A tripod and a frog

2 photos from my birthday

A couple of quiet days

Well yesterday was my brithday so I did as little as possibly though I couldn't get out of not taking any photos this is because my lovely brother (who is now on the other side of the planet) bought me a tripod - so of course I had to set ot up in the garden and wait for the birds to land in the garden to eat the meal worms that my Dad had put down. And I waited and waited - the birds weren't having any of it mainly because the kids next door were banging their ball against the shed and kept frightening the birds away. Fortunately it was tea time and they soon went into the house and slowly the birds came to feast.
If the summer stays warm and the birds keep coming to visit I will soon have lovely brown arms from all the waiting around - things are looking up already - and no I won't forget the sunblock

roll on the weekend

At the beach in France

Well one of the beaches anyway Bretignoilles-Sur-Mer to be exact was lovely and hot as well

Dog in a hat

Mum said she felt like she was Meryl Streep in Mama Mia wearing that hat

Misty takes a dip

Evenn in the sea she stops to pose for the camera

SNAP!!!

Abbaye des Chateliers - Ile de Re

I have to admit I forgot the name of this abbey so had to go and google it - I also found out it was 12th century cisterian abbey that was ruined in the 100 years war.
I really love walking round these places and taking lots of photos. The picture on here aren't even half of what took - but are the best.

Photography is taking over my life...

Well certain parts of it anyway. For instance I had been looking through photos and reading some books and magazines yesterday that last night I was during of photography - surely that can't be right - although it is better than dreaming about work!
I didn't take any photos yesterday due to the fact I had to perform the most hideous of jobs - that of defrosting the freezer - this is my least favourite job - worse than ironing! Anyway as I said I worked on some images of France and from Tuesday when I took a walk along the River Ebb - Normally I shoot between 60 and 100 pictures but Tuesday I only took 33 out of that I processed about 5 of them - not that they're amazing but some are nice and I do like to get print of some of my shots - look out for them later as I will post them this afternoon.

On to books I started re-reading Ansel Adams at 100, which is an enjoyable look at his life and some of his work. I don't have many photography books but this is one I bought a few years ago, and I nwill write more about it when I have finished it completely

Until later...

Sunday afternoon at the Cwmcarn Forest Drive

Spent a lovely few hours Sunday at the forest drive, walking round the lake and along the many footpaths. It was a lovely sunny day and I walked for miles, we were going to climb to the top of Twmbarlan but Mum didn't feel up to it so will do that another day

Although this isn't as sharp as it could be I do love these Foxgloves and there were many of them scattered about the foootpaths

Although the weather is very warm the streams haven't completely dried up - though if the weather stays as warm as this I don't think it will be long

La Flotte

30 minutes from La Rochelle, lies the island of Ile de re, so after leaving thecity we tok a drive across the long bridge that links thw island to the mainland. We stoppped in La Flotte a small town for a quick drink and a wander before driving back to where we were staying

As soon as I saw these I knew they would look great in Sepia and Back & White

La Rochelle part 3

Here are the last few from La Rochelle - I still have many more from the holiday in France - it seems to be a never ending job - but as the hard drive on my laptop is filling up again I really need to ge them moved to the external drive asap - so expect to see a lot more in the next couple of days

La Rochelle part 2

Here are some more photos from my day out in La Rochelle - I really loved that city and hope I can visit again one day

La Rochelle part 1

As you can see I am still working hard on the photos from my holiday - editing them down into the selection I want printed. I still have a few folders to sort through and lots still to upload on to here.
Anyway the following are from La Rochelle - ever since I was a teenager when I had a perfum by that name I always wanted to go there - and this holiday I got that chance and I have to say it is a beautful place, one of my favourites of the holiday - Enjoy, I did!

Too many of the canal

There are so many things to photograph on the canal so here are some more

Ok so I'm no Andy Rouse....

But this not so little guy was happy for me to snap away taking photos of him and letting me get fairly close so I couldn't resist!!!

Next time I got to this sectin of the canal I will make sure I have my long lens with me - I didn't take it when I went out yesterday because I wasn't expecting to walk as far as I did.

Today I didn't go for walk mainly because I don't fancy carrying my DSLR on a Friday night in Risca as that would be asking for trouble

Tomorrow I will be working on the rest of the Holiday photos, and there are more from the canal to post so look out for them, and on Sunday I will hopefully be out and about with the camera once more.

A lovely walk

These photos were taken yesterday while I walked along the canal

This gull was sitting quite happily on top of the chimney and didn't mind posing for a few pictures

There were a few of these arty fences along the canal

Fish carving on a bench

These bats were carved into a bench