John’s Blog

I have spent some time over the past two days playing with Adobe Lightroom 2. This is an immense improvement over Lightroom 1 - which I loved and have used extensively ever since it ‘grew’ out of Pixmantec RawShooter - a previous favorite of mine. I used the new gradient tool in this image which I took whilst at Claire’s last week. It balanced the bright window and its glare perfectly. I also added a little vignette. Here is the original photo and the modified one
 

Today was our last day with Claire so we went into the Gower to get some Salt Marsh Lamb to take home. They are based at Weobley Castle.

We then had lunch at a local pub. On the way back to Mumbles we passed through Reynoldston where we saw many sheep sheltering from the sun. It must be difficult if you leave your gate open round here.

We finshed with a last Gelato at Mumbles head.

We started today by driving to Llangennith at the end of the Gower to visit a produce market. We got some Gower Salt Marsh Lamb to try tonight. After a tea and a some cake (very good) we then went to Rhosilli Beach nearby. Here Robert and Claire flew the kite Maria brought last time she visited Claire.

Lunch then beckoned and we drove to the centre of the Gower where there is a high viewpoint. No sooner had we opened the sandwiches than we were surrounded by hungry ‘wild’ ponies. Here is one of the foals.

In the afternoon we visited the local Wildfowl and Wetlands Centre - guess the chick in the last picture!

For those who don’t know what the strange creature above is, it is a moorhen chick.
The day was rounded off by going to see Mamma Mia at the local Odeon.

Today we went out to the Aberdulais Falls, a wonderful wet valley that used to house a tin plating works powered by the falls.

We then went into the Brecon Beacons and had lunch, there were storms over Pen-y-fan.

Penderyn Whisky was the next point of call, where we all purchased some booze (Maria got some “Merlin” a cream & whisky drink). We came back to Claire’s flat the long way - round the Black Mountains and down to Llanelli. Maria said she wanted some sea so we then took a short cut over the Gower (Maria was driving and the roads were very narrow - she hates driving narrow roads). We ended up at Caswell Bay where Claire and Robert went for a paddle.

I have been working hard recently to finish a project for work, no time for anything else. I checked in the project on Wednesday afternoon so I was allowed to have a brief vacation. Robert came home early this morning and we then packed the car and came down to Gorseinon to visit Claire. Once here (and the car unloaded) the first thing we did was to go to Mumbles and have a Gelato ice cream (Claire joined us after work).
This is a view across Swansea bay.

I went for a walk round Patchings today.

Today we went shopping and then to Patchings. I took photographs of the new bears and this one of the bear Maria made last week.

I then fed the birds and took several photographs of them on the feeders.

This evening we went to see Mama Mia - a movie I thoroughly recommend - I haven’t laughed so much in ages - the first movie I can remember where the audience applauded at the end. We came out happy and singing the Abba songs.

Pressures of work and the motorway being closed twice today (on the way to work and on the way back) mean that I do not have the time or energy to take a picture. I will post one tomorrow.

Maria finished this bear today. I find photographing this colour and length of mohair difficult as it has a tendancy to give false colours and to reflect & refract light. I usually try a variety of setting both pre and post.

Today we went down to Harpenden. Mum was having a party to celebrate here 80th birthday.

You can find more photographs here.