Going back to my routes to find new experiences in the wild places.
Based in Scotland.
Reached 200 within 72hrs
CLOSED at 2,017
APRES CLOSE: 2,021
Went up the road to Slains Castle. Well, it was sunny, and I got a text from Mike, who'd been ill, saying that he was a bit better and it was sunny. We eventually found the castle - it's a castle on the coast. Decent car park, and walked down the farm track (it killed my Allegro's suspension years ago).
Great setting for a castle.
Cheap silhouette.
Mike wanted some 'book cover' shots
With the pains I'm currently suffering, I couldn't climb up to the same ledge.
Mike told me about a stock photography site, stock.xchng. I signed up for it and posted one trial photo after reading about the section on "dealing with rejection". Unlike photo hosting sites, the photos are hand picked before being hosted. I'll post more photos in the future.
At time of writing, the one shot has been downloaded 24 times. Good-oh.
Combed the beach looking for photographs. Took the new 2nd hand tripod with me, a Velbon CX460, from eBay. I also tried shooting in RAW format for the first time. I need to learn how to use both of these to help improve my shots. I failed today.
Some vignetting added, and colours balanced.
Grampian "Eye"
There's something different about this month's Trail magazine. I can't quite put my finger on it. Maybe a change of colour repro companies has made the photos look different. The cover has 2 chaps enjoying themselves out of doors, map in hand, with the geekish-looking chap looking straight out at the reader, unable to hide his enthusiasm.
The first article proudly points out that more people watched "Mountain" than "Big Brother", and gives hints and tips to folk new to the outdoors. With great timing, "The Mission" is about boosting your navigation skills, and the next main article is about the hiking scene in the USA.
Sadly, my magazine was vandalised by trying to remove the glue that had been used to stick two cards to the pages. A silly move by the publishers, and just soooo last century. Luckily you don't have to tear your magazine apart to enter the various competitions.
"The Knowledge" has a column by Pete Macfarlane "a lighweight expert". Asterisk or no asterisk. Also some more information on gear shown at Friedrichshafen European OutDoor trade fair.
And Claire looks like she's being stalked in the photo on p111. Overleaf, there is a range guide to Arran, showing that there is plenty to do on the island.
Sad news. I just found Zach Braff's blog and read the words "We are currently shooting episode 6 of the final season of Scrubs" ' ' Aaargh.
I'm watching the re-runs at tea-time on freeview, and tonight they did the M*A*S*H trick of having a psychologist interview the main cast about their issues. There's so much imagination and enthusiasm shown in that show. Scrubs clip. M*A*S*H clip.
I wonder if the cast will re-unite for a computer advert? Sans Alda.
Is it coincidence that as the Chuckle Brothers celebrate 20 years on kids tv, I find a set of wargames rules that they may have written? Spooky.
This blog is one year and 2 days old. As I didn't start recording site statistics with Google Analytics until February of 2007, I don't have accurate figures. However, since February, there have been 27,666 pageviews, 16,415 visits from 6,019 absolute unique visitors.
A quick extrapolation gives a very rough estimate of numbers of real people (according to Google anyway) reading this blog:
Thank you for calling by, and I hope I have helped you get through the day in some useful way. This blog has certainly been therapeutic for me in the last 367 days. Shame the way some things have gone, more than happy the way other things have gone. Just goes to prove that I have no intention of pleasing all the people all the time - if you don't like it, go and look at happy pictures of cats instead. Some times it rains. Deal with it.
In the meantime, I'm still waiting the appointment with the physio. I have to eat to line my stomach for the painkillers. Hmm, eating, and no exercise in case I make things worse. Even I know that's a bad combo. But I'm dealing with it.
A couple of good programmes on the BBC2 Alba Gaelic strand.
Soitheach Nan Daoine
The first told the story of "The William" - a ship who's cargo was of men, women and children. Allegedly criminals from Skye, Harris and Barra, being sold into slavery in 1739. Before crossing the Atlantic to the cotton plantations of America, they were held in Northern Ireland, where some escaped and the authorities got involved. Turns out that the 'criminals' had never had a trial, and some had been dragged from their houses to the ship. The captives were released, some staying Ireland, others going home to Scotland.
Ealtainn - "Sad Day We Left the Croft"
Not a history programme, as it covered the release of a punk album from 1981. The arts programme tracked down the folk involved, traveling from Stornoway to Tong (just down the road from my parents') and London. Talking to people that I had been in the Nicky with, but probably a few years ahead of me. Coincidentally, the album is being re-released, and some of the tracks are available on via MySpace.
Listening to part 1 of Robert Hausam's interview on the BPL.com podcast. Robert walked across Scotland earlier this year on the TGO Challenge. This was his first time in Scotland and he came purely on information gained over the Internet, including forums and Bob C's podcasts.
To hear my homeland being described as "exotic" and our wonderful access laws being heralded to the world. The question of "what is a bothy?" is raised, and answered. Taken for granted, i find it strange that they might be "staffed?" B&b "hospitality wonderful".
He discusses his wearing of hiking sandals on the crossing. The nearest experience he has had was in the Alaskan tundra.
Terrain. Scenic. History. Culture. Old civilisations, chatting to folk, getting a feel for local life. Meeting other Challengers on a daily basis. Met some Munro baggers ... "what is a Munro?"... Good recall on that, remembering that Sir Hugh didn't compleat.
Good to hear that overseas visitors are well looked after. Different approaches to hiking in UK hmm, maybe hiking is a bit more common in UK than US. Elevenses not common in the US. Also the ability to go out, climb a couple of peaks, pub for a pint and then home, because of the shorter distances involved. Good to hear that Robert hopes to come back. Large fried breakfasts and pubs mentioned too.
Update - link to podcast page, featuring written article, photographs and kit list too.
You have no rights on the Internet. Just a series of Terms & Conditions that you blindly accept. There is no freedom of speech unless you have your own server and don't have to worry about an ISP. You have nothing.
This was shown today by the closing of a UK blog host after receiving lawyer's letters. Under UK law, no crime had been committed. Under UK law, no legal authority had requested that the site(s) be closed down.
It’s extraordinary, but true, and even though we live in a image democracy where freedom of speech is a right we can enjoy, that freedom does not extend to your blog if you upset a rich and powerful person.
That is the gist of Iain Dale’s unbelievable post outlining the shutting down of Tim Ireland’s Bloggerhead’s site, as well as Craig Murray’s, former Ambassador to Uzbekhistan.
They both spoke out against the Russian/Uzbekh billionaire, Alisher Usmanov, (pictured) who is trying to buy Arsenal FC. Lawyers letters followed which led to the webhost pulling the plug.
Link to More4 News clip (interview starts about 60 seconds in). Nothing at the time of posting on the BBC news, their technology pages merely saying that we should "fight cyberbullies" - oh, that's in schools, not in the real world. So, the BBC isn't being ironic.
As news items change rapidly, I'll add a caveat that this information is what is known to me at the time of posting. (link to my legal representative)
Having read about some of the trouble that a photo-blogger got into in the USA (link), I followed up some of the links. The first link was to JPG Magazine, where issue 5 had the rallying cry that I used in the post title.
The UK Photographers Rights Guide. Although written in 2004, and accepting that you accept that the authors have no responsibility for the advice given (i.e. if you get into trouble, hire an expert).
There is an American version from 2006 (pdf link), dealing more with how to deal with harassment and security guards making up the law as they go.
Bear in mind that the law is constantly changing, and that many police have an "attitude test" - be a pratt, and you'll be treated like one. Know your rights, know your responsibilities and don't be afraid to say that "actually, I'm on public land, and the law says ... ", all in a professional manner, as you note their badge number.
Mike was round last night for beer and pizza - well, no beer for me as I'm on painkillers :( - and anime. He saw the photos of Saturday's event and was disappointed to have missed it. So, a quick check of the weather forecast, and I offered to head back to Drum Castle to see Fraser's Dragoones again. National Trust for Scotland membership has its privileges.
Unit shots
Characters
Weapon Detail
War Correspondent - Snipers in the castle tower
War Correspondent - Being embedded with the Royalists has its disadvantages
Today's skirmish was dramatic again, with the Royalists having a surprise win.
Some clever film students had the same idea as us. Mike couldn't resist chatting to them about the gear they were using.
Sound monkey moving into shot - but I had plenty of similar photos, so no loss to me.
Why can't all saltires have messages on them?
I went to see Fraser's Dragoones at Drum Castle. Fine day, nice bunch. Good to be asked for feedback, especially from a hodden grey, blue bunnetted person armed to the teeth.
FJ came along later, and then I remembered how much I'd forgotten. Was a snaphance a musket lock where the priming pan opened as the match came down? Which was the frizzen? What was the primary differences between the Scots government troops and the Royalist rebels?
Unit shots
Details of pyrotechnics from the musket's touch
Characters
The Artillery Piece
There was a good skirmish display, and I couldn't resist putting them in sequence.
A couple of power-systems quoted in The Goat during the last week.
Urine Powered Batteries for Sale in Japan
Sadly, only 3-5 recharges, and only 500mAh. But it's another step forward. There is comment about the translation on WeirdAsiaNews, and that any liquid would work, not just urine.
Backpack Straps that Generate Power
Pack straps made from piezoelectric material will be able to convert mechanical strain on the packs into energy that can power small electronics.
A similar (or same) system was reported in Trail a few months ago. I like the idea of generation systems. As previously mentioned, I thing solar power is too unreliable for my use, so power generation systems that rely on movement seem better e.g. wind movement, water movement, human movement (or pet movement?) Unit fuel cell technology advances to the extent that we can just add water to recharge batteries.
Is there still a farm in Emmerdale? Well, there was a big barn, and a barney in it too.
As previously mentioned, a former student of mine appeared in tonight's episode. So I felt like a prune photographing the screen, but it's the most active I've been all day.
Mike (left) as trainer to the bare-knuckle fighter speaks: "You and him, take a walk"
Flashing his pearlies, Mike swaggers up and says "It's time"
Fight scene. Was Mike caught by the rozzers, or did he escape with the prize money? For the answer to these questions and more, you can ask on the Emmerdale forum.
And finally, as the closing music plays, Mike even had a name: "Kenny Finlay".
I noticed that Horizon on Sunday is showing
Everest: Doctors in the Death Zone
Hypoxia is the medical name for what happens when the body runs short of oxygen. It affects intensive care patients and it's a problem for climbers at high altitude. But some people cope far better with low oxygen than others and no-one quite knows why. So, in this stirring two-part Horizon, a group of British doctors sets off to Mount Everest to try to find out. Their dedication is verging on the heroic. Getting up Everest is tough enough, but once there, they set up entire labs full of hi-tech medical gadgets and put themselves through gruelling tests involving pedalling on exercise bikes and swallowing tubes. Worse, the doctors' whole project is threatened by the need to assist other climbers, whose casual attitude to human life is in horribly stark contrast to their own.
I heard the radio program about these folk and that was impressive, so I'll definitely be watching the TV version. It won't be the same, not lying in my tent at 1010metres on the side of Cairn Toul (link).
I haven't done a visitors round-up for a while. And I'm not going to do one just now at this late hour, but one stat caught my eye when I started to close down the tabs in FireFox..."visitor recency". 0 days ago, this blog had 1,477 visits (70.67% of all visitors).
I'll need to pass round a sign-in sheet (especially if you're reading this outside of normal hours). Wow, and thank you. Sadly, however, only 884 of you are absolutely unique. Making, pro-rata, 624.72 unique visits on September 18th (when Google Analysis compiled the figures) ... however, my chart for that day only shows 49 unique visitors on the 18th. So I'm not sure what the other 575.72 readers are categorised as? Maybe this is where RSS readers come in?
Whether workmates keeping track of my movements, or friends and family saving money on a telephone call (Scots tight with money? never!), or some of my students following up links when I left comments with the wrong account logged in, or folk looking for photos of favourite knitted slippers, or people waiting for the next online flame war about hiking socks, or wondering when I'll get up Bennachie next (as am I)...whoever you are, thank you for dropping by. When I see the map of visitor locations, I can't help but be taken aback by the whole global nature of the Web2.0 experience.
So, from me, good night, and good luck ' '
As it is international talk like a pirate day today, there is a certain song that has to be played at least once. So, dust of your G&S songbook and press play. This takes me back to my first job after leaving school.
G&S link - all you ever needed to know about The Pirates of Penzance - the site even includes music recorded in 1929.
Oh, better far to live and die
Under the brave black flag I fly,
Than play a sanctimonious part
True words indeed.
I collected the Tekkeon myPower Go unit from the sorting office today. That place is turning more space over to failed deliveries of parcels/packets each time I go there. I wonder if someone in power will see this failure to communicate as a problem for the Post Office, or will we customers keep having to bear the hidden costs of self-collection, or turning over our weekends to waiting for a redelivery.
But anyway... the Tekkeon unit. It's a box. About 80mm x 65mm, and the height of an old audio cassette box (ask your grandparents about that one). Slot in 4 AA batteries (not supplied), close the box and plug in the USB-terminated cable and the relevant connection head. The batteries can then be used to charge devices. There's an input socket, and you can use the myPower Go as a battery charger.
In the box, there's a decent manual, and a pile of connections and a carry bag. If you have a USB cable for a device (eg an iPod), you can use that to charge the device. The manual mentions not watching videos on the iPod when recharging as the iPod batteries are drained faster than the myPower Go can recharge the player.
Spec - weight 4.5 oz with batteries (127 grams). Not waterproof (dry locations only). 18quid delivered from Expansys.
From 4 AA batteries. 6 hours of mobile phone talk-time; 1.5 hrs of media player time; 20 hours of audio playback. iPod times are listed separately.
Rationale for ordering.
Also collected GITS SAC 2nd GIG. All 26 episodes. YT clip. Kusanagi and Co (not Grasscutter, that's from Usagi).
Went back to doctor (nr3) as pains in torso. She gave me some anti-inflammatory pills and is going to ask the physiotherapist to get in touch. And no hills.
Caught a program on BBC2 Alba the other day about Aonghas "Dubh" MacNeacail. It fulfilled its mission statement and I've now added Angus' name to my mental shopping list. Sadly, only if there's subtitles for people like me, who are culturally lacking in their historical language.
Link - Birlinn; Wikipedia; interview.
I didn't know that he co-wrote Seachd (a film that I mentioned in a previous post). Hey ho, it's a small world.
Okay, so I have my first ever dSLR, and I'm looking at things differently. I'm looking at lighting, textures, buildings (well, I always did), so today found me at Duthie Park's Winter Gardens (link). With FJ, my camera and 55-200mm lens. I decided to wimp out and not use the tripod - I feel too self-conscious.
Me from FJ's phone-camera.
FJ from my camera.
Below: Blue flowers
Red flowers
Fish and vandals
Saw this cricket (?) boundary line when walking away from the Gardens.
After "Worried about Ray", The Hoosiers new track is "Goodbye Mr A". There's a Channel 4 special on just now in the background.
I like their strangeness. "A lot of it is about not having the answers". I'll need to buy the album. If not the answers, maybe they have the questions.
YouTube channel
Watched it with Mike at the Belmont tonight. Liked it. Good story.
IMDB list ... yes, it is the lass from the Who episode: "The Girl in the Fireplace". Aye, and that was him who played Julius Caesar in "Rome". And there's Spud from Trainspotting. Her from CSI:NY. Iggy from "Flags of our Fathers" (I've still to watch the other dvd to see if it explains what happened to him) (oh, he was also Billy Elliot in ... well, you figure that one out). And no means least, Maurice Roëves.
Without giving much of the plot away, I noted to Mike that Roëves had the eyes of a killer - just as his character says "I killed a man once...". What an actor! Track down some of his work - he's been in everything from "Warship" (is that on dvd yet?) to ST:TNG, Doc Who to "Magnum PI", "The Last of the Mohicans" to "Judge Dredd". And let's not forget the groundbreaking "Tutti Frutti".
Which links to this video clip, and something I didn't know.
Following a MadJim link from OM, I found these Japanese dice. Aren't they the cutest dice you've ever seen? I think the d6 is good, but the d10 is just the ワサビ on the onigiri.
Plus, Play.com have posted me the GITS SAC 2nd GIG collection. Plus, there's a new Usagi Yojimbo book out. I'll need to get an order off to Amazon, as two bookshops in town didn't have the next book in the PoB Aubrey/Maturin series. Kill two birds with one stone.
I suddenly feel the need for a nightcap of sake.
An accident at the National Library of Scotland caused a water leak.
Accidental damage to a pipe caused a flood at the National Library of Scotland at 23.28 hrs on Monday 10 September.I've never visited the building, but the love the maps on their website. Pont is a favourite of mine. Up there with John Speed - just don't ask me to choose between the two.
The incident involved damage to the Library's sprinkler system during refurbishment work being carried out in the front hall of the George IV Bridge building. The flood was not due to a failure of the sprinkler system.
There is no major damage to the collections and any material that suffered water damage is now receiving conservation treatment.
...
Special boxes manufactured by the Library are used to store and protect much of the collection items and these have proved very effective.
NLS statement.
Bought a Coleman F1 Lite Lantern from Craigdon's sale during my lunchbreak. It may be more sociable to sit round that than a glow-stick or a torch. It used up the gift voucher I got from my workmates (thanks for that).
Hmm, I wonder if I can spray citronella onto the mantle to ward off beasties. Maybe someone could manufacture citronella-scented gas?
Michelle "MapleKiwi" interviews Chris Townsend, long-distance walker, Munro+tops bagger, TGO Challenger, gear reviewer, author, chief-cook'n'bottle-washer, about heading into the outdoors with his partner, Denise. (link)
If you want to put a voice to the words, he was interviewed by Cameron McNeish earlier this year on being presidentified. (link)
Looking at Chris' photo reminded me that the "LOTR: The Two Towers" was on telly last night.
I was looking through my favourite alternative energy site, ModernOutpost to see what was available to recharge phone and/or batteries.
Solar - well, I have the SolarUno, and to tell the truth, there isn't enough sun in Scotland. But I found that I can use it to take power from AAA batteries and use it to charge up my mobile phone.
George went for the Freeloader, but you have to find a power supply to recharge if the solar panels don't pick up enough charge.
Wind up - I have a hand-wound recharger for the phone, and it doesn't seem to charge the phone at all. I have tried, and the "charging" symbol comes up, but I may be winding too fast or too slow. Never just right.
Hence looking for alternatives. I found the shake-n-light. Sorry, that should be ShakeLight
Onward I looked, eventually finding the Tekkeon myPower Go. The ModernOutpost description says "Use it to charge batteries via USB port, and then use that same power to run your portable USB devices". But the page was incomplete, so off to the Tekkeon website. Expansys sells the unit in the UK for £12.95 plus P&P. Takes 4 AA batteries and uses them to recharge units via a USB output.
I only use AA batteries for the point-and-click camera. The Sony camera hardly drains any power, but I usually carry some spare AA batteries in my pack. The myPower can be used as a recharger. But I'm not looking at it for that, as I'm more likely to buy extra AA batteries on a long hike than spend an evening in a building, recharging AA rechargeables.
A detailed review can be found on gearDiary.com Now, I remember speaking to Darren about rechargers, and he found that some batteries worked better than others (i.e. Duracell wasn't as good as Energizer). I may run some tests, but I doubt that I'll waste the battery power finding out, saving it for a real field test.
Unit ordered.
I decided to have a look for a replacement tube and bite valve for my CamelBak 2litre reservoir. I've had it for three summers, used it on every trip. Although cleaned regularly, the tube is getting stained, and I'm forever fishing out trapped gunk from the bite valve. So, time for a replacement.
Looking online, as I don't feel up to a walk up town (especially as I was going to spend today catching up with some of the work I'd missed), I see that it may be cheaper to buy a new system. In a similar vein to Darren's disposable printers, I notice that a new tube is £17.99 and a bite valve is £4.99 (source). A new 2 litre reservoir is £15.49 (source).
Of course, I'm not comparing like with like. The parts are for their military systems, and so are probable made of tougher material. A squaddy needs to know that a bite valve will work 100% of the time in the field, and will be using there's more often than us civvy hikers.
I did laugh to see that you could now buy the "HydroLink Tactical Pump" which will "refills reservoirs with ease. Operators no longer need to stop, remove their packs and access the reservoir pouch to fill back up." (link) Me? I use a plastic bottle with a special lid. Cost - well, free if you have the drinks bottle already. (link)
As to the original reason for looking, well, I'll have a wander into town during the week and look at a couple of shops that I know stock CamelBak spares. Worst-case scenario, twenty notes on a new hydration system.
I love weekends when George gets bored, here's his skit on Darren's worries about the 2008 TGO Challenge.
Classic! Roll on the next boring weekend down in London, George.
Bibliography:
George at London Backpacker
Darren at WhiteSpider
Went to listen to some John Lee Hooker this morning. Went through my cds. The only one I could find was one with JLH and Canned Heat. Played that, but it didn't satisfy the urge, so I had to dust off (quite literally) my tape collection. How sad - I've never got round to updating the tapes to CD. Maybe because I have some CD compellations of early blues, which he features in.
My first introduction to the bluesman was in "The Blues Brothers" - when it was finally released on video in 1990. YT Link - in the clip, there's a fight starting at the end, maybe it is in the extended version of the movie - a good excuse to watch the dvd I recently got.
Tape is now playing "One Bourbon, One Scotch, One Beer", and painkiller taken, so off shopping. Maybe that shopping list and ibuprofen isn't a sensible mix. I won't put the YT link in for that track, as it's a later mix and I'm not keen on the treatment; so here's the atmospheric "Tupelo Blues" instead.
Link: official site
Well, they are gone, and here must I remain,
This lime-tree bower my prison ! I have lost
Beauties and feelings, such as would have been
Most sweet to my remembrance even when age
Had dimm'd mine eyes to blindness ! They, meanwhile,
Friends, whom I never more may meet again,
On springy heath, along the hill-top edge,
Wander in gladness, and wind down, perchance,
To that still roaring dell, of which I told
From "This Lime-Tree Bower my Prison" by Samuel Taylor Coleridge. Link
Finally got round to installing iTunes on the new-build PC. Went through the podcast list I posted before and resubscribed. I also found that PodioBooks have produced a podcast of Sami myths and culture "God Wears Many Skins". Link to chapter one online. I wonder if there's a chapter on the Hilleberg family's finding of the first Akto tent? But I suppose that would be a stand alone story.
Still banned from OB forum. I can't be bothered emailing the moderators, so am sending a message in a blog-post ' '
Third day off ill. Got a total of 3 hours sleep last night. With about 3 hours of pacing and limbering exercises and attempts to doze off between 2am and 5am.
FJ came round to see how I was doing. I gave her a presentation AktoMug, but the photo was too unfocussed to post here. I'll sort something out later (re-posed next day).
Problems on the mend, at about the same timings as the last time. In case it was food poisoning, I've attacked kitchen surfaces with some chemical treatment. So tired that pushing the Dyson round the flat wore me out - felt exactly like the time at Killin (but without the headaches). As it's on the mend, I didn't go back to the Doc.
Hopefully good to go back to work tomorrow. I'll need to get some chocs for the folk that have been covering for me.
Oh, and I've been banned from the OB forum again. Maybe someone needs some of the tabs that the spammers sell to cut down on this premature evictioning.
Walking back from the doctor's today I sighted a council worker sweeping up the leaves from the street. The first sign of Fall/Autumn? I know the seasons are different, but we don't have 'Fall' in the UK, combining it all into Autumn. Strange that, some of the terms from the English language exist in the New World, but not in the Old.
I saw that Colin Prior has a presentation at TechFest later this month. Also, Ben Fogle gives a talk about his passion for the natural world; Ann Lindsay on 300 years of plant collectors; Dr Iain Stewart and his hot rocks. Plus a pile of other science-centred tours, presentations and events.
And the reason for going to the medico? A recurrence of the stomach-ache I had a few weeks back. I'm under orders to rest up and eat light food. It may be a bug or something like that - nothing serious - so ruled out Lyme disease, hernia, appendicitis, pregnancy. Sorry to those who are covering for me at work.
Two of us tabbed it in from Inverey yesterday evening. Passing a pile of people leaving the Braemar gathering. With such a heavy polis presence, there must have been a high proportion of troublemakers there. I certainly saw some people breaking the laws of fashion - the small kilt and laced 'Mel Gibson' shirt just doesn't go together! But no police officer made a move to arrest these folk. Bypassing the usual forays to kit shop and hungry highlander and last civilised WC, we drove on. And then walked on. The wind forced us to backtrack to find a pitch in a shieling that was more like a hill fort at NO1084. Brew, dinner, chat, chocs and shortbread. Tab out on Sunday, then off to the Mar Lodge open day.
Outside Braemar
Hiking out
Glen Ey
Red sky at night
West end of Glen Ey
Toward the Ey Burn bridge
Campsite
Camping in the sheiling
Substantial walls
Bombproofing.
Resting in my tent.
Whilst hikers trek by below.
the view of the shieling from the track.
Snapping away with new camera
Sunshine on the Cairngorms
Deserted buildings
The track out
Mar Lodge
Collected new 55-200mm lens today, so stopped off at Duthie Park to take some snaps and see what's what. I noticed that lens now takes 52mm filters - hmm, the recently eBayed ND filters are 58mm (which fits the original lens). All this is new to me. Camera shake at the 200mm setting is very noticeable. I didn't bother posting photos taken of gulls on the other side of the Dee, as they were too blurred. Tripod or beanbag definitely required for that.
Lens set to 55mm. f/5.6. ISO 800.
Lens set to 200mm. f/5.6. ISO 800.
Queen Elizabeth Bridge.
Being reflective.
