A bit more practice using slow motion video on the iPhone 6s:
Not an easy take trying to keep up with the spider while wasps buzzed round my head.
Final speed 25% created using the Slow Fast iOS app.
Friday, 29 June 2018
Wednesday, 27 June 2018
A Peek Inside the Village Church
I had to leave the car at my local garage as its air con had developed a leak and lost all the Nitrogen. (Expensive stuff to replace!) In fact it needed a replacement part as well as re-charging. On the walk back home I followed a footpath which lead me to the back of the churchyard. As I was on my own I decided to have a quick look inside the village church. There were a couple of things I wanted to see and photograph where possible.
So I headed to the porch doors hoping they would be unlocked:
I opened the extra, fragile looking, door which is mainly wire mesh and normally kept shut to keep birds out when a main door is open. Yes. The doors were unlocked.
Once inside the porch I could see the small stained glass window on the West side:
and the inside of the porch doors:
Ahead of me was the main door to the Nave:
Unusual, I think. It is really hefty at about 4 inches thick as the inside is lined with planks of wood:
In spite of its weight it moves easily on those three large iron hinges.
Walking down to the East end I could see the screen dividing the Nave from the Chancel.
It was worth a closer examination as the panels are carved:
About half of the panels contained carved faces:
Hanging above the screen is a beautifully painted carved crucifixion:
To the left is the pulpit: To the right, the organ:
Walking back to the West end of the Nave lead me to the font:
On which I found one of the things I was hoping to see.
Carved in one shield on the font:
Graffiti. Not any old scribbled carving. Medieval graffiti. What looks like a W is in fact two overlapping Vs, a reference to the Virgin Mary / Virgo Virginum. A design which can be found in many churches up and down the land. Thought to have been used to keep evil spirits away from the baby being christened. I only found out about this from an article in the latest Village News. A group called U3A Louth Church Mice had visited the church to search for and record any Medieval graffiti.
In the article they suggested a book for those interested in the subject.
Medieval Graffiti: the Lost Voices of England's Churches by Matthew Champion.
There are many places where a copy can be bought as well as an electronic version for Amazon's Kindle and an epub version from Kobo. The latter is the version I bought and am now working my way through its 263 pages. Very wordy and discusses many of the different theories about the meanings behind all sorts of Medieval church graffiti. Some illustrations. I wish there were more.
Whilst in the Nave I photographed the stained glass windows:
Finally, a carved head supporting a roof timber in the porch:
Oh, yes. I said I was looking for a couple of things. The other was a plaque commemorating one of the village war dead. Unfortunately I couldn't find it. There is more Medieval graffiti to be found - another day maybe.
So I headed to the porch doors hoping they would be unlocked:
I opened the extra, fragile looking, door which is mainly wire mesh and normally kept shut to keep birds out when a main door is open. Yes. The doors were unlocked.
Once inside the porch I could see the small stained glass window on the West side:
and the inside of the porch doors:
Ahead of me was the main door to the Nave:
Unusual, I think. It is really hefty at about 4 inches thick as the inside is lined with planks of wood:
In spite of its weight it moves easily on those three large iron hinges.
Walking down to the East end I could see the screen dividing the Nave from the Chancel.
It was worth a closer examination as the panels are carved:
About half of the panels contained carved faces:
Hanging above the screen is a beautifully painted carved crucifixion:
To the left is the pulpit: To the right, the organ:
Walking back to the West end of the Nave lead me to the font:
On which I found one of the things I was hoping to see.
Carved in one shield on the font:
Graffiti. Not any old scribbled carving. Medieval graffiti. What looks like a W is in fact two overlapping Vs, a reference to the Virgin Mary / Virgo Virginum. A design which can be found in many churches up and down the land. Thought to have been used to keep evil spirits away from the baby being christened. I only found out about this from an article in the latest Village News. A group called U3A Louth Church Mice had visited the church to search for and record any Medieval graffiti.
In the article they suggested a book for those interested in the subject.
Medieval Graffiti: the Lost Voices of England's Churches by Matthew Champion.
There are many places where a copy can be bought as well as an electronic version for Amazon's Kindle and an epub version from Kobo. The latter is the version I bought and am now working my way through its 263 pages. Very wordy and discusses many of the different theories about the meanings behind all sorts of Medieval church graffiti. Some illustrations. I wish there were more.
Whilst in the Nave I photographed the stained glass windows:
Finally, a carved head supporting a roof timber in the porch:
As always the photos can be clicked to take you to my Flickr account where they can be viewed larger. They were all taken with the Nikon Coolpix S9050 pocket camera.
You may have noticed various non churchy items strewn about. Every Saturday there is a sale of donated items organised by a local resident. All proceeds are given to various local or national charities. The chosen charities being different each month.
Oh, yes. I said I was looking for a couple of things. The other was a plaque commemorating one of the village war dead. Unfortunately I couldn't find it. There is more Medieval graffiti to be found - another day maybe.
Tuesday, 26 June 2018
Not Just Sticky Leaves
I could see something different about a few new growths on my Sundew plant. As well as growing new sticky leaves, which seem to be doing a grand job in trapping the small flies which can infest compost, there are:
Flower buds? Until yesterday I had never noticed a photo of a Sundew in flower but a quick search showed they do indeed produce pretty pink flowers. Something else to look forward to.
Flower buds? Until yesterday I had never noticed a photo of a Sundew in flower but a quick search showed they do indeed produce pretty pink flowers. Something else to look forward to.
Monday, 25 June 2018
Monday Montage
A reminder of last week's WidsMob Montage modified photo:
Congratulations to Adrian, Ragged Robin and Wilma who correctly identified an ...
... insect hotel.
I don't seem to have much luck with these.
Apart from the occasional ladybird they appear to be deserted.
For this week we have ...
... for you to identify.
If you would like to have a go at identifying what was originally photographed please leave your guess in the comments. They will be revealed, along with the original photo, next Monday.
Congratulations to Adrian, Ragged Robin and Wilma who correctly identified an ...
... insect hotel.
I don't seem to have much luck with these.
Apart from the occasional ladybird they appear to be deserted.
For this week we have ...
... for you to identify.
If you would like to have a go at identifying what was originally photographed please leave your guess in the comments. They will be revealed, along with the original photo, next Monday.
Sunday, 24 June 2018
Saturday, 23 June 2018
Under a Plantpot
I had put a plantpot containing a seemingly dead orchid to one side a few days ago.
When I moved it this morning I was surprised how many minibeasts started scurrying about.
None were longer than about 1.5mm
I used the slow motion video facility on the iPhone to video this.
Action is about half speed.
The last time I used slow motion I mentioned that the start and end sections of slow motion videos were at normal speed and wondered why. Apparently that is normal so I invested in another app which allows me to slow down those sections as well.
When I moved it this morning I was surprised how many minibeasts started scurrying about.
None were longer than about 1.5mm
I used the slow motion video facility on the iPhone to video this.
Action is about half speed.
The last time I used slow motion I mentioned that the start and end sections of slow motion videos were at normal speed and wondered why. Apparently that is normal so I invested in another app which allows me to slow down those sections as well.
Tuesday, 19 June 2018
A Sticky End
Close views of a Sundew leaf showing all the sticky blobs waiting to trap any unsuspecting insect.
The sticky blobs surround nectar glands. I assume those are the red bits seen in close shots.
Taken with the iPhone:
Closer views of the very sticky blobs on the end of each tentacle.
Focus stacked shots with the Canon 50D + 135mm lens + Raynox DCR-250 macro lens.
44 shots with ring light, which is reflected in every sticky ball
60 shots without the ring light
Notice how the tentacles bend over to trap anything which lands on the leaf.
Both those sets of stacked photos were processed with Zerene Stacker.
Finally 20 focus stacked shots with Canon 50D + 200mm + Raynox MSN-202 macro lens.
This time processed with Affinity Photo as it gave a better result than Zerene Stacker.
For more information visit the Grow Sundews site. Not an https secure site.
The sticky blobs surround nectar glands. I assume those are the red bits seen in close shots.
Taken with the iPhone:
Closer views of the very sticky blobs on the end of each tentacle.
Focus stacked shots with the Canon 50D + 135mm lens + Raynox DCR-250 macro lens.
44 shots with ring light, which is reflected in every sticky ball
60 shots without the ring light
Notice how the tentacles bend over to trap anything which lands on the leaf.
Both those sets of stacked photos were processed with Zerene Stacker.
Finally 20 focus stacked shots with Canon 50D + 200mm + Raynox MSN-202 macro lens.
This time processed with Affinity Photo as it gave a better result than Zerene Stacker.
For more information visit the Grow Sundews site. Not an https secure site.
Monday, 18 June 2018
Monday Montage
Last week's WidsMob Montage modified photo
was correctly identified as
an owl garden ornament by Adrian, Ragged Robin, Wilma and The Weaver of Grass.
This week's modified photo is
If you can work out what I photographed please leave you guess in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the original photograph, next Monday.
was correctly identified as
an owl garden ornament by Adrian, Ragged Robin, Wilma and The Weaver of Grass.
This week's modified photo is
If you can work out what I photographed please leave you guess in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the original photograph, next Monday.
Sunday, 17 June 2018
A Drop or Two of Rain
It's a good thing yesterday's short sharp shower
only lasted a few minutes as it was falling at the rate of nearly two inches an hour.
In the evening the crescent Moon was visible between the dark clouds:
At the same time visible to the naked eye but more difficult to photograph was Venus:
You may have to click on the picture to see a larger version.
Venus is the small white dot half way down on the right hand side.
only lasted a few minutes as it was falling at the rate of nearly two inches an hour.
In the evening the crescent Moon was visible between the dark clouds:
At the same time visible to the naked eye but more difficult to photograph was Venus:
You may have to click on the picture to see a larger version.
Venus is the small white dot half way down on the right hand side.
Saturday, 16 June 2018
Winemaking Anyone?
Local elderflower is in full bloom:
Looks very pretty in the hedgerow but a real pain in my garden. There used to be masses of it in next door's garden. That has been dug out but the hundreds of berries which kept falling my side of the fence are growing with a vengeance.
Looks very pretty in the hedgerow but a real pain in my garden. There used to be masses of it in next door's garden. That has been dug out but the hundreds of berries which kept falling my side of the fence are growing with a vengeance.
Friday, 15 June 2018
I'll Just ....
.... rest my paw on this biscuit while I have a nap:
to make sure no one can steal it without me knowing.
to make sure no one can steal it without me knowing.
Thursday, 14 June 2018
In the Rockery
While I was having a weeding session in the overgrown rockery I spotted some of the wildlife sheltering there. First a large frog leapt out. Next was a daytime flying moth. Unfortunately it wouldn't settle long enough to photo or identify as it fed from the flowers on the rockery pinks. Even while it was in one place feeding its wings never stopped moving which made it difficult to make out any markings.
The find I most liked was:
A young toad.
A closer crop from the above photo:
I sometimes see fully grown adults but this is only the second time I have seen a young one.
The find I most liked was:
A young toad.
A closer crop from the above photo:
I sometimes see fully grown adults but this is only the second time I have seen a young one.
Wednesday, 13 June 2018
Monday, 11 June 2018
Monday Montage
Here we are. Monday again. Funny how some days seem endless but weeks and months seem to fly by.
Anyway here is a reminder of last week's WidsMob Montage modified photo:
Which Adrian, Ragged Robin and Wilma had no difficulty in identifying as:
my polka dot kettle.
This week's montage for you to identify:
If you would like to make a guess please leave it in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the original photo, next Monday.
Anyway here is a reminder of last week's WidsMob Montage modified photo:
Which Adrian, Ragged Robin and Wilma had no difficulty in identifying as:
my polka dot kettle.
This week's montage for you to identify:
If you would like to make a guess please leave it in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the original photo, next Monday.
Sunday, 10 June 2018
Catching Flies
Catching pesky annoying flies in the home can be done several ways.
Artificial man made catcher.
This is the one I use. No chemicals.
Just a nice attractive, to flies, yellow colour and a very sticky surface.
I have just replaced last year's one as it was well and truly covered with dead flies:
In the past I have tried the yellow sticky sheet type catchers.
Two problems.
Trying to get the paper cover off them without sticking to the darn thing.
Worse, ending up with a sore throat from the chemical used to attract insects.
All you have to do with the Zero In is hold the plastic hook and slide it out of the box as the plastic shapes at each end prevent it from catching on the cardboard.
The natural way with plants which catch flies.
I have had a Venus Fly trap and Pitcher plant in past years but lost them to cold winters.
Now I have got round to replacing them with the addition, for the first time, of a Sundew:
It will be interesting to see which of these works best in the conservatory.
Also tried in the past.
A UV zapper. The type you sometimes see in food shops.
The light attracts insects and a high voltage zaps them.
The almighty crack when one was zapped used to make me jump.
It didn't attract many flies.
It cost money having it plugged in to the electric supply all the time.
A hand held electric zapper. The tennis racket shaped thingy.
I'm too slow to swat the flies. Again the crack when one is zapped made me jump.
Having it handy, with a working battery was a clat.
Much better to have something you can hang up and forget about as it gets on with its designed task.
Just keep it well away from curtains which might blow on to it or heads which may brush against it.
Artificial man made catcher.
This is the one I use. No chemicals.
Just a nice attractive, to flies, yellow colour and a very sticky surface.
I have just replaced last year's one as it was well and truly covered with dead flies:
In the past I have tried the yellow sticky sheet type catchers.
Two problems.
Trying to get the paper cover off them without sticking to the darn thing.
Worse, ending up with a sore throat from the chemical used to attract insects.
All you have to do with the Zero In is hold the plastic hook and slide it out of the box as the plastic shapes at each end prevent it from catching on the cardboard.
The natural way with plants which catch flies.
I have had a Venus Fly trap and Pitcher plant in past years but lost them to cold winters.
Now I have got round to replacing them with the addition, for the first time, of a Sundew:
It will be interesting to see which of these works best in the conservatory.
Also tried in the past.
A UV zapper. The type you sometimes see in food shops.
The light attracts insects and a high voltage zaps them.
The almighty crack when one was zapped used to make me jump.
It didn't attract many flies.
It cost money having it plugged in to the electric supply all the time.
A hand held electric zapper. The tennis racket shaped thingy.
I'm too slow to swat the flies. Again the crack when one is zapped made me jump.
Having it handy, with a working battery was a clat.
Much better to have something you can hang up and forget about as it gets on with its designed task.
Just keep it well away from curtains which might blow on to it or heads which may brush against it.
Saturday, 9 June 2018
Walkies
As regulars cannot have missed I changed my iPhone recently. Mainly to get a bit larger screen but mostly because my old one is no longer supported by Apple and the operating system and many of my favourite apps cannot be updated. One of the apps included in the new one is Health. It can be used to keep a record of all sorts of information but I only use one section, its ability to automatically monitor how far I walk each day. As the phone resides in a trouser pocket most of the time it records how many paces I make and calculates how far I have travelled. The results are shown graphically:
Easy to spot when the four legged boss took me out for walkies.
Apparently the number of steps is measured by its built in accelerometer and the distance using GPS.
Both are also used to work out the length of my stride.
Easy to spot when the four legged boss took me out for walkies.
Apparently the number of steps is measured by its built in accelerometer and the distance using GPS.
Both are also used to work out the length of my stride.
Friday, 8 June 2018
A Shaggy Parasol?
No, not a wind blown sun umbrella but these little beauties spotted in the part of the garden which was cleared of overgrown bushes late last year:
Having spent a while researching they look to me to be Shaggy Parasol mushrooms.
Chlorophyllum rhacodes See a description HERE.
Another which had fallen over:
From below:
Another view of the trio:
Having spent a while researching they look to me to be Shaggy Parasol mushrooms.
Chlorophyllum rhacodes See a description HERE.
Another which had fallen over:
From below:
Another view of the trio:
Wednesday, 6 June 2018
Monday, 4 June 2018
Monday Montage
A reminder of last week's WidsMob Montage modified picture:
Identified in various ways:
by Adrian and The Weaver of Grass, with Wilma and Ragged Robin correctly saying it is a fossil fish.
How easy will this one be?
If you wish to have a go at identifying what I photographed please leave your guess in the comments. They will be revealed, along with the original photo, next Monday.
Identified in various ways:
by Adrian and The Weaver of Grass, with Wilma and Ragged Robin correctly saying it is a fossil fish.
How easy will this one be?
If you wish to have a go at identifying what I photographed please leave your guess in the comments. They will be revealed, along with the original photo, next Monday.
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