Without them (the catch-lights) , the eyes appear dull and lifeless and the whole image lacks the WOW factor and looks 'flat'. Especially in bird - photography...you just as well shouldn't bother submitting and image without catch-lights.

I have a friend in San Diego who arranges Monarch-Tours every year. In fact he is there now, as we speak. I think if one wants firsthand knowledge (he is a Lepidopterist),
one needs to speak to him first. Dr Toone would be the man I will speak to before doing something in haste.
He's only back on the 24th and then I'm away....will do a post after the 15th March.
Thank you for bringing this to my attention at least....as you can see..I'm on the other side of the world.

Wow ! Amazing photos. Your images crop fantastically well..
Are you using a tripod ? And how do you manage with it with your very active subjects ? I find it just makes me awkward en encumbered .

Well, thanks for MK's info...we buy from e-Infinity...have saved MK's info in my Photographic Needs folder...

I must confess , most of our cameras and equipment such as tripods, external flash,filters,cards etch come from Hong Kong. Everything is so ridiculously expensive in Australia that we have decided to shop elsewhere. Service is fantastic, postage, if any cheap from Hong Kong and as you see...one can save a fair bit of money ...
I don't think I'm allowed to give their name , but if you send me a private message , I will let you have the link.

I know the reason for the mist sprayer, but why the sugar-mixture ? I guess for attraction of insects , right ?
When and where would you use it....sounds very interesting.

The English guy lives near Le Bugue in the Dordogne, France and at the time he was stopped he was blind-drunk.

The gendarme signals to him to wind down the window then asks him if he has been drinking, and with a slurring speech the English guy replies; "Yes, this morning I was at my (hic)...daughter's wedding and as I don't like church much I went to the cafe opposite and had several beers. Then during the wedding banquet I seem to remember downing three great bottles of wine; (hic)... a corbieres, a Minervois and (hic)... a Faugeres. Then to finish off during the celebrations... and (hic) during the evening ...me and my mate downed two bottles of Johnny Walker's black label."

Getting impatient the gendarme warns him; "Do you understand I'm a policeman and have stopped you for an alcohol test?"

The Englishman with a grin on his face replies; "Do you understand that I'm English, like my car, and that my wife is sitting in the other seat, at the wheel?"

The mind of a Scotsman.....




















A Scotsman walks into a bank in Glasgow and asks for the loan officer.
He tells the loan officer that he is going to Australia on business
For two weeks and needs to borrow £5,000.

The bank officer tells him that the bank
Will need some form of security for the loan,
So the canny Scots lad hands over the keys
And documents of new Ferrari parked
On the street in front of the bank.




He produces the Log Book and everything checks out.
The loan officer agrees to accept
The car as collateral for the loan.

The bank's Manager and its officers
All enjoy a good laugh at the rough looking Scotsman
For using a £120,000 Ferrari
As collateral against a £5000 loan.
An employee of the bank then
Drives the Ferrari in to the bank's
Underground garage and parks it there.

Two weeks later, the Scotsman returns,
Repays the £5,000 and the interest,
Which comes to £15.41.
The loan officer says,
"Sir, we are very happy to have had your business,
And this transaction has worked out very nicely,
But we are a little puzzled.
While you were away,




We checked you out and found that you are a multi millionaire.
So what puzzles us is, why would you bother to borrow "£5,000" ?


The Scotsman replies:


"Where else in Glasgow can I park my car
For two weeks for only £15.41
And expect it to be there when I return'"




Ah, the mind of the Scotsman...

We had a lovely shower over the week-end and I came across this 'be-jewelled' Christmas Beetle and had only a 3 shot opportunity before he flew off. Not wonderful , but he looked like a 'fairy-beetle' with all the rain-drops

Christmas Beetle


Christmas Beetle #2

Thanx thunder-o -b...you are very kind.

I forgot that I have a D600 now (had a birthday you see..), ISO 800, 1/60-sec at f/16.

I didn't do any PP , except cropping and contrast and a bit of sharpening. I used an external flash though (SB700). But even through the naked eye, one can see the iridescent green glow.

They say (the know-it-all's) that only the ♀ stings/bites because she needs the blood to procreate , and that the ♂ don't...I wasn't taking any chances though.

thnx dfalk . I see some noise now...didn't on my screen.
Will have to do something about that.

A sweet grandmother telephoned St. Joseph's Hospital. She timidly asked, "Is it possible to speak to someone who can tell me how a patient is doing?"

The operator said, "I'll be glad to help, dear. What's the name and room number of the patient?"

The grandmother in her weak, tremulous voice said, Norma Findlay, Room 302."

The operator replied, "Let me put you on hold while I check with the nurse's station for that room."

After a few minutes, the operator returned to the phone and said, "I have good news. Her nurse just told me that Norma is doing well. Her blood pressure is fine; her blood work just came back normal and her physician, Dr. Cohen, has scheduled her to be discharged tomorrow."

The grandmother said, "Thank you. That's wonderful. I was so worried. God bless you for the good news."

The operator replied, "You're more than welcome. Is Norma your daughter?"

The grandmother said, "No, I'm Norma Findlay in Room 302. No one tells me anything."