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.

365/337: 22 January 2011: Silloth again

The usual Saturday trip to Silloth with youngest daughter for keyboard lessons. As always I took the camera – but this time without much hope of a shot because it was thick freezing fog. But then I thought – “Damn it! just take some photos”, which i did, and proved to myself again that you can a get a picture from almost anything if you set your mind to it. Would have been happy to show these more or less as they came from the camera, but decided to have some more Lightroom fun with them.

 

365/302: 18 December 2010: Yet more snow

Risked the snowy roads to Silloth today for youngest daughter’s keyboard lesson. Don’t very often get to stroll along a seafront in snow, so took the camera for a walk. Weather was more than a bit grey and gloomy which meant little point in looking for shots with lovely skies so tried a couple of experimental shots.

365/290: 06 December 2010: Introducing the Dunnock

Perhaps the ultimate ‘small brown job’ (SBJ) in birders parlance the Dunnock frequents hedgerows and gardens – shuffling about quietly getting on with it’s life and not bothering anyone else. But like so much else in  suburbia  – it’s much more interesting beneath the surface. Dunnock breeding behaviour is far from dull, with monogamous pairs, pairs with two males and one female and even pairs with two males and two females (although that’s the first time I’ve heard of four as a pair).

Not sure if this one is Bob, Carol,Ted or Alice (for those who remember the sixties).

365/281: 27 November 2010P: Snow!!!

Certainly wasn’t expecting snow when I looked out of the window this morning. Didn’t have much time as we were dashing all over the spot with kids/shopping/decorating etc., but did manage to pop next door and get this shot. Just love the contrast between the warm colours of the low sun lighting up the rush and the cool blues of the sky reflected in the snowy background.

365/188: 26 August 2010: One of the reasons I love living in Cumbria….

…is I get to see Barn Owls on a regular basis. They surely have to be the country’s most beautiful bird – I got to hold on at a hawk centre a few years back, and the subtle shades of  colour of their feathers close up are just stunning.

This one was sitting on the hay feeder in the paddock next to our garden this morning. I’ve tried to catch it on camera before but usually the light has been too low, and its been to twitchy. My eldest called me away from my breakfast for this one – not that there was any competition.

365/169: 07 August 2010: Blooming Buddleia

We have a rather large buddleia blooming vigourously in our garden, which means it’s butterfly and moth time. the red admirals are not very obliging, but this (unidentified) moth posed quite happily for several shots.

365/141: 10 July 2010: Reflections on Rainfall

Had our first real rain for some considerable time this weekend – and aren’t peoples reactions so predictable. Yesterday it was – ‘ooh. the gardens are so dry ‘ and today it’s all gloom because we can’t go out. But the weathermen do it for me – sounding apologetic when they tell us that the good weather is coming to an end. Come on guys – it’s about balance – it’s not good weather if everything shrivels and dies. And if it didn’t rain I’d live in the Valley District or perhaps even the Arid Sand District – neither of which sound anywhere near as interesting. To celebrate the return of moisture here’s a pic taken on next doors nature pond:

365/139: 08 July 2010: Borage…

…or borago officinalis as it prefers to be known in polite circles is a rather pretty blue flower with delightfully hairy stems which make for an interesting photo if you catch the light right. It originated in Syria, but now seems quite at home in the British isles. Apparently the leaves taste a bit like cucumber and it is widely used as a vegetable in some parts of continental Europe. According to Wikipedia the seed oil is is the highest known plant-based source (17-28%) of GLA 18:3, cis 6,9,12-octadecatrienoic acid – so now you know.

365/138: 07 July 2010: Snapdragons

Was going to write a long and rambling rant about the cost of a replacement docking lead for an i-pod this evening, but then went into the garden and saw these. While I don’t think the colour scheme would work indoors, they were so bright and cheerful I almost forgot about being ripped off.

But did you know that for only £1 more than the cost of an i-pod lead you can restore the sight of someone in the third world with a cataract operation.

365/136: 05 July 2010: Damselfly

Bit of a windy day today, which I always find a bit of a pain for photography. Wandered down through the wildlife garden next door but nothing really took my fancy until I came across several blue-tailed damselflies clinging to some sedges. They’re the commonest damselfly in England apparently, but no less attractive for that.

365/131: 30 June 2010: Herb Robert

Geranium robertianum is another of those delightful hedgerow plants which are easy to overlook because they are small.  Apparently, in Washington State it is known as Stinking Bob, which seems a bit harsh – even if the smell of the crushed leaves is a bit acrid.

It is supposed to ease toothache and nosebleeds – although I’d be tempted to stick to a dentist and a good hanky respectively. It is also quite popular with the buff-tailed bumble-bee.

Leading candidates for the source of its name include a French monk, Robert  - Duke of Normandy, and St Rupert of Salzburg. Am I alone in thinking that if the latter was correct it would be called Herb Rupert?

365/130: 29 June 2010: Thistle Do

Spent a very pleasant 40 minutes in the market garden next door watching a barn owl hunt for food. Sadly, didn’t have the right kit  for medium sized birds at long distances – as the 20 unusable photos clearly demonstrate. So…it’s this rather thorny thistle instead. Did it in B&W because I thought it showed the thorniness better.

365/127: 26 June 2010: Walking Around Maryport

Perhaps it’s not the trendiest place in the world, but there are some lovely walks along the upper and lower prom at Maryport, and someone seems to be putting real effort into developing the network of walking and cycle paths in the area. This shot was taken on the path from the Battery (Senhouse Roman Museum) towards the golf course. Could anything be more cheerful than a foxglove in flower?

365/105: 04 June 2010: Something Different

Not quite sure why but feel like something a bit more off the wall today so here’s a green bullrush leaf on a largely green background. Not sure why I like it, but it simply appeals.

365/99: 29 May 2010: Rain – at last

And kind of predictable as it’s a Bank Holiday weekend. Thought it was worth celebrating though as we haven’t had any proper rain for a while. This is the currant bush at the end of the garden. It’s deliberately over-sharpened because I like the effect.

365/97: 27 May 2010: Red Campion

Another spring flower – the lanes are full of them. Actually they’re probably one of my favourites.

365/95: 25 May 2010: Apple Blossom

‘The perfect blossom is a rare thing. You could spend your life looking for one, and it would not be a wasted life’ – Katsumoto; The Last Samurai

365/94: 24 May 2010: Cow Parsley

A less traditional sign of early summer for today’s post. Given that Cow Parsley is never going to win any beauty competitions – other than ‘Best Tall Straggly Plant with Small White Flowers and a Slightly Iffy Smell’ – I though I’d try something a little more experimental. It looks OK on my screen – I hope it does on yours.

365/91: 21 May 2010: Attitude…

..that's the difference between a weed and a flower. If this was rare and expensive no-one would dream of pulling it up, spraying it, poisoning it and generally giving it a bad time. And, am I the only person in the whole world who thinks those cheerful yellow flowers add a touch of brightness and fun to the lawn? And who can resist all this fluff – certainly not the  goldfinches in our garden.