Title: Down By The Pond
Location: Writtle
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 17-85mm EF f/4-5.6 IS USM
Notes: I spent a lovely day exploring various parts of the 22-mile footpath, the Centenary Circle, which rings Chelmsford. It was pretty cold and windy, but the sun was out most of the time and I got some great pictures. In fact, I had trouble choosing which image to use as The One for the day. The duck pond at Writtle won.
Title: Sunday Morning On The Thames
Location: Richmond
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 24-105mm EF f/4 L IS USM
Notes: After an evening containing beer, plenty of Werewolf and lots of silliness, the happy Campers finally flaked out around 3am last night. I managed to grab some sleep but woke before 8am. After a spot of breakfast, I went to look at the Thames and was rewarded with a wonderfully atmospheric view of the bridge at Richmond. There was lots of mist floating on the water, the birds were wheeling and then a team of rowers hove into view under the arches. Magic atmosphere. I knew I was unlikely to better it later in the day, so although it’s an early one, it’s going to be Picture Of The Day.
Title: Is It Dinnertime Yet?
Location: At a friend’s house, Stock
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 24-105mm EF f/4 L IS USM
Notes: This is Simba, a British Blue who belongs to my friend. I visited for lunch today, and as we were making sandwiches, Simba was cruising round the kitchen with this imploring look on his face. Anyone would think he’d never seen a good meal. Nothing could be further from the truth! Trouble is, he’s beautiful, and he knows it…
Title: Bottoms Up!
Location: Hanningfield Reservoir
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 100-400mm EF f/4-5.6 L IS USM
Notes: After all the time I’ve had to spend in front of the PC this weekend, restoring numerous websites after the server crash, I thought I’d get out for a bit of fresh air this afternoon. So I went to Hanningfield Reservoir, armed with my longest lens, to see what I could find. Generally the birds were quite a long way off, but this Coot swam nearby and I caught it just as it dived under the surface. Perfect for this week’s 366 Theme, “A Phrase or Saying”. So this is “Bottoms Up”. Cheers…
Title: Early Bird
Location: At home
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 75-300mm EF f/4-5.6 IS USM
Notes: I hate early mornings, but had to get up just before five today to answer a call of nature. Whilst looking blearily out of the bathroom window, I noticed a soft, orange glow in the sky to the east. “Could this be what they call dawn?”, I thought to myself. So in a state of half-consciousness, I managed to find the camera, fit my long zoom and take this image out of the back bedroom window. It’s not quite as dramatic as the other dawn I photographed (there have been only two!), but the silhouette of the wood pidgeon sitting on the neighbours’ TV aerial is still quite nice.
Title: The Pollinator
Location: Wivenhoe
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 50mm EF f/1.8 + 12mm extension tube
Notes: I stayed at my parents’ overnight, and had a quick wander around their garden this morning before heading home. I found this big, fat bee buzzing around their Arum lily under the kitchen window. It very quickly got covered in pollen – just a bee doing it’s job!
Title: An Evening Swim
Location: Ardleigh Reservoir
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 24-105mm EF f/4 L IS USM
Notes: After an evening meeting in Colchester, I managed to find a tranquil spot to watch some ducks have a swim on Ardleigh Reservior on the way home.
