photofriends Intro Post

[thedivinegoat]

I posted this as my intro post at photofriends, but as all the entries are member-locked I thought I'd repost it over here.

I'm a 34 year old, mum of four, living in the Brecon Beacons in Wales.

We have mountains here.




(Because I was indecisive and have included so many photos, I've sized the pictures small. However, they're all on Flickr so just click through for the full sized photo)

I've loved photography for as long as I can remember, my Dad was respected photographer and he made sure my sister and I always had a decent camera, (albeit age appropriate!), and taught me how to develop my own photos. (A skill that has sadly atrophied). My first proper camera was a beloved 1960's Pratika with a built in light meter, which my parents got cheap at an auction when I was in my teens.

The next camera I had any fondness for was my Canon PowerShot G2.



Which sadly died a death after years of faithful service when my two year son learnt how to reach things above his head by climbing onto chairs.

I next got a Canon EOS 300D, which I had great fun paying with,



and was glad the kids gave a me a good excuse to spend a lot of time at Bristol Zoo.



I also love poppies.





That then made way for my 400D which was when I also started playing with HDR.



(I also occasionally stole my husbands 30D ;-) )



Unfortunately, taking photos, when out on a day trip on your own with four kids, can be extremely hard, (Come on Mummy!) and in the last few years my photography output has declined drastically, so I treated myself to a Canon PowerShot A580, intending it mainly for occasions when my 400D was too bulky, or just too much for what I needed it. And, I've had fun figuring our it's limitations.



The last camera I got was my iPhone camera, which for quite a while I didn't consider as a camera of any worth at all. Then I got recced the Best Camera App (the best camera is the one you have with you) and really got into taking photos with it. I now mostly use a combination of Gorillacam, Best Camera, Photoshop Mobile and Colorsplash when taking photos on my iPhone. (Another app I can recommend is Dr DOF, a depth of field calculator)

Comments

[helens78]

Oh, wow, so pretty!

[thedivinegoat]

:D Thank you!

[shanaqui]

Oooh, Brecon. I used to go up there a lot when I was younger, with my grandad. Haven't been in quite a while.

[thedivinegoat]

I love it up here. (I added you 'cos I'm always looking for more welsh DW'ers)

[lithiumdoll]

you are kind of ridiculously talented, these are beautiful!

[thedivinegoat]

Aww, shucks.

:D

[zulu]

Ooh, lovely! Also, I don't think I knew you were from Wales (maybe I did?). I was just there on the weekend being a tourist and it was beautiful.

[thedivinegoat]

I saw your post, and in fact still have it open in another tab as I keep meaning to comment on it.

(And the Brecon Beacons are far superior to Snowdonia. ;-) )

[wyrdkat]

gorgeous pictures!

[thedivinegoat]

Thank you! :-)

[grammarwoman]

Those are some absolutely lovely photos.

[thedivinegoat]

Thank you!

[zillah975]

Oh, wow, how gorgeous!!

[thedivinegoat]

Thank you! :-D

[tassosss]

These are gorgeous!

[thedivinegoat]

Thank you. :-)

[skadi.livejournal.com]

That first one is absolutely gorgeous.

[thedivinegoat]

Thank you! I didn't mention in the post, but that one's HDR as well. It's taken at the foot of the Hay Bluff looking toward the Beacons through the remains of a stone circle. It's one of my favourite places.

(Just to the left of the picture, out of shot is a mountain known in Welsh as Twmpa. It's English name is Lord Hereford's Knob! ;-) )

[sorchar]

Mountains and CANNIBALS! I watch Torchwood, I know these things!

[thedivinegoat]

True, but the cannibals are down by Sennybridge, (also responsible for Rhydian. Coincidence? I think not!) and we're up by the Black Mountains where the sheep are bred to drive off cannibals. And also mug the tourists for any valuables, but we don't mention that.

[sorchar]

Also, if those are your kids they are adorable. Well, they're adorable regardless. :)

[thedivinegoat]

Yep, my kids. (For my sins. ;-) )

And I think their adorable too! (Well, mostly. Well when they're not whining at me. Or fighting. Or drawing on the walls... ;-) )

[bettina]

I think I already commented when you posted the pictures at the comm (if not, I really should have!), but I wanted to comment again. These pictures are really gorgeous! I love them!

[thedivinegoat]

I think you did, and I meant to reply, I really did! But I'm really crap at replying to comments, although I'm trying to get better.

And thank you. ;-)

[green_knight]

Thanks for sharing this post! I shall look at your Flickr stream soon.

[thedivinegoat]

Thank you. (I need to upload to flickr more frequently).

[archersangel]

very nice

[frith]

Art imitating art! In the 'can you see me photo', he's hiding behind a shark, like the thepunchlineismachismo kids, as seen here: http://thepunchlineismachismo.com/archives/date/2010/12 (Comic about a work-placement office for video-game characters. Totally safe, unless there's javascript traps. I always have javascript off, so I don't fall into those.)

[liviconnor]

Those poppies are lovely, as are the... big rocks in the foreground of the first photo. Are those the Brecon Beacons? The eponymous Beacons of Brecon fame? In any case, I don't know the first thing about proper composition or photography, but they're very pretty. :\