So that's why the local rooks and jackdaws stagger around the sky shouting noisily at the weekends...

Steve

You're welcome to visit my area of Dorset if you'd like to see what it looks like.

Funny thing is, I've not come across anyone who admits to doing it, they all think it's absurd.

Steve

This has wandered a bit from the original question about photographic things you'd do at home if you had some enforced spare time. But it's made me remember the photographic resource that's literally on the doorstep - the garden. So here's another thing for my list:
3. Try to get some garden photos that are as creative and high quality as those that LennyBloke posts on the forum from time to time. Not copying his style, rather using it as inspiration.

Having a wife who has several ticks in the 'vulnerable' box, if I have to self isolate it will be very thorough for her sake. As far as I can tell, if she catches the virus it may as well be Russian Roulette with a 6-shooter. So I'd appreciate it if those thinking of taking a more relaxed aproach to moving around take people like her into account. And if you think someone can move around without leaving traces on surfaces, ask a forensic scientist

Steve

You're talking about the company that called their last film camera the *ist - then kept the name for their first digital SLRs ... I've got the film version, never been able to talk to anyone about it because I don't know how to pronounce its name.

Steve

It's looking likely that some, perhaps many, of us in the UK will find ourselves self-isolating in the fairly near future even though we are feeling OK. The problems and inconveniences are obvious . But might it also be a photographic opportunity? I'm thinking that after all the necessities of isolated life are dealt with, there might be time left to do things that in normal times would get pushed down the list.

So... if you were self isolating, feeling OK and had some otherwise unused time, what would you do photographically?

My top two to kick off:
1. Sort out and process the vast numbers of image files that are sitting on the computer waiting for me to get round to doing it.
2. Play around with table-top macro, try to get some interesting pictures. Find out what kit (camera, macro lenses, reversed lenses, tubes+lens etc.) is best for what type of picture instead of my usual 'what do I feel like using today?' approach.

Over to you...

Steve

Perhaps a bit hard on the Chinese? They've been practicing their version of medicine for thousands of years and probably getting strange diseases from it for just as long. Strange diseases were probably happening under Chairman Mao but we didn't know about it. What's different now is the world's dependence on Chinese goods and people travelling half way round the world at the drop of a hat. We want the benefits (including cheap photographic gear), we have to put up with the risks. That doesn't mean that Chinese medicine and treatment of rare species is right, just that it shouldn't take the full blame for the world-wide economic impact of the virus.

It's not the first time that foreign trade has caused health problems and economic damage to this country. There's a sign in Weymouth that says "The black death entered England in 1348 through this port. It killed 30-50% of the country's total population". The disease originated in China, spread along the trade routes and came via a seaman from Gascony.

Happy days!!

Steve

Not what you might have been expecting. The sun was heading for the horizon behind me, it was raining in front of me, the rainbow was stunning. So stunning, in fact, that I nearly forgot to get the camera. The first is through a double-glazed window, the only way to see the end of the rainbow (still couldn't see the crock of gold, though). The second was from outside when the bow had started to fade. K3 + DA55-300mm.

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Steve

Fine pictures of what most people (including me) would probably ignore.

Steve

Pleased to have been able to help. But to be fair, it was other people who had worked out how to do it, all I did was to find it.

I sometimes use the ring flash for bees and similar to give a highlighted insect against a dark background. Never thought of using it for flowers. Something to do when the weather is a bit better. I've never used the green button before, either. Something else to investigate.

Change in water pressure - nothing obvious, hope it isn't because there's not much I can do about it.
Loose pipe clips - now that's a good suggestion, all the plumbing was replaced about 3 years ago so it's about the time when things work loose. But most of it is between ceilings and floors ... There is a long, unsupported run behind a panel that's not caused any problems before, but perhaps it needs looking at.

Steve

Your question caught me at the right time! I've been wondering about trying live view for indoor macro and also (not connected) whether I should try to use the ring flash more often. It sort of pulled the two strands together. And I like trying to find the answers to technical problems.

By the way, the next technical problem is why the house plumbing has started to vibrate noisily when some taps are turned on and, more importantly, how to stop it. If you've got any ideas...

Steve