Donnington Moto GP - Casey Stoner

My personal favourite photo from the Donnington Moto GP last weekend - Casey Stoner navigates the Esses at the Donnington circuit at the British Moto GP. I think this is my favourite because of the line that starts in the bottom left and leads the eye across, up, back and across to the biker in the top right - even though he didn't follow that line, you can almost feel that it was the line that he took to get where he is.

Nikon 80-400 VR at 400mm, 1/640sec, f/10

Donnington Moto GP - Capirossi, Barros, Pedrosa

Another battle for position from last weekend's Moto GP, at least during the first few laps, was seen between Loris Capirossi (number 65), Alex Barros (4) and Dani Pedrosa. The photos below show just how close they were. Unfortunately Capirossi slid out due to the wet conditions, leaving Barros and Pedrosa to finish seventh and eighth.

  

Nikon 80-400 VR
280mm, 1/1000sec, f/9                 400mm, 1/640sec, f/9                 400mm, 1/640sec, f/9

Donnington Moto GP - Valentino Rossi

Valentino Rossi started the Donnington Moto GP second on the grid, next to his team mate Colin Edwards, but got a bad start from which he never recovered.

Nikon 80-400 VR at 400mm, 1/500sec, f/10

 

1/1000sec, f/9                                            1/1500sec, f/9

Donnington Moto GP - Edwards vs. Stoner

Today I went up to Donnington for the British Moto GP (and managed to stay mainly dry despite the rain). You may have seen some bike racing on the TV, but until you actually go you can't really understand how LOUD the bikes are. Its an amazing experience.

Over the next few posts I will be showing some of my photos from today, all taken from the inside of the track, with a view towards the Esses and Goddards corners. Some of them will look a little blurry and I apologise for that - I was standing behind a chain-link fence.

The main battle of the race was between Colin Edwards and Casey Stoner. Edwards started in pole position and had a good start, while Stoner started fifth and didn't get a good launch. However, within a couple of laps Stoner was back up to the front and the following few laps saw him battling for an overtake. Eventually he got it and Edwards could do nothing to catch the Ducati.

Here's a shot taken while Edwards still had the lead.

Nikon 80-400 VR at 400mm, 1/640sec, f/10

Birds of Prey Centre

On our last full day in Cornwall the other month we decided on a visit to the Birds of Prey Centre, the other side of Newquay from where we were staying.

It's a relatively small place, but even though neither my wife or I are especially fanatical about raptors we had a good time. The weather was looking a bit dodgy when we arrived, and it wasn't certain if the flight display would be able to proceed later on. We had nearly an hour, wandering around and looking at all the birds, before it started chucking it down.

Instead of the display the owners decided to host an impromptu talk in one of the inside areas. I think I actually enjoyed this more than I would have the flight display - instead of fiddling with the camera all the time trying to get 'the shot' of a bird in flight we actually got to chat with the owners. It quickly became obvious how much they care for what they do and how much regard they have for the birds. They brought a couple of the birds in - a Harris Hawk and a Buzzard - and we even got to 'pet' the hawk a little.

If you are ever in the area I recommend a visit. Even if you're not that interested it's worth it - the owners are really trying to make a big thing of the place after taking over from a guy who didn't seem to care for the place too much, and they have some ideas that need funding in order to keep doing what they love.

Here is my favourite shot of the day, a close-up of a hawk. I think I prefer the black and white version, but I can't decide for sure, so I'll post them both and you can make your own mind up.

 

Nikon 80-400mm VR at 120mm, 1/200sec, f/7.1, ISO800

Boat Jumble

While walking along the beach/harbour front in St. Ives, Cornwall I spotted this pile of upturned boats and the mixture of colours and weathered textures caught my eye.

Nikon 12-24mm at 16mm, 1/400sec, f/8

Doctor Who - The (Robotic) Companion

The last couple of posts have both included only Doctor Who baddies. This is because there weren't really many series good guys at the exhibition.

This is probably unsurprising - they tend to be played by real people (and I doubt David Tennant would be willing to stand still at the exhibition for eight hours a day), whereas the baddies are generally large alien costumes (which might have people in them in the shows, but exist on their own after the cameras are switched off).

There was one 'good guy' there though - K9 - the Doctor's faithful robotic companion.

Nikon 12-24mm at 12mm, 1/60sec, f/11, flash

Doctor Who - The Bad Guys

Yesterday I posted my first picture from the previously mentioned Doctor Who Exhibition at Land's End.

I'm not one hundred percent sure why there would be a Doctor Who exhibition at Land's End, but due to the rain (and the fact that Doctor Who is just plain great) we decided to take a look.

It doesn't take long to wander around - and there is a bit of a gap towards the end, where they are obviously waiting for some Series 3 paraphernalia to arrive - but it's good fun none-the-less. You can get really close to the exhibits, and although probably against the rules you can even touch things like a Slitheen and the Cyberman.

Below are some of the baddies the Doctor has encountered - a Clockwork Droid (from The Girl in the Fireplace), a Cyberman and a better view of the Dalek from my last post.

  

Nikon 12-24mm

Do Not Touch The Dalek

I don't think this photo really needs an explanation - hopefully everyone knows what a Dalek is and shouldn't need the warning.

Nikon 12-24mm at 24mm, 1/60sec, f/11, flash

Shipwreck

A shipwreck, seen from Land's End in Cornwall. I could be wrong, but I think this is the RMS Mulheim, which ran aground in March 2003.

This is the only decent shot I got at Land's End from our recent visit due to bad weather (the only outdoors shot anyway - some from the Doctor Who exhibition coming soon). A shame as we quite fancied a stroll along the cliff side path.

Nikon 18-200mm at 170mm, f/9, 1/125sec

The Lizard Lifeboat Station

A couple of shots of the lifeboat station at Lizard head - built in 1914 according to the sign above the door.

With it's lighthouse, famous pasties and at least two tea rooms claiming to serve the most southerly afternoon tea in the UK, this spot is a magnet for the tourists. Even when the weather is bad it is fairly busy here. This particular day was very windy and overcast, but we were fortunate that it was still clear enough for a fantastic view.

 

Nikon 12-24mm
14mm, f/18, 1/125sec                                      22mm, f/13, 1/125sec

Cliff flowers

The last two posts of the cliffs around The Lizard in Cornwall have shown an area that looks pretty bleak.

However, the hostile conditions don't stop things from surviving there. These flowers cover the cliffs here and at other places in Cornwall, including Land's End.

Nikon 18-200mm VR at 130mm, f/6.3, 1/250sec

Inhospitable

A shot of the cliffs at The Lizard. Converted to black and white it really gives a sense of how overcast and windy the weather was that day - there weren't many other walkers about to enjoy the views with us.

Nikon 12-24mm at 12mm, f14, 1/500sec

Isolation

A bench sits alone, facing out to sea at The Lizard, the most southerly point in the UK.

Nikon 18-200mm VR at 105mm, f10, 1/250sec