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2013-05-18 14:37:19 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

Marine Way Bridge, Southport

2013-05-18 14:32:42 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 24 +1s)

Marine Way Bridge, Southport

2013-05-18 01:29:42 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

Sunset at Southport Pier

2013-05-18 00:00:55 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Southport Pier, taken last night (Thursday 16th May)

#ukpcphoto  +UK Photography Community 
#sunset   #sunsetphotography   #sunsetphotos   #sunsetsaturday   #southport   #ukphotography  

2013-05-12 19:01:48 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

One photo from yesterday's shoot with 10-day old baby Jonah.

2013-05-12 12:19:29 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Aaargghh - creativity block...
The one Idea I have I am not sure if I can create.

scratches head a lot

2013-05-08 17:34:13 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Mount Snowdon Railway engine

This is a rack-and-pinion engine, designed to pull passengers up to the summit of Mount Snowdon in Wales, a journey of almost 5 miles.  It is the only working railway of it's type in the UK as far as I am aware.  My son is looking at it here on a VERY misty day at the summit and wishing he had taken a ride in it instead of walking up!

This photo dedicated to +Gene Bowker who is celebrating his birthday today #happybdaygene  

2013-05-07 23:37:46 (5 comments, 1 reshares, 12 +1s)

One of my favourite portraits.. this is Lauren.

#portrait   #portraittuesday   #portraitphotography   #women   #womenwednesday  

2013-05-06 19:11:17 (1 comments, 1 reshares, 13 +1s)

The Scotch Piper
This pub is almost 700 years old

The Scotch Piper is a beautiful little thatched public house on the A5147 between Lydiate and Maghull in Lancashire.  It is almost 700 years old!  The bar is wide enough for two people to stand at it, and the beer is still for the most part hand pumped.  There are lots of little quaint snugs to hide away undisturbed with a loved one - but there are downsides too - all the toilets are still outside in external outhouses!

2013-05-06 01:14:03 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

My first ever attempt at an astrophotography picture.
This was using a telescope with a motorised mount I bought around 6 months ago.  Tonight was first time I set it up with the motor, aligned it to polaris and stuck my camera on the back of it. Note the camera is not looking through the scope, merely using the EQ mount.
There is some movement in the stars but the plough is clearly visible so I am quite pleased for a first attempt considering the exposure was almost 16 minutes at f8!

Anyone have any tips, or can point me to any online guides for beginners that would be very much appreciated!

#astrophotography  

2013-05-06 00:50:39 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 12 +1s)

I really wanted to take a new photo today but life got in the way again so I am re-using this one, albeit with a different edit. I think I prefer this version to the original one I posted.
#selfy   #selfysunday   +Selfy Sunday  #SSP   +Jeff Smith 
#mono   #monochromemonday   #monochromephotography  
#bw   #bwphotography   #blackandwhite   #blackandwhitephotography  

2013-05-06 00:41:25 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Added photos to The Selfy Sunday Project.

2013-05-06 00:28:57 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Queen of Hearts  my  +Style It! Shoot It! Share It!  final  for #SAturdayStyle   and the #SelfySunday  project (+Selfy Sunday   #SSP ) by +Jeff Smith 

https://plus.google.com/events/gallery/ckl4kju6mgj42r7mkpf1evd9v6g/109415081471489461426/5874294218950009122?authkey=CMK_j6ipgv2UeA

When she was good she was very very good..
And when she was bad she was horrid...
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~

So many of you may or may not know that me and my co moderator +Shantha Marie Fountain   run a little community called Style It! Shoot It! Share It!  and one of the main thing s the Community puts on are monthly masterpiece challenges. Each community member or challenger  is tasked to create  or ‘style’ a shot based on one theme and a technical component as well. They have one month to complete their masterpiece and if they finish it they get to goto the finale gal... more »

2013-05-04 22:48:49 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

I have no words

What? Why?
 Things I have often asked myself as I pass by these outside a farmhouse in Great Altcar near Formby, North-West England. To give you an idea of scale, it is almost 2 metres from the ground to the top of the bear's head.
#ukpcphoto   #ukphotographycommunity   #formby   #greataltcar  

2013-04-30 23:26:50 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

I did an engagement shoot on Saturday for this couple who will be married in June.  The ceremony sounds fabulous - the dogs will be taking part, as will the bride's horse... and the bridal car is crazily cool!  Really looking forward to the day now, and praying for good weather :)

#wedding   #weddingphotography   #engagement   #ukpcphoto   #chester   #northwestuk  

2013-04-30 22:38:26 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Detective Mystery

I did this for a recent community challenge and really enjoyed it.  Had to find a location with an old looking lampost and had the idea in my mind of a black canvas with the shadowy figure off-centre, lit by the lamp.

It is a self-portrait, and I am lighting a match to light my face.  Best viewed full screen to see any details!

2013-04-30 19:56:18 (4 comments, 1 reshares, 17 +1s)

Hopefully we will have a sunset or two like this in Southport this year.

The Pier, once almost destroyed through neglect, now a jewel of the town and a bit of a mecca for tourists.

2013-04-29 18:04:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Check out the short video below (it’s like 90-seconds or so) which explains why Adobe is doing this unprecedented sneak peek, but once you watch that, here are the specifics:

Who: Tom Hogarty from Adobe Systems
When: Wednesday, May 1st at 4:00 PM ET (New York time)
Where: Live on “The Grid” at http://www.kelbytv.com/thegrid
Why: This is your chance to get straight answers straight from the source and to see a sneak peek of some stuff I haven’t even seen yet — but I heard about them— and you’re definitely going to want to see ‘em! (everybody will be talking about it on Thursday!)

See you on Wednesday!

2013-04-29 15:05:52 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Have you seen this?  *Every photographer in the UK needs to read this!*  How did this get passed without a lot of noise, at least on here?

http://www.theregister.co.uk/2013/04/29/err_act_landgrab/

#ERRA   #EARRA   #EnterpriseAndRegulatoryReformAct  

We need to get this trending to get the word out

2013-04-24 20:38:35 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

2013-04-22 01:12:39 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Added photos to The Selfy Sunday Project.

2013-04-22 00:11:38 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Epic Fail

... or how NOT to take a photograph.

This could have been a good photo.  Setting sun, shot from a bridge in Warrington, North-West England.  I saw it from my car and hurriedly pulled over, grabbed the camera and setup the tripod as the sun was rapidly lowering.

I thought to myself the Sun is through the trees, the church spire, all looking good, when around the corner of the river come several boats being rowed by some fit looking young ladies.  It doesn't come better than this.  

I get maybe 20 shots off before the sun disappears and head home delighted with myself.  Load them up eagerly - and they are all out of focus.  For a previous job I had put the camera on manual focus and forgotten about it. All looked OK through the viewfinder but was obviously not.  

Gutted

2013-04-19 21:39:13 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

Experiment today... When I joined the motorway network I reset my car's MPG.  some 50 miles later, just as I was exiting the motorways, this was the result.

If only it would stay up there all the time!

By the time I got home (another 80 miles or so I reckon) it had dropped to 73mpg.

2008 Ford Focus 1.6 diesel econetic.  Pretty steady at 60mph.

2013-04-18 22:12:30 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Somebody must recognise these suspects

2013-04-12 05:24:44 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

A recent sunset on a cloudy evening. There were some great "fingers of light" poking through the clouds on my drive home but by the time I found somewhere decent to stop these had diminished somewhat.

2013-04-12 05:21:41 (5 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

OK so here is my location, with the oldest looking lamppost I could find where I live.

Now I am just waiting for a dry night when I am not working...

#styleitaprilchallengeprocess  

Do I need a story by the way? I was kind of hoping the end photo would tell enough of a story and leave lots of unanswered questions.

2013-04-10 22:08:00 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

Test shots done and quick processed and I quite like the result.  Need to do this in costume now!  #styleitaprilchallengeprocess  

2013-04-08 21:32:43 (4 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

My new favourite portrait of my son Joe.  He turns 13 this week, so this may be the nicest picture I ever have of him as a boy ;)

2013-04-08 07:34:36 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

I have found the location, and have a backup location that could work almost as well.  This is really proving more of a challenge than I thought it would!

Costume is done but I am hovering between my original idea and a slight twist on it now I have seen the location.  I may end up doing both ideas and see which one I prefer on screen.

I think a better title for mine is going to be 

"What's black and white and vintage all over"

#styleitaprilchallengeprocess  

2013-04-06 00:01:47 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 13 +1s)

#styleitaprilchallenge  

"What's black and white and red all over?"

After I discarded newspapers, I quickly settled on the next thing that came to mind - old movies, specifically murder mysteries.  
I ended up with an idea for a detective in classic 40's garb, trenchcoat, trilby or fedora hat, cigarette, leaning up against a lampost, dimly lit apart from his face.  Dark and moody, preferably slightly misty or smoky, we shall see.

Very basic sketch (I am no artist!)  Hoping for an interesting background, yet to be determined, maybe a street view with a body or the chalk outline of one. Some blood could be spot coloured red.

I really hope I can finish this in time... John

2013-03-24 20:45:22 (3 comments, 1 reshares, 3 +1s)

Ouch!
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-suffolk-21919748

2013-03-24 19:28:02 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 3 +1s)

This is what the internet was made for - awesome fun science!

Mystery of Prince Rupert's Drop at 130,000 fps - Smarter Every Day 86

2013-03-21 23:16:44 (5 comments, 2 reshares, 10 +1s)

Managed to snap this gorgeous sunrise this morning on my way to work.  Finally a good one when I had my camera with me!  Pulled off the road and had to get this before the sun got too bright.
Formby, North-West England
+UK Photography Community  #northwestuk   #landscape   #landscapephotography   #landscapephoto   #sunrise   #sunrisephotography   #sunrisephotos  

2013-03-21 23:13:05 (6 comments, 0 reshares, 19 +1s)

Managed to snap this gorgeous sunrise this morning on my way to work.  Finally a good one when I had my camera with me!  Pulled off the road and had to get this before the sun got too bright.
Formby, North-West England

2013-03-02 14:42:04 (0 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

+Cadbury UK  "Joyville" & +UK Photography Community  have teamed up for a special Easter event where you could be the winner of a hamper full of Cadbury goodies worth £50!

To be in with a chance of winning please share your image of Cadbury Eggs in the most creative scene you can photograph. Feel free to get imaginative utilising whatever methods you wish but the end result must clearly be identifiable as a recognisable photograph.

Full T&C are available here: http://goo.gl/tOA1j

- all entries must be in by midday on Wednesday March 20th GMT. 
- you must tag your image with #UKPCcreativeCadburyScene  
- the competition is only open to UK residents age 16+
- all photos submitted must be your own work
- you must own the image copyright
- the winner will be announced on Easter Sunday
- by entering this competitionyou ... more »

2013-03-01 21:18:23 (8 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

2013-02-28 19:35:51 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

1 Day to Go

Posted by +Mathew Hanley 

2013-02-24 15:36:45 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 6 +1s)

Reflections

#monochrome   #monochromephotography   #bwphotography   #trees   #bw   #blackandwhite   #blackandwhitephotography   #treephotography   #reflection  

2013-02-24 12:34:09 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 5 +1s)

A new picnic spot created in Delamere Forest, Cheshire.  

2013-02-24 11:51:04 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

"Survivors"

Not sure what happened here in Delamere Forest, Cheshire, but there is a large area of dead trees in boggy ground.  These two trees are the lone survivors.

#trees   #treephotography   #delamere   #cheshire   #northwestuk  

2013-02-22 21:01:37 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 0 +1s)

Aaaggghh! Laptop reports Windows is not genuine... it's only been on there since July 2009...
WHY MICROSOFT????

2013-02-22 17:36:05 (7 comments, 0 reshares, 7 +1s)

Slightly grungy portrait of my son.  

2013-02-19 22:52:37 (2 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Southport pier

+UK Photography Community  #northwestuk  
#Southport   #southportuk   #southportpier  
#streetphotography   #blackandwhitephotography   #monochromephotography   #mono   #monochrome  

2013-02-17 21:13:41 (3 comments, 0 reshares, 10 +1s)

I got out with my camera today - first time in ages.  This was Southport Pier this afternoon, on a remarkably sunny day for the time of year. A Cokin ND Grad filter was used to darken the sky.

2013-02-17 21:04:14 (2 comments, 4 reshares, 16 +1s)

I got out with my camera today - first time in ages.  This was Southport Pier this afternoon, on a remarkably sunny day for the time of year. A Cokin ND Grad filter was used to darken the sky.

2013-02-12 23:23:09 (2 comments, 1 reshares, 2 +1s)

+UK Photography Community North-West Regional Circle

The UK Photography Community now has over 55,000 followers worldwide.  There are over 1200 UK members of the page and over 600 members of our new Google Community, all showcasing some stunning photography in and around the UK.

This is the circle share for the region I am admin for - the great North West.

Please feel free to share this circle of fabulous photographers and if you are in the UK and would like to join us, head on over the page! 

We look forward to seeing you there!

2013-02-12 22:34:00 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 4 +1s)

Added photos to YOUR IMAGES OF BRITISH TRANSPORT.

2013-01-21 23:38:31 (0 comments, 0 reshares, 1 +1s)

Added photos to A celebration of IMAGES OF SNOW photographed in United Kingdom.

2013-01-09 17:37:49 (4 comments, 2 reshares, 5 +1s)

This has got to be the best map of the London Underground I have ever seen - courtesy of The Guardian via the Google logo today (150th anniversary of the London Undergound)

I'm quite sure it is all 90% of tourists to London would ever need. :)

#LU   #londonunderground  

2013-01-06 22:29:41 (1 comments, 0 reshares, 2 +1s)

Yes! Just won the auction for the 8Tb Buffalo LinkStation Pro Quad NAS.  At last a home for my photos that won't fill up in a hurry :)

How do you store your photos and RAW files?  I'd be interested in hearing any novel ideas for this.  Currently I have 2 custom built Linux NAS boxes with a single 2Tb drive in each of them.  One box mirrors the other for resiliency but they are nearly full and I figure I should be more professional and go with a RAID solution.  I intend to re-use the 2x 2Tb drives in my new PC as local storage (striped) and back the whole lot up to the new NAS.

I have all wired gigabit network at home, so speed is not too much of a worry.