Blurred Waterfall

Another day, another picture. Once again I have remembered to go out armed with my camera, and once again I have remembered to check that it is loaded with a CF card.

Due to not being in work tonight, I decided to head out with my tripod, with the aim of playing about with different shutter speeds taking shots of a waterfall near the house. Took a few shots with quick speeds, and then set the tripod up for some longer exposures. At the smallest aperture settings available on the kit lens (can't remember exactly, but at the long end it was either 32 or 36) this allowed me shutter speeds over 8s, which provided me with some nice blurred shots.



And, as usual, click on the image for the larger version on my Flickr page.

Telegraph Pole Silhouette

Here's a recurring theme, running out of time during daylight hours! At least today I managed to take a photo WITH the CF card actually in the camera, so things are looking up!

I was inspired as I set off to work by the colours in the sky, and initially experimented with some landscape silhouttes encompassing the hills. However, further down the road this opportunity leapt out at me, and I'm pleased with how it turned out.



Again, feel free to click on the image to see the larger version on my Flickr page.

Muppet of the Day

Well, it's happened. My first day without a photo. Once again no time during the day, so grabbed my camera on my way out to my evening job with an idea for a night shot using the car headlights as illumination on my way back home.

So I find my spot, set the tripod up, fumble about setting the camera up, take the photo, review the image on-screen. Quite happy with it, nice atmosphere to it I thought. As I was rather chilly and ready for a brew, I made do with the one shot, so packed up all my gear and headed back, only to see my CF card in the card reader in my room as I walked in. Doh! Seems I was in too much of a rush when I picked the camera up on my way out.

So my apologies, and I shall return tomorrow (or rather, later today).

Aberystwyth Promenade by Night

Didn't get chance to get the camera out during the daylight hours today, so instead made the trip into Aberystwyth to attempt some night shots. After driving around town for a while scouting locations, I decided that my best bet would be to take a walk up Constitution Hill, and go for some shots of the promenade. So here is my favourite picture from the evening, from my first batch of night shots!



As usual, click on the image to view the larger version on my Flickr page.

Technical details are the same as yesterday's picture. Canon EOS 400D, using the 18-55mm kit lens. ISO 100, f8, 30s exposure. Did take some shots with longer exposures and smaller apertures using Bulb mode, but due to lack of a cable release they were too blurry to use. Didn't want to go any higher than ISO 100 as I wanted to keep noise to a minimum. The shot isn't quite as sharp as I'd like as my tripod is only a cheap wobbly thing! But to minimize camera shake I used the self timer mode to activate the shutter. Sharpness could possibly also be improved by activating the mirror lock-up function, so that is something for me to try next time.

Windfarm Landscape

Well, I've managed the first day! Managed to squeeze in time to get myself a photo today on the way back from town. Stopped up by a windfarm near where I live, and experimented with a few different shots. My favourite from the session is the photo I'm using now.



The photo was taken with my Canon 400D and the 18-55m kit lens, with no filters. The image was taken in RAW mode, and some slight tweaking done in Digital Photo Professional. Click on the image to see the larger image on my Flickr page.

Now time to start thinking about tomorrow's image!

I Am Writing This Because...

Hello! My name is Matt Brown, and I live in the Cambrian Mountains in Mid Wales, part of the wonderful United Kingdom.

I am writing this blog as a means of trying to improve my photography with my Canon EOS 400D (or Digital Rebel XTi for the American market), by way of aiming to take one photo each and every day that I can honestly claim to be proud of. A photo that I am happy to publish on here, along with any random/technical/profound/philosophical comments on the reasons why I took the shot.

Hopefully by doing this I will be able to discipline myself into spending more time using the camera, developing an eye for potential images, and of course improving my proficiency with the camera itself. The pictures will not be of any one particular genre, and should eventually encompass landscape, portraits, sport and action and hopefully more. I also intend to improve my knowledge and use of filters, tripods and other aids.

Anyway, enough of my waffling on, I hope you find some inspiration from this blog as it grows, and I shall return tomorrow with my first photograph!