Usksider's Photo Blog

...there are all kinds of other interesting shapes out there to grab images of.

Radio masts and pylons make interesting subjects.

Photographically speaking this is the best time of year for shooting tree silhouettes. You often get gloriously clear skies, which means you can create really stark silhouettes of interesting tree shapes with no foliage to get in the way.

I've shot lots of these over the years and although satisfying I sometimes like to play with exposure to include at least some colour from the tree bark. It's fairly easy to get your exposure right with a modern digital camera, as long as you can over-ride the built in exposure metre. Your camera manual will explain how to do this on your camera.

Playing with exposure means you should be able to produce results like this:

A mixture of pure black silhouette and colour, producing interesting shapes against the blue sky backdrop.

If you've never tried this sort of thing, get out there and give it a go. Post your results here in Blogland and show us what wonderful shapes you can come up with.

I was chatting to Jacobite here yesterday and the subject of anonymity rose its head. I expounded the theory that people are more likely to be truthful about their lives in an online community such as this one because of the anonymity the community affords then. Of course the reverse is also true... some people are more likely to live a complete fantasy here. Anyway that got me to thinking... I know... dangerous move!

I dare say we've all come across the archetypal American gun-slinger: the man with no name.

People of my generation will probably recall the song by America that bleated "I rode through the desert on a horse with no name."

How many other things in America are nameless? Horses, people, what else?

Well not to be outdone, there's a whole village by me that is nameless...

You drive/cycle/ride/walk (delete as appropriate) down the road and get to the sign... cue Billy Connolly... Where are we? Where the fuck is this place?

It's okay Bill, it's the place with no name!

Have a happy Saturday all!