Impressive.

But a question from someone who didn't see (or look for) last night's spectacle to someone who knows his way round astro photography: Did it really look like that? The reason I ask is that Mrs L and I once saw a spectacular, horizon-to-horizon, continually shape-shifting, auroral display from Iceland which the locals said was the best for many, many years (they weren't just saying it for the tourists, some were watching with us and their oohs and aahs were genuine). The colours were nothing like as bright or saturated as I'm seeing in most of the pictures on the internet from last night's display. So what is reality from last night and what is photographic processing (by camera or otherwise)?

Steve

Buds opening, fresh green leaves, trees shouting 'my time has come'. And you've managed to get the lighting and backgrounds spot on. What's not to like? I luv 'em all!

Steve

Bluebells seem to be the plant of the moment, so here's another one of the native species. There are only a few plants in the back garden, though, so no possibility of majestic drifts. Instead, a different view was needed - in this case a vertical view from above. Taken a few weeks ago when the flower head was just developing. K3iii + Irix 150mm macro.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.




Steve

So you too can't resist the call of the bluebell... .

No. 2 is intriguing. With the flower head so close to the top of the picture it shouldn't work, but somehow it works very well for me. Something to do with the long, slender stem emphasising the fragility of the bluebell? Whatever, it's a bit different and I like it a lot .

Steve

Another really nice set of bluebells . The one that stands out for me is the last one - flowers all dishevelled rather than neatly dangling but very effective as a cluster and nicely isolated from both background and foreground, they almost seem to be hovering above the ground.

Steve

A steam powered Avro Vulcan??? That would be a sight to behold!!

Steve

Fascinating set of pictures (and your other Aberthaw sets, too). No.5 is my favourite 'techy' photo. However, it's no. 8 that really grabs my attention. It seems to convey a feeling of sadness - like someone saying a silent goodbye to an old friend who is fading away.

A power station needs an independent source of power to keep its necessary functions running if/when the main generators are not working - that includes being able to start up it's main turbine/generator(s)! Perhaps it's for that.

Steve

The tall alliums are opening their buds, their big, globular flower heads will be fully open as soon as they can get a few more days of sun. Here are a few semi-abstracts from the first bursting of the membrane that holds the whole flower head to one of the first open flowers. Trying for something a bit different to the usual 'ball of stars' shots of fully open flower heads. All with K3iii + Irix 150mm macro.

Thoughts, comments etc. welcome as usual.

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Steve

Nicely done .

Commercial flight has certainly come a long way since I was a kid at school near Heathrow watching Viscounts and Vanguards descending and ascending. Then came the 747 and it was so big we could see its tail while the aircraft was still on the ground.

Steve

Definitely the Spanish ones. I've got them in the front garden and they are spreading without my help. I've also got a few of the native variety in the back garden, but they don't seem keen to do anything but just about survive.

As for photos, I know what you mean about them not coveying the impact that bluebells have when you're standing in a bluebell wood. However, as davidwozhere says, these photos are lovely .

Steve