Photography, photos you took, photos you are in, photos you like, the lot!

[Anne D.]

Wow, amazing crazy closeup of the bee, Tank. It looks like he's smiling : )

[Dark Lightning]

Youse guys take some amazing pics!

[Tank]

Wow, amazing crazy closeup of the bee, Tank. It looks like he's smiling : )

To quote Ringo Star "It's just my face."

[The Magic Pudding..]

I got a new "Fiskars Maul 3.6 kg - 8 Lb," so off to effortlessly split some firewood, and feed this guy.



That stump is crappy stuff, no good for a fire anyway.

[Dark Lightning]

I have an 8 pound maul. I wouldn't call splitting wood with it "effortless", unless your shoulders are about 12" wider than mine. 

[Tank]

I got a new "Fiskars Maul 3.6 kg - 8 Lb," so off to effortlessly split some firewood, and feed this guy.



That stump is crappy stuff, no good for a fire anyway.

They are really characterful birds. Pretty fearless too it would appear.

[Tank]

Deer at Harewood house.



Trying out my new lens. Very pleased with the result.

[Icarus]

How close were you when you shot that photo?  Those little dudes are really cute.

[Tank]

About 75 yards at a guess. The picture is cropped out of a larger image. There is an elevated hide to shoot from and there is no foliage this time of year to get in the way.

[Icarus]

That is one helluva lens. The lens user is obviously pretty good too.

[Tank]

That is one helluva lens. The lens user is obviously pretty good too.

I own an old Sony with the 'A' lens mount. It got changed by Sony a while ago to the 'E' mount. So I keep my eye out for used 'A' mount lenses. Sony professional lenses are called their G range. I found this lens at a dealer and it was listed as 'As New' with a free return if not happy. It's a 70 to 400mm G series zoom. I have lusted  after it for years so I took the plunge and got it. I was not disappointed, in fact I was amazed. Absolutely perfect. No marks, not even a speck of dust anywhere! If it has been used there is no sign whatsoever. Because of some optical gigerepockery (an APS-C sensor in the camera) the effective focal length if 100 to 600mm. The lens is designed for full frame sensors, the APS-C is smaller and sits in the centre of the frame so it is in the sweet spot of the lens definition. It weighs 1.5kg! One hangs the camera on the lens!

[Tank]

Out the back door

[Icarus]

Wow! That was a great find.

[hermes2015]

Yes, congrats on an incredible buy. I'm guessing the lens does not have vibration reduction. Is the camera body vibration reduction capable?

[Recusant]

A fortuitous find Tank! It's good to hear of such a salutary lust fulfilled. 

Thanks for the photo of the item in question. I appreciate a regular British interior, and miss them. I've replaced a couple of those radiators--fond memories believe it or not.

My attention as a dilettante etymologist was also drawn to "jiggery-pokery." It's common to British and American, but I think more used in Britain, hardly ever heard in America. Apparently originally British; the Oxford dictionary gives the origin as Scots/Northern "joukery-pawkery" with essentially the same meaning. Goes to Scots/Northern and Irish "pawky," meaning--

Artful, sly, shrewd; arch, roguish; jaunty. Now usually: having or showing a sardonic sense of humour; wry, quirky, subtle.