2008 – My Year In Pictures

Title: The Heart Of A Lily
Location: At home
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 50mm EF f/1.8 + 12mm extension tube
Notes: I nearly missed taking a shot today! Made it by about 20 minutes, after having had a very busy day and then getting home just after 11pm to realise I’d still not taken anything. The lovely  bouquet I got for judging the other day was looking a little bit sad, but I managed to home in on one lily and take a few macro shots of its central form. Then I remembered I’d not changed my camera back to GMT, so it nearly got recorded as being taken on 28th after all!

Title: The Judge’s Bouquet
Location: Discovery Centre, Great Notley
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 24-105mm EF f/4 L IS USM
Notes: I was recently asked to judge a photographic competition based on the Flickr Great Notley group, choosing the top 30 for an exhibition at the Discovery Centre. The private viewing for photographers and friends took place this evening. As a judge, I’m used to receiving my expenses for attending such events, but I was rather pleased to be presented with this lovely bouquet as well, as a thank you from the organising committee.

Title: Incey Wincey Spider
Location: At home
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 50mm EF f/1.8 + 12mm extension tube
Notes: I went to put out the recycling for the dustmen this morning, and almost walked into this across the path! Argh! Not really so incey wincey. Just managed to keep my composure and grab the camera to shoot the distinctive Garden Spider, Araneus diadematus

Title: Orchid Impression
Location: Ingatestone
Camera: Canon Ixus 850IS compact
Notes: After a day at the computer, I realised I was short of a picture for today. But this evening, I went to a committee meeting at a club member’s house in Ingatestone. They had some rather nice silk orchids – so having taken a quick picture I then had a play with the filter gallery to jazz things up a bit.

Title: The Seeds Have Flown
Location: Padham’s Green
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 24-105mm EF f/4 L IS USM
Notes: I was able to take a walk late this afternoon, after a meeting in Ingatestone. The sun had come out and I enjoyed the fresh air whilst looking for another geocache in the area. As I made my way along a bridleway, I found these long-gone seed heads standing out against the blue sky.

Title: The Tryst
Location: At home
Camera: Canon Ixus 850IS compact
Notes: I thought this would be a good tableau for this week’s 366 theme, After Dark. Jean-Claude the butler is visiting Madame de Pompadour in her boudoir. Scandalous!

Title: The Miller’s Window
Location: Stock Windmill
Camera: Canon EOS 30D / 17-85mm EF f/4-5.6 IS USM
Notes: Paid a visit to Stock Windmill today as they had the mill open for viewing this afternoon. The three floors could be accessed via rickety stairs. It was pretty dark inside, with the exception of this lovely window with a few ears of wheat propped up on the sill. It made a nice found still life image. And for those of you familiar with my previous frustrations, yes, the sails were still pointing in the wrong direction for a good picture!