Today in pictures

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

I've just been playing around with a new lens it's a 300mm with macro facility.

I resized a photo of a flower, no idea what it is, about 6 inches across.
The file was 3.7 mb so I resized and finished up with the following background effect.

Unusual to say the least.

Love the flower....I think it is an allium(garlic).
I am sure Davemac will correct me if I have got it wrong.

[gpick24]

Yes it's a crop, still produces 20MB RAW files & 8MB ( I think ) jpg so takes quite some reduction.
The Nikon df is a lovely looking camera.

[Gremlin]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Love the flower....I think it is an allium(garlic).
I am sure Davemac will correct me if I have got it wrong.

I was about to scrap the photo MARGARET but my artist friend wants to frame it and add it to her exhibition. She says the background, even though it was never meant to be like that, is very effective.
She has a solo exhibition in October and likes a few of my photographs which being large files print out lovely on A3. Hopefully other people will like them enough to buy one.

[Gremlin]

Originally Posted by gpick24

Yes it's a crop, still produces 20MB RAW files & 8MB ( I think ) jpg so takes quite some reduction.
The Nikon df is a lovely looking camera.

It's not the looks that matter gpick, although I agree it has a nice retro look.
The camera is a serious bit of kit. No flash, video or sound. It has external flash for whatever gun you want.
Trouble is with pro gear is you need quality lens to make it worth while and that's not cheap.
The one I tried yesterday is going back Monday, It lacks VR which is needed for hand held zoom shots.

[davemac]

Originally Posted by Margaret Pilkington

Love the flower....I think it is an allium(garlic).
I am sure Davemac will correct me if I have got it wrong.

Partially right Mrs P. it is Ornamental Onion, although not the Garlic (Ransoms) variety.

[Margaret Pilkington]

I knew you would know Dave.
A neighbour has some of these in his garden. I love the shape and the colour......I haven't been to sniff them though, so i don't know if they smell pungent.

[Gremlin]

This is the flower undistorted by too much resizing. The other is next to it but I don't know if it will turn into the same colour. Yes I know its slightly out of focus, I was dodging my sprinklers. My wonderful gardener will be her in the morning and I just let her get on with it.

[davemac]

Hi-Ho Hi-Ho its off to see the jam jar window we go.

[Gremlin]

Where did you see the jam jar windows Dave.

[Margaret Pilkington]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

This is the flower undistorted by too much resizing. The other is next to it but I don't know if it will turn into the same colour. Yes I know its slightly out of focus, I was dodging my sprinklers. My wonderful gardener will be her in the morning and I just let her get on with it.

I like the first one the best Russell.
I can see why your artist friend wants to put it in her exhibition I can see it printed out on canvas. A good focal point for a room

[davemac]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

Where did you see the jam jar windows Dave.

Its an oddity that's been around for as long as I can remember, there is a footpath that runs between what used to be Martholme Grange and Wilsons' Playing field. If you start at the Martholme end you encounter a small hamlet of houses the first house on the left just as you turn the corner has the window.

https://www.google.com/maps/@53.7825.../data=!3m1!1e3 this link will open google maps and you can see the small hamlet and a sharp turn left

[Gremlin]

That is a private road gated at the Whalley road end as you turn left at the gate to the playing field. The sign is there but the gate is further along.
Going down from that end the first house on the right has big gates.
Opposite is a large stone house called The Stables where my friend lives.
Next door is a house with a long barn attached which is protected.
It was built in 1500 and something. I've put photos in here of the old wooden beams inside.
Next time I'm down I'll take a walk to see the bottle window.

We were sat outside a few weeks ago and two smartly dressed gentlemen stopped in a car.
Their Sat Nav had sent them that way to Padiham. They turned around.

[davemac]

Originally Posted by Gremlin

That is a private road gated at the Whalley road end as you turn left at the gate to the playing field. The sign is there but the gate is further along.
Going down from that end the first house on the right has big gates.
Opposite is a large stone house called The Stables where my friend lives.
Next door is a house with a long barn attached which is protected.
It was built in 1500 and something. I've put photos in here of the old wooden beams inside.
Next time I'm down I'll take a walk to see the bottle window.

We were sat outside a few weeks ago and two smartly dressed gentlemen stopped in a car.
Their Sat Nav had sent them that way to Padiham. They turned around.

You are right it is a private road but it is a public footpath as well, a number of years ago the gates were closed and locked, however the footpath now goes behind the properties you described and comes out behind the gate further down. I didn't use that way, I started my journey from Mill Lane which is just in Gt. Harwood.

[Gremlin]

The residents don't object to the odd walkers, there are a few locals from the estate off Whalley road who regularly walk the dogs and stop for a chat.
I've never walked far past the gate with my friend and her dog. I'll make and effort when I next visit.

[davemac]

Today was a relatively short outing, it was walking the fields that are on the perimeter of St Mary's Burial Ground, the main reason being that the Buttercups that abound at the moment will soon be harvested and wrapped in black plastic to feed the Moo Cows later in the year.