UK Members ... Met

"It's a five mile walk ..."
So why did it take us 5 hours ?

Well we hadn't got 100 yards before we detoured into the church.
Which gets me the first "action" shot as Roger laid down in the aisle ... you have to wait to see his view of the church.

Again, I'm going to tease you :)
You'll have to wait to see what they found.

Mike called the clouds "Simpsons clouds" a nice description.
I don't think the silhouette works, on reflection.
Yes, I know it's not normal to photograph a flower from behind, who says I'm normal ?

Sometimes the eye and the vision of the image exceeds the talent to capture it.

We reached the reservoir, eventually.

So there was Roger saying he'd never get a photo of a Dragonfly.
Then one posed for us !
So after I snapped these I lent him my set of extension tubes.
I think he may be a convert.

Oh and I think I captured a female Aeshna mixta here.

A pause for refreshment.

A final few before going our separate ways.

Wow Paul!

Looks like a great time.

Is that Mike's church?
Awesome shots Paul! Thank you so much for posting them. I can't wait to see what Mike and Roger captured :D

And now some from me!

Here is Paul and Roger. They both use Canon - but nobody's perfect :D

Cheers
Mike

Alison .. no this is not my church. Mine is a 1930s town church. This is an ancient village one. Three from the church: The door with it's lovely textures, one of the (quite a few!) stained glass panels - this one done up as a triptych, and Paul and Roger comparing histograms (as one does!) :D

Cheers
Mike

And three more! A nice reflected image in a pond, a farmer hard at work, and some wire wrapped around a tree-trunk.

It was a great day out .. blessed by good weather, and better company. Paul said "This is the most fun I've had for ages" ... and I concur!! Thanks especially to Roger who organised it all so well.

Cheers
Mike

Last three for the time being ....

Another scene in the church - I had to borrow Paul's mini tripod for this one. I think we all did variations on this theme. Paul loaded down - I thought he looked like one of those Hindu statues of Kali here :D And part of a rotten tree trunk (this is what I was doing in the last picture of the second post!)

Cheers
Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Didache

And now some from me!

Here is Paul and Roger. They both use Canon - but nobody's perfect :D

Cheers
Mike

---

Great shots of Paul and Roger! I think I would have been a little out of place with you 3 wouldn't I?
Or would that have been you Mike? I'm a Canon shooter too :)

C'mon Roger! I'm impatient to see what you got! :thumbsup:

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Didache

Last three for the time being ....

Another scene in the church - I had to borrow Paul's mini tripod for this one. I think we all did variations on this theme. Paul loaded down - I thought he looked like one of those Hindu statues of Kali here :D And part of a rotten tree trunk (this is what I was doing in the last picture of the second post!)

Cheers
Mike

---

Love the omni light behind the cross.
And, wow! Paul! You seriously did bring plenty to play with didn't you?!

I just picked up the bag that is always packed for sports.
Plus the 20D with the 10-22 for some shots I wouldn't normally try.

The cross was taken only with the lights in the room.
I decided to use 1600 iso and no tripod, and slightly different angles.
Oh and I left the WB on daylight, which I think adds to the atmosphere.

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Didache

And three more!

---

Here's one which is a few inches to the left of Mike's cross of wire embedded in the tree.
We saw lots of things differently, and I personally got a lot out of Roger and Mike's opinions.
So before anyone comments, I've tweaked it in LR, I think I improved it :)

This poor Robin got a severe dose of paparazzi treatment !

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Alison

C'mon Roger! I'm impatient to see what you got! :thumbsup:

---

Alison,

Got home last night and had to sort Beccy's laptop and printer out and then help with the packing for her to go to Uni this morning. Finished at 0300 this morning.

Arrived at Roehampton at 0930 and I am still in Roehampton setting up her computer which means I haven't uploaded all my pics yet. Only 4Gb to upload which will start tonight. So once I get home I will finish uploading the photos and start posting.

You would have fitted in well - New Canon Camera and all :D

Sorry to here about the card - Just saw the news about the clone - do clones take as good a portrait :D

Will be setting a meeting up for November? any one ok for that - Mike's daughter's wedding:rolleyes: (Mike's having a nightmare reading this bit) or soon after. Mike suggested Barnes Wildlife which is just down the road from where I am, any other suggestions please post me an e-mail or message.

Roger

I think you can see what attracted us ...

Pushing it here, the Panasonic LZ5 handheld at 1/6
Of course it's noisy at ISO 200, but I'm surprised even 1 of the 6 I tried came out OK.

Insert model here ...
... images that just lack a little something.

An auspicious start to the day ?
Spotted this before I walked back to the pub for a cup of coffee with Mike and Roger.

I did something different at the pond.

Another pond, more reflections.
We must go back when those lilies are in flower.

Gardens ...

Citroën traction avant, after I'd said goodbye to Mike and Roger, still in use as a family car.

I'm loving these photographs!

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by readingr

Will be setting a meeting up for November? any one ok for that - Mike's daughter's wedding :rolleyes: (Mike's having a nightmare reading this bit) or soon after. Mike suggested Barnes Wildlife which is just down the road from where I am, any other suggestions please post me an e-mail or message.

Roger

---

Awww internet {{{hugs}}} for you Roger. You must be shattered.

Wouldn't it be great to all meet at Mike's daughter's wedding. Can you imagine us 4 shooting her wedding?! Amazing! :D
And what a nice birthday present for me to meet you 3. Maybe even be joined by Bev this time :)

Just two more - we have to leave something for Roger to post!! :D

One of Paul going all horticultural on us (dandelions move slower than F1 cars as a rule!) - and one from the reservoir - shot at about 450mm and cropped to show the trees off nicely.

Re November - I can do any Saturday except the 17th (obviously!). I am on holiday Nov 25th which means I could do Sunday then as well, if that helps. If the wetlands centre sounded good to people we would need to check if there would be much to see - it is a centre for migratory birds, and I don't know how much happens there at that time of year. There could be lots - I just don't know. I could always phone them for advice.

Cheers
Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Didache

Re November - I can do any Saturday except the 17th (obviously!). I am on holiday Nov 25th which means I could do Sunday then as well, if that helps. advice.

Cheers
Mike

---

Mike,

You would already be there on the 17th and in every photo :D Just kidding.

Just got home and started the upload. Wish I'd taken JPEG as well now.

Roger

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Didache

Re November - I can do any Saturday except the 17th (obviously!). I am on holiday Nov 25th which means I could do Sunday then as well, if that helps.

---

So, you don't want us crashing your daughters wedding? I think it would be a chance in a lifetime not only for us but also for your daughter.

Alison .. it's a very small wedding - only 24 people, 12 from each side. My daughter doesn't mind in the slightest if I bring a friend to help with the formal stuff, but I think that four or five people would be noticed! :D Also, while I can no doubt work with one friend, I am not sure how chaotic it could be with a regiment, especially if we hope maybe to attract one or two other SE England folk!

In any case, while it would be lovely to see all of you, my place is with my family on this occasion and something else might be more appropriate for a forum shoot.

Cheers
Mike

Aaah ok. Well, I'm no good at the formal stuff, (wish I was).
And, I agree, it's not easy if several people are calling you in different directions it's hard to know which photographer to look at.
Although, it's a little way off, I'd love to see some of the shots you get :)

"Although, it's a little way off, I'd love to see some of the shots you get "


Alison - you think I could keep them off here? :D

Thanks for understanding.
Mike

Quote:

---

Originally Posted by Didache

The door with it's lovely textures

---

And Mike in the act :)

What a great day it was - thanks to Mike and Paul for great company and a lovely time.

Here comes my contribution: These were taken before we all met.

Roger

And more...

Just in case you were wondering why I was on the floor - (NO I had not been drinking - YET!)
Attachment 45861

Paul and Mike comparing who knows what or is it a prayer for a good photo? :D
Attachment 45862

My take on the cross. - didn't notice the chair (DRAT)
Attachment 45863

Roger

Paul lent me his tubes and now I'm hooked (Paul my wife says thanks:mad5: :mad5: )

My very first photo with a tube - great fun and even more qudos to Loupey getting those photos.
Attachment 45864


Just taking anything in focus :D
Attachment 45865

Rusty fence
Attachment 45866

Roger

Some wildlife?

Peekaboo - Alison, please make the next one and can you bring a model along - this is the best we could do. :lol:
Attachment 45868

The Robin playing coy
Attachment 45869

An Oast House - it only took us 45mins to get to the house.
Attachment 45870

Roger

More tubes - the dragon fly that I said I wouldn't get. Loupey - how you catch these in flight is beyond me.
Attachment 45871

At last food - the looks we got from the neighbours - I could swear they'd never seen paparazzi before.
Attachment 45872

My last pic of the day
Attachment 45873

but there's more to come ....

Roger