Anyone fancy going to the top of the Forth Bridge?!

[Anna]

Love the Pink Floyd tribute! Seriously, will have to take time later on but the black and white (love b&w photos) of the tall ship is lovely - and all I ask is a tall ship and a star to steer her by. I hope you can make some money out of these - surely it's not just a hobby?

[mangerton]

Anna, thank you very much. I'm in the process of rejigging websites so the 'under construction' sign is up, but I'm more than happy to link you a 'best of Summer 2013' selection:

https://picasaweb.google.com/jhspnw/...eat=directlink

Shb, thanks for posting that link. There are some stunning pictures there.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Thanks indeed!

Back to bridge talk. During my brief period of duty with P&O Cruises on the Aurora we called into Sydney. When I woke I looked out my porthole and there we were moored directly across from The opera house. 'WOW!' I thought, but after dressing I took myself to the rear of the ship and took a lift to the topmost deck the better to take in the whole scene. That's when I got my first view of the Harbour Bridge. This was WOW X 10. I doubt I've ever been so taken by a structure.

By comparison, the opera house was as the trinket on a charm bracelet. Regretfully, I was unable to do the bridge but will make it a point to go back and do it.

[Anna]

Back to bridge talk. By comparison, the opera house was as the trinket on a charm bracelet. Regretfully, I was unable to do the bridge but will make it a point to go back and do it.

Yes, the Opera House is a bit - well, is that it? But then you get close and see the detail on the tiles. And, Luna Park, Sydney, how weird is that? I can claim fame as to a relative being a suicide off Milsom Point in the 1920s! Poor Dab, long term married, she died, and two weeks later, he chucks himself off. Coroner's Report says he was bankrupt with nothing in his pockets. So sad.
I was also on the Manly Ferry when it crashed into Ciircular Quay .... I love Sydney!

[Stillhomewardbound]

Photographically it has been a tremendous week. I knew it would be, but today I'm a little glum owing to the passing of Seamus Heaney. Our loss is Heaven's gain and this picture is dedicated to his memory, because I'd like to imagine that this was his reception today at the Pearly Gates.

[Nick Armstrong]

Shb, thanks for posting that link. There are some stunning pictures there.

today I'm a little glum owing to the passing of Seamus Heaney. Our loss is Heaven's gain and this picture is dedicated to his memory, because I'd like to imagine that this was his reception today at the Pearly Gates.

Hear hear to all the above.

Your photographs are wonderful, Shb!

[gamba]

Shb. Congratulations upon such a very fine collection of photographs. They really are quite exceptional & deserve a wide showing.

( from someone who first put an image in silver upon a glass plate in the year 1946 ! ).

[Anna]

I've now viewed all of Shb's photos - and I think they're marvellous. I particularly like the tall ship with the red smoke from the fireworks, as if it's in a battle. What camera is my next question!

[Nick Armstrong]

What camera is my next question!

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - it shows up in the 'info' (I think it's called metadata).

They are simply fantastic - love the Thames panorama with St Paul's on the left and OXO tower on the right Amazing the kaleidoscopic colours and smooth silky sheen on the water due I suppose to the long exposure

[Anna]

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - it shows up in the 'info' (I think it's called metadata).

Well, typical woman, I don't read the small print, I just look at the pretty pictures! Just looked camera up on Amazon - serious piece of kit. Not for happy-snappers like me!
(I do hope we ae all are not embarrassing Shb with this fulsome praise - but then I don't think he's inclined to be a shrinking violet .... I sincerely hope his photography venture will be successful)

[mangerton]

Canon EOS 5D Mark II - it shows up in the 'info' (I think it's called metadata).

They are simply fantastic - love the Thames panorama with St Paul's on the left and OXO tower on the right Amazing the kaleidoscopic colours and smooth silky sheen on the water due I suppose to the long exposure

Yes. It's quite frightening to see just how much info is recorded by digital cameras.

I do hope shb does well with this.

[Stillhomewardbound]

Sorry folks, I wasn't around when this question was asked. Yes, my camera is a Canon 5D ii, but the difference as much as anything is in the lens which is a Canon 24-105mm IS and the best bit of glass I've owned, though this week I've just taken delivery of my first telephoto lens: the Canon 100-400mm USM IS. Now this a peach an a half. Have a look at this shot of a Lufthansa jet on final approach to London city. You'll notice on the wingtips very fine sensor antennae. They're tying but you can count them practically.

And bear in mind this is on a heavy lens, hand-held!

[mangerton]

Sorry folks, I wasn't around when this question was asked. Yes, my camera is a Canon 5D ii, but the difference as much as anything is in the lens which is a Canon 25-100mm IS and the best bit of glass I've owned, though this week I've just taken delivery of my first telephoto lens: the Canon 100-400mm USM IS. Now this a peach an a half. Have a look at this shot of a Lufthansa jet on final approach to London city. You'll notice on the wingtips very fine sensor antennae. They're tying but you can count them practically.

And bear in mind this is on a heavy lens, hand-held!

Indeed. Brilliant! I don't know why I bother.

[alycidon]

That, shb, is a brilliant photograph. Congratulations.

[pastoralguy]

Many thanks for the responses and photos. We drove over the road bridge on Friday and I had a bit of a 'moment' thinking about standing on top of the Fife cantilever! It's a LONG way down...