This is not the flower of Scotland but it is a Scottish Harebell flower. This is the flower the title refers to……………..
The river Devon. This is not a waterfall but a narrow gorge viewed from above. Impressive it is and had I access to the range of lenses I used to have then it could have been made to look more so.
Shortly I’m going to buy a Cannon, I’ve been an Olympus man all my life but they have lost the plot. The E5 is a great piece of kit, waterproof, drop proof, most likely bomb proof and all for under £1500.00p. It’s going to cost me the thick end of four times that to get the equivalent build quality in a Cannon or Nikon. So be it, the decision is made. Can anyone who uses long lenses on a Cannon advise me on which prime, fast, long lens to buy………….please? I can work out macros, and wide angles but would appreciate some advice. I am thinking rear slot in filters…..anyone used them…..am I likely to get muck in the system? If crap can get in I can promise I’m the man to get it there. I do clean my gear…..I use a hosepipe. Not indiscriminately…I put my thumb over the pipe end….So as to get a sprinkle effect. I do have some respect for the gear.
As is usual I have digressed. Back to the flower of Scotland, it has been a good day today, it’s only rained twice, I walked four miles of the river Devon and was covered in flies and have been bitten by three clegs, evil little devils they are. It was all worth it. I found Rumbling Bridge.
Rumbling Bridge or bridges. The uppermost carries the road and was completed in 1867 the lower one is older and there because the builders of the former couldn’t be bothered to shift it. The bottom of the gorge is a good hundred feet or thirty meters below the old bridge. I was in company so couldn’t mess about for too long.I stitched up this shot………………….
Yes it is naff but I will be back this winter with a wide angle lens to shoot it in all it’s glory.
It quite made my day….Made my day? It made my year. Supercalorfragalis……NO!… I’m not that daft…OR maybe I am.
Tomorrow I’m away to take pictures of Elk, Wolves and Wildebeest. I’ll no doubt see ringlet butterflies by the score. Never seen but one a year and this year they are everywhere. Painted Ladies were common as muck a couple of years ago, not seen one since. That’s the way of the world. Have a great week. Have fun!
Almost forgot.
Have a grand week.
HI Adrian...No advice from me on the camera stuff...a a total lost trying to figure them out, but I am a Canon user!!
ReplyDeleteGorgeous photos of the gorge and the bridges, but I haven't had breakfast yet and my stomach did a flip flop , looking down from high places is not my thing!!
Marvelous places you see and share the beauty!!
The S Harebell is a lovely color blue ..love that one!!
The joke is quite the laugh...dear me to funny!!
Grace
The gorge is a hidden gem.
DeleteI've been to this place. The roaring sound of the river, the deep gorge this place is amazing. Thanks for bringing back lovely memories, Adrian :))
ReplyDeleteRuby, it wasn't roaring when i went. Despite days of rain the river level was quite low.
DeleteLove the bridge and the river in the narrow gorge, beautiful place. Hope someone is able to answer your camera queries, I'm certainly no expert. Have a good week.
ReplyDeleteGood joke at the end, and a lovely third picture.
ReplyDeleteNow, far be it for me to offer advice on cameras and lenses.
You've seen my set up, a 100-400mm zoom, that has been dropped a couple of times and still going strong.
If I had the money, a 500mm or bigger, for those far away birds.
Not being a landscape man, I've no idea regarding the various rear filters; and I only shoot jpg anyway, so all that would be lost on me.
Processing is still a mystery to me.
A bit like a great guitarist; I can get a tune, but I admire the likes of Hendrix etc., that made it talk.
I would like a 500mm/600mm prime lens but they cost more than a car. There is also the weight to be considered. I will probably opt for a Sigma lens again.
DeleteHi Adrian, I love the bridge photos, I think the bridge looks awesome the way it is. All the stone bridges in the UK are awesome.
ReplyDeleteNow for the lenses to the Canon cameras. I think you should look around for some used deals if you like, or maybe look for some non Canon brands that will work. Canon has some great lenses but only on the high end (expensive), and the super long lenses, also very expensive. You will just have to look around and try some out. Lenses are a very personal thing, what I like may not be good for you. Go to different camera stores to do the try out thing, and ask lots of question. That is all I can help you with, from Edmonton, Canada.
Horst, I agree, Some lenses I really get on with and others I rarely use. Long zoom lenses are I suspect a waste of time as i tend to use them at full stretch. Thanks for your help.
DeleteNice digression. Amazing old bridges.
ReplyDeleteLove the cartoon.
Gaz is the person with the lenses and the Canon. I've been using a bridge camera since I gave up my SLR and with an 800mm equivilent I've never regretted it. Loved the bridge and the joke. It's so good to have you back.
ReplyDeleteGraham, I love the SLR business. I do have a bridge camera and it is fine but somehow fiddly and slow to use.
DeleteThat Rumbling bumbling bridge is amazing! The first one especially is Lord of the Rings quality!(That's high regard:) Nice shot:)
ReplyDeleteAbout your camera. I had an Olympus many moons ago and I can't believe they still make those things! Cannon is great. It's what I use. I have two cameras of different designs and both take great pictures. You've been writing more again and it's nice:)
They are bomb proof. It's what I need from camera and lens construction. I am an animal the way I treat them. Olympus really lost it with the E-5. Who wants in camera editing. Zuiko lenses are superb though very expensive. I like Oly stuff I know how it works. I spot meter and then recompose so fifty meter points are irrelevant to me. I also use HDR so find if I don't want the pavement pizza effect then I set to one stop under before bracket shooting. I don't mind loss of definition in shadow but hate blown highlights. All the best.
DeleteNow Flower of Scotland is running through my head. It reminds me of my pub weekends in Montreal. ;)
ReplyDeleteI have a Canon EOS 50D and share lenses with Frank. Our long lens it the 100 - 400 L series Canon. It's not especially fast but it sure is purty,
Thanks Hilary, you have the same lens as Keith....I am looking for a prime lens as I find I only use long lenses at the long end anyway.
ReplyDeleteHi Adrian, You'll find that the primary lenses are now more expensive than the Zoom lenses.
ReplyDeleteI already have but I'm old and enjoy moving about to compose a shot. I love fast lenses. Zooms are slow. I half consider a medium format Hassleblad or Minolta but digital backs at £7000.00p are not in my budget...............ever used a range finder camera? I haven't.
DeleteSometime last century I used both rangefinder cameras and an independent range finder. They both worked by matching overlapping or split images. Pretty good unless your target was moving then they were pretty crap.
DeleteSounds like the kit to keep an old man amused. The buggers are five grand though they do sell. Twenty odd a year or more my store of choice sells and they are Leica. Harrison cameras...a wonderland world to visit. They stock everything from film to top end digital. Am thinking of buying a Lomo for fun.
ReplyDeleteOh dear! I love Olympus! I'm in the process of selling my e620 and 12-60mm f2.8-4 SWD lens and buying into the micro four thirds system. I'm after the new OM-D Em5. A mirror less interchangeable lens camera. It's a great little camera, and one I can lug about when hill walking - it's shower proof and light to carry and has some great prime lenses. Have you read the reviews? Anyway whichever camera you get good luck in your search. There is an amazing choice out there - I just have to learn how to use them!
ReplyDelete