Playing around with my camera - February 2015 - Part 2

As you probably know by now, I'm actually on holiday at the moment (Happy New Year!).

While I'm out, you can look at another picture taken while I was playing around with my camera.

The below picture is really something that couldn't have been done with my old point and shoot.  My new ILC was able to focus on the plant close to me while keeping the background relatively blurry.  This really makes the detail on the plant stand out and I like the framing with the color just behind it.

As with my previous photo, I did a little post processing to bring out the green in the plant a bit more.

I love the blurry background which just can't be done on point and shoots

Playing around with my camera - February 2015

As you know, I recently purchased an ILC camera.  Last week, I posted some pictures of the kids when they went out cycling.

As I had a new camera, I also took the opportunity to play around with my new camera.
:)

I really liked some of the pictures, not because they are necessarily great pictures, but because they showcase the kind of things that my old point and shoot really couldn't do so I figured I would share some of the better ones on my blog.

The photo below is probably closest to what could have been done with a point and shoot.  The main difference though is that my ILC was able to capture the light and greenery to an extent that my old point and shoot was never able to do.

Granted, I did a little post processing on the picture just to get the colours closer to what I saw in real life but even so, something about the below picture just resonates with me.

Love the way that the light and greenery got captured here.

Gordon and the bicycle

Gordon learned to ride a bicycle recently.  We actually took him to a 2 day class where he spent 2 full days learning how to ride.  What was amazing to me, particularly after trying to teach Gerry how to ride, was how quickly he managed to pick things up.

In the space of 1 day, the teacher was able to get him riding a bike pretty comfortably!

Wish I had done that for Gerry now. :)

Gordon is riding a bicycle!

Gerry takes the opportunity to ride as well

I think he is enjoying himself

Taking a water break

Gordon and the fencing competition

Have I mentioned that Gordon is taking fencing lessons?  No?  Well, Gordon is taking fencing lessons.

He has been taking them for several months now and recently, he even took part in a fencing competition!

Lock and load!

Ha, I block ...

... and counter!  Take that!

Getting some tips from his instructor ...

... and putting them to good use!

This is actually the second competition he has been in.  After around 3 lessons, his teacher organised a competition in his class just so that the students could get some experience of how a competition would play out.  As he had only just started, and others in his class had been learning for several months, he didn't do particularly well.

This time around though, he was a lot better.  In fact, he even managed to get 6th place (out of approx 16-18 participants).

Well done Gordon!!

Gordon with his 6th place prize!

Also, Star Wars is cool.

Mwuhahahahah!!!

Sorry - ran out of time!

Well, I promised you one post a week so here it is.

Unfortunately, I ran out of time to do a proper post so this is really just a placeholder so that you know I haven't forgotten about all 2 of my readers.

Hopefully, I will be able to post some pics and a proper post next week.

Playing with a new camera

I finally got a new camera last week.  Specifically, the Sony Alpha 6000.

Its one of the recent breed of ILC cameras and is targeted at the mid-range market.  So not as powerful and complex as the full frame cameras - and as such, not as expensive either - but at the same time, with a lot more power and quality than the old point and shoots that I've been using.

No comment on the quality yet - really haven't been using it long enough to deliver any kind of meaningful comment.  However, I thought I would share one of the photos that I took with the camera.

So, based just on the pictures, what are your thoughts?

Gordon, just after finishing his dinner

The missus, taking a break on the sofa

Gerry - for once, copying his brother

Gordon's birthday

Gordon is now six years old!

Wow - at times, I can't believe its six years since he was born.  At other times, I wonder when he will finally grow up!

As it was his birthday, we naturally got him a birthday cake.  Gerry even packaged up some of his stuff to give to Gordon as a present!

Blowing out the candle

His birthday present

We also got him a pirate book which had pop-up scenes for him to play with.  He loved it and even loved to pretend he was an actual pirate!

Arg me maties!