indelible newsprint where I used it on trips to London and elsewhere. It once held the Reading evening paper where I saw the ad for our first house. At a push it’s contained a shirt – and it’s so old it doesn’t even have a pocket for a mobile phone.

Every so often I think I might throw it out and buy a replacement, but in truth I’ve become rather attached to it .  It reminds me of old times and old friends.

365/362: 16 February 2011: Night Curves

Spring is definitely in the air – we went for our first constitutional around the block for ages to take advantage of the lighter evening – although as you can see from the shot it wasn’t lighter for very long. Think the street lights reflected in the stream in the foreground make the photo.

Final Countdown – No 4

365/361: 15 February 2011: Feeling Fruity

Predictable title for a bowl of fruit I’m afraid, but the sheer colourfulness – is that a word – anyway, colourfulness of this bowl of fruit meant I couldn’t resist them.

It’s the Final Countdown – Number 5

365/360: 14 February 2011: Night-time Solway

Was going to do a cheesy shot of a Me to You bear holding a heart to celebrate Valentine’s Day but couldn’t bring myself to press the shutter. went for a walk in the cold air instead and took this shoot in the dark.  Had to do quite a bit of work on it to bring out the natural colours – but I think it was worth the effort. Only 5 days left to a full year.

365/359: 13 February 2011: Keswick in the Rain

It’s easy to take pretty pictures in Keswick – it has that chocolate box touristiness to it – full of slate buildings and mountain backdrops – but in the rain its just a bit grey.
Slate cottages may be many things, but in the rain they are not bright and cheery. If you want bright and cheery you need to try something else - which is where this shot came from. In one of the tourist hotspots of the English Lakes a building site is probably not the most obvious choice of shot, but you’d have to admit it’s hard to beat for colour. Probably the only member of the rainbow missing is violet.

365/358: 12 February 2011: Snowdrops–it must be spring

We have drifts of snowdrops in and around our garden. They’ve obviously been there some time, and although they’re a bit of nuisance for a while when the lawn needs trimming I’d no sooner pull them up than pull out what remains of my hair. Could you ask for a better sign that winter is on its way out?

365/357: 11 February 2011: Deadly weapon

..in the right hands. To be honest i can’t quite remember how I came by this fearsome looking thing, but one things for sure – it wont be leaving the house. When I was a kid I used to wear one of these on a belt to Scouts – times have changed a bit.

365/356: 10 February 2011: Birthday present buying

More No.2  daughter stuff. She wanted a shiny new phone to replace her current model which is ‘so last week’. Anyhow she settled on this Samsung. To be honest I took the shot because I love the marketing slogan on the bag, which seems to say everything really.

365/355: 09 February2011: Little red crab

For some reason No 2 daughter has a thing about these little toys which seem to inhabit Hawker’s Bazaar. This one is particularly appealing – which is more than can be said for the snail she had previously.

365/354: 08 February 2011: Daresbury Park

A grab shot before I set off for the hotel from the office.The buildings in this business park are actually quite attractive and the mixed lighting provides quite a colourful night-time shot.

365/353: 07 February 2011: Hotel Anywhere

Not going to name this hotel as it’s not as bleak as this shot makes it look, but I couldn’t resist this shot. Quite challenging to take because I didn’t have a tripod and light levels in hotels are not generally very high. Note to hotel designers – have a good look at this and imagine spending a lot of time here – then try again.

365/352: 06 February 2011: Pan Pipes

I’ve been tempted to photograph these on a number of occasions, but couldn’t think of an interesting angle – until I was hit by this rather obvious idea. It leaves me wondering if there are left and right handed pan-pipes – this version has the low notes on the right, but I’m sure I’ve seen versions with the low notes on the left.

 

365/351: 05 February 2011: Kestrel in Euston Station

WAs eating lunch on the balcony of the pub inside Euston station when I noticed a kestrel sitting on an aerial of some description. At first I though it was a plastic model put up to bother the pigeons, but the thought obviously offended it and it flew around for a bit to make a point.

Wasn’t equipped to photography small birds at long distances, but took this shot anyhow. Said bird is just visible silhouetted against the sky to the left of the dark pillars on the right  of the shot.

365/350: 04 February 2011: Cycle Hire

Up to London today – interesting that I say ‘up to’ despite that fact that it is quite clearly ‘down to’ – anyway, move on. Up to London today to see if I could win a holiday to Australia with this photo which  was a finalist in the Wanderlust Travel photographer of the Year competition:

Unfortunately I didn’t but it was a great event with a really friendly atmosphere – the Wanderlust team were very welcoming and the judges were very happy tom provide constructive feedback at the drinks reception after, so think I learned a lot.

Also being in London I get a chance to shoot things I don’t see in Cumbria – cars, people, buildings, shops, etc., etc.. Here’s a rack of bicycles for hire.

365/349: 03 February 2011: Bass pedal detail

One thing I’ve almost become used to – although I still don’t approve – is finding bits of Ashley’s drum kit strewn about the house. It’s an unavoidable fact that having a drum kit left in your living room is a bit more intrusive than having a flute left in the same place – I guess I should be grateful that he didn’t go for the harp or the double-bass.

This particular piece of kit – his double bass-pedal - was left on the top in the utility room so instead of complaining I used it as inspiration.

365/348: 02 February 2011: Bagels: the Polo-mint of bread rolls

Not sure why but bagels have become firmly established as my favourite bread roll.  Think it’s probably the texture and chewiness, and the fact that they toast so well. You can also dress them up posh, with cream cheese and smoked salmon – even caviar if you must – or you can dress them down with cheese and marmite. Or leave out the cheese and just go for the Marmite – a breakfast treat to kill for.

Anyway – here’s my tribute to bagels – the bread roll with the enigmatic hole in the middle.

365/347: 01 February 2011: Winter Storm Over Arran

365/347: 01 February 2011: Winter Storm Over Arran
Originally uploaded by nmonckton

Trip to Hunterston today - typically the nicest weather was while I was travelling up to a deadline or indoors. Very dramatic light over Arran on the way back though. The views across the water south from Largs are always stupendous.

365/346: 31 January 2011: Family Photo

365/346
Originally uploaded by nmonckton

Not sure where these came from. They sit on the TV cabinet and stare at us inscrutably so I thought I'd reward their patience with a photo.

365/345: 30 January 2011: Getting Ready for Assessment

365/345
Originally uploaded by nmonckton

Just in the process of mounting all my assignment photos so that I can send them for assessment. Thinking I might go for an online submission next time.