# 364: Don't look down

I have a panorama app on my phone, and took a 360 of my kitchen. Hubby thinks I'm mad. I'm certainly stir crazy from being mainly home for almost 2 weeks! So anyway, quick dip into Ps and make it a polar pano. Its not impressive, but hey, I'm limited on many fronts right now, and tomorrow is another day :0}

# 363: Family game

Whilst visiting relatives Mark, Oliver & Jodie played a couple of games. If GC can find a way to cheat, she will ;0)

# 362: Reprise

Those zebra again...
(see # 303)

# 361: Waiting in the car

Limited still by illness, after some essential returns to M&S (blissfully with no queue, timed it just right) I went back to the car to await family while they went to spend some Christmas money. The short walk from car to returns desk and back had taken its toll, I was shaky. But I whiled away the time with trying to make something of where I was with effects on a camera app applied to this image of the cars beyond mine in the multi-storey.

# 360: Smile for the camera...

I explained about using the viewfinder in preference to the lcd display to reduce camera shake and thus get sharper pictures. There's a dipotre wheel to adjust the sharpness of the image seen through the electronic viewfinder and it took a while to get that right, but now she seems quite happy to use the viewfinder. It's one reason Santa did not bring a basic compact - you can't get them with a viewfinder any longer - but also, there is more creative control with a bridge camera, this one also shoots raw, but that's for later ;0) 

Its just a camera phone shot, but post-processed with Nik Silver Efex Pro.

# 359: New cam in town, Christmas Day

Santa brought my best girl a camera for Christmas :0)

Let the tuition begin!

Oliver got mainly books, xbox/pc games, and an internet tablet. Jodie got mainly craft-related things, pony things, books, and the camera obviously.

# 358: Vintage clock

In need of repair, but otherwise in lovely condition, my MIL's clock was dusted off and brought into the lounge today to take pride of place on the mantle piece. In the new year we'll send it to be repaired, I am looking forward to hearing it's tick. 

I love the paragraph in the instruction manual that says:

"It is the wish of the Company that this clock gives you the utmost satisfaction and in case of any difficulty consult your supplier who will be only too willing to render you every assistance."

# 357: Cosy Cats

Cosy cats.

# 356: Wrapping

Wrapping up presents, just a few at a time, resting inbetween.

# 355: Refurbished

The excitement was exhausting, but we are thrilled to have this 1930s suite back looking all swanky and new.

# 354: Ray of hope?

Confined to bed by a bad reaction to anti-biotics, I use the phone to capture this ray of light which illuminates the terrible dustbunnies behind my bedside cupboard! Eeeek! The brightness makes me think of aliens having landed in Oliver's room which is where in reality the sun is shining through his window and door across the landing. Aliens might not be too impressed by this though!

# 353: The Meds

The meds.

# 352: Sunset

This sunset shot was worth the effort of two flights of stairs up to the loft room.

# 351: Twinkling lights

I have no choice but to explore the capabilities of the camera on my new phone and various cam apps I've downloaded, struggling with a throat infection :0(

# 350: Going down

This angle may well exaggerate the steepness of the stairs, but they are steeper than you expect and the treads are narrow too. I wouldn't walk down them if I didn't have my left hand available to use the handrail and in icy weather, I wouldn't use them at all.

Shot on phone cam, post-processed in Ps with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2.

# 349: Let Sleeping Cat Lie

Biscuit is not a lap cat, but did have 3 of her 4 paws on my lap as she paused in walking across it today!

I have a new phone, replacing the iPhone, and the camera on it is pretty good, with an LED for 'flash'. This has been processed with a Topaz plugin in Ps. 

# 348: What a performance

We watched Jodie's first Christmas performance at her new school. A sea of iphones and other phones were held aloft to capture the action. It was an excellent play, well done to all.

# 347: Terracotta Warriors?

No actually - an army of chocolate Santas! 

...and reindeer!

# 346: Flower-like

It's a bit like reading tea-leaves... the last of a blackcurrant cold remedy dried in the cup like a flower.

# 345: A Book of Words

This is the well-thumbed dictionary that belongs to my wonderful mother-in-law. She's over 80, but still totally in control of all her faculties, keeping her brain nimble with crossword and other puzzles. The dictionary and other reference books are constantly to hand. She taught me to do cryptic crosswords though I don't have much time for them these days. (We're not talking "The Times" level, but it's a start!) The only way to beat her at scrabble is to be on a team instead of solo! She's wonderful.

# 344: A New Star

I attended a carol concert in a church this evening because Jodie was singing there with her school choir, joining with the Derwent Singers for part of the evening. That's not unusual, but what is very unusual is that I joined in when invited to do so by the Maestro. Usually, I am in church for a wedding or funeral and I stand respectfully but do not sing, atheist that I am. I can't remember the last time I sang carols in church, it must be over twenty years! A friend came to me at the end and commented on how nice it was to hear me singing loud and clear - uh-oh...she was sat far enough away that I must have been singing with rather too much gusto! My husband said he thinks I have a lovely singing voice and perhaps I should join a choir! I am haunted by memories of my mother's unusual singing voice being a major embarrassment during school concerts, and anyway, whilst I do like to sing my heart out whilst driving sometimes (on my own) or vacuuming at home (on my own) to my favourite songs (Bohemian Rhapsody is always a good one!) I don't plan to join a choir any time soon!

The title of this post refers to the previous star - see 349/365 A Christmas Star - which I photographed in 2009 at the same church. They have upgraded to one which has a little switch in the base, an led type though it was not on.

# 343: Late sunshine

For a while today the sun shone, making the green fields glow.

Then later the rain came.

# 342: Stormy weather

It was wet and very windy, the rain was lashing the glass of the conservatory and the wind was whipping the branches of the silver birch tree. I wasn't going outside to shoot!

# 341: A Christmas Bell

We have some new decorations for Christmas - now that the lounge and dining room are decorated.

# 340: Forecast changeable

Sunny spells, scattered showers...

# 339: Close inspection

This window needs cleaning...

# 338: Little Princess

What a little Princess :0)

# 337: When festive lights are something else entirely

...such as jumps for toy ponies to jump over!

Later they were icicles in the dining room.

# 336: Steaming fence

On a wintry morning, the frosty fence steams in the morning sun.

# 335: Classic Fiat

I spotted this classic fiat in a shop window, along with a classic moped, the rear end of which can be seen just in front of the fiat. All dressed up for Christmas, on loan from the local owner. I love the colour, and I wondered...how did they get it into the window?? 

We are big fans of the Cars movies, this reminds us of Luigi, who follows only the Ferraris!  ;0)

# 334: Its all done with mirrors

Here's Jodie, captured in a mirror in Pollyanna's Derbyshire garden. Jodie is in a phase of not wanting to be photographed but she didn't realise I was photographing her reflection in the mirror. Sneaky huh?

# 333: Compartmentalised

All in little boxes, all looking the same...well, similar.

# 332: A warm welcome

The leaves have left the trees, the birds are heading south, autumn will pass the baton to winter very soon, and a good friend of mine is well prepared. Memo to self: visit more often ;0)

# 331: A case of The Blues?

No, I'm happy enough thanks - count your blessings...

# 330: Attention seeking?

Meow?

"If I sit right about...here, you have to fuss me."

"Yeh, ok, I'm trying to work here, ok??"

The beauty of shooting in RAW

If you grab the camera quick and had left it on tungsten white balance.... here is the 'before' shot, SOOC.

I generally have it set to cloudy or daylight, sometimes AWB, but shooting in RAW means its academic. I also have exposure compensation at -2/3 to protect hilights, hence a dark shot - there's a window to my right but the blind is closed. Had I stopped to put speedlite on, or stood to open the blind, she would have moved!

# 329: Straight lines

Shallow depth of field is my favourite thing.

Can you tell what it is?

Enhanced in Ps using Nik Silver Efex Pro2.

# 328: Celebration - Cantata

Celebration time for the official opening of a fabulous new theatre and refectory facility, with all mod cons and available for the local community to boot, at the senior school. Following a showcase of talented musicians across the whole of the school year groups, Cantata (pictured) sang I Write the Songs and The Rythym of Life, and were then joined by the staff and student choirs for the finale, New York New York. 

What a great evening :0)

# 327: Camouflaged

Easy to miss.

# 326: Green

This is the colour it was, but what was it? 

And do you like the monochrome version better?

Macro close up...love my 105 ;0)

# 325: A change in the weather

This is one of my favourite trees - we are lucky to live on the edge of the Derbyshire countryside. The changing seasons are a constant source of wonderment. Autumn leaves are almost all fallen, the temperature is dropping, but I'm looking forward to winter. Bring it on.

# 324: STOP!

Small point.

# 323: Out of Order

Migraine attack!

Normal service will be resumed as soon as possible.

# 322: the venue

iPhone grab shot of tonight's venue for event photography with a friend and colleague. It was a busy night!

# 321: Preening in the sun

Rosie has always liked sitting in the sun, even in the hottest weather. Autumn is well under way and temperatures are dropping, so lets enjoy the sunshine while we can.

# 320: Crumbs!

Don't you just hate it when you come to open a new packet and when you tear back the tab you are greeted with a mass of crumbs? Argh! There's only one thing for it, dump the whole packet into a box with an air tight lid or be stepping on crumbs in the pantry for several days. The broken ones are no good for dunking, a chunk will always drop off in your tea! Criminal...just criminal... :0}