A very worthwhile experiment - and I bet you enjoyed yourself, too! Jupiter and Saturn?

You and Spad should get together one night.

Steve

My 12 year old grandson was with me on a family trip to Portland, Dorset, while staying with us after Christmas. At the highest point on the island he started taking phone photos of the distant coast then tried to use a map on the phone to work out what was where in the photos. Spotting an opportunity, I gave him my K3iii + 16-85mm to try out (strap round his neck just in case!). With the camera on Av and a minimal amount of tuition about focusing and zooming he was soon snapping away at the distant coast. He was absolutely amazed by the viewfinder. Then without prompting he turned his attention to nearby bushes and got quite excited by how he could get nearby things in focus with distant things out of focus. On returning home and seeing his shots on a laptop screen he was very impressed at how much clearer and more detailed they were compared with his phone pics. I asked him why he thought people seem to prefer phones to DSLRs. Without hesitating he said size and weight. So that's it in a nutshell. But he's a techy young chap so I hold out hope that one day he might be taking photos with a real camera as well as a phone. Pity he lives 300 miles away, it will be a while before he can get his next lesson...

Steve

Steve

These are the key words for me. Journey, discovery, learning are what brings about the sort of results that you are now getting. I can relate to it, you chose to look for the big via astro, I chose to look for the small via macro. But your journey is the greater because you are loving it in spite of the long, cold nights, the bad weather, the clouds that won't part... whereas my macro is done in good weather during the day or in the comfort of the home. Keep travelling the journey, Spad, and never stop learning. And let it be a lesson for those people who think that taking an awesome photo is just a matter of buying the latest and greatest tech, pointing it at the universe and pressing a button!

Steve

And a happy New Year to you, too.

An interesting resolution. Same time, same place, come rain or shine? Or vary it depending on what looks most photogenic?

Steve

Thanks folks.
And I lived in Weymouth for 10 years, which is when I discovered the delights of Portland. We liked living there but a growing family meant the need for a bigger house and couldn't be too fussy about where. Portland is still within easy travelling distance and a place we keep going back to.

Steve

Thanks, folks.
Now, as it happens, I did try cropping out the land completely and it made it a completely different picture. So I left the land in here so both photos would have all four elements in them (earth, sea, sky, light) and the cropped version will appear with one or two others without land when I've got time to do it. Or perhaps my New Year's resolution will be to start posting in the Gallery and it will be my first gallery photo - only 35 minutes to decide .

Steve

A quick trip to Portland Bill yesterday just as mist was clearing from the island. The low sun and clouds over the sea gave opportunities for something other than the traditional Portland photos (lighthouse, rock ledges, cliffs etc.). They both look better with dark surrounds (click on image to get it). K3iii + DA16-85mm.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.

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Steve

Sometimes you get lucky and you certainly did on that walk. An excellent and varied set. 10 stands out for its minimalism, 3 for the mystery of what lurks in the fog, 1 for the feeling of approaching menace as the mist comes over the ridge, 8 for that light on the fence, ... OK, I'd be happy to have taken any and all of them. Strange thing, though, I'd have guessed autumn rather than winter if it wasn't for the lack of leaves on trees.

Steve

I like 'em a lot. The mist removes a lot of potentially distracting detail and allows the light and shapes to come to the fore.

In which case, I'm really, really, really looking forward to what you do to it next!

Steve

That should keep you happy for a long time .
Ah, but we do. We're a very caring bunch on this forum, as well as being friendly and helpful.

Steve