A great website

One of my favorite things to do is look at old photographs of where I live, where I have lived, where I've visited... let's face it I just love photos old or new so today in work I reccommended to a couple of friends francisfrith.com informing them they should check out the photos of Newport as it was way back when, and it was highly amusing listening to them comment on the old phots of the castle, the cineama (now a travelodge!), the high street, the handpost (a pub) and the Royal Gwent Hospital circa 1901!
And thinking about those photos I thoguht what a great idea to try and set up similar shots of those locations today, obiously some may have been taken from inside buildings that are no longer there - but I think I'm going to give it ago.
Another word on the Francis Frith website it is very addictive once you've looked at one area it is so very tempting to look at another - go on I dare you to try it - you'll soon see what I mean!

To print or not to print

I have a lot of images on my memory cards probably about 700 at the moment - now in the past I have had more - since I first got a digital camera I have taken so many photos but do I really want to print them all? Well the answer is no of course not. Now I know that some people with digital cameras don't ever print their imaages, but I really like having an album of photos or so framed ones on the wall. So what do I do. I edit them in camera after transfering them to my computer of course the same way I would if I had taken pictures on film so I just don't want in an album.
So the question is what company to give my printing business too? Well I used to use Jessops but they shut my local store. The last time I used Asda and they were good as well. This time I'm going to use an online site photobox.com they can print black & white as well even though it's on colour paper. Also you can store your images online for others to see as well. And if you're good enough you can sell your photos through them as well.
So when I get 500 prints uploaded to the site I will order my prints from them..
Oh and you can pay via paypal as well, which is also very handy.
I will be using them ver soon as I am holiday soon and need to clear my memory cards ready I'll be sure to let you know what I think when the first batch are here

Beautiful weather...

...and I am stuck in the office, as usual - however there is light at the end of the tunnel and no it's not an oncoming train! It's friday. It's nearly home time and that means the weekend and if the weather stays as gorgeous as it has been all week, I will be taking my dog (well Mum's dog) and my camera for a walk on Sunday afternoon to Cwmcarn Scenic Drive - walked and photographed it many times but never with the new DSLR so am looking forward to it.
Is a lovely walk as long as it's not raining and the ground is dry - otherwise it's pretty muddy.
Well what about Saturday I hear you cry - well there's a weeks washing to do and also I am working in the pub as well for a few hours - but if I can there will I'm sure be some wonderful oportunities for something photographic.
Anyway am now counting down the days to the annual holiday which will be a two week photofest of the Vendee region of France - can't wait - now I got to make sure I have enough memory cards even though I will be taking my laptop and editing the, on a daily basis.
Aah photography what a wonderful medium

Buster and Tootsie

Spent an eveing at my friend's house taking photos of her beautiful Westies Buster and Tootsie - here are my favorites

Penalta again

More from Penalta

The two images here are idenrical I ust wanted to show how black & white gives off a different atmosphere than a colour image




Below
The beautiful tiles here would have once stretched around the entire a building, a building that apparently was kept so clean when the mine was open you could have eaten off the floor!

Just a few from Penalta

Here are the first few from Penalta, there are more ready to be uploaded and still more to be edited and I haven't even thought about the pictures of Crumlin yet hopefully I will have time over the next few days to post some more of the photos and a bit of the history of the place. A very fascinating place - I really love looking round these truly historical sights

Update on Penalta/Crumlin photos

Have already started tweaking the photos from Penalta and depending on what time I get in tonight I may have time to post a few of them - there are still more that I want to work on when I have more tie and before I start on the Crumlin images but I hope to have them all up by the weekend - you know before I go and take more somewhere else

Spring Blossom

Well it looks as if spring is finally here - we've had a lovely warm weekend and it's predicted to carry on for the next week. Not much good to me though as I am on a 10-6 shift - but if I can get out early I certainly will.

Sat took the following photos of the blossom in the park and Sunday wandered round Penalta and Crumlin Colleries - photos to follow when I have a bit nore time probably Tuesday as am very busy tomorrow with work and then French class

Is Spring finally here?

Well the weather is certainly looking better - and let's hope it keeps getting better- there were people walking around in just t-shirts and jeans today - but just in case the weather is trying to lull us into a false sense of security here are some snow pix from earlier this year

The Lazy Photographer...

I have to admit that has been me this past week - the weather has been lovely but I haven't been out to take any photos recently. Some of this (well most of it) is down to my working hours - by the time I am finished I am so tired all I want to do is sleep. But while that can be considered an excuse that fact that there are photos of my friends birthday party on my digi compact that were taken a fortnight ago and STILL haven't been transfered is just plain lazy - Also I still have a load of black and white negatives to scan - so really I should have been able to have got somne work done - however I did spend time reading some photo magaznes and trying to decide which lens to buy if I can before my holiday arrives.
Hopefully if the weather holds this weekend I will get out with the camera - now I have just go to decide where to go!!!