IR Photography

June 6th, 2007

I have had a little go with my IR filter in the gardens of Lady Margaret Hall (LMH) in Oxford. I had a little trouble with the autofocus on my 30mm sigma lens – not IR related, appears to be a temperature effect… However here is my first example, planning to do some more soon.

IR flower 1

1/4 s: F1.4 : 30mm : iso 400

Summer arrives

June 3rd, 2007

Well, it looks like summer is here. Students have exams and associated stress levels. The weather is mixed, although Char is now feeling the heat (only seven weeks until due date!) and seeing the disadvantages of being heavily pregnant during the summer months.

Excitement is building for the arrival of baby Bogwort. Discussions relating to names are becoming more prevalent – no definitive favourites yet. We will wait and see what baby looks like before settling on a final decision!

We have almost completed the house to a move-in-able degree – kitchen and lounge more or less finished and upstairs is carpeted. A lick of paint and put the bed together and we are there. Work in Oxford is only a couple of weeks from finishing, which should provide the impetus to finally get moved in. 

With hot sunny weather forecast for the rest of the week I aim to have a quick go at some infrared photography. Apparently, middle of the day when the sun is strong is generally good – I will share my results as soon as I get anything worth putting up.

Easter hols – DIY, but not so much chocolate

April 9th, 2007

Easter is here, as usual the year is disappearing rapidly. As we are between terms we have spent some time on the house. Attempted to decorate as much as possible and can now count the kitchen and lounge prety much done, we should soon be in a position to entertain. On a practical note we had a go with some polycell smoothover – our conclusion is that far from the coverage claimed it would cost something like 200 quid to do one room. It seems you have to sand more than half of it back off the wall to get a smooth(ish) finish. I accept that most of the problems are likely down to operator error, but it does claim to be easy.

 Very little chocolate this easter – that might all change, the weekend is not yet over, but I don’t think it will do any harm to have a year off…

First batch

March 12th, 2007

As promised here are a couple of photos to whet the appetite.

The first is a picture of Queens college, Oxford. Taken from over the road outside Univ.

Queens at night

(ISO: 100, Shutter: 20s, Aperture: F11, Focal: 30mm)

Next up, Char. Taking a little time out to write an entry in the baby journal. I thought it might be a good opportunity to test out the portrait potential of y new 30mm Sigma F1.4 lens. Obviously F1.4 is pretty extreme on the depth of field, but it helps concentrate attention on the face.

Char writing

(ISO: 160, Shutter: 1/250s, Aperture: F1.4, Focal: 30mm)

Obviously all images copyright C. Shipley – not to be reproduced without permission.

More as I get round to it…

Family picture

February 20th, 2007

I thought I would start the photo ball rolling by putting up myself and my good lady wife. We decided to represent ourselvesby our interests, Char in pyjamas and me in a lab coat (yes, I realise those that work with me would question whether I ever do any lab work…).

Chris and Char

More to follow!

p.s. www.sp-studio.de if want one like it.

Update

February 11th, 2007

Dear All,

Eventually got round to doing some more blogwork and decided to give the bundled software a try.

Anyway, loads going on at the moment. Having decided not changing anything is too easy we are relocating to Yorkshire, and have just completed on the purchase of a house close to the birthplace of civilisation – Driffield. I am in the process of trying to find a job for later on in the summer and Char has secured a place at York Uni to read Archaeology. On top of this, and most exciting of all, we are expecting a baby! Little Bogwort Shipley is expected to make an apppearance at some point in July.

I know, you are wondering where the unusual (and enchanting) name ‘Bogwort’ comes from. Well, it is a beautiful flower (google it and see) and is a provisional name (not least on the sex of the baby, as yet unknown) following in the new Shipley tradition (can a tradition consist of one instance?) of using floral names.

I have included a dashing picture for your viewing pleasure.

bogwart - 14wk

Pick up the keys for the new house tomorrow, flying visit then back to work. We are planning to host as many visitors as possible in Yorkshire (in our picturesque house, with sea views) so please get in touch if you would like to get away from it all for a while!

Chris

Photo section

February 11th, 2007

I intend to put some pictures up here as and when I have some I would like to share. There will undoubtedly be some baby pictures when the time arrives. Before that though some experients  with the camera when the chance arrives.