Yesterday we spent the day in mumbles and spotted this
Cormorant drying himself. He spent a good hour doing
this until hopping back into the water for some more fishing!

Feed me!

I found these Swallows last year at our local country park.
Luckily the lens I had enabled me to stay far enough away
to not deter the parents from feeding while I took them!

Recent flora.

Dandelion (Idea stolen from heather;see blog list!)

Greater stitchwort.

Storm!

These are pictures I took a few winters back whilst living just outside Aberystwyth in a village called Borth. The storm waves built in intensity until I was half drowned in my attempts to get as close as possible to the action!

Fine Feathered friends

Mallard.

Mallard chicks.

Feral Pigeon.

Tufted Duck.

Flora!

Nature!

lifes on the beach!

Frost!

To photoshop or not?

This is an easy one for me. No. For me, my photos are a visual reminder of what I have seen whilst out and about and as near as possible have to be as true a representation as can be expected. Of course the camera can never replicate exactly what the eye sees, and if when I look at the image I feel the camera has for example overexposed an image, I will alter this to give the image the correct exposure from what I can remember of the conditions at the time. That and the occasional use of the black and white option are the only tools I use to tamper with an image.
I have heard the argument that using fast or slow shutter speeds to create an effect is no different from using manipulation software. For me this is not the case. When I take a picture using a slow shutter speed I am visualising how that picture will look just the same as if I am using a standard shutter speed. What I am not doing is taking a picture and then creating something that was never present in the first place. I am sure I am in the minority with regards to this subject but felt that on a photo blog , perhaps it was important to state where I lie on this particular issue!

In praise of Tulips.

Today we had a family day out to St Fagans.
The castle gardens had tulips a plenty and I could
have spent the whole day taking pics of
them.

Plant life.

The difficulty in taking pictures ofplants is finding a new
perspective!