The Imperial War Museum in Duxford has a fantastically preserved German V1 flying bomb dating back to 1944-1945. The V1 is one of the earliest weapons to use a pulsejet engine. With an effective range of 160 miles over 9000 of these were launched at the United Kingdom between June and October 1944 till their launch sites were overrun by Allied advances.
The above photo is a composite of 3 shots bracketed at -2, 0 and 2 eV and merged in Photomatix Pro.
This week there was a surprise flowering at the Cambridge University Botanical Gardens. The plant known variously as Titan arum or Corpse flower bloomed after a gap of 11 years. Titan arum (Amorphophallus titanum) are native to Sumatra and are one of the worlds stinkiest and largest flowers described as rotting meat, moth balls, old socks etc.
Thankfully the worst of the smells are in the night time and I conveniently missed it! The photograph above is a HDR of 3 bracketed shots at -2, 0 and +2 stops. Shot with a 35mm f/1.8 Nikon lens on a Nikon D7000. Processed in Photomatix Pro.
Wicken Fen is the oldest nature reserve managed by the National Trust. The nature reserve preserves some of the last remaining wetlands in Europe and is home to many species of plants, birds and insects. The following picture is of the Wicken Fen wind pump, the last surviving wooden wind powered wind pump used to drain the Fens. Click on the picture for a larger version on Flickr, and best appreciated in large size!
Nikon D7000 with a Sigma 105mm, f/2.8 lens Bracketed 3 shot HDR merged in Photomatix Pro and processed in Adobe Photoshop Lightroom
I have been tardy lately and not been near a camera. I suppose the weather here in Britain isn’t particularly conducive for outdoor activity! Going through my collection of pictures I found this one which to me provided the much needed warmth in these cold, dark and grey days.
Originally shot at the Eden Project and more recently processed in Adobe Lightroom.
Audley End house is a magnificent example of a 17th century stately home near Saffron Walden in Essex. The property was also once a royal palace in the time of Charles II (1668) who purchased the property for £5 in order to be able to attend races at Newmarket. Audley End is now managed by English Heritage but all paintings and period decorations are from the original time and form part of a private collection.
HDR composed of three bracketed shots at -2, 0 and +2 exposures and processed in Photomatix Pro. Please click on the photo for a larger version.
Probably not what you were expecting!
A deserted beach on Mackinac Island, Michigan on the shores of Lake Huron.
There is this spectacular limestone arch on Mackinac Island in Michigan. I had a leisurely stroll around the island yesterday after hiring a bicycle. The 8 mile circumnavigation of the island offers lovely views of Lake Michigan (more photos from that later). For now, here’s a picture of Arch Rock.
Sometimes a picture looks better than the real thing. When I shot this, I didn’t think it looked all that impressive. Processing the bracketed shots as HDR makes this scene of a path lined with trees look serene and tranquil. The noisy tourists were all behind me at this stage :).
Shot using a 28-70mm Sigma f/2.8 lens on a Nikon D7000. Processed in Adobe Lightroom, Photomatix Pro and NIK Color Efex Pro.
HDR of a set of steps leading from the River Walk to the city above. San Antonio, Texas. Photos taken at -2, 0 and +2 stops, then merged and processed in Photomatix Pro.
Juridicious 