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2013-05-21 13:35:16 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 15 +1s)

141/365 - Packing Lunch

Thought I'd give photo uploading another go...

...but I see that album posting is still a mess!

So much for a quick fix!

Oh well...

Also available to view on the all new flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8768268500/

#Project365   #Day141  

2013-05-17 12:11:38 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

137/365 - Fern

An unfurled fern frond (try saying that quickly!) shot against a beautiful vivid green background!

Actually, that green background is algae, floating on the surface of my pond! :)

Only available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8747628914/

#Project365   #Day137  

2013-05-17 00:49:19 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 5 +1s)

Spike And Splash

I'm starting to run out of titles for this series of water splash images! :)

Only available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8746279508/

2013-05-16 19:01:13 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Fiery Tulip

Looking deep inside a fiery looking tulip! The only one to survive the winter in dad's garden!

Only available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8744197725/

#spring  

2013-05-16 12:46:41 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

I think I'll be posting my images to flickr only until Google sort out their photo uploading mess...

136/365 - Timely Bee

I was just about to give up hunting for insects in the garden today, when I heard the buzz, buzz, buzz of a familiar friend!

A quick scan of my azalea bush revealed this little fellow, who looked like he'd been enjoying the delights of an all day pollen party!

Thank you little bee for rescuing my 365 shot for the day! :)

Only available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8744454268/

#Project365   #Day136  

2013-05-16 07:11:04 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

Blue Bloom Posy

Just a few forget me nots...

I guess having to post photos in both an album and in Photos from posts is a quick way of using up my 5Gb of image space!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8743952976/

#spring  

2013-05-15 22:15:14 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Apple Blossom

I was impressed with the amount of blossom on this apple tree!

But more importantly, I'm completely unimpressed with what +Google+ have done to photo uploads!

What used to be a couple of steps to get a photo from my computer, into an album and then into a post has now become a convoluted mess!

They've also managed to lose the EXIF data from the image en route too!

Also, I uploaded this picture into my Blossom album, but after sharing it, it appears in Photos From Posts, why?

Yes, it looks nice, but can't we have functionality as well as the pretty? 

Anyone have any idea how to share a photo within an album, and keep it attached to the album within the post?

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8741669603/

2013-05-15 17:26:44 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

Ripples Within Ripples

I've just had a mega picture processing session where I've been mostly removing dust spots from my water splash images!

It was a very tedious and boring afternoon!

Anyway, I thought I'd better upload at least one of the fruits of my labour...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8740927791/

2013-05-15 12:40:38 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

135/365 - Sprig Of Heather

I'm beginning to think that May might not have been the best month to impose the theme of In Somebody's Garden on myself!

Not only are the bugs staying away, but the flowers and plants are way behind, as nothing seems to be growing!

This is a sprig of winter heather that's been flowering since before Christmas, and is normally long gone by now!

We've had a fair amount of rain in the past week, so I'm hoping that will kickstart the growing process...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8740257549/

#Project365   #Day135  

2013-05-15 00:44:04 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 16 +1s)

Look This Way

I feel as though I should be posting more bugs for the time of year, but they're few and far between at the moment!

Here's one of the few - a green shield bug I encountered at the weekend...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8740172566/

#spring  

2013-05-14 18:25:01 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

With A Cherry On Top

For those missing my water splash shots, here's a high key one with a cherry on top! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8739274794/

2013-05-14 13:58:08 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

134/365 - Welsh Poppy

Despite having a complete garden makeover, it was quite nice to see a favourite flower make a return!

My garden had been taken over by horsetail grass in recent years, so I took steps to irradicate it over the winter months! This involved ripping everything out, preparing the ground, covering it with a double layer of weed matting, then covering this with four inches of gravel! That should keep the evil stuff at bay!

I should point out that I didn't do the work myself! :)

The only thing that worries me now is that if the poppies managed to survive, perhaps the horsetail grass did too!

Oh well...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8738550142/

#Project365   #Day134  

2013-05-13 11:22:51 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

133/365 - Fade Away

A once pretty camellia bloom fades away in a corner of my garden...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8734075577/

#Project365   #Day133  

2013-05-13 07:24:57 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Softly

This week's flickr Macro Mondays group theme is Ethereal: 13/05/2013.

I thought this shot of dandelion seeds fit the bill quite nicely!

HMM! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8734782320/

#MacroMondays

2013-05-12 18:24:31 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

132/365 - Bluebells

I managed to get out of my sickbed today and went to see my dad - who is in a worse state than me!

We had a good old grumble together, and I took a handful of photographs in his garden, this one being my favourite!

I always enjoy the bluebells arriving! It's a real springtime event!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8731653687/

#Project365   #Day132  

2013-05-12 15:42:32 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 1 +1s)

Please think about protecting artist copyright by signing this:
http://epetitions.direct.gov.uk/petitions/49422

2013-05-10 11:57:17 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

130/365 - Ready To Submerge

Today was a big gardening day for me!

Today was the day I potted up my water lilies, and put them in the pond!

Everything was going well until I started to submerge the final basket! As I watched it gently drop to the bottom, it snagged on something, and there was a disaster! The basket capsized, and sent soil, water lily and pebbles all over the pond! Argh!

I may be able to fish the bulb out with my fishing net when the water clears, but I fear it's lost forever! I was so annoyed at myself for not being more careful...

At least I got a picture of her before the disaster, and can rest assured that I have another two water lilies safely situated at the bottom!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8724910481/

#Project365   #Day130  

2013-05-09 19:12:52 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

Outstretched Wings

Here's another one of the bee fly I encountered a couple of weeks ago! It's probably my favourite shot of the bunch!

I've just had a short power cut here, so am keeping my fingers crossed the power will remain on for the rest of the evening!

I'm not too hopeful though as the weather is atrocious!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8724280108/

My favourite #sexyfly  for the +Sexy Flies page! :)

2013-05-09 13:29:44 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

129/365 - Feeding Station Impression

Here's something else that's a bit different from me, and which qualifies as another snippet from my garden!

It's an abstract shot of my bird feeding station, reflected in a terracotta pot filled with water, that the birds use as a bird bath!

I can appreciate that it's not for everyone, but it's got something about it that I quite like, so I'm making it my picture of the day! So there! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8722311805/

#Project365   #Day129  

2013-05-09 01:51:42 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 16 +1s)

Cherry Tree Blossom

Having just woken up after another early morning coughing fit, I headed for my image archives again!

I didn't look back far for this one, but found it strangely soothing!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8721211641/

#spring  

2013-05-08 11:57:12 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

128/365 - Azalea

My azalea bush flowered unexpectedly today, just in time for the first rain to fall in about three weeks!

It was too good an opportunity to miss combining the two events to get my picture of the day! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8720469222/

#Project365   #Day128  

2013-05-08 02:03:20 (0 comments, 2 reshares, 20 +1s)

Double Hump

Two humps for hump day! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8719522472/

2013-05-07 13:53:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

127/365 - Garden Snippet

Continuing my P365 group's weekly theme of Water, and my own monthly theme of Somebody's Garden!

I thought I'd try something a bit different today! This is a view from my patio, looking through the fresh springtime growth of some asiatic lilies, towards my pond!

Unfortunately, I've recently discovered that my pond has a leak, which means it needs topping up every few days - hence the view of the hosepipe!

I guess my water bill will be through the roof until I can work out how to fix it!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8716331935/

#Project365   #Day127  

#spring  

2013-05-07 01:02:12 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Splattered

It's around 2am here, and I'm having trouble sleeping at the moment as I've got an irritating cough!

Every time I lie down, I start coughing! It's most annoying!

Anyway, as is usual under such circumstances, I searched my image archive for an appropriate image to upload!

This is what I found! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8715217223/

2013-05-06 21:55:24 (2 comments, 3 reshares, 8 +1s)

Dreaming Of Blossom

I seem to have shot more blossom this year than any other - probably because we had to wait so long for it to arrive!

I'll try not to bore you all with a procession of shots, but I simply *have* to post a few! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8715909308/

#spring  

2013-05-06 17:56:30 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Cracked

I wasn't going to participate in this week's flickr group Macro Mondays theme of Dried, but then I remembered I'd ferreted away a leaf from last autumn in a box somewhere! It was bound to be dried up by now!

It only took me about an hour to find the box! Like most macro photographers (I assume), I have hundreds of boxes full of odds and ends that could make useful subjects one day!

Anyway, I found it in the end! I think it would make a nice texture too!

HMM! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8715133806/

#MacroMonday  

2013-05-06 13:15:31 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

126/365 - Huddled Masses

Okay, so I know this one won't win any photographic awards, but as the theme for my P365 group this week is water, and I've got a 2500 gallon pond full of tadpoles in my back garden, I thought I'd better try and capture the little beasties!

See the comments in the flickr link for a few more...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8713127651/

#Project365   #Day126  

2013-05-05 22:21:43 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 14 +1s)

Seedy Place

Gotta love the return of the dandelion! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8712262758/

#spring  

2013-05-05 17:57:11 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

125/365 - Morning Ablutions

The weekly theme for my P365 group this week is Water!

Now, it may seem strange that I've just done three months straight of water drop shots, and the minute I decide to try my hand at something different, the theme of water comes up!

However, rather than rebuild my water drop rig, I decided to try and do the theme inside my current monthly theme of Somebody's Garden!

It shouldn't be a problem, as it's a bank holiday weekend here, so it's bound to rain for a few days, and the forecast looks promising! :)

Anyway, to get me started with the theme, this is a female blackbird, enjoying a quick morning wash in my dad's garden, where he uses an old seed tray as a bird bath! As you can see, the birds don't seem to mind!

Also available to view on flickr:... more »

2013-05-05 02:45:36 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 17 +1s)

Missing The Party

It's only five days since I stopped shooting water drops and I'm missing them already! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8708277021/

2013-05-04 21:05:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 9 +1s)

Amelanchier Blossom

This is the amelanchier tree blossom in dad's garden! It only lasts a few days in spring before it's blown away, but it really shines in the sunlight and lights up the garden! I wish I had room for one in my garden!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8708657470/

2013-05-04 15:11:27 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

124/365 - Lily Leaf Pattern

An abstract pattern made by the new leaf growth of one of my oriental lilies!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8707777426/

#Project365   #Day124  

#spring  

2013-05-03 11:13:20 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 8 +1s)

123/365 - Sycamore Leaves

I wasn't intending to post a shot of the sycamore tree at the bottom of my garden today, but the light shining through the leaves looked great against the blue sky!

This shot doesn't quite do the sight justice, but it's the best of the bunch I took, and I'm still pretty pleased with it! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8703539729/

#Project365   #Day123  

2013-05-03 04:06:56 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Small Hairy Fly

I've waited over three months to test my new Nikon D800 out on the insect population, and I'm pleased to report that it captures an insane amount of detail!

I'm definitely going to enjoy bug hunting season! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8702899663/

#spring   #bug  

Another #sexyfly  for the +Sexy Flies photo page! :)

2013-05-02 22:21:02 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 11 +1s)

Dreamy Trio

Other than getting my bee fly shot earlier today, I got another lovely surprise when I visited dad's - as you can see, some of the cherry tree blossom had already opened! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8703394278/

#spring  

About half an hour too early for #FloralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner ! :)

2013-05-02 18:20:35 (7 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

122/365 - In A Flap

So yesterday I sort of hinted that if I was going to have a theme this month, it would be In My Garden!

Then Clare, one of my flickr contacts commented:
"Maybe try and capture some more shots of that bee fly/fly bee!"

Now, I've only ever seen a bee fly, which is a fly, not a bee, three times in my 43 years, but I'm not one to be put off by a photographic challenge, so I sat in the garden this morning, and waited!

After an hour, I hadn't seen any sort of insect, never mind a blasted bee fly!

So, I decided to visit the location I last spied one of these elusive critters - my dad's garden!

Of course, dad thought I was a bit mad travelling over 20 miles to come and take a picture of an insect - and an insect that had only ever been seen to have visited his garden twice before!
... more »

2013-05-02 05:07:57 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 9 +1s)

Blossom In Waiting

How exciting! The cherry tree blossom is almost here! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8700147263/

#spring  

2013-05-01 18:18:11 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 14 +1s)

Mushroom

This one's for those of you suffering from withdrawl symptoms from my lack of water drop collision post today! :)

I dismantled my water drop rig this afternoon, so now I've got my dining room table back!

Don't worry though, I've got hundreds of water based shots in my archives, so I'm bound to be posting them until at least Christmas! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8698697185/

2013-05-01 13:51:49 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

121/365 - The Lilies Are Coming

Wow! After 89 consecutive days of shooting water drop splashes and collisions, I've finally broken free of my water drippy thing, and have shot something completely different for my 365 day project!

This is one of my lilies, either an oriental or asiatic variety (let me know if you know which!), showing a spurt of new growth since the days got a bit warmer here!

I rather liked the pattern the leaves were making!

I'm not sure I'm going to have a theme this month, although it could well be In My Garden!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8697924927/

#Project365   #Day121   #spring  

2013-05-01 05:49:46 (3 comments, 2 reshares, 16 +1s)

Tall Trumpet

After a slow start, the daffodils are now putting on a wonderful display!

This one, with its tall yellow trumpet and lovely white petals was one of my favourites!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8698229646/

#spring  

2013-04-30 22:07:44 (9 comments, 0 reshares, 17 +1s)

April 2013

So, here is my month of April!

I hadn't realised that it had been such a colourful month until I put all of the shots together!

I know I said I was going to write a blog about my water drop rig, but as yet, it hasn't materialised! I am working on it though!

I'm not sure what the month of May will bring!

I enjoy shooting the water drop collisions and splashes, but after three months, I think it's probably time to call it a day, and shoot some other stuff for the project!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8695824853/

#Project365  

2013-04-30 15:22:13 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 11 +1s)

120/365 - Intersection

The final day of another month saw me playing with soapy water again! This is a water spike rising through the intersection of two adjoining soap bubbles, and just about to be hit by a falling water drop!

I really like the texture in the rising water spike which has taken on some of the properties of the soapy water, as can be seen by comparing it to the water drop which has yet to touch the film of soap yet!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8695202955/

#Project365   #Day120  

2013-04-29 11:52:45 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 15 +1s)

119/365 - No Escape

Just a water drop collision trapped inside a soap bubble...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8692692468/

#Project365   #Day119  

Oops! Forgot to tag: #MacroMonday  curated by +Kerry Murphy, +Kelli Seeger Kim and +Jennifer Eden - for the Bubble theme! :)

2013-04-29 03:43:00 (7 comments, 3 reshares, 25 +1s)

The Eye

So, does anybody else see the eye looking back at them here?

The water seems to be watching my every move! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8690664367/

2013-04-28 21:01:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

118/365 - Deflated

I've been trying to conjure up some interesting shapes to present to you recently, and I think this one definitely qualifies!

I think it looks rather like a deflated balloon, and I can see a depressed face within the main body of the splash! The face actually reminds me of the comedy genius who was Tommy Cooper! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8690643992/

#Project365   #Day118  

2013-04-27 22:22:03 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 19 +1s)

Deflection

I was preparing some images for a stock photography library tonight when I came across this one of a water drop impacting on the side of a soap bubble...

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8686359919/

2013-04-27 17:58:09 (10 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

117/365 - Balancing Act

I made a bit of a change to my water drop rig today, and was quite pleased to get something different!

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8686830870/

#Project365   #Day117  

2013-04-27 10:38:03 (11 comments, 0 reshares, 24 +1s)

Weeee

I couldn't resist posting another shot of the flying bee fly I encountered last weekend! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8684775183/

#spring  

2013-04-26 11:40:12 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

116/365 - Like Stargate

I was in a bit of a rush today, and most of my shots came out either blurry, or uninteresting!

This was the best of the bunch by a very long mark, and it quite surprised me when I saw it in Lightroom! The clarity in the Stargate like orifice is quite fantastic!

I wish I could shoot one like this every day! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8682343591/

#Project365   #Day116  

2013-04-26 05:38:42 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

The Little Details

Yay! The Dandy's are back! :)

After recently undergoing a complete garden makeover, this is one of the very few weeds I have found in my garden!

Dandelions make such compelling subjects though that I couldn't bring myself to pull it out!

HFF! :)

Also available to view on flickr:
http://www.flickr.com/photos/big-e-mr-g/8682970962/

#spring  

#FloralFriday  curated by +Tamara Pruessner