Underwater Groupon Photography

Its not for me. I think I need to rule out underwater photography as an aspect of my photography which will elude me-in terms of diving at least. Pain in my ear again on Tuesday after the pool practice dive on Monday. I don't want to risk a punctured ear drum and so I have,decided to withdraw. Hopefully Groupon will give me a refund.
Not to worry. In London for a day next week so I will check out some photography galleries. Does anyone have any suggestions?

Pool practice tonight

I am not looking forward to this. As much as it would be great to dive and take pictures I don't think my ears will cope. Since last weeks pool dive I have tried to clear my ears 5x a day and been unable to do it. I also had pain in my ear last Tuesday, the morning after the pool dive. I love being underwater and floating. Diving is great but I am getting older.

Practice pool dive

I went to the pool last night for a practice pool dive session-I need another and have been summoned for another underwater excursion to the shallow end next week!

The cameras will be compacts when we go on a 6 metre open water dive later in the month.
I didn't do very well and doubt I will be able to do the dive if I don't learn how to clear,my mask, ears and remove/replace the regulator for breathing. The latter is quite scary and I wouldn't try but will need to next week.

I am getting older, life seems more precious than it used to!
I don't get these problems with landscape!

Underwater photography session with Groupon

I had forgotten about this! On Monday I am going to a dive centre followed by a dive session in a pool. Later in the month I am going on a dive to take pictures underwater. It's a good thing I checked my diary. As far as I am aware the cameras are loaned out to us and I am hoping it will be a DSLR. It was a Groupon offer some months ago....which is why I forgot about it. I think it was booked almost 3 months ago. So that will be my next update.

Dereliction of duty

Not much to report on the photography front as I haven't been active. I am taking pictures for my menopause project for my Masters and I am booked onto a 2 day course with the Royal Photographic Society later this year. Its a glamour and portrait shoot in a studio, both completely new subjects to me and it will take me out of my comfort zone. It will do me good to do something different.

Malham May June 2012

I was at Malham last month with the Royal Photographic Society. I went with the Nature group. It was a really enjoyable weekend and one I would like to repeat again. We stayed at the Field Studies Centre, a beautiful old hunting lodge with several accommodation complexes for small groups. It was quite impressive and the rooms had 2 single beds which were quite large with good security.
Malham Tarn was visible from the lodge and on one of the days we walked down to the shoreline.
It was well planned and we had several excursions to Meadows and nature reserves where lots of pictures were taken.
Its good I took my 50mm prime Minolta lens and extension tubes as close up/macro was the order of the day. I have had extension tubes for a while and I know the theory of their use but  not alot of experience. On this weekend we had plenty if opportunity to practice and get images which is what I did and I am pleased with the  results. I think I surprised myself.
Being more of a landscape photographer I did not abandon, my genre and got a few shots which I am also pleased with.
I was so happy with my efforts I have put together a disk of images and text which I have submitted to the Nature Group editor for consideration of submission to the magazine.
We will see what the outcome of that is but I don't expect to hear the results I if that till next month.

Infrared! I'm cracking it!

Unfortunately, the Google Blogger I am using will not upload into this box using the 'Insert Image' icon and so i must direct you to Flickr at this link to see my most successful landscape black and white infrared image i have taken.


http://www.flickr.com/photos/57077316@N08/7233763268/in/photostream


I haven't analysed it yet with regard to the exposure notes I took at the time but I did follow a set procedure. This was to expose four stops more than the light meter suggested for this film-Ilford SFX 200. At iso 200 this is a black and white film, expose for a further 4 stops more with an infrared filter on the front and this is the infrared effect you get.


I am going to Malham Cove in Yorkshire soon and will be taking a film camera capable of taking infrared film. Now I know its a 4 stop exposure difference i just need to bracket by an aperture stop either side and I should continue to get good results. Only time will tell!