Happy Christmas

A happy Christmas to you and yours and my best wishes for the coming year. Off on holidays now, so I'll see you in the new year.
Cheers
Allan

Bramleigh Manor Outing

Here's one from the outing:

By Allan Jackson

Member's pictures

Click image to view enlargement

Here are two from John Teece:

This is a great shot of a bird in flight. (I am not sure but it looks like a yellow-billed kite) John has avoided the mistake that many photographers make; that is getting the bird under exposed. This happens because the camera's exposure is influenced by the bright sky and results in the darker bird being recorded as a silhouette.

The way to avoid this is to use the camera's exposure compensation and set it to +1 or so. Problem is though, the bird does not usually hang about for you to fiddle! Comment by Harry Lock.

A tele-photo lens and a wide aperture has ensured the background in this picture is out of focus and does not distract the viewer from the subject. The bird is well placed and the action is there for us to enjoy. Almost as much as this long-crested eagle is enjoying his (or her) meal. - we are a gender sensitive club. Comment by Harry Lock.

Click image to view enlargement

Beyond the last post

It seems that there is more interest in the blog than was apparent from the level of members' participation in it. I reckon that it is worth giving it another try to see what happens, and so here goes....

This blog runs on the blogger system, which is quite useful as a means for one person to communicate to many, but it does leave something to be desired as a means for a group to interact. I have been looking at another alternative which, unfortunately, would mean a change of venue. Yahoo has a facility they call Yahoo Groups, which will allow us to to post our pictures and have discussions.

The good thing about it is that all members can post their pictures and start discussions which would remove some of the burden from me. Before opting to use this blogging system, I did establish a Yahoo Group for the club which you can view here.

I would like everyone's opinions on the change but I think it would be a good idea because, as you will see, you get a free online web album to store your pictures on a major photographic site as well as access to the group site. For example, my test album is here. The steps to getting yours are as follows:

• Click here to got to Flickr and sign yourself up for a free account.
• It is very easy and, during the process, you will choose a username.
• Upload pictures to your album.
• Tell all your friends and relatives the URL address of your album.
• Sit back and bask in the glory of your online album.
  

Why not go ahead and get yourself an album? It will let you show off your pictures to the world even if we do not eventually move away from here. Gaining access to to the group page will be as easy as letting me know the Flickr username you chose.

Please drop me a line with your feelings about the proposed move You could leave a comment by clicking the link below: you will not need to sign up to anything if you choose the anonymous option - just remember to tack your name on the end of your message.

The last post

This is my last post here. It has emerged over the last two months that the club doesn't want a blog and, as quite a lot of work is involved on my part, I decided to stop it. Some members did contribute and I'm grateful.

Christmas Party

Don't forget the Christmas party on Tuesday, 5 November, 2005. It will take place at Hillcrest Sports Club at 7pm. We will take a look at members' pictures with the set subject being 'What is it?' The club will then provide finger snacks and the bar will be open.