Lunar Eclipse on the Winter Solstice ~21st December 2010

I was up before the sun yesterday morning - watching the first lunar eclipse on the winter solstice since 1638 (372 years!).

I used my Sigma 175-500mm lens, but hadn't bargained on the effect the minus temperature would have on its capacity to focus. The first shot I took, before the full eclipse had happened, was the best of the bunch as the others were too soft.

Bit of a shame, but at least I saw it. There are some fantastic photographs of the moon looking red and spectacular taken by other people here.

Here is my attempt - click on it for a large version - it looks better that way!

My flickr

Candid Kids

Went to a BBQ the other day and chased the kids round the garden with my camera. Was reasonably pleased with the results. Click on the photo for the large versions - they look better that way.

My flickr

Monochrome

I have been playing around with monochrome images lately and thought it was about time I posted some of them here.

Click on image for a larger version

To Touch the Clouds

Taken at Hells Mouth, Cornwall, a notorious suicide spot.

Just Like Old Times...

Seine Net Fishing at Hemmick Beach, Cornwall

My Flickr

Waves, Skies and Stones

I recently borrowed a Sigma 10-20mm wide angled lens for a week and decided to make the most of it by visiting a couple of my favourite places to see what I could take.

I went over to Gwithian Towans near Godrevy in Cornwall on my first outing and was blessed with the most beautiful sky. My first challenge was getting to grips with the lens, I wasn't used to things being so far away in the composition and I realised I had to step into the composition to get anything vaguely interesting. I was quite pleased with my results that day considering it was the first time I'd used it.

All of the photographs look a million times better larger, I promise.

The next time I took the lens out, I wasn't so lucky with the weather. Cold, damp and overcast, I wasn't sure if I was going to get anything at all! I headed up onto Bodmin Moor to another of my favourite places, Minions. Aside from the Cheesewring (which I didn't photograph that day as the light would have been terrible) there are a couple of stone circles called The Hurlers and numerous old abandoned Tin Mines.

I only took one strobe with me (I foolishly took one out to make room for the borrowed lens in addition to my other lenses - but since I only used the wide angle, I could have rearranged my camera bag if I'd have thought about it more) which presented some limitations due to the lack of natural light and me being a total novice in the world of off camera flash.

Still, I got the chance to have a go at balancing flash and natural light, so it's all part of the learning curve.

The Hurlers

Bodmin Moor : A Triptych

You can see Dartmoor in the background.

Visit my Flickr to see the large sizes and other photographs.