Friday at the Flicks -- Starlings

Doing what they do best - squabbling over food:

Super Denoising Mac App

Just spotted that the Mac app Super Denoising is a free download at the time of writing.

Gave it a quick trial on one of the noisy microscope photos:

 

Original:


Denoised:


I had already tried 'denoising' the original in Serif Affinity and my old version of Photoshop Elements and that was the best I could achieve. So far on this quick test I am very impressed with Super Denoising. Although the results may not perfectly match what was originally seen by eye as it is liable to lose some small detail it certainly makes a good attempt at cleaning things up.

Wordless Wednesday

 

Monday Mystery - Guess What

Last week's mystery photo went down better. Congratulations and a virtual Midmarsh Gold Star go to Adrian, The Weaver of Grass, TexWisGirl, Ragged Robin and Wilma who all identified the Jack-o-Lantern / Halloween Pumpkin:

   

I wonder how you will get on with the everyday object disguised in this mystery photo.
Guess What:


Please leave any guesses in the comments.
They will be revealed, along with the answer, next Monday.
No prizes, just for fun and maybe a virtual Midmarsh Gold or Silver Star.

A Touch Nippy This Morning

It's no wonder the weather is a major topic of conversation in the UK. It can change so rapidly from one extreme to another. A few days ago we had much higher than average November temperatures with it reaching 18C here. Last night it plummeted to an unseasonal -1C over night. It was only half a degree above freezing when we went for our morning perambulation and were greeted by the sight of frozen pools of water by the front gate:





So much depends on the position of the ever meandering jet stream. Depending on its position winds may come from the Atlantic bringing humid, rainy and sometimes stormy conditions. From the Arctic bringing cold and snow or from Africa bringing warm air.

Getting in Close

Not a lot of note going on hereabouts these days. This morning has started with near gale force gusts of Northerly wind, temperature about 6C but feeling nearer 3C in the wind and rain. So far it looks too warm for the forecast snow though that could change overnight if we end up with clear skies.

A few days ago I found a item which had been thrown from the roof so decided to put it under the microscope. Snapshots are somewhat grainy:









What was it I had found?



A clump of moss. There is always some growing on the concrete roof tiles on the North facing side of the roof. The Blackbirds make a reasonably good job of clearing it off.

Monday Mystery - Guess What

Congratulations and the virtual Midmarsh Gold Star to Adrian, Ragged Robin and Bonnie who sussed out it was a camera.
 
The virtual Midmarsh Silver Star to The Weaver of Grass and Wilma who suggest it was photographic equipment. What some thought was a flash gun was in fact a microphone:



I don't think this week's mystery photo will be as difficult. Guess What:

Please leave any guesses in the comments. They will be revealed, along with the answer, next Monday. No prizes, just for fun and maybe a virtual Midmarsh Gold or Silver Star.