The Wonderful World of Macro Photography

Capturing the detail in the every day is fascinating and in order to see this magical wonderland, all you need to do is spot the opportunities. There are indeed everywhere and all year round too although a personal favourite of mine is flowers.

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Dew laden weeds can be incredible and I adore dandelion clocks particularly but Spring is always pretty special. With a soft spot for colour, it’s hard not to embrace the intricate detail these beauties bring.

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I keep telling myself I should invest in a tripod. But as yet I’ve not found one that’s compatible with owning a four-year-old. Until then it’s a mix of concentration, patience and attempting to keep the hands steady. I’m not ashamed to admit boobs and thighs can work well as a makeshift tripod.

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I don’t know what it is about macro photography but I love getting close-up. These flowers sitting in a vase in my lounge for example are lovely just as they are. But there’s something amazing about making the small, big. I’m just waiting for more of those busy bees to arrive so I can capture their fuzzy bodies dusted with pollen.

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Water droplets can be just as fascinating as flowers. I love nothing better than rushing outdoors after the rain has fallen to catch one hanging on a berry or a tree. Every now and again you get too see yourself in the droplet too which is always a nice surprise.

Many fruits can make for interesting subjects as well – like these limes for example. Not always the easiest to capture but as is the case with everything, practice makes perfect.

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Linking up with #TheGallery at Sticky Fingers where this week’s theme is macro.

Sticky Fingers Photo Gallery

The Alphabet Project | T is for thrill

Hello everyone and welcome to letter T of the Alphabet Photography Project. Thank you so much to those of you that joined in with letter S last week.

This photograph was taken over the Bank Holiday weekend at the Surrey County Show. Organised by the Surrey County Agricultural Society, it features farm animals of every kind (we especially like the dancing sheep show!), the Surrey Farmers’ Market and the Surrey Food Festival. It’s a great day out and there are always a few thrills to be had too – like the Helter Skelter.

How to join in #alphabetphoto 

To join in with the Alphabet Photography Project, all you need to do is link up a post with a photograph that represents the letter T. It’s your call on how you interpret the theme – it might be an object, an adjective or a representation of that letter.

Your photograph can be from any time too so don’t feel you have to take a fresh one each week! You can join in every week or once in a while too, it’s entirely up to you.

If you need any hints, head over to the Alphabet Photography Project page.

You can also join the #alphabetphoto project on Instagram (PODcast is here). Feel free to link up your Instagram photo here too. You can also share your post in the Pinterest and Facebook groups or in the Google+ community.

The Alphabet Photography Project runs weekly with a new letter every Wednesday. You can link up your post anytime from that day to the following Tuesday.

Grab the #alphabetphoto badge!

Inspiration on Pinterest

PODcast now has over 2,500 followers on Pinterest. There are some awesome photos on the #alphabetphoto Pinterest board.

Follow PODcast’s board The Alphabet Photography Project on Pinterest.



Tennis at Levante Beach Resort

Having recently written about our holiday to Greece with Mark Warner at the Levante Beach Resort, this post is all about the tennis. Sure you don’t have to play tennis but if you enjoy the game, the facilities and coaching really are second to none. Apart from anything else playing means you have a great excuse to indulge in all the delicious food on offer!

We’ve holidayed with Mark Warner twice before as a couple but this was our first family holiday. And the first time we’ve visited Levante Beach Resort which is a five-star custom-designed resort located on Afandou, Rhodes. We obviously wanted to spend it together but we were also keen to pick up a game that’s been somewhat neglected since POD arrived.

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What’s The Story? | 25th May 2015

Hello everyone, welcome to What’s The Story for w/c 25th May. Thank you to those of you that joined in last time.

I hope you’re enjoying your bank holiday weekend and looking forward to half term. Our #whatsthestory post this week is all about the tennis at Levante Beach Resort in Rhodes. We had the best time brushing up on a game we truly loved before POD came along.

How to join in

What’s The Story? enables you to share the stories behind your favourite photographs. To join in all you have to do is share a photograph and the story behind it. You can write as little or much as you like and your photo/s can be from any time. The Linky is open every Monday until the following Sunday.

Feel free to use the What’s The Story? badge or include a link to PODcast in your post and do share some comment love too. There’s a community on Google Plus so do pop over if you haven’t already. We’re at Charly Dove or PODcast.

Grab the badge!

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If you love photo projects, the Macro Photography Project kicks off on 1st June. This will be a monthly Linky plus you can join in anytime on Instagram, tagging your images with #macrophotoproject.



The B&W Photography Project | Week #46

Hello everyone, welcome to week #46 of the Black and White Photography Project. Thank you so much to those of you that joined in last time.

It’s fairly usual to capture POD off guard but I do love it when she’s totally absorbed in her own thoughts. As she is here. I did ask her what she was thinking about and the response was ‘nothing’. Perhaps she was off hunting dragons with Sophia the First again, who knows!

How to join in 

To join in with the Black & White Photography Project, just link up a short post featuring a black and white photograph or black and white photographs. The photograph/s can be from any time – both old and new are welcome. You’ll find a post on how to create better black and white photographs here.

Don’t forget to share on Instagram using #bwphotoproject. You can also share your posts and photos in the B&W Photography Project Facebook Group.

Grab the badge! 

Feel free to grab the #bwphotoproject badge (you’ll find a monochrome one here).

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Pinterest loveliness

PODcast now has over 2,500 followers on Pinterest. If you’re looking for monochrome inspiration, do check out the Black and White Photography board. It features some incredible photographs from artists all over the World.

Follow PODcast’s board The B&W Photography Project on Pinterest.

If you missed the news, here’s a short post about the Macro Photography Project which launches on 1st June. It will be a monthly Linky on PODcast and you can join in anytime on Instagram using the #macrophotoproject tag.



The Macro Photography Project

When the Black & White Photography Project and the Alphabet Photography Project launched last year, there was a third photography project on the cards. The Macro Photography Project.

Working in London meant it hasn’t been possible to launch the latter until now. But from 1st June, and the first of each month thereafter, you’ll be able to link up your favourite macro photography posts. With words or without words, it’s entirely up to you.

You’ll also be able to tag your macro photo anytime on Instagram using #macrophotoproject.

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As with the other photography projects, the purpose is to hone our skills in a specific area. I find macro photography fascinating so if you fancy it, come join the party.

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If you need any inspiration, check out the Macro Photography Board on Pinterest.

Follow PODcast’s board Macro Photography Project on Pinterest.

Growing in confidence

In my early teens there was a boy at school who oozed confidence and because of that everyone wanted to be his friend. But he could be mean at times. Not just to me but anyone that didn’t fit the cool demeanour he wanted to portray.

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The turning point came when we were out cross country running. I discovered him sitting at the base of a tree having an asthma attack. We were in the woods and he was alone. I lent him my inhaler and sat with him until his breathing returned to normal. It seemed the decent thing to do.

Back in class I asked if he was alright after what happened. He told everyone I’d made up a story about him having an asthma attack in the woods. Confidence shattered I did my best to have little to do with him after that.

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Some years later I bumped into him in a pub car park near where I lived. Out of the blue he apologised for being cruel at school and thanked me for helping him in the woods that day. I never saw him again.

It’s incredible after such a long time I remember these two events from the eighties so clearly. Perhaps it’s because he was partly responsible for transforming a shy thirteen year old into the ‘put me in a room and I’ll talk to anyone’ individual you know today.

Yes we all have wobbles but on the whole we try to remain confident. Or at least give the impression we are.

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POD is only four and is already so sociable. I love that she’s hugely independent, enjoys interacting with people of all ages and knows what she wants. Even if it means wearing 8 hair clips in one day!

She started nursery when she was just a year old. As I working parent, it was so reassuring when you dropped her off and she didn’t look back. On the days she was upset, you knew you just had to walk away. However awful you felt, in the long run it would be good for her. And it was.

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The time she’s spent at nursery has stood POD in good stead and she has bags of confidence as a result. There’s been lots change over the past few years there but some children have been with her all the way through.

When they start school in September they’ll probably be separated. I’m sure however POD’s determination will ensure she thrives wherever she ends up.

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Linking up with Mum Turned Mom for #ThePrompt where the theme is confidence.

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The Alphabet Project | S is for shimmer

Hello everyone and welcome to letter S of the Alphabet Photography Project. Thank you so much to those of you that joined in with letter R last week.

This week I thought I’d share a photograph from our recent trip to Greece. The main family pool looked wonderful at night and was beautifully lit. The reflections in the water were amazing and you’d often see the moon make an appearance too.

How to join in #alphabetphoto 

To join in with the Alphabet Photography Project, all you need to do is link up a post with a photograph that represents the letter S. It’s your call on how you interpret the theme – it might be an object, an adjective or a representation of that letter.

Your photograph can be from any time too so don’t feel you have to take a fresh one each week! You can join in every week or once in a while too, it’s entirely up to you.

If you need any hints, head over to the Alphabet Photography Project page.

You can also join the #alphabetphoto project on Instagram (PODcast is here). Feel free to link up your Instagram photo here too. You can also share your post in the Pinterest and Facebook groups or in the Google+ community.

The Alphabet Photography Project runs weekly with a new letter every Wednesday. You can link up your post anytime from that day to the following Tuesday.

Grab the #alphabetphoto badge!

Inspiration on Pinterest

PODcast now has over 2,500 followers on Pinterest. There are some awesome photos on the #alphabetphoto Pinterest board.

Follow PODcast’s board The Alphabet Photography Project on Pinterest.



What’s The Story? | 18th May 2015

Hello everyone, welcome to What’s The Story for w/c 18th May. Thank you to those of you that joined in last time.

This week there’s a bit of a bumper #whatsthestory post on our recent holiday to Mark Warner’s Levante Beach Resort in Rhodes. As you can probably guess, it’s quite photo heavy!

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