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number two is a bit of both, the cobbles are black and white, the drain covers are sepia, and the flags are left alone.

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We went for another little drive today, the same place as last week (Vineland, fruit and wine country). The weather forecast is grim for tonight (lots of wind and snow to come for the weekend), but it promised to be clear for today. So off we set in high hopes for a pleasant drive. It wasn't terrible, but the blowing snow that was already on the ground made for a few tense moments, for me anyway. Home now, safe and sound.

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I am thinking to myself a bit of snow would be good for a few winter snaps, I think you are getting our share as well, we are not even getting much frost either.

I am caught up in the quest to get to grips with RAW so it is putting a cramp on my output at the moment, I am trying to learn to many things in one go at the moment, my brain keeps falling out.
I have another week to go before I make up my mind as to the benefits of either.

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When we get a smattering of snow here, the whole road network grinds to a halt as we don't know how to deal with snow, as we don't get enough, often enough, to learn from the experience. Number three looks to have interesting possibilities, lots of dirty bits and smoking bits, and bits you don't know what it does.

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Well done davemac, for trying to get your head around it all! I gave that up a while back, but that's just me being burnt out from having to know the technical stuff for my day job.

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I did think it might be a colour pop, hard to tell with cobbles.

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Yes, I wish I could get closer to the steel plant. My hubby had a job there as a summer student in the 70's/ He said it was a right proper hell. They made the students do all the most dangerous jobs. I'm not sure if it's Stelco or Dofasco. Doesn't matter. Interesting visually, though!

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I`ve decided to sack RAW for a while, there are some camera settings that aren`t available when saving RAW, so just to experiment with these settings it`s JPEG only for the time being.

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I can understand your decision, my interim feeling is that JPEG's are sufficient for day to day photography, and RAW is the choice if you are taking that special photo with tripods and a lot of patience. I will still persist for another week to see if I change my mind.
The most difficult aspect is the learning of the differing software, I started with the program that came with the camera, but soon found this to be too basic, but it did give me a leg up on the process, I then went into Paintshop Pro which I already had and went cross eyed with all the different functions. I then downloaded a couple of trial programs, Lightroom (30 day trial) and capture NX ( Nikon software) all of which made me go cross eyed to a greater or lesser degree. I did find Lightroom to have a bit of an edge comprehension wise though.
So its time to put up a flask, pack the sandwiches and carry on with my quest, high ho, high ho.

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im practicing wi the new camera ... finally downloaded the manual ... tis too big to print off ...:D

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I`m not ditching RAW permanently (yet), just playing with settings I haven`t used before.
I know what you mean with all the settings and options being a bit overwhelming, I`ve been playing with photoshop for a couple of months now and without the help I`ve had I would have ditched it after a couple of days but I`m glad I`ve suck with it. There are some fantastic things you can do to improve pics - clone stamp is my favourite at the moment - used it to get rid of the lamp post in this pic.

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I watched a video on you tube by a professional photographer (Jeff Cable) who uses Photoshop as part of his job and he says that he only uses 15 features of that program most of the time, its just a pity that there isn't a product that just has the most used functions.

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You`re right, adobe should offer a trimmed down version for us beginners.

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Better luck next time Eric!

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I think there's something called Photoshop Elements that is just that. I've never come across it myself though.

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Didn`t get many pics today because of the rain, so I`ve put in a few I took during the week as well.

1. The Column of Liberty, Gibside.
2. A Robin at the Thornley Woodlands Centre.
3. Richmond Castle.
4. A few minutes after this pic, it was snowing.
5-8. Foxhill Bank Nature Reserve.
9 & 10. On the canal.

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Gp24, like the Robin in 2 & as for the state of the Hounds! :)

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They love getting dirty.

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Great Pics I won't take my camera out in the rain.Fantastic Robin in no 2. I've noticed that there are a lt of Robins about now

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Thanks, I have a waterproof rucksack/camera bag, but it didn't look like raining when I set off. I think the robins are a bit braver than other small birds, maybe that's why we see them more.

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Nice close ups of the birds.

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Today in Pictures, a wet, windy, and hailstone pounded walk over the slopes of Pendle Hill, not much to see apart from a lot of wet walls, and weather shaped trees.

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Thanks, tried changing a setting or two, hoping to increase the detail on the feathers and eyes.A small improvement but not what I`d hoped, poor light didn`t help either though.:(

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I know what you mean about the light, this overcast stuff just flattens the detail in an image. The bird shots though, the Robin especially have a good depth of field isolating the subject.

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I`m happier with the detail in 9&10, although better light would have given a lower ISO and so make it clearer. Still a lot of room for improvement though. Try again tomorrow if the weathers OK.

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I have photoshop elements and I have another ...ACDsee ... which came with the pentax camera ... haven't downloaded the canon one yet ....

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I had a walk into town today to look round the "flea market",The weather was throwing it down an I noticed the basement area of the market hall was open.

Since I had my camera, I thought it rude not to have a look (an get out the rain for 5 mins ;))

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I know those cellars well. I helped to rewire them in the early 70's when they were being refurbished.We used to watch the mice running down the cable trays.

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I love your bird shots GPick - wish I had a good enough camera to take them close up like that. There are egrets , herons and plenty of other bird life just up the lane from where I am -even a Kingfisher though I'd have to set up a hide to ever catch him in a photo! Number 2 is my favourite with the dogs a close second. Dave -great set again despite a poor day weatherwise - they capture the essence of the place -love the sun breaking through the clouds and the texture in 6 -after cobbles, drystone walls are a big favourite of mine! :)

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A selection of local shots - the first ones earlier this week after we'd had really heavy rains and the fields around and river had flooded. The river is canalised for irrigation and all three channels were full - normally the main one is half this level to give an idea of how much rain there'd been. They also came to check the bridge was safe while I was there...There's a shot of fresh-water shells which had been left behind by a heron - there are also fresh-water cray fish as I've seen their shells on the banks before. The last few were taken today showing the contrast in weather -it's cold, sunny and windy - lots of fresh snow on the Alps and it's coming our way in the next few days apparently.

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A real explorer -true to your username!

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Mainly birds again, but also a squirrel and a dog that thinks she`s a meerkat.

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Where did you go today?

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Just taken this from the front bedroom window.Almost a whiteout

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Canal and Woodlands again.

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You did well with all the birds we only saw a robin today

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I was looking to get more birds today, whenever I heard any, I had a sneak over.

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nice collection, 6 especially, nice sky and colours, and for extra measure a soggy bit.

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I can see you are getting a knack for the birdy stuff.

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Thanks, improving with the slower ones, it`s when I`ve to rush for the smaller ones I don`t get the focus just right.

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Number five is a lovely shot - great composition! Nice sky in 6 and I love seeing the snow capped mountains :)

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Lovely bird closeups, and the squirrel is great too!

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Oooooooh - white stuff!

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Today in Pictures turned into a very wet experience with a few miscellaneous items thrown in. Foxhill Bank was a wet soggy muddy occasion today, perhaps better to leave it for a while to drain off

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That is as bad as it's got so far, apart from all the rain we have had.

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Not just wet bits, but raging torrents!

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Has someone had an upgrade?;)

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Not trying for one-upmanship, but this is some white stuff we had yesterday...

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Reminds me of Crocodile Dundee - "thats not a knife, this is a knife".:)

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I think your snow trumps our hailstones, just looked out of the window, its all gone now.

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Here's my classic caddie ... note the nice original paint and the neat hood ornament.:D

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You sure do get the snow. I can't remember snow light that since 1963

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Classic car without snow:D

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Today in Pictures, a walk on the wet side again, this time in Padiham.

1. The River Calder as it whooshes through Padiham.
2. The weir just before the bridge.
3. Crossing over the river before going along the Greenway.
4 Have you met our Ivy.
5. Once a busy railway line, now the Greenway.
6. We've just received a telegram, the stage out of Dodge City will be late.
7. Haven't time for a sit down just yet.
8. Bridge that took the railway over a tributary to the Calder.
9. The sun was going down, time for the car.



10. I took the time for that sit down I had promised myself, not knowing this memorial was here and noticing that the flowers had just been placed there. I didn't know at the time what it was about, and even if I had it was lost in time for me. I used Mr Goggle to find out what this quiet corner was all about, and it filled me with sadness. So whenever I am having a crap day, it is nothing compared to this tragedy. I don't know why I ended up sat on that seat today I can only speculate, but to the people involved, even with the passage of time you still remember....you have my deepest sympathies.

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Very sad story for No.10, lovely pic.

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Yes, terribly sad thing that happened to the 3 girls. The way you have edited the photo is a lovely tribute to their memory, which is obviously still very much alive.

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A walk in wild windy weather today -threatening one way with racing storm clouds and sunny and bright the other!

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Today in Pictures, a bit of a self indulgent mooch today.

1. My first snowdrops.
2. Bit of a mooch along the river bank.
3. The next port of call.
4. By the lynch gate.
5. The best and grandest eternal resting places were always close to the main walk to the church, so the congregation noticed them when going to worship, the poorer people were the furthest away with the smallest headstones. Know your place, even in death.
6. This is a bit of a oddity, more of an Obit you would put in the paper, not on a headstone.
7. The side that overlooks the river.
8. It is recorded that there is only one Canadian service man interred in the cemetery,Able seaman H. Broadley R.C.N.V.R. (21) 1st November 1944.
9.Then I found this. E.Arnold Burton (25) 2nd Battalion 1st Canadian Contingent 13th June 1916, killed Zillebek Nr. Ypres. It may be that he is memorialised on the headstone and interred elsewhere, but it doesn't make it clear.
10. I could spend a lot longer here, and I will in the future, but for now the light is going and its raining.

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So very sad. What a tragic loss.

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Lovely moody shots. I envy you the snowdrops!

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Edward was the son of the late Edward & Ann Burton of 30 Rock Mount. He emigrated to Canada before the war, he enlisted on Dec 3rd 1914, he gave his next of kin as his mother Ann. The name could have been added by a relative after his mother died.

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I sort of guessed that might be the case, so it makes the claim that only one Canadian is in fact buried there, correct.
That poses another question, why is a Canadian buried in the cemetery, and not repatriated.

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They would have been neighbours of my Great-grandparents who lived at number 26 Rock Mount from the early 1900's - my Grandad was born there in 1909.

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Lovely photos again Dave -especially like number 3 and number 10. The snowdrops are very pretty - we are expecting snowflakes today - lots of them on the way apparently! Will hopefully have some nice wintery photos soon!

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Many Australians, Canadians & New Zealanders are buried in this country. Firstly because they were born in this country and have relatives here who wanted them buried here, secondly very few of those actually born in those countries were ever returned home. There are several cemeteries near to WW1 militray hospitals that have sections for commonwealth burials, what surprises me is the one at Whalley which was Queen Mary's Hospital, one of the largest military hospitals in the country, yet it only has a small cemetery, most of those who died there were given a military funerals in their home town, there are 55 WW1 burials in Accrington Cemetery, and 42 WW2 burials. I've photographed around 30 of the WW1, and when the weather gets better I'll finish the job, I've done all the other cemeteries, there are three in Gt Harwood whose bodies are not there, they are at St Barts in Snuffy, why the grave markers have been moved beats me.

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That grave is for Harry Broadley. Able Seaman V226160. Royal Canadian Naval Volunteer Reserve, died 1-11-1944, son of Hedley & Maria Broadley of Ontario, Canada, nephew of Mrs R. Clark of Church, Accrington. So that explains why he is buried in that cemetery.

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You have answered that one as well, you are a local treasure, you should have railings placed around you, and I mean that in the nicest possible way.

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Nothing today due to a lot of hithering and thithering, however a couple I took last year and have been experimenting with in Paintshop Pro, not just how I want them yet, but..............................its part of my learning curve.

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Am I right in thinking the top half is the original photo, and the "reflection" is faked with paintshop?

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Spot on there, just doing my crust in playing with layers. All this stuff about vector layers, merge up, merge down, merge all flatten, it is making me dribble. I do have an assistant though, I have "you tube" playing on my tablet with the particular tutorial I am interested in, and doing it for real on the PC. I have to play it a few times for it to make some sort of sense, but it is sinking in slowly.

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Dave, I hate to say this, but 'Thank Goodness'....I thought it was only me who was too thick to get those concepts. I gave up in the end...well, no...thatt's not exactly true. Something in life became more pressing and stopped me messing about with all that stuff!

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I had a go at adding reflections a while back, but couldn`t get my head around it, layer masks and filters etc, it was all a bit much for where I was at the time. Moved on to something simpler. Your pics reminded me to have another go, seems much simpler now I`ve learned some of the easier stuff. Still wouldn`t fool anyone into thinking it was real though.

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If anyone says they found it easy is telling fibs, but persistence helps it to sink in for me, and having a tablet with the tutorial playing appears to be the way it sinks in better for me, that and the repeat slider.
The one thing that makes me go cross-eyed is the jargon that they insist on using to describe a simple idea.

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YouTube is a wonderful resource - just taught myself the basics of knitting by watching and re-watching how-to videos on my tablet LOL.

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Had another go, this was more difficult with the angle, but I think it makes it look more realistic.
Had to ask for help to do this, but that`s what the internet`s for.:)

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Great manipulation. I prefer to take reflection pics.

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Me to, always better to get the real thing. These are just experiments with some old pics.

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I'm feeling better about myself with every post on this subject.
I thought it was just me :D:D.
Persistence does help, but there has to be a time where you draw the line and tell yourself that you don't have to do it...no life depends on it...just my own ego.
I might have another go somewhere down the line....I do so hate to be beaten(I have been saying the same about maths and physics for the last 20 years).

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It is very clever but you can tell the difference between the real thing and the computer generated reflection - it's too perfect I think!

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The promised snow arrived but after 3 hours of thick swirling flakes it turned to freezing rain :( I braved the weather and had a wander with my camera all the same - the results are a bit disapointing. Didn't cross paths with anyone, even the birds were all hiding! It was bitterly cold and at one point I was questioning my own sanity! I was spurred on by the thought of how Davemac would probably have been revelling in it and would not have chickened out when faced by a bit of H2O :D You can see some traces of snow in the first photo and there are a few droplets...

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Yes you can easily tell it`s not real, but I wasn`t trying to fool anyone, it`s just a learning exercise.
Fingers crossed I`ll get plenty of the real thing over the weekend.;)

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Well done for braving the elements,, I remember the words of Sir Ranulph Twisleton-Wykeham-Fiennes whenever I look out of the window as I lean over a warm radiator, There is no such thing as bad weather,only bad clothing.

That bridge is interesting, have you thought of entering the water and getting a close up (only joking) wait until it gets warmer.

My days photographic output turned out to be "pants" I had turned my settings to manual without knowing, I think it happened when I was getting it out of the bag. So the entire collection was either totally white or totally black, and was only fit for deletion. It was in RAW and could have been recovered in Paintshop, but there was nothing memorable to warrant all that extra work, well,....... there was a shot of a Unicorn but I will get that the next time I am up the Coppice.




So it was a lesson learned, advance your knowledge, but don't forget the basics.

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Dave, that is a bit like life. You can have all the fancy fan dangles you want, but if you haven't got the basics then you have precisely nowt.
Photography, like life, is one long learning curve.....sometimes it is steep and takes your breath away.
I look forward to seeing the Unicorn, but you do know that soon they will be going into hiding in preparation for the breeding season?(I'm getting nearly as whimsical as you :) )

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When the Unicorns go off to do their thing the flying pigs re-appear Margaret ;) (Dave knows this I'm sure!)

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A lovely set of shots! Very atmospheric. I particularly like #2

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That's the old footbridge -wouldn't dare to cross it! It was odd -bitterly cold and driving freezing rain and the little river Morbasco had mist rising where it curved bit -perhaps for the difference in temps?

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Yes. Probably the temp. difference I would think. I live near a river that often steams like that.

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My exile into the world of RAW has ended, and the conclusion is:-

general photography for day to day use, JPEG is perfectly fine, however if you have a specific photo in mind that you wish to put in a frame, put on display, or enter in a competition then RAW gives you the option to tweak, and manipulate, something that is limited in JPEG.
The use of RAW also comes with the requirement to learn how to use an editing software suite, as just shooting in RAW then doing a straight conversion to JPEG offers no advantage over shooting JPEG in the first place.

I have found though, that once the editing software has been mastered, then some of the techniques can be used to improve a JPEG, but I think this is another quest for someone else, as for now it's back to JPEG and Photoscape.
I have found Photoscape (Photoscape : Free Photo Editing Software (Photo Editor) Download) , when you look in all its nooks and crannies, has a lot of the common functions that Paintshop Pro and Photoshop contain. Right........ having got that off my chest, its back to JPEG for a while, and on to my next quest......looking at the possibility of becoming invisible......I can't see it myself.

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Today in Pictures, The Coppice, the return, this time keeping one eye on the camera settings, one eye on the subject, and one eye on the dogs (2) also one eye on the weather and another on the time.

1. Chainsaw Art.
2. I couldn't find the unicorn, but I did find its feeding station.
3. It was a day to get a moist gusset.
4. In fact it was impossible not to get one.
5. So I stopped trying.
6. Some of these sloped are very tricky.
7. This was down a slippery slope, and a slipperier climb back up.
8. Can we go now, I'm wet, with a muddy winkle.
9. Look, I'm really fed up now.
10. OK....... just one last shot.

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It's too cold to shoot in the RAW ,Dave .My camera does RAW and JPEG together so I put my RAW files into a separate external hard drive to play with when I get time

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Love the shot of Bob in no 9

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I kept my flip flops on though.

I think that is a compromise that works, shooting in both formats and then you have the option, if any stand out, for extra work in an editing suite. I may give that a go once I have mastered the software.

I noticed the capacity of my SD card (16gb) was 1000 photos in JPEG and when I switched over to RAW I could only take just over 500.
That is the only problem I can see is the capacity of the SD cards to store out in the field, but if you have a large enough card and an external hard drive then shooting in both formats gives you options.

I did notice though that my pictures were not all that different in RAW and some were worse, so I think the skill lies in the ability to use the editing software.

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He was sitting down every time I got the camera out, which was a lot, so he became a sitting target.

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A really nice set of photos - the waterfalls are excellent. Well worth all the slipping and sliding (easy for me to say, I know!)
Bob is a handsome devil, and very patient too.

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The aftermath of yesterday's snow storm - a lot of shovelling.
1. Hubby is glad of the little electric snow shovel.
2. Neighbours digging out their cars down the street.
3. A big fox was startled out of hiding. Sorry I didn't have my proper camera on me!

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I'm sure your explanation of the technical stuff is top-notch -the second dog is invisible - shouldn't that have been you??!!:D

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Now that's serious snow -great photo of the fox too!

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It is good to broaden the mind with technical pursuits, but if you are going to use them rarely or there is a program that will do the job without all that mental gymnastics then you would be daft to ignore it(the program).

I think photography is a very interesting pursuit, but you have to have suitable subjects to photograph, and techniques that show the subject off to its best advantage.......Dave you have those skills(in spades). You seem to have a good eye for composition of shots(though how I would know that seeing as I have had absolutely no training,is beyond me)
If you get the right shot, then there is little that needs to be done to tweak it.....maybe a crop but anything else is extra and unwarranted.

This is just my opinion - though I bet there are others out there who will agree with me.
You have taken some shots that I would give my eye teeth for...so stop messing!

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A damp, misty day again but I had to get out for some fresh air... much cheaper than yesterday's excursion to the big shopping mall in Cremona where I hit the final day of the sales!

Lots of signs of coppicing the trees along the local streams. First timid signs of re-birth -new catkins. A contemporary of Maxthecollie in (Cortetano) Italy -it says "Beware of the Dog" but he looks very friendly!! The candle lit at the little shrine at the end of the lane marks the centenary of the birth of Pope John 23rd -(1960's).