Chocolate brownie crumbs around their mouths, these brothers were sheltering from the rain on Penarth pier – I asked mum if I could take some photos and she asked for copies, as the boys had just been signed up by a modelling agency.
This boy was keeping out of the way of noisy drummers at a festival – he’d had his hands over his ears and took them off for a few minutes, so I managed to get this pose as well. It looks much better in monochrome.
Unfortunately it was a shame I didn’t get a catchlight in the bear’s eyes but this was the best I could do with my old zoom lens. It’s one of my favourite wildlife images though because you can see the bear’s huge claws
Taken on the Camera Club Photo-marathon in Cardiff Bay. I’m quite short and when I looked towards the containers, although the roof is a long way off, it reminded me of a bird landing on something, hence the title of ‘The Eagle has Landed’
Fireworks off the end of Penarth pier. I liked the shape these particular fireworks had made and the colours.
Looking so angelic, Oscar is under an upside-down umbrella suspended from a tree, listening to an accordion player during Penarth festival. I liked the expression on his face – really absorbed in the music.
It took me a while to get rid of the messy background behind this Scarlet Macaw but I thought the almost-black background really made the colours of his feathers pop.
The View from the Balcony – I took this because I liked not only the colour of the seats, but also the repetition of the rows.
I like to photograph things that make me smile and this man walking his goats in the middle of the town – and using the pedestrian crossing even – certainly did that!
I’ve not tried much macro photography and don’t have a lens for it, but I took this at Kew Gardens as I liked the contrasting greens and the lovely fern head waiting to unfurl.
Cropped version of the other image.
Kew Gardens again – just trying out some close-up shots
I took this image because I liked the contrast between the colours of the gnarled bark of the petrified Camelthorn tree and the soft coral colour of the sand and greens of the trees and shrubs behind it.
Dyffryn Gardens – tried so hard to capture dragonflies and 4-winged chasers (?) and this was the best of the lot. I should probably try and remove the bit of white stalk above its head!
Tree surgeon at work in Penarth cemetery so I sat in my garden trying to capture the sawdust falling from the chainsaw as he worked.
One of the first images I put in for ‘Critique only’ at the Club. Entitled Sydney Opera House, I think the judge said he liked the surprise when he opened the image as it wasn’t what he was expecting.
I don’t think I have the patience, talent or equipment to be a wildlife photographer but these two lion cubs were wonderful to see and photograph – will have to have a go at removing the foliage in front of them!
Looking over a bridge, I liked the mixture of colours and textures of these old boats and punts on the river.
It’s a floor!
Although it’s not completely in focus I was pleased with what was a totally unexpected shot – the giraffe was gone from in front of the sun before I knew it.
Taken late afternoon, I loved the colours in this image and the soft light on the cheetah. Such a beautiful animal!
After the Club night on Intentional Camera Movement, this was my first attempt – it’s a lady kneeling down in front of some colourful fabric and I just moved the camera back and forth slowly.
Having taken lots of photos of racehorses at Pant Wilkin stables on the Club early morning visit there, I saw these wheelbarrows in a row by one and liked the colours and how they were lined up. It looks ok in monochrome too I think.
An old image but one of my favourites with the contrast between the black gown and mortar board and the flowers behind her.
I took this image because visiting the church that survived the Twin Towers attack, despite being so close by, really moved me. I preferred it after converting it to monochrome.
The incredible Bahla Fort – I liked the juxtaposition of the fort walls and the contrast between the wooden door and the stone walls, as well as the dark blue, cloudless sky at the top of the image.
My lovely Pets as Therapy dog, Acer.
Having cropped out the rocks in the front, this is one of the few images I’ve turned into a triptych for a Club comp. The judge was unsure if it was one image or three!
Not a ‘bird on a twig’ – it’s on a picnic table. Breast is a bit dark but loved the orange eye and blue/purple sheen on the feathers.
I like taking random street scenes.
Another random street scene – loved the bright flags against the grey street and boy in (mainly) black.
This lady was concentrating so hard on her cooking that she didn’t look up – unfortunately! But I liked the character of her face and the contrasting (or clashing?) colours of her clothes.
Taken through a window when it was raining when I’d forgotten to take the camera off Auto so the ISO was too high but resulted in a sort of painting-type effect, which pleased me.
A street scene that made me smile – if I could use Ai or Photoshop, I’d add a pair of binoculars to his hands!
On the Club outing to photograph the sunset from the barrage I got cold so wandered off towards Penarth marina and spied this through a doorway – I liked the different colours of the spools of rope and called it ‘Money for New Rope’.
I liked the way the figure on the left softened the angles and lines of the opera house.
I like trying to photograph different architectural styles but, lovely as it was, I thought this looked better when the two figures walked through these arches.
Club night photographing food – good fun!
For the Photo- marathon down the Bay we had to take a photo of a stranger and this waitress readily obliged.
Another of my first images submitted for Critique Only at the Club. Just before a terrific storm, I liked the contrast between the ominously dark sky and the colours in the land and how the path zig-zags through the scene to the car park.
Another one that went into a comp just for critique – loved her bright yellow sari against the stone.
And again, one of the first images I submitted for critique only. The judge was very kind!