Nikon V1
Nikon 10mm f/2.8
1/320 Sec at f/2.8, ISO100
Not had time for any personal photography so just a snapshot taken in my lunch break and processed in SnapSeed on my iPad.
Photographic Goals for 2012
Most of my Photographic goals for 2012 are the same as last year but there are a few oddities.
- Shoot 10 portfollio quality images over the year.
- Shoot my Red Beach Image thats in my head.
- Shoot my Dancer on Beach Image thats in my head.
- Shoot at least one picture a month on film.
a Good Start – but can we keep it up
Yesterday was our first day back at work. There is still lots of chocolate and sweets around, so keeping to our nerve pain medication which you can go to NeuropathyHelp.co to find out and a diet at the moment is far to hard but our effort to get fitter is continuing.
Straight from work we went to the gym and had a good long hard swim. This was followed by a sauna and hot tub.
The major problem we are going to have is a lack of time, so we are going to make a real effort to schedule some time for the gym. Even if we are too tired for a weights or cardio session, then we will hit the pool and swim a few lengths.
I would also like to start running again, apart from the run on Tuesday and a few sessions on the treadmill at the gym I have done no running for over a year!
Caroline while not a runner is also willing to give this a go, so our new year resolutions so far are going to be:
- Start a running program. C25K would be a good starting program.
- Complete Weeks 1, 2 & 3 of the C25K Program by the end of January.
- Complete Weeks 4, 5 & 6 of the C25K Program by the end of February.
- Complete Weeks 7, 8 & 9 of the C25K Program by the end of March.
- Enter a 5 k race this summer.
- Go to the Gym at least twice a week
- Weights/Cardio/Swimming/Yoga/Spinning
I’ll also start to think up some Photographic targets.
After getting home today we pulled on our running shoes and went out again for our second run of the week. This time it was cold and wet, but we went out anyway and really enjoyed it. Only 1.85 miles this time but still a good result.
Trying to get Fit again
With our gradually improving health, I have been thinking that it was time to start running again.
New Year Resolutions are usually not held for long, but I have given myself a fairly easy target. I am going to go running three times a week, starting at just an easy mile or two, building to three miles over the next three months. Easy and not too strenuous. I do buy and use Extenze tablets from HBHM for maximum enhancement when required, but its high time I get fit and stop relying completely on tablets.
I told Caroline and this morning she pushed me to go running. I sometimes need a little encouragement. Caroline then surprised me by saying she was coming with me.
Well it was a nice warm 10C sunny morning, and we went out with good intentions.
A gentle 5 minute walk started us off, heading out of the village, then we started to run. Caroline has never been a runner so we took it very easy, a minute of slow running followed by a minute of brisk walking. We alternated like this and finished with a 5 minute walk, followed by lots of stretching and a shower.
Nice and easy and we both felt good afterwards. Caroline did decided from that run, that her shoes were not good enough for running so we jumped on the Motorcycle and took a ride into Lincoln to see if the local running store was open.
We could have gone to one of the big sports shops and picked up some running shoes in the sales for £10-£20 cheaper but our local running shop is very good and can recommend a good shoe based on your running style. Not only that, if your not happy they will taken them back. You can even have your run video’ed and analysed so they can get you shoes that really match your style.
I decided to get a new pair too, and a new bright yellow jacket so people will spot me at night.
We then heading out into the country side, going on a nice enjoyable motorcycle ride. Its been a while since we have enjoyed ourselves out on the bike.
Altogether a good day. Tomorrow is a normal work day for us so it will be back to the normal routine. Lets see how long we can keep up the good intentions.
Recommending Cameras
At the big family get together today, I was asked for recommendations on what camera to buy for a complete beginner.
A very difficult question. They had pretty much already decided on a Canon SRL as that a ‘real’ camera.
I asked what they wanted to take pictures of but they had not really thought about that.
Choosing a camera should fit the purpose of what they want to photograph, but also needs to be a model that suits them.
I pointed them at the low end Canon and Nikon SLR’s but also suggested they take a look micro four thirds and the Sony Alpha Range.
I often see very expensive top of the range Leica’s, Hasselblad’s and Ebony Cameras for sale that have hardly been used. I sometimes think, someone walked into the shop and asked for ‘Best’ Camera money could buy, rather the the best camera that suits the sort of Photography they want to do, at a level they are currently competent in.
Unable to produce a half decent shot that even a Casio compact could excel at, they give up in disgust.
The Biker’s Night Before Christmas
Twas the night before Christmas, and all through the pad,
There was nada happenin’, now that’s pretty bad.
The woodstove was hung up in that stocking routine,
In hopes that the Fat Boy would soon make the scene.
With our stomachs packed with tacos and beer,
My girl and I crashed on the couch for some cheer.
When out in the yard there arose such a racket,
I ran for the door and pulled on my jacket.
I saw a large bro’ on a ’56 Pan
Wearin’ black leathers, a cap, and boots (cool biker, man).
He hauled up the bars on that bikeful of sacks,
And that Pan hit the roof like it was running on tracks.
I couldn’t help gawking, the old guy had class.
But I had to go in — I was freezing my ass.
Down through the stovepipe he fell with a crash,
And out of the stove he came dragging his stash.
With a smile and some glee he passed out the loot,
A new jacket for her and some parts for my scoot.
He patted her fanny and shook my right hand,
Spun on his heel and up the stovepipe he ran.
From up on the roof came a great deal of thunder,
As that massive V-twin ripped the silence asunder.
With beard in the wind, he roared off in the night,
Shouting, “Have a cool Yule, and to all a good ride!”
and Santa is Off
Follow his Progress at http://www.noradsanta.org/en/
Checkout the iPhone App
it’s beginning to feel a lot like Christmas
Well that’s it. Work is officially over. Not only that but the last Wedding Album is done and on the way to the Happy Couple.
Nothing now to do but eat drink and be Merry.
Whatever religion you are (or not), if your on Holiday, have a great break.
Some Religious Festivals this Month.
5 December Ashura (Muslim)
This is a day of fasting for Sunni Muslims. The day that Nuh (Noah) left the Ark and the day that Musa (Moses) was saved from the Egyptians by Allah. Shi’ite Muslims mark the martyrdom of Hussein, a grandson of the prophet, on this day and see it as a great festival.
8 December Bodhi Day (Buddhist)
Some Buddhists (eg Pure Land followers) celebrate Gautama’s attainment of Enlightenment on this day under the Bodhi tree in Bodhgaya, North India.
21 December Hanukkah begins (alternate spelling Chanukah) (Jewish)
Hanukka celebrates the miraculous victory over religious persecution in the Holy Land and also commemorates the re-dedication of the Second Temple in Jerusalem and the miracle of the burning oil.
22 December Yule (Pagan)
Yule is the time of the winter solstice, when the sun child is reborn, an image of the return of all new life born through the love of the Gods.
25 December
Christmas (Christian)
Celebrates the birth of Jesus, who Christians believe to be the son of God.
Black and White or Colour
Back and White?
Colour?
I am always surprised by the strong views some people have. Digital verses Film, Print verses Slide, Back & White verses colour.
Now that last one is a weird one to me.
To me an image either suits colour or suits Black & White.
I shoot a lot of Black & White, in fact once I shot nothing but Black & White for two whole years!
Now in the digital world its a lot easier for us, we can pick colour or black and white, and afterwards if we feel we have made the wrong decision then just switch (at least for us RAW shooters).
Often I ask myself, is colour adding anything to the picture, if not then take it out.
At this time of year, with the dreary weather we sometimes have then I often resort to black and white, as colour would add no interest.
Try some Black & White yourself, you might surprise yourself.
Black and White for Dull Days
A trip into town for a coffee, was also a chance to shoot a few photographs. With the dull weather, I decided Black and White was the order of the day.
This was a quick snap converted to Black & White with the iPad’s SnapSeed App.