09/06/2009 by Russell.

Thanks to Barry I have, he’s rekindled my thoughts of photography.  I used to have filters, tripods and stuff for my olf SLR, now with the advent of digital SLR, there is every opportunity to develop even a better crop of pics.  I have downloaded Elements 7 for a 30 day trial and here are a few of my early fiddlings, more vivid, more colour, more sharpness, and more realism to the shots.  In Vegas and the Grand Canyon, the light is very bright, so have increased the contrast to remove the glare.

Just click on each pic to see full size

For this photo, have added a blue Sky and toned down the glare from the Sphinx, it was far too washed out before…

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Joshua tree cropped and green ehanced and given greater definition

Tint of sunset enhanced whilst reducing the spikey Joshua tree washed out from the flash photography

Increased contrast and deepened the contrast of the rock formatio in the foreground.  The greenery against the river enhanced

The sky has been increased in its hue. Looking over a sunset on Lake Mead, Nr Las Vegas.

Posted in USA, Photoshop, Barry, Emily, Greg | Print | No Comments »

26/05/2009 by Russell.

Here she is with friends on her last school days before studying for her GCSEs.  sweet 16 eh?

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26/04/2009 by Russell.

All to play for and all to lose, will United be the bride or the bridesmaid over the next month?

Penalty! some are given others not, united had a stonewall penalty agaist Everton - I was there at Wembley sitting over 60 yards away and of course in the red end, we screamed penalty only to denied by Old Mother Riley, yesterday we all repeated ourselves in the East Stand - penalty - and this time it look conclusive until apparently tv replays from ‘n’ angles disproved.  We saw it at the same speed as the ref, our concern was whether Gomes would be sent off.  Thank goodness he wasn’t otherwise there would be more hot air wasted over the penalty. i.e. video replays for refereees etc. One week you get a pen the next you don’t, as they all claim it evens itself out over 8 moths.  yesterday was United’s evening out.  Penalty - Ronaldo - goal.. nuff said.

United win 5-2 and it is about time they played like Champions, they have been searching for performances like this for 15 home games.   Now can they sustain it for at least 7 more games?

Off to OT for the Champions League Semi on Weds versus Arsenal, hopefully it will be as nerve wracking and exciting as Saturday versus Spurs.

Can they do it? yes! will they do it? yes! will it be close? yes! will I have egg on my face? yes! - thats the unpredictability of sport.

Last U14 boys get together on Saturday 2nd May - player of the year awards ceremony, who will win? wait until Sunday.

Then theatre to see ‘An Inspector Calls’ with Emily and probably to Derbyshire for hedge trimming etc.

Source:http://www.telegraph.co.uk/sport/picturegalleries/5220449/Premier-League-action.html

Posted in Ronaldo, Man Utd, chesham strides, Emily | Print | No Comments »

12/04/2009 by Russell.

Is your daughter’s hair worth £87? ask Emily.  I was expecting say £50 tops, but 2hrs later my pockets were much lighter. The salon is Keith Hall in Chesterfield, smart job done, and she’s happy.

Here she is with Greg:

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29/01/2009 by Russell.

What a day, my father had a great send off. over 100 people turned out to say farewell to my father, and I am grateful for those who came along. Imet and chatted to people from my village -Wingerworth - whom I hadn’t seen in years and years. Don of Lydgate farm (now a housing estate), Peter Normans father, John Radford (father of Andrew) and many others who I can’t even remember.  But also, was a bit of a family re-union, seeing some cousins I hadn’t seen since the 1970’s -wow! what a lovely time, then there was Peter, Ian, Karen And Suzanne, the children of Jean and the late Brian Young, wonderful to see them.

Of course it was great to see such friends as Kevin and Anne make the journey from Buckinghamshire to attend the funeral - friends indeed.

A sad but joyous day for seeing so many acquintances, and of course great thanks to Barry and Peter for coming along from Congleton. What a lucky person to have such comrades in arms. Over the past year I have felt alone and it is only now I have found that i do have friends, I have felt this way because of what trauma I have created for the family unit.

Love to Phillip, Kirsten, Emily, and Gregory  and Christine, the day would have been soulless without you there to share his day.  Also Brenda suffered enough with my father, just hope she can get out on the Moors soon.

On the day, i thought I would never make the speech and Barry was there to talk it through, (see post below) courage, or fortitude, i don’t know - but it all flowed as i wanted to remember my father, it was his last stand in the public eye, so I wanted it to count.  God what do you do now your parents have both died? it certainly is a strange experience, they have been there, always there, but now its not a family of three,  it’s a family of just 1………..

So long Dad, enjoy your reunion with Mum

On a positive note, 26th January  also a date when Bruce released his latest CD, what better accompanyment to drive home with eh?

Posted in Buckinghamshire, Wingerworth, Kirsten, Emily, Leslie Preston, Grandad, dad, Phillip, Greg, Uncategorised | Print | No Comments »