Garden flowers and bugs from Stoke-on-Trent

The family went to Stoke-on-Trent to spent the last weekend. We stayed at the house of one of my wife's best friends in university days. They've since moved to their new house just opposite from the last one we've visited a few years back.

I was attracted to the hydrangeas in her garden. There were roses, too, of my favourite colour (yellow and orange tip) and even flowers from pakchoi (petsay to us Filipinos). I am rubbish at gardening so I indulge on my admiration of flowers by taking photos instead. And I couldn't let this opportunity pass.

Day out in Rutland Water Park

One bright and breezy Sunday, our family joined other family friends for a picnic day out in Rutland Water Park. It was our second visit to the park in two years. The first visit was nothing to write about as it was a wet April day to do a picnic.

Rutland Water Park is one of the bigger water parks owned by Anglian Water. Set in 4200 acres of open countryside, it is the central rural attraction in England's smallest county of Rutland and offers activities for all the family. It is a 25-minute drive from Peterborough.

Blurring crowds

Shutter speed: 8 sec (Flickr)

Intentional blurring is a creative photographic technique that I like to do. I have tried zoom blur/burst and panning with some success, at least to me anyway. Next I want to do is motion blur, particularly on crowds.

Wildlife and landscape photo exhibition

My friend and I went to Ferry Meadows Country Park yesterday morning to check whether our photos made it to Nene Park Trust's Wildlife and Landscape Photo Exhibition that started in October. Much to our pleasant surprise, not one but two each of our photos were included in the outdoor exhibition! It was great seeing it among other wonderful photos that showcased the wildlife and landscape found around Nene Park.

Picture of the Day #6

It is Halloween today so I chose this photo as it is apt to the occasion.

I was going through photos in the last two years (it is not that many as I only took photography as a 'serious' hobby two years ago). I came across a short set of moonshots with trees in the foreground. They are all in colour except the above featured photo.

White flowers

Three days after I took photographs of the cherry blossoms in our neighbourhood, I then brought my attention to a bunch of flowers closer to home - our backyard. Technically, the flowering shrub (name still unknown to me) is not part of our house nor our neighbour's (I think). Why? It grew in between both our fences!

Cherry blossoms

Springtime is great for flower photography. Apple and cherry blossoms are a common sight near where I live. It is really lovely to see them in bloom during this season.