Confectionary

Last weekend my family and I visited the Cocoabean Factory where I purchased the delicious props for this week's Headbangers' challenge photo. I spent ages arranging the chocolates and then rearranging them again until I was happy with the result. A bit of editing in Lightroom to make sure the background colour was consistent throughout and they were done - good enough to eat!

Also below are the beautifully made 'cake' from my daughter's 1st birthday in November of last year and a photo of a guy in a Turkish sweet shop from our holiday, also last year.

Weekly Headbangers' Challenge: Change

I wracked my brains for a full week on this one...I didn't want to be literal and go for pictures of Autumn, I wanted to interpret the challenge in my own way. In the end I went both ways. My header this week is a picture representing the changes my daughter has undergone in her 2 years so far. Starting at her first pair of trainers on the left, with her first fluffy toy through to her current trainers and current fluffy toy.
The other pictures are from Autumn last year and are from no more than 100 yards from my house. We are surrounded by such beauty and it is our job as photographers to capture it as closely as possible in and effort to keep that beauty saved for everyone to see.

Headbangers' Weekly Challenge: Feathers

This is my interpretation of this week's theme. A drop of water on a feather with colour added post-production in Lightroom. The feather has retained some of the oil from the bird it came off and that's how I could get a perfectly formed drop of water to sit so perfectly upon it. I haven't done too much of this low key type photography before but it's something I'm going to be learning and practising for the near future as I really like the effect.

This was Gail's choice of theme and she is leaving us this week. I hope we see you again soon.

Sunday Bowling

Today we went to watch my father-in-law play in a Crown Green Bowling competition in Kirkcudbright. We weren't there long because my daughter was playing up, but I managed to get a few shots.

Through the Window

This week's Headbangers' Challenge was set by me and was "Through the Window". I wanted people, time permitting, to take a picture through a window using the window frame as a frame for the picture. I also said that if people were too busy to do it this week they could choose something from the archives, AND that the remit was entirely up for interpretation. 

I actually hadn't come up with anything new myself this week until today when I happened upon Sweetheart Abbey in New Abbey, Dumfries and Galloway, whilst driving home from a job. I thought my luck was in until I found the place was covered in scaffolding and blokes wearing hard hats....I persevered and got quite a few good shots. I've also included a photo I took last year in Turkey (I got a LOT of good pics from that holiday!) which was my inspiration for this week's theme.

After much ponderance and much pen top-chewing, I decided on the picture with the blue sky as a backdrop. Blue sky like that is very rare around here, especially this year, so it really 'sang' to me. I also imagined what the place would have been like back in 1275 (yes, TWELVE SEVENTY FIVE!!!) and wondered if any of the occupants over time have ever looked through that same window and seen such a lovely blue sky.

Laurieston Kite Feeding Station

Yesterday we visited the Kite feeding station at Laurieston. The Kites weren't really interested in the food being put out for them as food is quite plentiful for them naturally at the moment. Just as we were about to give up hope and go home a few swooped down and grabbed a claw or two of meat. I managed to get one just about to grab!

I also took a few pictures of the feeding station's surroundings

Cardoness Castle - Gatehouse of Fleet

On the way home from the rally yesterday I stopped in at Cardoness Castle. I've driven past it many, many times as my work's office is situated just 2 miles up the road and we have a few customers in Gatehouse. I was in a photographic mood after finishing at the rally so off I went up the numerous steps, snapping along my way. There are 86 steps up the ancient winding staircase and I'd already lugged my camera equipment over 2 miles that morning and, combined with the fact that I was wearing my big boots, I was being very tentative able to use only the ball of my foot on each step....