Day 38 -Memphis TN

Went to pay homage to the King at Graceland. Then to Marlowes for a BBQ lunch. It's where Elvis used to eat, and Para Ted sat in his spot! 

Thank You Very Much!

Day 37

Grand Ole Opry. Nuff said. 

Day 36 - Nashville TN

We arrived early and headed downtown. Our ultimate destination was the Johnny Cash museum. 

A must for all Cash fans. 

Day 35 - On The Road

We got to Charlotte early o'clock this morning. Picked up a nice Chrysler mini van and set off for Lebanon TN. 

Sandra and Julie with Tornado skies in the background. 

We drove 546 miles through the Smokey Mountains of North Carolina and Tenesee to make our evening hotel and ultimately the true American experience that is the 'Drive In Movie' so I'm settling down with a 32oz Cola and a Pretzl and waiting to see a double bill of 'Hercules' and the new 'Planet of the Apes' movie. 

Tornado Warning, we left after the first feature as we watched an electrical storm aproach, there have been warnings all day on radio and TV so we erred on the side of caution!

Day 34 - Misadventure or Adventure?

What a day!  We started our holiday by having our first flight delayed at Manchester by an hour so we missed our connection, and our alternative because of luggage and the fact that US airways was 4 escalators, 2 lifts and a train ride away! Not a chance in hell of making it. So Air Canada sent us to Newark New York and put us up in a hotel for 3 hours! Then we flew to Charleston the next day. 

Boarding at 04:30. After 3 full hours kip. 

Day 33 - Time

Packed ready to go and in 12hrs we will be getting up and off on holiday.  So all the pictures for the next few weeks will be travel style.  

X10 Super Macro

In my camera bag: Fuji XT1, 18-55 f2.8 zoom and X10, 28-112 f2, Fuji EF-X8 flash, Hahnel flash trigger and receiver, Olympus FL 36R flash (nice and compact) spare batteries and memory cards for all. 

Ipad

And a cheap card reader for transferring SD to Ipad. 

Set of ND filters

Day 32 - Cat and Mouse

Delilah was up all night 'Hunting' when I got up this morning this little mouse was hiding under the computer table. Delilah was sat on the mat watching, not sure if she brought it home to play with or it lives here?

Not sure you need to see the end result!

Day 31

Packing day for Para Ted. He's going on his holidays soon. 

USA here he comes. He's doing a 3000mile road trip round the Deep South. 

Day 30

Ups missed the post so better late than never. I had the picture taken but so busy I hadn't had chance to post till now 0045 am. 

Window

Love the reflections and the colour. 

Day 29

Who new that Tony Stark likes Tesco's Egg Custard Tarts! 

Strange Name?!

A mate of mine James Duncan, asked me what inspired the blog name 'Watch the Noise'. 

I should think that most photographers would pick up on the reference. But this explanation is for everybody else. 

Here's some dodgy science. 

Back in the olden days (pre digital) 35mm camera film had its own character and feel, which was largely derided from the way the emulsion surface, and silver halides in B&W film responded to exposure to light, both in camera and in the darkroom. 

As light affects the emulsion, individual silver halides are activated and clump together, when developed and fixed, they apear as different shades of grey and form the picture. This chemical reaction has the side effect of producing 'Grain', which when you look at old B&W photos is considered aesthetically pleasing. The faster the film the bigger the silver halides  and thus bigger grain. The trick back then was to take say ISO 400 film and expose it as if it was ISO 800 then 'Push process' it whilst trying to keep the grain as small and egant as possible.

Today in digital a similar problem occurs. As we raise the ISO the picture steadily becomes 'Noisy' until such time as the picture is so degraded as to be unusable. This is electronic instead of chemical. 

So to the question in point. 

It is vital with lower end digital cameras with small sensors, and slow glass to 'Watch the Noise'

So do yourself a favour and follow watchthenoise.blogspot.co.uk for more dodgy science. 

Day 28

In the car park at work this morning. Looked like we were in for the wet stuff.  Summer anyone?

This was my trusty Fuji X10, love the tonal range it can capture on EXR mode. 

 Looking for a secondhand X20 if any one is getting rid of one. 

Day 27

It's a Dogs Life!

The hounds are out for a walk in Etton. You just never know what's round the next corner, that's the beauty of the Yorkshire Wolds. 

Fuji X10

Day 26

Full day at work then a mad dash home, changed and into Beverley Town for the 'British Cycling Elite Circuit Series'. 

Day 25

Disaster struck today, I took my old faithful Olympus E520 out for a walk with my new Fuji XT1, all was well, both we're playing nicely with the Oly showing off and flexing its 10 megapixels in glorious light conditions (that's when it's slowish glass works best!) the Fuji was trying hard not to offend, but it seems the effortless, almost faultless performance didn't quite go unnoticed.  When Julie went to work I settled down for some pixel processing time (a guilty pleasure in my house!) disaster struck! The Oly refused to start up, the most I got was a slight flicker of blue light from the dust cleaner, no amount of fresh batteries helped. Could this be the end? Is it off to meet the great pixel fairy in the sky? 

This could mean an Ebay sale of associated optics and flash! 

Mmmm now what lens does Mr Fuji need?

Day 24

First ride 🚴 out for a while today (thanks Neill Simms) tired and happy. 

Managed to fit in a photo of my neighbours flowers being pollinated by some busy bees. 

Night in alone so junk food and movies it is then...

Day 23

A rare day off together with Julie. So haircut, holiday clothes shopping and a few! Pints followed by dinner at the Durham Ox Pub in Beverley. 

Perfect!

Day 22

I have been on nights and this was the moonscape (01:30) over the Yorkshire Wolds with the orange glow of the City of Culture 2017 in the left of frame. 

Fuji X10, my go everywhere camera, LR mobile, ipad. 

Day 21

Chris Gill and I planted some apple trees on Beverley Ambulance Station about two years ago and there starting to fruit. 

Fuji X10, LR mobile on ipad. 

Day 20

The End of Life as we know it?

Day 19

A horses ass. 

Beverley town, North Bar Without. 

iPhone. 

Day 18

Now that Froome is out it's down to Ritchy Port. Come on Sky. 

Day 17

Le Tour, a Yorkshire Frenchy from the weekend. Shot on XT1, processed in Lightroom 5.4 on PC then Tiltshift gen on iPhone. 

Day 16

Finished the gardening at Dads, and was greeted by a view of summer over his back fence. 

Fuji XT1, LR mobile. 

Day 15

No time for photography today, Dad needs a grass free garden so me and my brother were press ganged into it. Same again tomorrow!

Day 14

TDF disappearing down Buttertubs, cropped and processed in LR 5. Shot on XT1. 

Day 13

Wow what a day! The Grand Depart in Yorkshire. We did a late dash to Keld in the Dales camped out and then walked the 5 miles up to Cote de Buttertubs. And we got to see 30 secs of the TDF. I have to say it was brilliant.  Hats off to Jens Voigt, the oldest man in the race showing the way up the mountains. Photographically a challenge, never tried action before, so this was shot on continuous high, manual focus with focus peaking. 55mm f6.6 1/500sec. I practiced on all the lead vehicles using continuous focus but wasn't happy with it. Tried single autofocus but again not happy. Finally convinced that manual was the way forward, but still not quite sharp I'm afraid. So practice is the order of the day. In my defence they where hammering it down the hill. Well done Yorkshire!!

Day 12

I'm all excited now. Tomorrow's the big day. The Grand Depart, for the Tour De France. Good luck to Team Sky and Mark Cavendish, bring it home boys!

 Proud to be Yorkshire!

Day 11

TDF coming to Yorkshire, so a good time to prep the bike! This ones my nephews. Few tweeks, cleaned and lubricated, good to go. Good Luck Team Sky. 

Fuji XT1, processed on iPhone using LR mobile. I'm loving this, it's a bit easier on the iPad though. 

Day 10

Today's photo is an old one. I make no apology for using it as today we said goodbye Mrs Jeannie Milner. I had the pleasure of knowing both Jeannie and her late husband Jack. Together again. God bless. 

Day 9

Day off, train into Hull. Visit a few museums and have a pub lunch. Hull 'City of Culture 2017' looking good today. 

Fuji XT1, first go on Lightroom mobile on iPad. All a bit rushed so as not to ignore 'she who must be obeyed' but reasonably happy with it. By the way the 'Street Life' museum in the old town is brilliant.