Sony RX100

Midsummer weather....British style. For the past few days we've had a heatwave but yesterday the local weather forecast said "severe weather is on the way". Somehow they always manage to get it right when the news is bad !! Camera Sony RX100. Processed with NIkon Capture NX2.

Some of the harmonicas from my collection. The "Art Deco" ones (at the top and on both sides of this photo) date from the 1930s whilst the others are more recent dating from the 1960s to the present. The red Hohner (top) was made for the World Trade Fair in Chicago, 1933. Some of the oldest ones were in a very bad condition when I bought them but I've cleaned and restored them and they all now work well. Camera Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

In Norse mythology a valkyrie is one of a host of female figures who choose those who may die in battle and those who may live. Selecting half of those who die in battle, the valkyries bring their chosen to the afterlife hall of the slain, Valhalla, ruled over by the god Odin whilst the other half go to the goddess Freyja's afterlife field, Fólkvangr. Valkyries also appear as lovers of heroes and other mortals where they are sometimes described as the daughters of royalty, sometimes accompanied by ravens and sometimes connected to swans or horses. (Wikipedia). Camera Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Lumb Spout is a local "beauty spot" near the village of Trawden in East Lancashire, England. It is popular with hikers and is a great place for a picnic in Summer. Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Seen on a wall in the village of Trawden in East Lancashire, England. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Morrígan (meaning "Phantom Queen" or "Great Queen") is usually regarded as a Celtic / Irish war Goddess and she has been compared with the Valkyrie / Walkuere of Germanic and Scandinavian origin. Her role often involves premonitions and predictions of a particular warrior's violent death, suggesting a link with the Banshee of later Irish folklore. In certain areas of Ireland this supernatural being is, in addition to the name Banshee, also called Badb (in some versions, Badb and Morrigan are sisters). Her role was not only as a symbol of imminent death but also to influence the outcome of wars and battles. She did this by appearing as a crow or raven flying over the battlefield and would inspire either fear or courage in the hearts of the warriors. She could be heard as a voice among the corpses on a battlefield and, according to some accounts, she would often join in the battle itself as a warrior and show her favouritism in a more direct manner. (Wikipedia...edited & shortened). Photographed with a Sony RX100 camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. Figurine of Morrigan by Pagan artist & sculptor Neil Sims from South Shields, U.K.

This large building (only part of which is visible here) once provided employment for people all over Pendle district. It was owned by Smith & Nephew and by BSN Medical Supplies in the past. It has been derelict for a number of years but has now been purchased by the local council for "Re-Development", possibly for conversion into flats (USA = "appartments") which is what is being done with others in the area.

My Nikon D300s DSLR, lenses and flash-gun photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2. From left to right: Samyang 10mm f2.8 wide angle lens Samyang 8mm f3.5 full-frame fisheye lens Samyang 135mm f2.0 telephoto lens Nikon D300s DSLR + Nikkor 17-55mm f2.8 lens + Speedlight SB-600 flash-gun Nikkor 70-200mm f2.8 telephoto lens Samyang 500mm f6.3 catadioptric (mirror) telephoto lens Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5 - f5.6 telephoto lens ---------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------- Samyang lenses are available to fit most popular brands of camera. I get mine here: www.ukdigital.co.uk/camera-lenses/lenses-brands/samyang-lenses.html All current Samyang lenses are manual-focus only which makes them a lot lighter and cheaper than those from the camera manufacturers (Nikon, Canon, Sony etc). With the exception of the "mirror" lenses they are all extremely sharp, often as sharp or even sharper than the equivalent lens from the camera manufacturers. Most Samyang lenses (except for those with the Nikon mount) also require the aperture to be set manually as there is no electronic linkage between camera and lens (this also reduces the price and weight).

Spathiphyllum is a genus of about 40 species of monocotyledonous flowering plants in the family Araceae and are native to tropical regions of the Americas and southeastern Asia. Certain species of Spathiphyllum are commonly known as "Spath" or "Peace Lilies". They are evergreen herbaceous perennial plants with large leaves 12–65 cm (4.5-25.5 inches) long and 3–25 cm (1-10 inches) broad. Flowers are produced in a spadix surrounded by a 10–30 cm (4-12 inches) white, yellowish, or greenish spathe. The plant does not need large amounts of light or water to survive and several species are very popular indoor houseplants. It lives best in shade and needs little sunlight to thrive. The soil is best left moist and only needs watering if the soil is dry. The NASA Clean Air Study found that Spathiphyllum cleans indoor air of certain environmental contaminants, including benzene and formaldehyde. (Wikipedia (edited)).

Wild flowers photographed in Raven's Clough Wood near Brierfield in North-West England. I'm not certain what these are....they appear to be members of the Orchidaceae family (Orchids), probably one of the "Marsh Orchids" (Dactylorhiza) which can be very variable in appearance and difficult to identify. Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

My SWL (Shortwave Listening) and CB radio equipment. Comet CAT-10 antenna coupler / tuner. (Top left). Icom IC-8500 all-mode receiver with frequency coverage from 100 khz to 2 Ghz. (Bottom left). Icom SP-34 external speaker. (Centre). CRT SS9900 CB radio. (Top right). Comet CAT-300 "Multi-media monitor" (antenna tuner + SWR & power meters). (Bottom right). Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Lancashire Fire & Rescue Service has received the last of a programmed delivery of 10 new DAF LF 250 FA emergency response vehicles at its Training Centre. The 16-tonne GVW 4x2 rigids are equipped with Co-polymer bodies by Emergency One with four-man crew-cab conversions by Ziegler. The fleet replaces an ‘unfailing’ Euro 4 DAF fleet which has seen 12 years of front-line service. The Service says it’s sticking with the DAF marque after unwavering in-service operation and as a result of DAF’s significant presence in Local Authority fleets throughout the region. (From DAF TRUCKS website). Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

An ancient tree growing out of the rocks, photographed on the "Bronte Way" trail near the village of Wycoller in Lancashire, North-West England. Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

The Donkey or Ass (Equus africanus asinus) is a domesticated member of the horse family, Equidae. The ancestor of the donkey is the African wild ass, Equus africanus. The donkey has been used as a working animal for at least 5000 years. There are more than 40 million donkeys in the world, mostly in underdeveloped countries where they are used principally as draught or pack animals. Small numbers of donkeys are kept for breeding or as pets in developed countries. (Wikipedia). Camera: Sony RX100 Processed with Nikon Capture NX2

Photographed near Ball Grove park in Colne, North-West England. In this field were a number of horses and two donkeys.....the two in this photograph were chasing each other around the field and seemed to be having a great time playing together. Photographed with a Sony RX100 compact camera and processed with Nikon Capture NX2 software. .

One of the ponds along the Nature Trail near Ball Grove park in Colne, North-West England. In Spring this area is full of young frogs and Dragonflies (both of which breed here) and various breeds of birds. The Bull-rushes provide a hidden nesting site for ducks, some of which can be seen emerging from them in this scene. If you look at the "Satellite view" the whole pond appears to be coloured Brown....this is caused by the rushes which often cover the whole area. The wooden structure is part of a viewing platform which extends into the middle of the pond. Camera: Sony RX100. Processed with Nikon Capture NX2.

Photographed near the town of Burnley in Lancashire, North-West England. After walking up to Crown Point and the "Singing Ringing Tree" (see my "Sony RX100" album) we decided to take a short-cut back to the town. My GPS showed this route (correctly) as a public footpath but gave no indication of how hazardous it was. There are lots of hidden rocks, holes in the ground covered by long grass and sudden steep drops down to the river which are not visible until you get to the edge of them. The so-called "footpath" itself is invisible beneath the grass and vegetation. This sign is located about half-way along the route.....I think it would have been much better if it was located at the start as a warning !!