Size matters

It’s true. Nearly 4 months after ordering it, my birthday present has just arrived, and it’s a whopper! Thanks to all those kind donations, this is the new telephoto lens I’ve been waiting for (a Tamron 150-600mm).

Currently, the ducks in the pond are wondering why I’m constantly pointing this big boy at them. I need to get in as much practice as possible before a visit to the Serengetti in a couple of months.

This is one of those photos. Although I don’t think it’s my best, it has had more views on Flickr than any other picture I’ve ever taken (currently about 4,000). (Editors note: despite these figures being meaningless, it seems to be having a disturbing affect on the size of Phil’s ego)

Personally I prefer this one:

My attempt at photographing the local birds has proved less successful:

Anyway, thanks again all who helped towards my new toy.

Phil

Oxford Blue

Porterhouse Blue was a ridiculously funny book written by Tom Sharpe about a mythical Cambridge college and how it’s masters ate and drank themselves into cardiac arrest (thus the ‘blue’ ).

Geoff, a schoolmate of mine going back a little while (ahem) attempted a similar thing with me in his hometown of Oxford. A day walking around Oxford, climbing its towers, photographing its sights, was, I believe, an attempt to push this half crippled body of mine to its limit.

And so, with Geoffs help, after walking many hours, climbing untold steps, suffering vertigo, upsetting pigeons, clicking multiple pictures and spending several hours on photoshop stitching them all together, I ended up with this masterpiece soon to be hung in the Tate & Lyle

Thanks Geoff, although next time I might just take a picture of your nearly identical photo hanging on your wall….

We also visited Hogwarts;

Christchurch College;

and even saw the Manhatten skyline…

After avoiding cardiac arrest and photographing most of Southern England, we met with Jon & Luke to go to see 'Yes’ in concert. I last saw them about 40 years ago so was expecting Zimmerman frames and memory loss. Instead they gave a magnificent performance with Steve Howe’s guitar even keeping Jon awake. I couldn’t take my camera, so here is the word 'yes’….



Altogether, a pretty bloody good day.

Continuing with the blue theme, the previous few days spent in the Wye Valley were not wasted as the bluebells are incredible this year. (Hmmm, that sounds a little gay….) I guess the verdant moss may indicate a surfeit of water but 'who cares?’ with scenery like this.

So, onwards and upwards, I am now sitting in Bristol Airport, heading for a week in the Pyrenees, searching for elusive mountains and the occasional tree to photograph. A couple of bears would be nice…

Phil