Testing, testing, testing

Well I have been having a play with my new camera.  Despite the rather gloomy,chilly weather we have been experiencing it's good to see the days are getting so much lighter now we are in March.
Today though the clouds finally lifted and it has been glorious. I was able to take my first sunshine shots outside in my parent's garden. I went over to visit them and also saw some wonderful crocuses on my journey.

Above is their garden looking a little bare but with signs of spring everywhere. There were so many catkins on their contorted hazel and little alpines out in their rock garden.....
It was also wonderful to hear the birds singing really loudly again.

I thought I would also share a few very random shots just to show you the "intelligent auto" mode on my camera. Although my camera has multiple settings and some great modes, this "point and shoot mode" is really good. It calculates (even taking itself into macro mode) everything in a split second and click...

.....a rather clear shot is taken. I have literally stood one of my treasured crested pigs on the side indoors and this is the result...I am quite impressed. This was not even set on indoor mode... the camera did the work. The only thing I did was turn off the forced flash as I quite like a little shadow, it gives some life to this photo.

I also grabbed a tangerine from the fruit bowl and again just put it on the side, this time in the kitchen. This is the result on a really gloomy day too......I love the dimples on this...

Here are a few shots of my favourite subject matter...my darling Billy...

It even shows the current war wound on the left hand side of his nose...bless!








 I also opened the back door and just took a couple of shots of the pots in my garden which are looking very spring like now...

And of course I thought I would finish with a close up shot of my favourite flower....

My beautiful Daffodowndilly!

I hope you have enjoyed seeing the results of my first play with my camera....there will be plenty more photos to come...it's also so good to see more signs of spring appearing everyday.

I hope spring is beginning to unfurl in your neighbourhood soon,

Bye for now,

Jane x

PS if anyone is interested my dear Hb bought me a Panasonic Lumix TZ8 which has a Leica lens. There is a newer version with GPS (I'm really not sure this is needed and it eats the battery life) and all sorts of rather odd extras but on doing the research the TZ8 seemed a good choice for the price. I am delighted with it and so pleased he has let me have my birthday present early...thank you M, you are so good to me xx