Sparkle Photoblog

Withering Away...

Spring came and went... Spring has passed by so quickly, making me miss so many opportunities in taking photos. Dying weed in rapeseed field at College Lake, Buckinghamshire.

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Bluebells where the heart is

Quiet moment with the bluebells Been busy lately so had not time to post till now. This was taken a few months ago in Dockey Wood near Hemel Hempstead, Buckinghamshire. That's not the exact location, but everyone I talk to is familiar with where Hemel Hempstead than Tring. Anyway, this place was heaving with people as it's one of the closest bluebell woods outside of London that does not charge an entrance fee. I was lucky enough to get this shot when everyone walked out of the frame.

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Yellow one out

Only one who is yellow... These flowers growing on the ground were less than a fingernail wide, so it took some time finding and taking pictures of these flowers as I really had to max out the macro lens. I liked this one because it was the only blue/yellow one I could find since the rest were either pink or white. But I'm not sure what flowers these are. Taken in one of the commons in the Chilterns.

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Petal Blueness

Spreading out the blue These petals are from a type of thistle which I found while walking around College Lake in Buckinghamshire. Unfortunately it was breezy so I could not get the focus right on the flower And the top of the flower is rather dull anyway, so I decided to try something different. Yes, the troubles of working with macro...

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Nectar Dome

Sipping each flower Was going to post a HDR-type image of a ocean lookout today but changed my mind in the last minute. So I'm posting this macro of a hoverfly that was recently shot near San Gimignano in Italy. Hopefully my second edit of the lookout might be better. And although I'm trying to do more urban shots, I still have a large collection of nature macros I'd like to post

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Who Goes There?

Me of course! Thought I'd do something simple while I get my other shots organised by posting a cat guarding a scooter in simple B/W in Colle di Val d'Elsa, Tuscany. Currently I'm inundated with photos right now, trying to sort out what can be spiced up and what should be dumped. And many thanks for the comments, for I don't know how I could get the time to comment on other people's photoblogs!

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When Fame Comes To Town...

I'm going to jump that tram... Just realised I borrowed a line from U2. When I saw this tram in Hong Kong, I just had to take it. Maybe because we all want to be famous... I had to do more alterations in Photoshop by putting the tram on the same background with nothing in it because the tram shot was taken in a rush so the composition was not good. On another note, from now on, I won't do my post chronologically, but instead pick the best shot I think I have taken up to the most recent point in time.

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Panic in the valley

Bad weather forecasted... At first I thought this was either fog or mist descending on this valley. But once the wind picked up and the temperature dropped, I quickly realised that I was going to be in one hell of a blizzard! Incoming blizzard at Derwent Fells, taken from Cat Bells in the Lakes District, Cumbria, England

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Deadwood on Crummock Water

Washed out from the water... Finally at the beautiful Lakes District National Park in Cumbria, UK! Honestly wasn't really sure if I could ever post these shots here. Walking along Crummock Water and admiring Loweswater Fell, I found some deadwood on the shores and took this shot. Unfortunately had to do some major photoshop work with this because the Canon 17-85mm lens had heaps of purple-fringing along Loweswater Fell.

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Sing while you can...

Singing my heart out... One of the joys of walking in nature reserves is you might be lucky to see something that will make you smile. In this case, this robin seemed oblivious to me snapping away while it sang. Shot at Whittenham Clumps, Oxfordshire.

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Where do you go?

Going on holiday... obviously! I'd like to believe that you're the one I can trust
you're the one that will always be there... - Hunters and Collectors

So, should I dare ask... where do other people go besides here? Anyway, I'm off for a few days, but will try and catch up with email when I can. But whatever you do, don't stop visiting. Shot edited with Photoshop Lomo-effect.

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Protruding Stamen

Crocus emerging for spring Going back to my old archives again. Here is a crocus flowering in the beginning of spring around February, near Vann Lake in the Surrey Downs. Other than that, there wasn't much to see in Vann Lake as far as I remember...

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Clear for feeding...

Go for it while you can... Spotted this hoverfly trying to land on a blossom. He must have zoomed through a few of them before spotting this one...

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Is there anybody in there?

Yeah...In there?...Where?...Whooaa! Guess flies will go for anything available. Among the spring blossoms in Wittenham Clumps near Oxford. Although I've taken the title totally out of context from the original song, I still want to give my thanks to Hunters and Collectors for the title. Pity they are not around now....

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Circling back to the bee

Feed on the blossom while you can... Same bee as before, but different shot and position. I know what you are saying - I should post more frequently if I'm going to post the same subject over and over again. But it's hard to make up titles and decide on what photo to upload.

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