Stroh violin

I was at the Greenmarket on Sunday and the Penny Jar band were playing.  It was quite warm (over 90F) and the chairs were set up on the lawn of City Hall, under the trees.  So the band were facing opposite of the usual configuration, giving me a look behind the scenes, as it were.  And I saw this!

This is a Stroh violin.  It's an amplified violin, but the amplification is... mechanical rather than electrical.  It was invented by John Matthias Augustus Stroh in 1899, before the microphone.  You can hear a pretty good example at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IkO5y-To3H0.  Now that we have microphones, there aren't that many Stroh violins in circulation.  I was very happy to see it.  Alas, the A string broke (normal wear and tear) and the violinist wasn't able to play the full range of notes.  But she did play it for me!  Nice.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	125
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

Sunset in the city.  This is facing east, where the sun's last rays illuminate distant clouds.

Many photo bloggers from round the world post a photo of their sky of Friday - visit Skywatch Friday to see them all!

F Number	5.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	26.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 52.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/50
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Tadpoles

My youngest has a fascination for all living creatures.  He was thrilled when he was visiting a friend who had a pond and agreed to send some tadpoles home.  These little frogs are from the same pond, but clearly a few days apart in terms of development.  The one in the corner has almost completely absorbed his tail, while the one in front hasn't quite got his front legs yet.  Once grown, they'll go back to the pond where they began life.

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/30
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	On, Fired

Monthly Theme - The Beauty of Decay

On the first of each month,  the City Daily Photo community members choose a theme and then post a photo that represents how they visualise that theme.  This month the theme is The Beauty of Decay.  Please visit the link and see the beautiful photos our members have taken from round the world!

This is a photo from Vale Cemetery.  It's something of a green and natural oasis in the middle of the city.  This section is not quite steep enough to be called a gorge or canyon, but it's a steep climb from the footpath to the top as well as down to Cowhorn Creek below.  So when trees finally fall, they are generally left there unless they cross the path.  The tree on the left broke up above the frame, but nature has reclaimed the stump to the point that we can see straight through it.  Skunk cabbages are growing around it, and a tiny sapling has taken root in the middle.  It's hard to imagine that all this is quietly happening a few hundred yards from the main city street.

F Number	5.6
Focal Length	35.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 70.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Skywatch Friday

I haven't done a Skywatch Friday in a while.  This was a cool 22 degree halo around the sun.  I didn't realise there was a name for this until I tried looking it up!

Please click on the link to see beautiful photos of the sky taken by people round the world.

F Number	18.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/800
Exposure Program	Manual
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

Regalia

Just sharing a bit of the regalia at the HVCC graduation.  The professors in the construction classes wore different coloured hard hats rather than the traditional mortarboards.

F Number	8.0
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	45.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 90.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/320
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	200
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire

I want THAT one

Walking through the greenhouse, looking at all the flowers.  I have to admit to being pretty much overwhelmed, when my eye alights upon this scene.  An expanse of white flowers in flats... and this one open space.

I giggled at the thought that someone looked these over and deliberately chose that one over all the others.  Mostly because I couldn't tell the difference between the individuals. I don't know whether to envy the discerning ability on the purchaser or pity them for being that particular.  I'm still giggling...

F Number	5.6
Lens ID	LUMIX G VARIO 14-45mm F3.5-5.6
Focal Length	14.0 mm (35 mm equivalent: 28.0 mm)
Exposure Time	1/200
Exposure Program	Program AE
ISO	100
Exposure Compensation	0
Flash	Off, Did not fire