350

~ Royal Tour ~

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It was suggested when I posted the lighthouse pic back in 354, "this subject just lends itself to importing an image into the window ! Food for thought" ... so I thought, and I ate, and I messed about until I came up with this ... not sure this is quite what he had in mind, but I needed SOMEWHERE to put these two 'people' ... so there you go .. the day royalty came to Cleveland (below is the original photo I took at the opening of the new Springfield Shopping Complex)

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351
~ Reclining Portrait ~
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An idea that came together well to produce a relaxed and evocative portrait .. I liked the soft and subtle tones and the way the arms were positioned to provide an additional framing to the shot ...

352

~ Contrasting Thoughts ~

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A mono study making use of filtered sunlight, textures, and offset cropping for effect ... for someone who loves colour so much, black and white still does it for me ...

353
~ ... When God Paints ... ~

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What started out as a very large and very busy photograph was cropped to create a smaller and very busy photograph .... I am sorely tempted to turn this into a jigsaw puzzle and subsequently frustrate people to death !

354

~ Shine on Lighthouse Moon ~

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Again at Cleveland Point, (I think this is going to become a favourite haunt for me), the moon stands guard over the old lighthouse, protecting it from harm and fanatical South African photographers (long story).

355
~ The Sky is Burning ~

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A late winters' afternoon / early evening at Cleveland Point ... Bitterly cold with the wind coming off the ocean, but worth the wait for a spectacular sunset. It seems that admission to the area at this time of day is only permitted to those carrying camera equipment and a tri-pod ! Some kind of exclusive group it would appear, however they were 'kind enough' to spare a little of their 'turf' with me on this occasion.

356

~ The Penguin ~

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My much loved Kershaw Eight-20 Penguin ... The finest photographic equipment money can buy ! You can keep your fancy fangled digital stuff, this camera is as solid and ever-reliable as my electric wireless set ...

357

~ The Evolution of the Moon ~

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Ok, so a little off the wall ... but hey, I've heard it said that "the Moon's a balloon", and others maintain it is made entirely of green cheese ... so, is it not just as feasible that it's life began as a tennis ball ? ... Whatever, it was fun playing with PhotoShop and learning as I went ... so sue me ! :)

358

~ Duck ! ~

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Almost looks like a pastel painting ... the result of combined images into one picture and some lighting adjustment ...

359
~ "Please Sir ........" ~

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An offset cropped mono portrait ... I liked the way the shadows and light are working in the background, and the facial expression can be interpreted in so many ways ...

360

~ Dude ... Where's my Car ? ~

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Through all of this endeavour, I am just glad I am not one of those who succumb to superfluous and gratuitous over-use of colour saturation ... well, maybe after this one anyway ...

361
~ Reach for the Sky~

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It's all a question of perspective really ... I know that there's a vanishing point in here somewhere ! ...

362

~ The Girls ~

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They might be four generations and eighty years apart, but the same mischief is there in the eyes ... two very special girls enjoying their time together ...

363

~ Natures' Delight ~

Two versions of this bird of paradise close-up, shot in the Springfield Lakes gardens ... natural (above), and a posterized variant (below). Quite like the effect of the latter purely from a dramatic colour perspective.
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364

~ The Smile ~

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Captured at a local junior soccer match ... the subject only became aware at the last moment that she was being photographed creating a very natural pose. Loved the way the colours worked in the background.

365

~ The Cormorant ~

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This first photograph is of a cormorant drying it's wings in the late afternoon sun on the lake at the back of my home ... these birds are fascinating, like living statues.