Many thanks for the comments, Peter and Derek.
I have to admit that it was my wife who spotted the squirrels.
Fortunately I had left the camera on the table from the day before so was able to run outside and grab these shots quickly !

They are still there a day later, wondering how to get down, and no sign of Mum ?

Best regards
Peter

When we looked out this morning we saw three baby squirrels emerge from a neighbour's chimney cowl.
They timidly wandered around the top of the chimney, occasionally looking down, but non dared to move off.
This was probably their first venture out from the nest inside the chimney ?

All taken (in a hurry) using the K70, hand held, with the DA55-300PLM at full zoom.
All jpegs PP'd using PSE11

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All C& C welcome
Peter

OK - you've inspired me - so I have also done it after 5 years !

Not quite like yours though !

Cheers
Peter

Many thanks for the comments, Nigel.

Yes, it was dull when I took these shots last October but unfortunately we were only there for a couple of hours.
However, the circumstances surrounding these were very specific to the time as a number of factors influenced the appearance of the water :-
- it was low tide so the depth of water over the river bed was very shallow
- there was a wind blowing which, I think, was a major influence on the waves
- it was a cloudy sky with occasional breaks for sunshine so this influenced what was reflected on the water
- I took them from the footpath high up on the North side of the harbour looking down to the river so there were also reflections of the hillside on the South side.

All in all a very specific set of factors but that reinforces the need for "if you see something unusual - shoot it !"
However, I'm always on the lookout so hopefully I'll come across some other waves when there is different lighting ?

Best regards
Peter

Inspired by Bill Ward's intriguing 'Mud' photos I remembered I'd taken some shots of waves in shallow water around a mudbank in the harbour at Boscastle.
Here are two shots (after a bit of PP in PSE11)
K50 + DA18-135

All C&C welcome
Peter

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2.

Thanks for sharing these, Bill.

My favourites are 2,3,5 & 10. So it would appear that my tastes are different from some of the other posters ? But that's what it's all about - we all have different perspectives on what we like and that's how it should be.

I'm with you on looking at things in a different way and I also love the patterns of waves left on the sand. I've tried to capture this myself but I think I took Nigel's approach and went for a wider view on my shot of the breakwater at Frinton which I posted recently.

I also like to look closely at rocks and pebbles on the beach and also into rock pools for different images like the 'layers' shot I posted.

Thanks again for sharing these. I'll look out for some more.

Incidentally, when you are next on the beach how about some close ups of worm casts ? They can also give some different images ?

Best regards
Peter

And if you can find one still at the pre-increase price the Sigma 18-300mm is an even better 'do everything' choice.

I have the Sigma 18-250mm and it is a great lens on my K50 (and now K70) but reviews of the 18-300 look even better (and it goes longer)

Peter

Many thanks for the comments, Simon.

Strangely with Red Kites it's the other way round. The 'resident' crows react quickly to any intruding Red Kite and 'escort him off the premises' !

Peter

They are most certainly great shots, Gareth, and well worth that dedicated effort
If pushed I'd think No2 would be my favourite ?

Best regards
Peter

When I was taking photos by The Thames this week with the DA55-300PLM I spotted what I thought was a Red Kite circling high above. Out of curiosity and to test the lens to the extreme I fired off a few shots.

Whilst they are not what you would use for a 'Birds of Britain' album they did reveal that it was NOT in fact a Red Kite (the most common bird in the area) but a Buzzard.
(You certainly couldn't detect the different tail with the naked eye)

Here is an extreme crop of the RAW file worked on in PSE11




Peter