On My Shopping List

Hi All,

Next on my shopping list (wish list) is one of these bad boys..

(image © Nikon)

Its a Nikon 35mm f1.8 DX prime lens. Over the last few months i’ve been getting a little frustrated with my kit lenses (18-55 and 55-200). While they are both great lenses, and ideally suited to my D40 i’m finding them a bit limiting. I’d like to do some experimenting with shallow depth of field  and low light photography (like I did here) but with a max aperture of f3.8 on the 18-55 and f4 on the 55-200 there’s not a lot I can do.

The solution is to save my pennies and pick up a 35mm fast prime. This will be the first prime I’ve gone for on digital and I am looking forward to having a play around with it (when I eventually pick one up that is). I’ve used a 50mm f1.9 on my Chinon and 50mm f1.8 and 35mm f2.8 on my OM10 to great effect.

After some researching i found a cracking review over at KenRockwell.com

Thanks

Gary

Kent Trip Pt 2: Broad Oak Sunset

Hi All

Another image from my Kent trip today, this one is a cracking sunset taken in Broad Oak on Monday:

(image © Gary Danton)

Thanks

Gary

Kent Trip Pt 1: Canterbury Floods

Hi All,

I’ve finished processing the first batch of the images taken on my recent trip to Kent. While in Canterbury shopping and generally having a good look at whats changed in the 5 years since moving away, I took a few snaps of the unseasonably high water levels on the Stour.

(image © Gary Danton)

Due to some prolonged heavy rain over the previous week the water level on the river was between 3 and 4 feet higher than normal, given that most of Canterbury is on the water line and built on a flood plain, thats not a good thing.

The good thing was that the river level was low enough for it not to bust its banks in the city itself as that would have been complete traffic chaos. Not everywhere was high and dry as  Sainsburys car park down the road had a good soaking. The neighbouring town of Fordwich also bore the brunt of the flooding.

The rest of the Canterbury Floods images can, of course, be found on flickr

Parts 2, 3 and possibly 4 to follow soon.

Thanks

Gary

Back with something from the archives

Hi All,

Got back from my hols today. I’ve spent much of the last week travelling around Kent visiting relatives. While i’m processing the images taken, I’ve got a nice little rediscovered image for you:

(image © Gary Danton)

While I was away, I was happily digging through the small collection of SD cards that i’d taken with me, checking they were still usable and formatting them, when I stumbled upon the above.. it was taken Oct 12 2009 and promptly forgotton about..

The moral of the story is always check your SD cards before formatting

Thanks

Gary

Off On My Jollies

Hi All,

Just a quick post to say that there will be no updates over the next week (and a bit) as I’m off on my annual jolly to Canterbury, Kent. Never fear, the D40 will be by my side and hopefully I’ll pick up some decent pictures while I’m down. I’m also planning to take in a bit of the countryside as well, as I’m off to Deal, Thanet and the Isle of Sheppey visiting relatives.

See you in a week.

Gary

Replacement Kit Ordered

Hoorah! Payday has come round again and I’ve reordered the bits and bobs I lost here.

A nice package is winging its way to me from www.srb-griturn.com and hopefully i’ll get it before I go on my Kent trip next week.

The replacement filter holder and ND grad will let me take lots more pictures like this:

(image © Gary Danton)

Thanks

Gary

Corn Du and Pen-y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons – By Robert Read

Corn Du and Pen-y-Fan in the Brecon Beacons, Powys, Wales, Uk

Originally uploaded by Robert Read – Visions of Britain

Another fantastic image from Flickr, great composition and tone. I haven’t been to Wales for many years but this is the kind of image that makes me want to go back for a visit.

I’ve had a look through some of Robert Reads other Landscape photography and its breathtaking, I definitely recommend a look.

Thanks

Gary

Reflections over Anglezarke

Just got back from a great walk around Anglezarke. Although it was cold, there was no wind so there were some great reflections on the water.

(image © Gary Danton)

The rest of my Anglezarke set is on Flickr

thanks

Gary

Penshaw Monument at Twilight

Penshaw monument at twighlight

Originally uploaded by JaYKaY.digital

Hi All,

I’d just like to bring to your attention a great image that I found on Flickr. Its called “Penshaw monument at twilight” and is by a user called JaYKaY.digital.

This image of the Penshaw Monument is wonderfully atmospheric and is one of my favorites – so much so that i’m working out how I can nip to the North East and take a few shots of it myself.

You may also notice that the format of this post is a little different, this is because i’m posting directly from flickr. I’m going to test this functionality over the next few weeks as this could simplify my blogging workflow.

Thanks

Gary

Howling at the Moon

Hi All,

Its yet another cold but clear night in the North West and I’ve just snapped this image of the moon:

(image © Gary Danton)

You can almost hear the howling

thanks

Gary