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Saturday 5 April 2014

Picture This #245 ~ Still Or Calm

Many thanks to Benni for hosting the challenge this week!! I love this theme, so many possible variations!!

Well done to Marianne for her lovely Hoopoe shot as the banner this week.!!

Here are my interpretations of 'Still or Calm':

1) Reflection Pool. Taken at the National Wetlands Centre, Wales. This was actually taken through the picture-window of the centre's cafe!!
Reflection Pool

2) Great Blue Heron. I love how they go so still when they spot a fish and get ready to pounce!!
Great Blue Heron 6

3) Carew Castle. Probably my most well-known shot, you've probably all seen it before, but it's perfect for this theme. Caught on a perfectly still winter's afternoon.
Mirror Image

4) Couldn't resist a bonus shot. I wonder if this old-timer would have stayed so still and calm if he'd dropped his cigar down his front!! LOL.
Old Stogie


18 comments:

  1. Hi, Mitch, wonderful shots! The water in your first shot is like a mirror, it is so still. Great clouds, too. Your heron is amazing, can see every feather and the intent look in his eye. In a flash he'll have that fish. Carew Castle is totally magnificent, I wish I lived there (with central heating). Again, the water is like a mirror and the effect is like magic. The old-timer is just great. Wonder if he was waiting for someone or just enjoying a moment in the sun. I'm glad you added him.

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    1. Thanks Benni :-)) The heron shot (and the other two dozen I took that day) still amaze me somewhat. I was standing photographing lots of small birds like blue tits and chaffinches when suddenly out of nowhere that heron landed almost next to me....not more than 15 feet away, and started fishing as if I wasn't there. He completely ignored me as I took lots of photos of him!!

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  2. hi Mitch love them all especially the Castle on the water and of course the man with the cigar one of your evergreens <3

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  3. Beautiful and serene.

    "I spy with my black eye something beginning with a F."

    Impressive

    "Mr Hemingway, I presume."

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    1. LOL. He also caught something beginning with 'F' !!

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  4. Hey Mitch. Simply love your shots especially of the cigar man. He really seems to be enjoying his smoke. :)

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    1. Thanks Nik :-) Cigar-man was dozing off, it's a wonder it didn't drop out of his mouth and burn him!!

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  5. Great Mitch shots as always. Love the way the reflection of the sky is caught in the Lake. Lovely heron photo, something I have never really seen. Perfect proportions with the castle and we will all be there one day, perhaps not with the cigar. Great capture.

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    1. Thanks Pat :-)) Do you not get herons in Switzerland at all? I know there are large Stork populations in Germany, do you get them there also? They would make a good alternative for big-bird photography.

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  6. Hi Mitch, Four fabulous captures this week, with a broad take on the theme. I cant pick a fave they are all fantastic images in their own separate ways, nice one Mate ;)

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  7. great pics mitch, love the castle

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  8. Mitch, your candid shots of people are fantastic. I wonder how much cigar ash fell on that man's shirt. Great capture of the Blue Heron ready to pounce on his prey. The castle reflection is very good. Wonderful images for Benni's theme.

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  9. Hi Mitch! Week after week, commenting your awesome shots is becoming more and more difficult.... Of course, I love them all but the gentleman smoking the cigar is fabulous.You captured him so well that I can see on his face how he was enjoying those moments...

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    1. Thanks Belita :-)) The man with the cigar was enjoying the sunshine so much he was falling asleep. I just hope the cigar didn't fall from his mouth and burn him.

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