World Photography Forum

Scarce Chaser

Dave Smith — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:12:43 +0100

by: Dave Smith

1 comment

Banded Demoiselle

Dave Smith — Tue, 30 Jun 2009 10:09:29 +0100

by: Dave Smith

2 comments

That was close !!!!!!!

Dave Smith — Fri, 19 Jun 2009 17:13:12 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: I've always wanted to get a lightning photo but never succeeded. A storm was approaching so I set the camera on the smallest aperture (f22) and lowest iso (100) in order to get the longest exposure time without overexposing the sky. (In this case 8s). A number of exposures were taken with little success and then the rain came and covered the window. I was considering giving up when this lightning bolt arrived. It was only about 20 metres away from my bedroom window and the flash and bang were absolutely coincident. My initial reaction was "B****y H**l" and then "Was the shutter open?" and then I heard the delicious sound of the shutter closing. Edit: I meant to add that on searching the ground the next morning I could find no evidence of contact, no scorch marks etc - nothing!

14 comments

Dragonfly 2

Dave Smith — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:11:01 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: Can anyone help with the ID?

2 comments

dragonfly

Dave Smith — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:08:24 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: Can anyone help with the ID?

2 comments

Ruddy Darter

Dave Smith — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:05:46 +0100

by: Dave Smith

2 comments

Speckled Wood

Dave Smith — Sat, 30 Aug 2008 12:03:19 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: I just cannot resist photographing these very attract butterflies.

Partial Solar Eclipse

Dave Smith — Fri, 01 Aug 2008 18:43:36 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This morning's partial eclipse of the Sun. This was taken through a slightly modified Personal Solar Telescope. Unfortunately the Sun is very quiet at present so there are no details to be seen on the surface. In 14 days there will be a corresponding partial lunar eclipse.

2 comments

What a large beak you have grandma.

Dave Smith — Mon, 21 Apr 2008 10:25:57 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: Had a very successful bird watching outing to Languard, Suffolk yesterday with the Essex Birdwatching Society. I saw two firsts for me, a Firecrest and a Shore Lark. We also saw numerous Ring Ouzals, some Black Redstarts, and then we saw this Hawfinch on the road side next to the Bird Observatory. After a few minutes it flew up into the bushes where it was caught in the nets. After being ringed they brought it down to us for a close look prior to releasing it. So this photo was taken while in hand. A most impressive bird especially close to.

4 comments

Adders (male)

Dave Smith — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:58:20 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: Two male adders (or is it one with two heads!)

4 comments

Adder (female) 2

Dave Smith — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:54:58 +0100

by: Dave Smith

4 comments

Adder (female)

Dave Smith — Mon, 07 Apr 2008 18:52:11 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: I went to Kelling Heath this weekend for an astronomy camp. The weather was too bad for any astronomy but we had a good time birdwatching and snake watching (only 100yds from the tent).

1 comment

Hawes

Dave Smith — Sun, 30 Mar 2008 11:10:26 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: There had been plenty of rain and the river was rather over full.

1 comment

Sunset on the Nile

Dave Smith — Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:06:33 +0000

by: Dave Smith

5 comments

Hardraw Force

Dave Smith — Mon, 24 Mar 2008 18:54:03 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Hardraw Force is not far from Hawes in the Yorkshire Dales. There had been plenty of rain and this day was when the storm hit Yorkshire and so it was very windy (too windy to go up into the hills). Consequently the waterfall had plenty of water and the wind made a lot of spray. On the brief moments that the Sun came out a beautiful rainbow effect was produced.

3 comments

Ropes

Dave Smith — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:45:30 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Taken in the rope factory in Hawes, Yorkshire Dales

7 comments

Yorkshire Dales

Dave Smith — Thu, 20 Mar 2008 20:42:40 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Near Lake Semerwater

6 comments

The Bent Pyramid

Dave Smith — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:57:20 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Part way through the construction of this pyramid it was realised that is was too steep to withstand it's own weight, hence a rapid change of plan. This as close as the public are allowed to this one as the area containing the pyramid is a military zone.

Very ancient graffiti

Dave Smith — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:50:58 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: This is near the Step Pyramid and is from 1232 BC !!

Canopic Jars

Dave Smith — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:46:56 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: These jars are where the mummified internal organs of the pharoah were kept separate from the main mummy. These are from the Step pyramid and are around 5000 years old. The museum where these are from unusually allowed photography but no flash. I was very greatful to have my 24-105 IS lens.

4 comments

The Step Pyramid, Saqqara

Dave Smith — Mon, 03 Mar 2008 14:29:46 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: This is the oldest stone structure in the world being a mere 5000 years old. It is built without using any type of mortar. There are some supporting wooden beams to help hold it together. There are signs on the bottom right where the pyramid was extended as the pharoah hadn't yet died and so time available for an extension.

2 comments

Water carriers

Dave Smith — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:06:23 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: On the river Nile taken from the cruise boat. We were in Egypt for two weeks. I will put a small sample of the 1200 photos that I took on here but more can be seen on my website. http://astrosnaps.co.uk

5 comments

Sphinx

Dave Smith — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 17:00:23 +0000

by: Dave Smith

3 comments

Giza pyramids

Dave Smith — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:57:06 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: I thought the coach and other vehicles helped with the scale and add a bit of colour.

1 comment

One of the pyramids at Giza

Dave Smith — Sat, 01 Mar 2008 16:52:12 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: I have always wanted to visit Egypt but have only been able to travel in August when the temperature there can be around 40 deg C. My wife recently retired so we went in January when it was quite cool. The chap on the camel is one of the many armed tourist security police.

2 comments

Huge

Dave Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:03:22 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Abu Simbel

2 comments

Graffiti

Dave Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 18:00:14 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Abu Simbel

3 comments

Abu Simbel

Dave Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:53:06 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: This enormous temple was rescued from the rising water after building the Aswan dam by cutting the rock into manageable pieces and re-assembling at at safe height above the water. There is also a large and very impressive inside.

2 comments

Star trails

Dave Smith — Thu, 28 Feb 2008 17:25:16 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Approx 20 mins effective exposure on fixed tripod. Actually a load of 10 sec exposures added using startrails software (free). A single 20 minute exposure would be whited out with light pollution. The foreground was added afterwards.

5 comments

Oysters beware

Dave Smith — Mon, 19 Nov 2007 16:05:44 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Oyster Catchers spooked by the presence of the boat.

6 comments

Common Blue

Dave Smith — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 14:06:17 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: Common Blue - Polyommatus icarus

2 comments

One misty murky morning

Dave Smith — Thu, 15 Nov 2007 13:54:27 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: This particular morning was very damp and misty and all the spiders webs showed clearly, some with and some without the spider.

1 comment

Comet Holmes

Dave Smith — Mon, 05 Nov 2007 13:53:46 +0000

by: Dave Smith

Description: This regular comet is normally too faint to be seen by backyard telescopes but towards the end of October it exploded in brightness so that it is now visible to the naked eye in the constellation Perseus. To the naked eye it looks like a star that is a bit fuzzy but is clearly seen with binoculars (to the East early evening but overhead by midnight) It has grown rapidly since the explosion. This photo is through a 200mm telescope at prime focus and consists of 24 separate time exposures of 20s at iso 3200 stacked in ImagesPlus and processed in photoshop.

10 comments

Autumn red sunset

Dave Smith — Mon, 15 Oct 2007 12:09:36 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This is a compilation of a recent sunset in Essex and Stonehenge from a visit in August.

3 comments

Whirlpool Galaxy

Dave Smith — Tue, 25 Sep 2007 20:16:18 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This is a galaxy near the handle of the Plough or Big Dipper (Ursa Major) and is 15 million light years away. The image is the result of stacking 50 separate images each of 30s at iso 3200.

6 comments

Large telescope 2

Dave Smith — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:59:23 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This was about the largest telescope on the campsite. I think it is a 24 inch diameter. Impressive. I would love to see through that one. Dave

3 comments

Large telescope 1

Dave Smith — Mon, 24 Sep 2007 14:54:47 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This is one of the telescopes that Don refered to in comments section. This was entirely made by my friend, Jim, including grinding the 20 inch mirror. The view through it is fantastic. As the eyepiece is at the top a step ladder is needed.

2 comments

Dumbell Nebula

Dave Smith — Sun, 23 Sep 2007 19:27:31 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: When a star similar to the Sun comes to the end of its life it sheds layers of material which glow due to radiation from the dying star and forms what is known as a planetary nebula. In this photo the dying star can be seen in the centre of the nebula. This image was 44 separate images of 30s exposure at iso 1600 stacked in ImagesPlus and processed in photoshop. The Ring Nebula posted previously is also a planetary nebula.

9 comments

Ring Nebula

Dave Smith — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:10:18 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This was 44 x 30s stacked, each 30s iso 1600 through the telescope.

3 comments

Great globular cluster in Hercules

Dave Smith — Fri, 21 Sep 2007 21:06:21 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: I went to a star party at Kelling Heath last week and the conditions were excellent. This is my first image through a telescope using a DSLR. It is 13 images stacked, each being 30s and iso 3200. The telescope is 200mm diameter f9. Incidentally, Don Hoey and his wife, Stevie, came for a visit but unfortunately were unable to stay for nightfall.

2 comments

3 Pereids and a sporadic

Dave Smith — Wed, 15 Aug 2007 10:53:03 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: This is a combination of 4 photos out of about 1000 showing 3 Perseid meteors and one sporadic meteor. It is the same field of view as those previously posted.

3 comments

Perseid meteor with constellations

Dave Smith — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:10:06 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: See other photo By the way, out of approx 1000 shots, only 10 had a meteor on it.

3 comments

Perseid meteor

Dave Smith — Mon, 13 Aug 2007 20:05:35 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: For the last two nights I have been meteor watching until the early hours. Last night we saw over 300 meteors, some very bright - enough to cause shadows. I had my camera continously taking 30s exposures with a wide angle lens and did capture a few images of which this is the best. I am also posting a version with some constellation lines drawn on it.

4 comments

Blue Mountains

Dave Smith — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:04:24 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: The blue colour comes from the eucalyptus trees apparantly.

5 comments

Storm at sunset

Dave Smith — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 15:01:12 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: Blue Mountains.

5 comments

Just hanging around

Dave Smith — Wed, 27 Jun 2007 14:58:04 +0100

by: Dave Smith

Description: Fruit bats in the Royal Botanic Gardens.

3 comments