The old Church of Kyrkås has been around since the 12th century and is still used today. It seemed like a good setting for something as timeless as the stars.
Friday, 28 November 2008
Hounds and Starry Skies
It has been cloudy for weeks now so my plans of taking pictures of the night sky have been delayed somewhat. In fact tonight was the first time I got the chance to try it again and straight away I discovered another problem. I don't mean the two dogs from the house closest to the old church who ran out barking and trying to bite me, and I don't mean the owner of the house who kept trying to spot me with his (or her?) spotlight either. No, the problem now is the snow. I mentioned before how I had realised there was a lot of light pollution around and that I would have to find a darker place. Well I did, or I would have if it hadn't been for the snow now acting as a giant reflector. I miss the nights in the Kalahari. They were dark. Really dark.
The old Church of Kyrkås has been around since the 12th century and is still used today. It seemed like a good setting for something as timeless as the stars.
The old Church of Kyrkås has been around since the 12th century and is still used today. It seemed like a good setting for something as timeless as the stars.
Thursday, 27 November 2008
Sunday, 23 November 2008
Ice and Snow
Our retired neighbours Gillis and Vivi-Ann have taken it upon themselves to prepare the schools ice rink every year. Fortunately for us our house is no more than approximately 50 metres away from it, so thanks to them we have "our own" ice to skate on. This is great since neither Lorienne nor I are good skaters and now we can practice our skating skills (or lack of) without throwing our names away. Swedes usually learn to skate before or during their school years and therefore can't understand how some people can't do it.
Keeping the ice rink in good condition is almost daily work. First a more or less even surface must be prepared and after that it takes many layers of water before it actually becomes skateable ice. Maintenance means clearing it every time it has snowed.
These photos were taken last winter when Gillis and Vivi-Ann went to clear away snow. They had only just started when the skies dumped what seemed like a whole years supply of snow on top of them. They bravely carried on working but had to give up after a while since the snow was actually falling at a greater rate than they could get rid of it!
Keeping the ice rink in good condition is almost daily work. First a more or less even surface must be prepared and after that it takes many layers of water before it actually becomes skateable ice. Maintenance means clearing it every time it has snowed.
These photos were taken last winter when Gillis and Vivi-Ann went to clear away snow. They had only just started when the skies dumped what seemed like a whole years supply of snow on top of them. They bravely carried on working but had to give up after a while since the snow was actually falling at a greater rate than they could get rid of it!
Tuesday, 18 November 2008
Revitalised
It's amazing how a good nights sleep can change the way you feel. I think our daughter Rhiannon agrees with us.
Sunday, 16 November 2008
Starlight
I decided to use this dark time of year to learn as much as possible about night photography. I have a good camera which handles high ISO levels well, I also have a sturdy tripod and a remote shutter release, so all I need now is some creativity and skill.
About a week ago I went out into the night to try it out. It didn't take long to realise that one of the obstacles is light pollution. If you stand around for long enough in a place which you at first percieved as being completely dark, then after only a few minutes you notice how it isn't really dark at all. There is always a bit of light showing from somewhere. Of course this is necessary if you want to capture some sort of image at all, but if you want to take a photograph of a starlit night then it's better not to have streetlights and headlights polluting the darkness. Stay far away from any town since it seems to emit a far reaching glow which takes the sharpness out of the stars. These are some of the first attempts and next time I will have to find a darker place!
About a week ago I went out into the night to try it out. It didn't take long to realise that one of the obstacles is light pollution. If you stand around for long enough in a place which you at first percieved as being completely dark, then after only a few minutes you notice how it isn't really dark at all. There is always a bit of light showing from somewhere. Of course this is necessary if you want to capture some sort of image at all, but if you want to take a photograph of a starlit night then it's better not to have streetlights and headlights polluting the darkness. Stay far away from any town since it seems to emit a far reaching glow which takes the sharpness out of the stars. These are some of the first attempts and next time I will have to find a darker place!
Saturday, 15 November 2008
Monday, 10 November 2008
David and Goliath
Only this time Goliath wins.
I took some photos of a friends indoor hockey (or "Floor Ball", which is is the correct name for it) match on Saturday when his team played against a much younger school team. The energetic youngsters were shouldered out of the way by the older more experienced (and larger) players. If you thought indoor hockey was for wuzzies then think again. This is ice hockey without the iceskates and padding!
I took some photos of a friends indoor hockey (or "Floor Ball", which is is the correct name for it) match on Saturday when his team played against a much younger school team. The energetic youngsters were shouldered out of the way by the older more experienced (and larger) players. If you thought indoor hockey was for wuzzies then think again. This is ice hockey without the iceskates and padding!
Sunday, 02 November 2008
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