UK Get together in Kew Gardens

Well three of the UK mad hatters got together in Kew Gardens today - Tom (Overbeyond), Paul (SmartWombat), and Roger (readingr). I'm the one on the left without a camera.

Weather was wet and cloudy as can be seen from the photos which will appear a little later. Mike called us on the mobile from a service station to wish us a good day of photography as we sat having a coffee working out where to go first.

As it was a cold and dank day we figured out that we should go to one of the large Glass Houses which contain nuemerous plants but as usual with the UK get togethers, the cameras were in gear within seconds of setting off as a flight of Geese flew overhead and Paul managed a picture. The rest of us were half asleep still.

Then it was the turn of a merry go round and then some of Henry Moore's art in the grounds, in rain. It only took us an hour to get to the first glass house which for anyone else is a 25 minute walk :D

Here we encountered our first of many fogged up lenses and picture taking slowed and so did the pace until we cleared the lenses.

I will add the group photo taken near the close of play - Ooops the camera slipped :lol:

Roger

Thanks for the meeting, despite the rain I enjoyed it.
Good to finally see the man behind the images, Tom.
Sorry, Roger, hoped to get mine up before this.

Yay! Great to see a group shot!
Snow? You lucky bunch!

And a few more

No idea what this plant is called - didn't make a note of it while I was there.
Attachment 48849

Just to prove it was raining

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Kew's wishing tree
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Roger

A few more of the day

Well I was right, my snap shot didn't capture the geese flying in :(
OK I captured a set of goose-like blurs, does that count ?
No way I would have got the parakeets.

Hey, give me back my snow Roger!!! :p :eek: :p

Looks like you all had a good time. Thanks for sharing the pics :D

Roger and Paul; I really enjoyed the pleasure of your company today. You'll no doubt recognise the subjects of this shot.:)

Just getting the formal stuff out of the way:)
How's this for posing?

You missed this, guys.
You know the seven towers ?
After I'd fallen down the bank once, I didn't follow you over the bank to the glasshouse.
I went round, over the bridge, and found this...

Moore images

even Moore

Glad you had a good day, guys, despite the persistent precipitation! I would have loved to have been with you, but Roger no doubt explained why I had to bow out this time. While you were doing that, I was driving to Birmingham and back, with a 3 1/2 hour interview in the middle - I got home about 6.30pm and was absolutely knackered! Still, it went well - I will know on Monday whether or not they want to take it further.

Cheers
Mike

Quote:

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Originally Posted by SmartWombat

A few more of the day

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Paul, that last one, with the reflection, is inspired. I absolutely love it!

Please upload it to your gallery so I can put it in my Favorites!

Who needs me when you got Tom? :D Great portraits!

You all got alot of wonderful shots. I love the sculptures.

Wombat; do you ever sleep? How can you manage to get up all those omages so fast?

The Icerink

Wombat; do you ever sleep?
Yes, in the mornings :)

How can you manage to get up all those images so fast?
Lightroom

A small few here. Details of some of the Henry Moore art installations.
More of the boys coming:D

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Photo-John

Paul, that last one, with the reflection, is inspired. I absolutely love it!
Please upload it to your gallery so I can put it in my Favorites!

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I thought it was a fun idea, an alternative head and shoulders shot, but I didn't expect that reaction !
Thanks John.
Maybe I should have fun more often :)

I wish now I'd taken the tripod.
But working at f/2.8 ISO200 all the time forced me to think about where to put the focus.

Roger in dire need of a pint :)

Roger downing his tenth pint and recorded by Wombat just in case ..........

Roger; after downing 10 pints

lol! Great stuff Tom!

Mike

Wombat trying to escape the condensation.

Wonderful photos guys....looks like you had a great time. Aren't "online" gatherings fantastic? Looks like you picked the perfect spot to do this...flowers and Henry....how much better can you get. I liked seeing some great shots of the photographers also.
dana m.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Overbeyond

Roger downing his tenth pint and recorded by Wombat just in case ..........

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LOL!!! too funny . . .Nice to see the shots and the persons behind the cameras.
Tom, you did a fine job recording Paul recording Roger . . .just in case!
Great shots guys

And now for a few more:

Early morning on the river Thames before meeting SW and OB
Attachment 48978
Attachment 48979

Space saucers do exist!
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Got Paul hard at work
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Tom desparately trying to avoid my camera - NO CHANCE!!!!!
Attachment 48982

Roger

There's something fishy going on here:
Attachment 48988

Is this what Tom saw?
Attachment 48989

Or is it what Paul saw? Having to use his better camera as the rest of the kit misted up.
Attachment 48990

New growth in Kew
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And who wants to aggravate this critter?
Attachment 48992

Roger

I didn't have to look at my lens, just Roger's glasses, to tell if I'd get anything or not ...
As you can see the misted up lens did give an interesting soft focus effect, when I cleaned only the centre (thanks, Roger and Tom !).
I found my spudz at home on the table by the computer, with the spare SD cards, not even where i thought it was :blush2:

Once the lens warmed up, and I'd borrowed Tom's PENTAX lens cleaner - thanks Tom.

A mixture for you.

Standing room only rink-side
Last one is the best I got of the tiger-feet, Tom - did you do better?

I'm afraid not Paul. All my skiing shots were dreadful.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Photo-John

Please upload it to your gallery so I can put it in my Favorites!

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Done, titled Head & Shoulders

I see Paul beat me to the ice skating, so here's some more.

Attachment 49026

Attachment 49027

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Attachment 49029

Roger

Beautiful shots gentlemen, too bad you don't live on this side near Miami, I'd love to shoot with all of you one day. By the way, we have a new Londoner by the name of courtneymiller on the forums who is trying to decide between a D80 and an EOS 30 D, or whatever you Canonites call those things, look her up and help her out. She is a 17 year old in need of guidance. I've already unduly influenced and messed with Deckcadet and a few others in my care, it would be really cool if you guys and Miss Alison could help inspire and guide her in the right direction.

Maybe she can drag her dad along to the next UK meet this Friday ...
He's buying, so we can tell him all about it :)

Great stuff Paul, she has put the same post in quite a few of the forums.