Hi Martin,

Some reading for you regarding filters here

Rob

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Thanks Rob.

I do have a UV haze filter from film days, but I never found it to have much effect. I mainly regarded it as lens protection.

It's not surprising it doesn't do much, bearing in mind that the glass used in the lens will in any event absorb quite a lot of the UV. Although optical glass absorbs less than ordinary glass.

And I've read in several places that digital sensors include a UV filter anyway, so adding another one isn't going to make much difference. And it doesn't.

However I have now ordered a rotating polariser filter, which I have not tried before. In theory it is mainly for glare and reflections, rather than cutting through atmospheric haze, so it will be a case of try it and see. It is often quoted as an essential item for landscape photography.

The one essential item I do seem to be needing for landscape photography is a replacement set of legs. I'm still using the same ones I was using in the 1969 pictures I posted.

Martin.

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From the road end in Hirgwm, north of the Mawddach estuary, looking towards Diffwys.

https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5782473

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Nigel Brown wrote: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5782473 Thanks Nigel. The sky looks a bit threatening there.

I like your phone box picture lower down:

 https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5782443

Martin.

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Martin Wynne wrote: The one essential item I do seem to be needing for landscape photography is a replacement set of legs. I'm still using the same ones I was using in the 1969 pictures I posted.

Martin.Martin,

I assume you mean the ones you walk on and not the three legged thing you screw the camera onto

A lot of people just think a zoom lens eliminates the need for walking, but as you will appreciate there is more to a decent landscape shot than how close you are. A lot of landscape shots that are taken with the wide or tele end of a superzoom look kind of 'forced' but sticking to either a fixed lens around 35mm focal length ( relative to film camera and full frame digital ) or a mild zoom lens of say 28-85mm can be useful. Zoom lenses are a LOT better than they used to be.

I got two new cameras recently, I will post details for your perusal at some point.

Rob

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Rob Manchester wrote:I assume you mean the ones you walk on and not the three legged thing you screw the camera onto Yes.

I do have a tripod in the back of the car, but it's too heavy to go lugging it about the countryside on the off chance of needing it.

A lot of people just think a zoom lens eliminates the need for walking, but as you will appreciate there is more to a decent landscape shot than how close you are.Using the fixed-lens X100F that's a decision I don't need to think about now. If I need to zoom in a bit I can do it later by cropping from the full frame. I'm very pleased with the resolution from the lens, and with 24 MPX to play with I can chop off quite a lot and still have plenty for an online image.

To zoom out I walk backwards. I've fallen over twice doing that, so I now need a periscope attachment too.

Martin.

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Polariser arrived.

It certainly makes a startling difference when rotated in front of this monitor screen (flat-screen monitors emit polarised light).

Then the sun came out, so a chance to try it on the camera. Brilliant! Reflections from shiny surfaces much reduced, sky twice as blue, plants and foliage show more saturated colours.

But it is clearly confusing the autofocus. I shall have to use manual focus with it, which is no great difficulty with distant views - just set infinity.

If the sun stays out I will post some comparison pics later.

cheers,

Martin.

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Martin Wynne wrote: Nigel Brown wrote: https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5782473 Thanks Nigel. The sky looks a bit threatening there.

I like your phone box picture lower down:

 https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5782443

Martin.
I use Highlights/Shadows in Photoshop Elements quite a lot. Here I used it to brighten the darker bits (shadow lifting) and darken the brighter bits (gives the sky more character), then increase the midtones to bring back a bit more contrast. You can overdo it, but it is good for skies.

I bought a good polarizer for my Yashica FX3 and it had the effects you mentioned. However, after a bit wasn't sure I liked it, so stopped.

Nigel

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Useful colour reference for modelling:



 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5803551

Martin.

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Thanks Martin


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Brockhampton (Herefordshire) last evening.



   http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5808545

Martin.

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Clee Hill Quarry:



 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5814695

I see Geograph are now showing larger images.

Martin.

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A couple from yesterday.



Lyon Crossing. An occupation crossing on the Central Wales line.

 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5815874




 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5815863

Martin.

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Rugby 1978.



 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5817142

Martin.

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Seedgreen Farm 1968.




Martin.

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Presteigne.




Martin.

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The restored Droitwich Barge Canal in Vines Park, Droitwich this evening.



This lock is unusual in that it originally had 4 pairs of gates, angled in opposite directions. The sockets for attaching another gate can still be seen in front of the ladder hoops.

The reason is that it links the Droitwich Barge Canal to the the River Salwarpe (behind the camera), which could at times be higher or lower than the level in the Barge Canal. The river is canalized for a short distance from here to the now-rebuilt Droitwich Junction Canal.

New weirs have been built to keep the river level no lower than the level in the Barge Canal, so that only the usual 2 pairs of gates are now needed.

Often the levels are equal, and the gates can be seen left open.

In addition, there is a swing-bridge across the middle of the lock (behind the camera), making it an unusual lock.

Martin.

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Not done much not model railway/railway with the camera recently, however a recent picnic allowed me to capture this of our rescue Staffie/Greyhound Poppy. She actually stayed still enough for the photo!



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Not done much not model railway/railway with the camera recently, however a recent picnic allowed me to capture this of our rescue Staffie/Greyhound Poppy. She actually stayed still enough for the photo!



Snap .



My dog,  also a rescue and a Staffie/Whippet cross.  She's about eight in this picture and starting to go a bit grey.  She is now eleven and very grey. 

Jim.

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Lovely Jim

Poppy, is 2 sometime this month. But being a rescue we don't know when, so we'll count the end of August as her birthday and celebrate her 'Gotcha' day. She's been a handful, is very energetic and bouncy, but has a lovely temperament, and is responding well to training now she has settled down in what is her 6th chance at a home, so has not really had much of a stable life upto now (hence some of the behaviour problems we've encountered).
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A familiar scene for visitors to Arley on the SVR.



Martin.

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I have thousands of images, but sometimes it takes the passing of a few years before realising which ones are worth a second look. This is Clun in 2007.



 http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5832867

Martin.

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Like it. Long time since I've been to Clun. The border towns are fascinating. Could be the subject of a short branch.

Here's a railway-related snap taken a couple of weeks ago:



https://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5832161

The Lakelander was a service put on by West Coast Railways on the Oxenholme to Windermere line, after Northern trains had suspended their service because of timetable chaos.

Nigel

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Nigel Brown wrote: Like it. Long time since I've been to Clun. The border towns are fascinating. Could be the subject of a short branch.Hi Nigel,

One of Iain Rice's layout plans is for a Light Railway to Clun from Broome on the Central Wales line, with a flavour of the Bishops Castle. It's an easy route along the River Clun, here's a site for Clunton station:

 https://goo.gl/maps/YKJvFVazEvL2

which would now be a distant memory.

Martin.






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We don't travel that much. A view from the kitchen window.



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Here's another couple of shots from my recent Scottish trip, both from the Torridon area in the north west.

Torridon pier, Loch Torridon, with Beinn Damh beyond


Beinn Eighe from Incheril, Kinlochewe


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Cooler days:



  http://www.geograph.org.uk/photo/5857289

Martin.

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Nigel Brown wrote: Here's another couple of shots from my recent Scottish trip, both from the Torridon area in the north west.

Torridon pier, Loch Torridon, with Beinn Damh beyond


Beinn Eighe from Incheril, Kinlochewe

Hi Nigel,

Torridon is a magical place. We go there when we get a chance.

Our Cairn Terrier was rescued from a puppy mill. He's called Torri - short for Torridon. It seemed appropriate.

Andy







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Llandudno north bay from the Great Orme. Lots of lovely scenery on walks round here. Coastline in the distance round to Rhyl and Prestatyn. Lots more sheep on the Orme now to keep the goats company. Plenty of snakes on the move this week so was careful not to stand on any .


Platform trucks at Glyndyfrdwy on the Llangollen railway. Planty of variety.


Llandudno station. A pale shadow of it's former self. Platforms 1 and 2 on the right, platform 3 on the left. Formerly there was also platforms 4 and 5 too. Cab road for the horse drawn carriages rapidly grassing over - despite the heatwave.


Llandudno station track on platform 2. Comments welcome on the sleeper end clips and the signage...

Rob


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Thanks for the Llandudno pics Rob.

A damp evening here, so ideal for handling negs without dust.

These are in the Maenofferen Slate Quarry in August 1969:





At least I think they are, my notes just say Slate, Ffestiniog, 8/69. I remember climbing the incline out of Blaenau Ffestiniog in the rain, and fish & chips when I got back.

Lots more like this, but all much the same. I will post a few more. Ilford FP4 + Acutol.

I'm not entirely sure I should go on posting this stuff on a "Templot" forum, there being no obvious relevance. I thought there would be lots of similar web forums for posting such "fresh air" photos, but I haven't been able to find one I would want to post on. There are dozens of photography forums, but they are all immersed in advertising, and the usual endless arguments about Canon v. Nikon and who's got the biggest lens. Plus a lot of arty-farty photos which do nothing for me.

I do have an unused licence for a XenForo forum+gallery and there is masses of spare capacity on the server. I'm wondering whether to set up a separate forum similar to this topic, but open to everyone, rather than limited to Templot users? I can't believe the world needs another photography forum, but if I can't find one I like...

cheers,

Martin.

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A few more in sunshine. The rain seems to have stopped:









That's a great shot. This is the first time I have seen it, 50 years after taking it.

Where are they now I wonder? I hope they are ok.

Martin.

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Here they are again:



What a great playground they had - summer school holidays 1969, in the sunshine.

Martin.

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Hi Martin,

If these are the quality of pics we can expect just keep posting them on here. Wonderful.

I can't see the need for a forum just for pics as there are ( as you say ) plenty of them if people desire. Surely it is just a bit of light relief from spiking track or building crossing vees

Pity one of the young boys wasn't me, I would have loved playing around there. My strict dad would have told me to come down before I fell down

Rob ( 24 million pixels and a huge lens )




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Rob Manchester wrote: If these are the quality of pics we can expect just keep posting them on here. Wonderful.Thanks Rob.

I don't really know what to expect. I knew I had some pics taken in the slate quarries, and I remember printing a few of them. But I have no recollection of taking those.

My dad would also have told me to get down. But it's not likely he would have been there -- I roamed free in the school holidays in the 1950s, just like those boys. But not in such a fantastic location.

Back to another lost world. Neat ballast without a weed in sight. I think these are near Talerddig on the Cambrian main line, in the early 1970s. If I can pin down the locations I will put them on Geograph. Anyone?

GWR through-bolted chairs:



edit: from the hedge pattern on the distant hillside, I think this was taken from the A470 about 1/2 mile north of Carno, see:  https://goo.gl/maps/xPHb5Hvngi52




edit: this is looking north from the bridge over Talerdigg cutting:
https://goo.gl/maps/aMVYCeGJzZm

Martin.

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message ref: 25409

Drainage work in Talerddig cutting. But where is everyone?



Martin.

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message ref: 25410

Martin,

Talerddig Cutting

Rob


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message ref: 25411

Thanks for the link Rob.

A grey day for a grey scene at Dolgellau:



Those who had worked there must have been in tears to see that.

Martin.

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message ref: 25412

Martin,

Great photo's, please keep them coming, as it provides some detail from a bygone age, which can be handy for modelling purposes, even when not specifically railway related. colour would have been nice, but in those far off days colour was rare.

Thanks

Phil
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Thanks Phil.

Back to the slate. Same date, in the dressing sheds:







I do remember taking those, although I can't be sure in which quarry. The shed looks to be in an excellent state of repair, out of keeping with the surroundings. It probably still stands. Anyone?

I was in there with the permission of the last two remaining quarry workers. They were very pleased to have someone taking an interest, and showed me how to split slate. I'm sure I took a photo of them, but I can't find the neg at present.

This is an odd loose neg, no information of where or when, but probably the same as the others:



Martin.

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message ref: 25415

Hi Martin

Think they're fine. Keep 'em coming. I'll add more of my own from time to time. By the way, re other sites, I'm sure Geograph is an excellent place to put them, a visual record of places exactly as they were/are is what the site is about.

Here's a couple of my Talerrdig shots, to complement yours, taken in 2008. Looking on Geograph, it's interesting as to how much the trees and bushes have grown, compared with John Lucas's shots taken in 2001.





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