Nature's beauty (2)

Nature is all around us.  The beautiful flowers, greens, trees, etc. are such lovely subjects for great photos.  Posted here are some of my photos on nature's beauty.

Not sure of the name of this flower.

Bougainvillea

Iris

Birds of Paradise

Not sure of this but it grows wild and in abundance in my garden.

Ixora

Ginger

Ixora

Birds of Paradise

Birds of Paradise

Bougainvillea

Birds of Paradise

Inspiration (4)

China - more photos

I have been to China a few times with the latest trip in January, 2011 to Macau and Jiangmen.  The following photos are from my earlier trip.

 Drinking rice wine at an old wine mfg. outlet

 water village - so call as activities are concentrated along the river/waterway

The buildings are old and constructed on both sides of the waterway

 resting by the lake side

 there are many bridges connecting both sides of the water village

Nature - more birds' pictures

Birds and more birds.  I love their singing but hate their droppings.


This is the zebra dove.

This is a mynah bird.  I think it is the jungle mynah.  Very noisy.

2 cute little zebra doves.

This bulbul is enjoying a meal of dragonfly at my backyard.

This oriole is having a drink

                                  

Another one is eating the fruit of the palm tree

         

At first I thoufgt this is a bulbul.  But on closer look I am not so sure.  It flew off when I tried to get near for a closer look.

Shade.  What a cool place for the bulbul.

London, England

Westminster Palace with Westminster Bridge in the foreground.  This shot was taken with   Sony DSLR A390 with Tamron 70-300mm lens at 300mm.  I took this shot across the river.  1/500  f9.0

 

            The London Bridge.  Taken from the river cruise boat.
            1/400  f13.0  70mm  Sony 18-70mm lens

Wharf - warehouses at the river front.  Now I know the meaning of wharf.  These are along the River Thames.

              The London Eye.  This was taken with Canon Powershot.

                    Ah,  myself at Westminster square.  

        Another photo of myself at Westminster square.  What an attraction.

     The Big Ben.  Wandering around Westminster square.

                                               Westminster Abbey.

Joyce at No.10, Downing Street.  During our visit the main gate was closed and no visitors were allowed in.

Nature - butterfly

                                Common sailor (Neptis hylas papaja)

                                Blue Pansy (Junonia Orithya Wallcei)

                           Blue Glassy Tiger (Ideopsis Vulgris Macrina)

                     Plain Lacewing (Cethosia Panthesilea Methypsea)

Blue Glassy Tiger in flight

Digital camera

I remembered when I first tried to operate a film camera many years ago it was a disaster.  I cannot get the focus, exposure, etc. right or really understood what they were all about.  The digital camera makes a lot of difference in photography.  Auto mode, auto focus, auto white balance, etc.

I use manual mode to improve my understanding of the camera's many features.  The more one understands one's own camera, the skill will improve and the results will be better.  Even a compact camera can produce  a beautiful picture.  I find it important to read the camera's manual which can help to adjust the settings to suit my style.

So pick up a digital camera and start to enjoy a good hobby.  In fact many people already owns a camera.  Some use it once in a while only.  What a pity.

Nature's beauty