It was a lucky morning in France on a visit to Chateau Queribus. There were lenticular clouds all over the sky. Caused by the air pushed up in waves over the mountains they have a characteristic dinner plate look. I love the sharp edges to these clouds and it was lucky that this one was hovering over the castle like a smoke plume.
I was annoyed at myself for not using a tripod though and taking a few exposures. As it is I had to tinker with it in the photoshop otherwise the ground was too dark.

Turville

Originally uploaded by Mr_Chips

My Turville pictures have been published in a great new book – “The British Television Location Guide” www.splendidbooks.co.uk

Great Crested Grebe

Originally uploaded by Mr_Chips

“A major in Wales challenged him to produce a single case of a great crested grebe attacking young rabbits” From Evelyn Waugh’s Scoop, where William Boot’s sister had playfully substituted the words – ‘great crested grebe’ for ‘badger’ in his weekly nature notes for The Beast newspaper.

Bluebells

Originally uploaded by Mr_Chips

There are some great rambles around the Cowleaze wood area near Stokenchurch. At this time of year ~ May ~ the bluebells are fantastic and if you quint your eyes they look like a blue carpet through the trees.
You could try moving the camera vertically with a small aperture and getting a blur effect. It is much better doing this than using Photoshop.

These distilleries on the Isle of Islay are great subjects to photograph. There are interesting doors, barrels standing in rows and other objects to act as models.
I like the black and white look of this place with the colour accent provided by the post box.

I saw lots of birds today around this tree. Several red kites, a buzzard, lapwing grazing in a field. Some fieldfare and starlings.

Southwold pier

Originally uploaded by Mr_Chips

Went to Suffolk and caught some wonderful weather. It was so good that we are up at dawn to catch the best light. This shot of Southwold pier is at sunset and I used a tripod and long time exposure to smooth out the water. I have a neutral density filter now to increase the time.
I wanted to get pictures of the colourful beach huts but the light was never right and it was too far away for dawn photos. Better luck next time.

I went out on a day off to take some pictures of trees. It looked as though it was going to be a good day with some mist to start with but the mist never actually cleared. Still I got some good shots of the trees in the fog and I quite like the effect.

oak in a year 2007

Originally uploaded by Mr_Chips

This is a mosaic of some of the images from my photographic record of a tree through the year.
The subject is an oak tree high up in the chiltern hills. From that sunny day on 1st Jan 2007 when it seemed a good idea all the way through the snow and frost to the overgrown shubbery of July and   August. Then the summer and its leaves seemed to last forever.

geminids

Originally uploaded by Mr_Chips

Well actually I don’t think I caught any geminid meteors. This is a composite of 72 x 30 second exposures. Pointing towards Orion on a cold frosty and clear night. I can’t believe the colours and I haven’t altered them in Photoshop – honest!
I think all the non star trails are aircaft but I shall try again tomorrow when the Geminids are at their peak. Let’s hope for a clear night!