Project 2013 by Letrow

[Letrow]

Showing off for Geoff



Nice yellow dandelion field near Battle.

[Cantab]

Showing off for Geoff



Nice yellow dandelion field near Battle.

That is the largest dandelion collection I've ever seen! The DOF is amazing. Presumably you shot with a wide angle lens and a relatively small aperture?

Later edit: I see from your post in another thread that you used a wide angle. Was this with a particularly small aperture?

[Letrow]

That is the largest dandelion collection I've ever seen! The DOF is amazing. Presumably you shot with a wide angle lens and a relatively small aperture?

Later edit: I see from your post in another thread that you used a wide angle. Was this with a particularly small aperture?

This was shot at ISO200, 1/500sec and F/8. The lens is the new Nikkor 18-35mm and was used at 18mm for this photo. To be honest, most of the shots I personally like most from this lens are done at 18mm. If you include the foreground it gives you some nice perspectives.

[Letrow]

After a period of low motivation, which was partly weather driven, I finally got out again this weekend. Some spiders provided a good pastime.

[Geoff F]

Are they both Philodromus species, Peter?

The weather certainly hasn't been conducive to outdoor photography recently. Apart from a couple of days on insects, I've also been struggling to find suitable subjects to inspire me.

And it doesn't seem any better for the next couple of days here.

[Letrow]

They could well be that Geoff, although the male looked a bit brownish, where I would have expected more black.

[Letrow]

I met this cat in one of the French gardens I visited recently



He/she looked tough. This is the French country side, so some of these cats are half wild. My dogs would be frightened of this cat (or should be if they had any sense).

[Cantab]

I always enjoy cat photos. This one looks like it has some, or a lot, of Siamese in it.

[Letrow]

The French gite we used this summer, reflected in sunglasses

[Letrow]

I used the wide-angle quite a lot when in France. In fact I notice that I mostly use the 18-35mm at the 18mm end.



Monpazier, one of the 'bastide' towns in the Dordogne. Founded by king Edward I in 1284 apparently. Good food to be had at Bistro 2 (deux). You have to love duck if you are staying in this region, it is one of the main ingredients.

[Cantab]

...You have to love duck if you are staying in this region, it is one of the main ingredients.

Peter, are those ducks flying in the distance? A nice photo.

[Letrow]

Peter, are those ducks flying in the distance? A nice photo.

Probably trying to get away...

[Brownbear]

I've been enjoying viewing your images... #2 and #7 are especially beautiful!

[Letrow]

In our French holiday home we had some unexpected guests. A few birds had nested in the barn and every day there were more and more small birds sitting on the wooden beams.



This one flew into our bedroom and rested on a curtain rail for about an hour. Probably still learning to fly and getting up his courage for a second try.
I was able to get close (1 meter) to him/her (?) and made a few shots. Then I left quickly, so as not to frighten him any further.

[Geoff F]

Did it leave you a present on the curtains, Peter?

Nice clear shot.

Now the regatta is over; plus some shots from the vintage machinery show, I will try to get some more wildlife shots, once the weather improves!

[Letrow]

No, it left no presents
We were actually quite worried about disturbing the birds in the barn, as the table tennis table was there as well. They didn't seem to mind much, but the parents got a bit restless.

[Letrow]

Saint-Cirq-Lapopie. Voted one of the 'plus beaux villages de France'



It was quite hot high in the mountains and there were far too many tourists. Still, the view is great.

[Geoff F]

Well you certainly managed to avoid all the people from that angle. I can't see a person or vehicle in the entire scene.

A nicely balanced composition.

[Letrow]

This was a hot spot Geoff, literally. You had to climb up to get to this point and I guess that a lot of people didn't want to make the effort.

I am not sure whether I would recommend this village as 'faut le détour'. If you are passing by it is certainly worth it, there are a few nice restaurants there, but there are more great looking villages in France of course and most of them don't get that many tourists.
I am a guilty tourist too of course, but strangely enough, when on holiday, I don't appreciate seeing too many other tourists.
For the economy of this place it will be great though, so there are some good sides to it. Too many places in the countryside are suffering already, which is a real pity.

[Brownbear]

Beautiful image...makes me want to visit the indeed, very beautiful villages of France!