Brownsea Island...

Red Squirrel 
Brownsea Island
Poole, England

Summer is always a time where day outings happen. Everyone wants to explore the sunshine covered country in it's rare moments. I went to Brownsea Island the other day. I wasn't expecting it to be much; National Trust and all. However once the clouds parted and a perfect combination of breeze and warmth came through, it was a lovely day in a picturesque set of woods and cute little beaches full of escapism and full blown wanderlust. Red squirrels are very rare in the UK, we don't have many, so it was great opportunity to see one and let alone capture one on camera. I must say, it wasn't easy and with a little clever focusing and a good deal of cropping, I'm quite impressed with my shot.

Dramatic Sky
Pool Harbour
Brownsea Island

Take a seat
Brownsea Island
Poole, England

Little Boat, Little Beach
Brownsea Island
Poole, England

Fairy woods
Brownsea Island
Poole, England

I feel I am really starting to get the hang of Lightroom. I can't get enough of those dramatic skies using the Graduation Tool and with a better understanding of the manual controls on my camera, I feel a great improvement from last year. 

Still moments can still be moving...

London 2012 Olympics
'Dressage'
Greenwich Park

As I watch the Men's Marathon on tv, I can't help but feel a slight pang of sadness that the London 2012 Olympics is coming to a close. Like many Britons, beforehand, we never imagined that we would  actually enjoy it that much and the only excitement was the opening ceremony, but even that exceeded expectations. I have personally really enjoyed the olympics as a whole. I have looked forward to watching it on the tv. I loved the Cycling and the Swimming, as well as people achieving their dreams; something they have put in years of effort and training, while the rest of us live our lives, oblivious that there is a sporting world out there too.

I managed to get tickets, second time round and even then I was excited about the atmosphere. I wanted to see the horse riding Cross-country but I got to see the Dressage and it was such a thrill to see horses dancing away gracefully, even hidden behind a roof of umbrella's in the pouring rain. It really was fantastic; the world coming together before your eyes upon row upon row of flags and universal cheers. Perhaps this is the closest to world peace that we have actually got to. It shouldn't have to happen every four years, this peace, it should be constant.

I loved the photography that was mentioned on the BBC this morning. Though I have searched on YouTube, to share it with you, I haven't been able to find it, but what message contained was about about still moments captured on a camera of these athletes can be as moving as the as the watching them on film. I think that really just makes you think, how fantastic photography is. Even if the world is filmed, a simply camera can still take a moment in time and just record and so much. It is truly fascinating.

I thought it was probably a wise choice not to take my DSLR to the crowded games but I kind of wished that I did. My pang of regret is healed slightly by that I had my trusty Hipstamatic camera on my iPod, so I guess I captured it in some way.

London 2012 Olympics
'Dressage'
Greenwich Park

London 2012 Olympics
'Dressage'
Greenwich Park

London 2012 Olympics
'Dressage'
Greenwich Park

London 2012 Olympics
'Dressage'
Greenwich Park

Celebration..

Celebration 'First Anniversary'
Summer Project
Zoë Bull

Celebration is a word that can be many things. 2012 is a perfect year for celebration, particularly for us Brits. It was simply fate that the Queen's Diamond Jubilee and the London Olympics were to fall this year. If you set those large scale celebrations aside, there will always be someone out in the world celebrating something. Everyday there is a birthday to celebrate or an achievement, like passing your exams and getting into University or passing your driving test or getting a promotion in your dream career. As people we take for granted what we have and focus all our energy on the negative because thats what we want to improve on. Perhaps it is time we celebrate that we are living and that this is the greatest gift of all, no matter what our emotions are telling us.

It was hard to find something that would represent celebration that didn't seem so cliche. I wonder how many people would have taken pictures of fireworks or the Union Jack bunting for their celebration piece for the Summer Project for Uni. My sister got married a year ago, and since I didn't have a present for them, I did a double whammy and took this for her and her husband.





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