TAKE FORTY SEVEN a

Monday's Critters

Think I posted this before, but on the MENO blog instead of this one... It's one of my personal faves and worth the revisit! Taken with the Minolta digicam - the early attempts at digital imagery. 

TAKE FORTY SIX a

MOONdays

Goodness it's the last Sunday of the month already - don't blink or it'll be Christmas again!!

This sunset crescent is a tad grainy as the lens was extended into the digital magnification. Still happy with it!

HAPPY MOTHER'S DAY EVERYBODY.

TAKE FORTY FIVE a

Saturday Symmetry

I resisted the urge to straighten the bench... Rothesay Promenade.

Taken with the 'Nik' on B&W manual mode set at 400ISO.

TAKE FORTY FOUR a

"Weeds are flowers too, once you get to know them."
(A.A. Milne)

The tame and pretty "dead nettle" commonly found in British fields and lanes. Caught in the winter sun by the 'Nik' on macro mode.

TAKE FORTY THREE a

At the Thursday Challenge we are always given something to enjoy playing with.  The word prompt this week is COMMUNICATION.  In addition, it is 'Last Thursday' at MY TAKE, where YAM let's loose with the photographic manipulation.

At the Jagadishwara Mandir, Sandeepany Sadhanalaya, Powai Mumbai.  The Chinmaya Mission seeks to communicate the wonder of Advaitic philosophy.  In addition, it runs various establishments, including this temple.  This sign for Mahashivratri offers various forms of service which can be performed in a devotee's name and an amount of paisa (money) to  be given in consideration.  The poster to right echoes the larger banners down the lane...

Publications are in many of the Indian languages as well as English.

A key component of any worthwhile philosophy is that of spreading Love, with the capital 'ell'.  A wordless way of doing this is through flowers, and no better flower for this can there be than the rose...

Fiddled around with colour and contrast on this one.








All photos taken with the 'Nik' on auto - and macro for the rose.

TAKE FORTY TWO a

Wings on Wednesday -

YAM's take on the good, the bad, the ugly and the downright hilarious in respect to photographing birds.

Reminding myself of hotter, headier days...  A Black Kite in the early morning sun of Mumbai.

Taken with the 'Nik' on sports mode and lens extended 15x optical zoom.

Now, for those with ornithological offerings, please feel free to link up!

TAKE FORTY ONE a

The Tuesday Tease

...corrrrr - that one up there looks delicious...

...I can reach it, I know I can; oooohh my head's spinning...

Ohmigosh it's so yummy, gotta pack some for the hive,
my legs are so heavy,
I think I am losing my balance..oooooooooooo.........

This fun little trio of attempted macros were done with the Minolta digicam many years ago.  Was reminded of them when I noted a bumble bee tapping at my window this very morning in the brilliant spring sunshine.

TAKE FORTY a

Monday's Critters

Don't think I ever shared this one with you.  It was taken a quarter century ago on the original Minolta point and shoot on Kodak film stock, 200ISO.  It was the interim camera between the deceased SLR and the first venture into the digital medium.  This camera had no macro option, so this photo, (taken in the Butterfly Farm at Cairns, Far North QLD), was taken at a distance and zoomed in.  Not brilliant, but a memory in the photographic journey!

Wonder what BOZO got up to this week?

TAKE THIRTY NINE a

SUNdays

One of those drive-by clicks taken on a journey in the Borders of Scotland.  That's a fleck of rain on the window giving the extra pearl of light.

Taken with the 'Nik' on auto everything.

TAKE THIRTY EIGHT a

Saturday Symmetry

A touch of Victorian whimsy shows in the floral 'suns' extending out from the wrought iron 'crown'.  This hotel stands on the sea front in Rothesay, Isle of Bute.
















Taken with the 'Nik' on B&W and manual mode, 400ISO and lens stretched to 10x optical zoom.

TAKE THIRTY SEVEN a

"Absences are a good influence in love and keep it light and delicate."
(Robert Louis Stevenson)

Tiger Lily, taken with the 'Nik' on macro mode.

TAKE THIRTY SIX a

The Thursday Challenge has been an enjoyable one for me, although as I have confessed before, I cannot always take a new photograph specifically for the purpose. This week's prompt is LARGE...

This giant statue of Sri Hanuman-ji is guarding the ashram of Chinmaya Mission Sidhabari, Himachal Pradesh.  It stands 20 feet, not including the plinth.  It is imposing and awe-inspiring. This famous devotee and servant of Sri Rama is famous for his large heart and great deeds.  If we could inculcate even one tenth of his standards of love, service and courage into our daily lives, we would become large indeed!!

Taken with the 'Nik' on auto.

TAKE THIRTY FIVE a

Wings on Wednesday -

YAM's take on the good, the bad, the ugly and the downright hilarious in respect to photographing birds.

This Great Tit was on the hunt for breakfast in Edinburgh, early in February.

Taken with the 'Nik' on auto exposure and lens extended 5x optical.

Time for you to link up with your own ornithological offerings!

TAKE THIRTY FOUR a

The Tuesday Tease

copyright Yamini Ali MacLean

Okay, who's turn to put the kettle on??

Had the 'Nik' on party mode.

TAKE THIRTY THREE a

Monday's Critters

Every morning is food patrol along the edges of the roof tiles opposite for the jackdaws. This pair struck it rich with some major grub pulled out from under.  Goodness, know what the rubbery, wriggling morsel was but all I'll say is thank Heavens we have the 'cleaners' to search and remove such things from our dormitories!

Taken with the 'Nik' on fast click and lens stretched 5x optical.

TAKE THIRTY TWO a

SUNdays

A last minute flash before dropping below.  Sunset from the 'new' window!

Taken with the 'Nik' on sunset mode, full colour (!) and lens extended 10x optical zoom.

TAKE THIRTY ONE a

Saturday Symmetry

The Moat at Rothesay Castle, Isle of Bute.  A clear winter's day with no wind.  Taken with the 'Nik' on auto.

TAKE THIRTY a

"Nature always wears the colours of spirit."
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)

Taken with the 'Nik' on macro mode...anyone know this plant???

TAKE TWENTY NINE a

Having piggy-backed on another's internet, I can bring this offering for the Thursday Challenge and the theme this week - being HEAT.

Regular viewers will know YAM's propensity for the big ball of fire (SUNdays posts).  It is not always great for the camera though.  This one shows why.  The Uniden pocket cam was used a lot on this day trip up into the Sayadhri Hills.  That is Kolwan Dam.  It was a searing 40+ degrees centigrade and that is dust in the air, creating the filter effect. The day took its toll.  The sunspot on the lens remained and I had to learn to use the camera in such a way as to minimise its presence in subsequent photos.

(...and again the mysterious colour-change gremlins hit.  I saved my watermark in sepia - not glary blue...tsk...)

TAKE TWENTY EIGHT a

Wings on Wednesday -

YAM's take on the good, the bad, the ugly and the downright hilarious in respect to photographing birds.

This was the best I could manage of this little jenny wagtail.  she was a long way off and very 'busy'!  The 'Nik' was stretched to it's limit and the light was low, so stopped up the exposure a couple of notches.

Have some fun sharing your own ornithological offerings now!

TAKE TWENTY SEVEN a

The Tuesday Tease

copyright Yamini Ali MacLean

"Platypus?  What plaited pussy???"

Jade a tad confused in the Aussie bush spot at Woko.  Taken with the Minolta digicam.

TAKE TWENTY SIX a

Monday's Critters

Do you think these Black Angus bullocks understand the meaning of the barbecue...?

Taken with the Minolta digicam at Woko  (For those who asked before, that's in mid NSW, Australia.)

Am still posting from archives as it is going to take me a while to get out and about in my new locale.  Bear with me.  Prepare yourselves too.  Once I start scanning in the old printed photographs, a whole new stock will become available...  Fair warning &>

TAKE TWENTY FIVE a

SUNdays

Another from my speeding train series... Taken with the 'Nik' on sunrise mode - yes, mid winter, approx 7:30am...

TAKE TWENTY FOUR a

Saturday Symmetry

The bottom of the well.  Quite literally.  I focused through the wire mesh and larger iron grid, which are reflected here on the water some 15 feet below and which is also showing the 'splash-wells' of rain dripping from those criss-crossings.  The break the mirror-like surface of the water like bullet holes...

Taken with the 'Nik' on B&W, macro modes and lens extended 3x optical.

TAKE TWENTY THREE a

"Let your life lightly dance on the edges of time like the dew upon the leaf."
(Rabindranath Tagore)

Taken with the 'Nik' on macro mode.

TAKE TWENTY TWO a

This would normally be 'challenge' day - however, due to not having internet yet, and quite possibly none available remotely, this has been scheduled well in advance without knowing what the prompt is and with no prospect of linking up.  That may change.  But if you are reading this, it hasn't... (are you confused yet?)

copyright Yamini Ali MacLean

Just pretty.  That's all.

Taken with the 'Nik' on auto everything and lens extended 10x optical.

TAKE TWENTY ONE a

Wings on Wednesday -
YAM's take on the good, the bad, the ugly and the downright hilarious in respect to photographing birds.

An Australian butcherbird eyes up a breakfast of cicadas.  Taken with the 'Nik' on auto and lens extended to 8x optical.