I am selling my camera…to buy a drone!

And this is why!

The winners in the second International Drone Photography Contest have been announced. Organised by Dronestagram, a social network for drone photography, with the help of National Geographic, the contest saw more than 5,000 pictures submitted across three categories: Places, Nature and Dronies (selfies taken with a drone).

First prize went to Ricardo Matiello with his photo ‘Above the Mist’ taken above Maringa Cathedral, Parana, Brazil. Besides winning the overall prize the image came first in the ‘Places’ category.

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Street photography: Markus Andersen

I have been doing some street photography (and may be in future I will get the courage to put up my photos) but for now I will let Markus Andersen do his thing:

The Cheet-ing death snarl

A young cheetah is inches away from the scalp of a game ranger in Tanzania’s Serengeti National Park…

This is the heart-stopping moment a photographer and game ranger came within inches of a young cheetah when it stuck its head through her sun roof.
[photos taken by Australian Bobby-Jo Clow] on safari in Tanzania when the juvenile started heading towards her Land Rover with his sibling…

Upside downside high up in the Chicago sky

This is a rare and great photo of Chicago taken from a plane as it descends to land. But why is it upside down?

Plane enthusiast and amateur photographer Mark Hersch captured the jaw-dropping scene of the city silhouetted in Lake Michigan from his seat on a Chicago-bound flight making its final approach.
The late-afternoon image shows the low sun casting a golden glow on the water, which is visible beneath cloud cover.
‘I was flying home to Chicago from a business trip recently,’ he said. ‘It was a cloudy day, late in the afternoon. We were flying eastbound, made a pass by O’Hare International Airport, then made a sweeping 180-degree left turn over Lake Michigan for our final westward approach into the airport.

Can you say ‘Mexico City’ without pausing?

And this is why…

Well…

Unbelievable photos that show Mexico City from above, demonstrate just what it means to be the most populous city in the Western Hemisphere.

The Mexican capital’s sprawling suburbs are home to 20 million souls with an astounding 25,400 people per square mile in the city.

Endless rings of homes radiate out in ocean-like waves from the city center and Mexican photographer Pablo Lopez Muz has shot the phenomenon to dazzling effect.

 

Dirty Surfing!

If some body from Java in Indonesia tells you to go and take a dip at the beach, just say ‘no thanks!’

It is one of the world’s most photogenic sports, often taking place in exotic locations.
But, as this worrying picture shows, surfing is not always that glamorous. The picture was taken off the coast of Java in Indonesia and shows the country’s most famous surfer Dede Suryana gliding through an enormous trash-filled wave.The 28-year-old looks poised and balanced as bits of debris and trash roll over the top of him.
The incredible picture was captured by surf photographer Zak Noyle who searches the world looking for the perfect surfing pictures.

Is it a bolt? No, it is Bolt and a bolt!

Talking about iconic sports photographs I guess this one just made a bolt into the history books. Bolt pictured with (umm, yup!) a bolt of lightning!

It is already being hailed as one of the greatest sports photographs of all time.

As Usain Bolt crossed the line to win the 100 metres at the World Athletics Championships in Moscow, AFP photographer Olivier Morin was primed and ready in the right place at the right time to take an image which will undoubtedly become the iconic lasting image of the legendary Jamaican’s career.

With thunderstorms gathering around the Luzhniki Stadium, Morin sat in the first row of the photographer’s tribune, set up five remote cameras near the finish line in preparation for athletics’ showpiece race and crossed his fingers that he may be able to catch a lightning strike.

Related articles

• Incredible Usain Bolt lightning bolt photo goes viral (vancouversun.com)
• Epic photo captures Usain Bolt winning 100 m dash while a bolt of lightning strikes (ftw.usatoday.com)
• Photographer who captured Usain Bolt-lightning bolt image calls it ‘pure luck’ (olympictalk.nbcsports.com)

 

A street that is strip searched by baboons!

I thought I should include this photo… Well just because it’s a rare find…

In the street battle for supremacy between man and baboon, it can only be said that both sides are using guerrilla tactics.

For the baboons it means swarming SAS style up the sheer sides of blocks of flats, prising open windows and plundering anything that is inside. Usually they just want food, but sometimes a flapping set of net curtains or a child’s cuddly toy bear can provide some added entertainment.

For the humans, the weapons of choice – given that their enemy is a protected species – tend to be paintball guns and pepper sprays. They have the momentary effect of driving the baboons away, but hunger and sheer nerve always bring them back.

That will teach you not to blow your own trumpet again!

With a hint of comic relief a young elephant “smiles” as he is shown a trick or two.

Everyone believes they are a budding photographer, but these stunning images of nature at its finest show why we should leave it to the professionals. Taken by some of the world’s top wildlife experts, they show the skill that is needed to take such intimate pictures of nature.
The images have been released as part of the UK’s largest wildlife photography show, WildPhotos 2013

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Getting re-leaf from the storm!

Just when you thought frogs love water…

…this resourceful little frog was snapped sheltering from the rain – using a leaf as an UMBRELLA.
Photographer Penkdix Palme, 27, caught the tiny tree frog sheltering from the rain in his neighbour’s back garden.
The aqua-phobic amphibian clung on to the stem of the green leaf for an impressive 30 minutes as it was lashed by wind and rain.

Kungu-fu fighting lions…

And they were kungu-fu fighting. They were fast as lions.

Two leaping lions gave a safari tour group something to remember by letting off steam in a spectacular show of kung fu play fighting.
The big cats were fast as lightning during the airborne tussle at the Madikwe game reserve in South Africa.
One executed a kung fu kick while the other slashed at the air before they tumbled to the ground.

Sometimes going to the beach is not just about the water

I went to Southend seafront today and resisted the urge of taking photos of the obvious. Instead I looked around me and sought out the quirky. Here are afew of the best photos.

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In jumped a racquet!

Hold it there…and don’t breathe!

Suspended in animation…

HT to friends on FB.

Rubber band face! No, I am serious!

Well if you thought rubber band was only for tying together loose wands of cash…

These are the weird yet wonderful portraits created by artist Wes Naman with the help of the simple rubber band.
The photographer came up with the idea for the collection of warped faces after his series of pictures called Scotch Tape became an internet sensation last year.
The 38-year-old artist, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, invited subjects to wrap the bands around themselves because let’s face it, pinging elastic can hurt.

Come rain or sunshine…It is barbecue season!

Well I took the weather man by his word and set out the barbecue grill. Well amidst a heavy grey sky I still managed to light a fire.With one eye in the sky and the other on more important things sizzling in the wind I (who happens to be a amateur at barbecue) almost managed to pull this off. Just….

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Umm, on that note it’s time for me to go and put plaster on my blisters. 😉

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• Electric Barbecue Grill (gadget.com)
• Preparing Your Backyard for Memorial Day Weekend (personalcreations.com)
• The Ultimate Grill for World Class Barbecues (barbecue.answers.com)

Don’t call me a slug!

Now this is soooo cool…

A giant fluorescent pink slug and a cannibal snail have been discovered in a remote part of Australia.
The pink slug grows up to 20 centimetres long, while the carnivore snail preys on its vegetarian relatives.
Both bizarre creatures live around Mount Kaputar near Narrabri in New South Wales – around 323 miles northwest of Sydney.

Twighlights thrill me…Are you still awake?

Getting the right moment is half the task, looking for the animals is the other. Here are fantastic twighlight photos of animals in the wild. HT Mr Andrew Sheman.

I am not your punching bag nor your hand bag!

Without permanent shelter or jobs or professional punching bags here an aspiring female Ugandan boxer from one of the capital’s slums slugs it out with a tyre.

Photo HT to Echwalu Photography.

Biting the tide: Can Tigers Swim?

Interesting photo shows a tiger swimming. No, he is cuddling the water in an excited embrace as he reaches his target. Photo taken by Shashwat Parhi.

A tiger jumps into a pool of water to catch her prized piece of meat at the Odin’s Temple of the Tiger, Six Flags (California). Much to the amazement of a houseful audience, this tiger made it amply clear that she can swim. Claws retract to make very effective and powerful paddles, ears fold down to keep water out and their excellent eyesight works perfectly even under water. – National Geographic

 

Juliana – Under thy wings!

If you ever get to St. Martin do not forget to recreate this sensational breathtaking scene while underneath a plane that’s landing! Spotters Paradise: Where big jets skim the beach enthralling the spectators, at Princess Juliana International Airport in St Martin. Photo by Bernie Verhoeven as featured in sensational National Geographic’s 2013 Travelers’ Photos.

Uganda still a pearl for Photographers!

I will be traveling to Uganda soon (well in May 2013). How I wish I could reach the shores of Lake Bunonyi. And this is why: This shot was captured by Atilla Szili.

The Lake Bunyonyi, lies in south western Uganda between Kisoro and Kabale close to the border with Rwanda. It is located at 1962m above sea level and surrounded by steep sided mountains from 2,200 to 2,478 m high. It is about 25 km long and 7 km wide. There are 29 islands dotting the centre of lake, while the depth is varying from 44m to 900m making it the second deepest lake in Africa. The lake surface is of 25˙C, bilharzia free and safe for swimming.
The shot was captured at dusk on a rainy day from the terrace of the cottage I spent a couple of nights. -Atilla Szili

• Camera: Nikon D80, Nikkor 18-200mm f/3.5-5.6 G ED AF-S VR, Hoya 72mm SuperHMC Pro 1 UV
• Exposure: f/4.5, 1/15 seconds

 

Adieu Maggie!

Baroness Margaret Hilda Thatcher’s funeral. Sad and sombre moment captured from a bird’s view point in St. Paul’s Cathedral. Adieu Maggie….fare thee well Britain’s ‘Iron Lady’

Trying Something

Video

Welcome to Southend ED August 2020

The Zebu Cows of Madagascar

Zebu Cart in Madagascar

Paolo Torchio has done it! Here is a …

…breathtaking collection of photographs documents the staggering natural beauty and scenery of the island of Madagascar home to a unique collection of animals found nowhere else in the world.

Decidated photographer Paolo Torchio, 51, spent over a month travelling through the Western region of the island just off the coast of Africa to capture the stunning shots.

On his travels he captured the island’s famous Baobab Trees as well as the jagged ‘stone forest’ of Tsingy, carved out over millions of years by acidic tropical rain.

Absolutely brilliant!

Upclose and Bicycle.

I had lots of time on my hand this Saturday as I strolled with the bike. Putting the bicycle aside my attention drifted for a second and then came back to the inanimate cycle. Here it is upclose… How about CLOSERRRR?

Autumn Bridge Abstracts!

Rivets joints on a bridge in Northlands Park.

I came across this bridge in Northlands Park (Basildon). The joinery interested me…or rather distracted me as I was riding past on a bicycle. I was using a Nikon D1…its an old one that has a faulty shutter so you have to click 20 times before it takes a snap. Grrr!

Okay, we got a Cat!

Well it so happened that we got a cat! Well a kitten to be exact. An 11 week old feline called Harrison. He seems to be allergic to cameras or maybe he is just pretending to hate the lens. But as soon as I catch him take a wink I will take a few decent photos. Or I may just promise to get him a yarn of wool or a little mousie from the next door lab. Ooops!

Strobed Maple tree shot.

Shot taken by David H (Strobist): This night-time, strobed shot of a maple tree in fall was one of about 5,000 shots taken of the tree for a time-lapse project on fall for the Baltimore Sun.

The photos were edited down to approximately 1,000 frames and converted into a movie. [UPDATE: There used to be a link here, but The Sun no longer is hosting the content. The internet must have run out of space for it. (That’s how newspapers think . . .)]

Info: Two Nikon SB speedlights – one at camera back left (1/2 power) behind a hedge and another at camera right (full power) across the street.

Camera: Nikon D2h, 50mm/1.4

Thrust into the Game…

I finally did my first shooting today. No. Not with a gun – a friend lent me a Nikon D40. So I went out into the park with 11 inches of snow still beckoning to be snapped. Then I lined up every one I cam across at home for a portrait special. Finally I sat down in front of a bunch of roses and clicked away. However I am not bold enough to show you my fumbles yet but I shall whet your appetite.  Ladies and gentle men, behold the rose!

Behold the rose...

Next time I will add the specifications and aperture dimensions (like a pro). 😉

Walk in my shoes…

This one’s got awesome composition. Taken using Canon XSi by Special Kola “I wouldn’t want to walk a mile in your shoes. I have mine to worry about.”:

It’s hard enough walking in my own shoes. Before I can desire to walk in another persons shoes, I have to figure out my life, where I am going. ~Special Kola

Do rivers ever enjoy sunsets?

Hillsborough river sunset just answered that question.

This is a view from the park across the street from our house in Tampa, FL. This is the Hillsborough River and small beach during sunset. This is not an HDR… I just sharpened things up and did some color adjustments. Shot with Canon XSi and 18-55mm lens after work one day. ~ Mary Ann Mattox (Buttonpie)

Spin ya world around!

Pick your jaw from the floor and I will tell you how it’s done. Well this photo was taken by Dirk Paessler. To learn how to take a mind spinning photo here is his tutorial.

Easy, huh?

If you look at me long enough, I will wink at ya!

This abstract photograph was taken by Katie Johnson from Katiescamerablog:

I still walk in the Guadalupe District on occasion, as it’s only 10 minutes from my home, and if I get there early in the morning, one of the railroad warning lights has the most wonderful expression. I noticed this about a year ago but only got around to shooting it last month.

So here you go…. does she look like she’s flirting with you? The way the early morning sun has shaded the lights to make them appear as eyes?

I love noticing silly things like this, and I hope this photo makes you smile and gives you a nice start to the week.

Taken with the 105mm lens at f/2.8, to get as much blur in the background as I could (and I knew the lens would be sharp where I needed it to be–those eyes). ~ Katiescamerablog

Note: Images and text from Katiescamerablog.

Autumn at Lake Sanabria

Not much is known about this shot only that it was during an Autumn afternoon near Lake Sanabria. [Taken using Canon XSi]

Enter the matrix in the woods

This is an amazing trick shot. A mirror reflection using Canon XSi. [HT C Zanti]

SSS-Smoking finger

It was really too hot to  handle [taken using Canon Xti]:

I don’t know why this idea popped into my head tonight, but it did. I didn’t know what I was going to shoot and then this idea just sort of inserted itself into my head. I’m pretty happy with how it turned out. I just wish I could figure out where these random thoughts come from. ~ Cayusa

Blur in my portrait

Not much is known about this shot apart from the fact that it was taken by a Canon XSi 450D. It does have interesting concepts in it. Did the blurred out light head covering in the frame take up too much of the shot or cause a contrast distraction? Love the rough wood contrast though.

Dont even look at my Lamborghini (HDR)

Lamborghini (HDR): Seems to have scratched a statement with every facet. Every inch. Every HDR (I wonder what that stands for) This photo was taken on using a Canon EOS 450D.(More reason for me to believe one will love this camera AS AN ENTRY LEVEL CAMERA). Other programmes used: Programs : Adobe Photoshop CS4 + Raw Image. (Click to enLARGE)

HT Mishari Alkhudori via Flickr.

Autumn: How many trees did you see?

Autumn / Fall alley in Klatovy, Czech Republic.This photo was taken using a Canon EOS 1000D.

Milk Drop Double Collision into Concussion

Milk Drops collision

[This photo was taken using a Canon EOS 40D.] 2 drops of milk thrown in a cup of coffee, some millisenconds later is what happens. ~ Julian Evil