ABOUT ME

I live in a camper van with a West Highland Terrier for company.
My passion is creating images but it is a work in progress.
I am always willing to share what knowledge I have and can be contacted through the comments on this post or e-mail ADRIAN
ALL IMAGES WILL ENLARGE WITH A LEFT CLICK

Monday 26 January 2015

SOAKED. (26/01/15)

The dogs and I were not all singing and dancing this morning. Yesterday lunch time a monster of a man called David poled up at the van. He is Alex’s partner; she of the unruly hair and lovely bum. He didn’t look aggressive but he did look wet. I invited him in and popped the kettle on. He said thanks for feeding Alex and lending her your Manic Street Preachers CDs.

I said she left me with the washing up… sounds par, he said.

She has sent me down to ask if you and the dogs would like to join us for Burns Night. I said that would be great but I only have Grouse to bring. He was happy with that and said there would be more than enough Malt to go round.

It was a grand evening, I stayed soberish as a guilty conscience takes no prisoners with the drink. Her sister addressed the Haggis and I borrowed her Penny Whistle to pipe it in. I played Mull of Kintyre as it was the only song I knew that was vaguely Scottish, I do know it’s a Scouse tune. At around eleven thirty I said that was wonderful but we ought to be on our way. It was lashing down, what the locals call showers.

Alex said I need a word. We’ll drop you back……… Oh Shit. I thought I’d rather get wet.

She said the pictures are great but we need a better female Siskin and we also need a male Dunnock. She said David's brother was impressed but as I’d done male and female for everything but the Great Tits, Blue Tits and Gold Finches, why hadn’t I got a male Dunnock? I felt like a little boy…..Is there a big difference? Yes, she hissed, the male has big grey bits round his eyes. I didn’t like to admit that I thought the Dunnock was a Sparrow when I took it’s picture.

David gave me a wink. I guess I’m taking some pressure off him.

I’ve been half a day trying to please her…..Much longer than I’m accustomed to spending. I also got very wet.

_MG_2492    I think this is a much better Mrs Siskin.

DunnockFBlog     Mrs Dunnock.

DunnockMblg    Mr Dunnock. I hope she is just pulling my leg.  I think the locals are taking the Sassenach a bit. I suspect it is more to do with how the light hits them.

No worries I've little else to do. I do have to get my Manics CDs back but there is no rush. I do have to dry out a camera and lens but what the hell.

Have fun. I’m going out to a badger set early tomorrow with David's brother.

41 comments:

  1. You need a lot to do about Ruben.

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  2. I'm glad you enjoyed your night, Adrian. Is haggis an acquired taste...?

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    1. No. It's a good cheap filling meal any day of the week.
      It's a spicy sausage. I love it. It's not a Scottish thing. They have it in Derbyshire and Spain. At home we didn't just use it's lungs or lites but also put the liver in. Heart and kidney were different meals.
      It's just offal but tastes nice.
      Doesn't smell brilliant when one is preparing it but that's live for an omnivore.

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    2. PS I meant life not live.

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  3. Thats a lovely light you caught on these birds


    peter

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    1. Peter. I caught them with the least of twigs and then PhotoShopped them. I must admit to popping a curves curve on them. I deleted as many twigs as time would allow.

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  4. You've caught a lovely Dunnock and Ms Siskin up there.

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  5. El fondo difuminado hace que los pajarillos tengan un protagonismo mayor. Me gusta, Adian!!!
    Un abarazo.

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    1. Jordi, el fondo ha tenido un montón de trabajo. Las imágenes se toman a f5.6.

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  6. I think your efforts to please Alex payed off. These are excellent. Sharp and perfect.

    Mersad
    Mersad Donko Photography

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    1. Mersad, there are too many in the rubbish bin but these are fine.

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  7. The new Siskin image is a better image. The debate on Mr and Mrs Dunnock is a weird one. Both adult female and males have grey throats and heads with the male normally having a lead grey head but sometimes both are equally lead grey on the head. A Dunnock with a streaky brown cap is a youngster.
    Are you going for pictures of badgers, if so I wish you luck....and warmth

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    1. Douglas, I am undecided. It's difficult to tell as they spend most of their time scratching about under bushes. It's an achievement to catch them in the open.
      The Badger hide has blown over. I'll go and have a look. I think it sounds like a spring time job. I'll see if there is anywhere to set a couple of strobes up and somewhere else to hide some peanuts.

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  8. You are getting some brilliant birdy portraits these days. All that practice has paid off.

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    1. John, for every one I get there are five in the bin. These are all cropped but will print at a foot square and 220dpi if required. There is also a good ten minutes of editing on them. Mainly the backgrounds.

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  9. oh, such beautiful, sweet creatures. Sounds like you had a fine evening. Hugs to Alf and Mol.

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    1. R.Mac, they are grand and yes it was good to get out.

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  10. Well that celebration should put you in a good mood for at least a week. Great photos of your birds. I'm looking forward to photos of the badger.

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    1. Red, Badgers are off for a while as the hide blew away in the gales.

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  11. I hope to God you are not planning a bit of badger baiting with Molly and Alf being sent down into the sett to root out Mr Brock.

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    1. YP, the Badger job needs some sorting out as the hide has gone. I'll not take the dogs as a Badger would kill them.

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  12. Your little birds are beautiful.

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    1. Pauline I like them. Now for the difficult ones like Woodpeckers and Jays.

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  13. Well done. It must be very rewarding to have people want to use your photos like this.

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    1. John, I think these are as good as I've got. There is a lot of work involved but I enjoy it. It's great to have an editor.

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  14. 'Tis you who is in the catbird seat, not Alex. She is dependent on you -- not the other way 'round. Keep that in mind.

    You are becoming downright civilised what with neighborhood dinners and all.

    And the photographs, the photographs (doctored or not) are superb. A pleasure to have made your acquaintance.

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    1. Bob, I know and she knows. It's difficult to be strict when one is in lust. I re-edit which is better for me I hate photos going away and getting chopped about. I do enjoy having someone to criticise. I have seen all these images a dozen times and it's easy to miss bad bits.
      Photographs are all messed with and always have been. Gone are the film days of lens masks and print masks. I love digital.

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  15. Replies
    1. Laura so am I. They look cute but are struggling to survive.

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  16. They're wonderful. I know how much time you put into your photography and I'm so glad your loving work is being rewarded.

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    1. Hilary, I got the prints in on cheapish paper an hour ago. Mrs Siskin is a bit over sharpened but the other twenty odd are fine. Not perfect but as good as I've seen from me. I like having an editor.

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  17. Da igual que sean machos o hembras Adrian todos son precioosos.
    Buena fotos amigo;)
    Un beso.

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  18. Exquisite detail on these shots!

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  19. For once I haven't read everyone else's comments but I assume they all say just what detailed and splendid shops they are. I've just compared them with some in my Photographic Guide to the Birds of Britain and Europe and they are as good if not better than many.

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    1. Graham, I now have twenty or so small common birds. It takes for ever to get them clear of twigs. The hit rate is only about 20% so many end up in the bin.

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