Astronomy, Photography and Weather

Sorry to have been out of the frame for so long. Between a hectic work schedule, a crashed laptop and Flickr doing away with BB code links I haven't posted in some time. I hate to post and run, but that appears to be what I'm doing. Anyway, I've spent some time trying to get a decent shot of flying swallows - a satisfactory result still eludes me. Anyway here are some pics from my hectic summer, these are my moments of peace (without photography I'd be burned out). Sorry about the amount of shots, but I don't know when I can get back here again.

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4142/4895661370_27ec3071a9_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4895661370/)
Skimming Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4895661370/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4077/4894998683_733f2709e7_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4894998683/)
Swallow Splash (Hirundo rustica) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4894998683/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4138/4894891389_6b50798c58_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4894891389/)
Flying Swallow (Hirundo rustica) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4894891389/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4121/4915502651_f85f70a1b7_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4915502651/)
Grey Wagtail (Motacilla cinerea) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4915502651/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4076/4892065609_d0cf8e2b73_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4892065609/)
M27 Dumbbell Nebula (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4892065609/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4140/4891599147_676b3041ee_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4891599147/)
Brown Rat (Rattus norvegicus) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4891599147/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4883396158_e866f0cc52_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4883396158/)
Into the Blue (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4883396158/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4102/4872728303_5756836d53_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4872728303/)
What a tangled web we weave........ (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4872728303/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4082/4873332088_a894b12f02_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4873332088/)
Hoverfly (Scaeva selenitica) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4873332088/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4869008937_5df50f850d_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4869008937/)
Sunset Gold (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4869008937/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4120/4828933134_41c46fd318_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4828933134/)
Armageddon outta here (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4828933134/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4134/4828322745_cc7938ee9b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4828322745/)
Chopper1 (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4828322745/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4080/4794914976_9bb002707e_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4794914976/)
Fallow Doe and Fawn (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4794914976/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4114/4794274029_d03aaf138b_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4794274029/)
Flying Swallow (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4794274029/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

(http://farm5.static.flickr.com/4096/4739364439_c850b6afc3_z.jpg) (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4739364439/)
Heil Heron (http://www.flickr.com/photos/jcmurphy/4739364439/) by John C. Murphy (http://www.flickr.com/people/jcmurphy/), on Flickr

Top class shots man! Excellent ! What glass you using?

What a great diversified set of shots John. Love the shot of M27 and the sunset is just beautiful. Hope you get to post more sooner than later!

Hi Conor,
Most of  the shots above are shot using Sigma 150-500mm (BigmOS) at 500mm, even the sunset (not a very landscape lens).
The Macros were done with a Sigma 70-300mm and the M27 is my 500D direct attached to the scope using a T adapter/T ring, scope is a C8N-GT.
You can click on any of the above shots and you'll get more detail and camera settings on each shot.

John, all of these are brilliant!, top class photography of nature and the sky, this has been a catchup which I've really enjoyed viewing. Very difficult to pick a favourite from such a stunning selection. I like the chopper shots, especially the face-on view with the exhaust fumes distorting the air below  :)

Excellent series of images all round ! :D

Great shots John,especially the fast flying swallows,very impressive - love Heil Heron LOl.

Thanks for all your kind comments - photography is all thats kept me sane all summer, your comments help of course  ;D