Luxor4u

Kiya from what you say about the height of the fence, those drums could well be 6 to 8 meters in diameter. As an aside, big reels need big kit to handle them.....something like this http://www.roadtransport.com/blogs/big- ... these.html

I am inclined to think they are cable drums probably for undersea cable laying.

Grandad I think like you & Horus the cable is for under sea use ?

I have asked a friend who works at the harbour area...........waiting for reply via email........will give an update later.

Thanks for the link, they would need massive machines with police escort to move these beauties

I forgot I took these flowers a few weeks ago trying out close up/macro.
I alway thought these are weeds but they are pretty when shown close up.
Horus keep me right what are they ?? I'm no greenfinger!!

I have to be honest and say I have no idea so that should scotch the rumour that I am some sort of plant expert
I would say that it is a cultivated and not a wild flower, it looks too exotic. Was it low growing or shrub like? it looks to have soft stems. My first guess was that it looked like an Alpine plant and living where you do, I suppose that it would need to be fairly cold tollerant. but whatever it is, it looks very nice, would not mind it in my garden.

Weel Horus you can have my lot....they grow like wild fire with low down broad leaves but the wee flower its self grows tall, the worst of weather up here dosen't kill this lot off.

In answer to above got this reply

THESE ARE UNDERSEA UMBILICALS USED FOR TELECOMMUNICATIONS, AIR, WATER + VARIOUS OTHER THINGS.

Just like Kiya I've been playing around with the macro function in the garden and these are from my first attempt.

Well you are having a lot of success Brian. I have some new kit but the lenses don't have macro so I have to work from a distance then crop out the bit I wanted.

You seem to have several different ladybird (or ladybug to our friend LLL) species And they must be in heaven with all those aphids

And those little delicate plants are delightful Kiya......hopefully they will be identified. Not by me I'm afraid......pots on a patio with bamboos, grasses, hostas and geraniums is my limit

Some good close ups there Brian I also think that you may have a few of the dreaded 'Harlequin' variety that are very invasive to our local species and spreading rapidly

Here is a nice reference link for you to see all the different varieties.
http://www.ladybird-survey.org/download ... _v.1.3.pdf

Excellent LadyBugs and/or LadyBirds! (Bug to me) They are so clear and crisp too! Love the nasturtium. Wonderful colour! Love 'em!

I was out trying to chase down a Dragon Fly but he wouldn't lite down long enough for me to get a snap of him. Drat!! Cause he was a beautiful blue colour!

Thank you for your comments - there were quite a few rejects before I got to these - thank god for digital.

Horus - I had no idea there were so many different species - I'll have to get out and take some more.

LLL - I took these dragonflies with a telephoto setting. 1 main picture and then cropped.

Brian, we like to know how you got those excellent pics

Did you spot focus or manual?

Without macro I have to do the same and zoom onto the subject from a short distance. My fly earlier in this thread was a very small part of the frame and spot focussed.

Hi Grandad

The dragonflies were taken on Auto with just a general centre focus. Used the same general centre focus for the ladybirds but only yesterday found / remembered that I have 5 option plus manual so will have to try these out.

Brian

Hi again Grandad

What camera do you have? If it has, say, a 55mm screw fitting you could get a macro converter on e-bay for less than £20.

Just spotted one that is a X0.45 wide angle with Macro for £11 - might try it myself. The extra wide angle would be useful in Egypt.

Thanks Grandad - you've just cost me £10.95

Brian, I have just moved up to a Nikon D5000 with 18 - 55 and 55 -200 lenses. Both have a 52mm filter size so any extra screw on bits can be used with both lenses. I will look on ebay and see whats on offer......it is usually my first port of call.

I find it necessary to switch to centre focus with those shots because with 11 points it 'hunts' otherwise.

Just been out to play with the different focus settings - these were with spot focus. Most of the ladybirds are in hiding and could only find this yellow 14 spotted one (thanks Horus).




The first was cropped down to approx 75% of the original.

Tried manual focus but can't seem to get in focus even with the enlarged focusing area that pops up.

Brian, you have done exceptionally well to get those Dragonfly photos They hardly ever stay in one place long enough to focus before they are gone again!
I am intrigued by the colour of the wings as they seem to have a reddish hue to them. The nearest one that matches the picture is a Scarlet Darter Dragonfly which usually has transparent, but red veined wings, either way it is probably a migrant from the continent. You seem to be quite good at spotting the rarer insects

Horus - the dragonflies were taken in NW Thailand and yes was very lucky to snap them - think it was a case of spot them, kneel down on one knee, focus, snap - only had the camera about a month at that stage and was still on full auto for everything.

Brian

Obviously had more time than I remembered as here's another shot.

BB Fantastic pics of the ladybirds & dragon fly, I don't care for creepy crawly critters but to see them in close up in detail is amazing

Its funny you remember things when you cant sleep, the flower at the bottom of my garden is a London Pride....hope the link opens.

www.english-country-garden.com/flowers/london...

Bearded Brian wrote:Horus - the dragonflies were taken in NW Thailand and yes was very lucky to snap them - think it was a case of spot them, kneel down on one knee, focus, snap - only had the camera about a month at that stage and was still on full auto for everything.

Brian

Obviously had more time than I remembered as here's another shot.

Now that explains a lot I just could not rationalise the wing colour with anything that we have in the UK.

And Kiya, I think you may well be right You certainly threw me with your ulta close up the actual flowers of London Pride are very tiny and I must say I have never looked at them so close up before, I had assumed them to be pictures of a much larger flower. I also have this plant in my own garden but it is past flowering now, but it is just as you describe, ground hugging serrated leaves in little clusters with the flowers on a long stem.