Popular Photos

Just found a new feature on my site 'Popular Photos'.

You basically allow the public to rate your photo's and this then drops them into the popular section based on the number of votes etc. So for your viewing pleasure here they are. As usual they are clickable to the larger versions and they are all on www.randomphotos.net.


















H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Stock Issues

Well since I bought the Canon 180mm f/3.5 L Macro I have been trying to find a Macrolite adaptor for the Canon MT24-EX. I knew this would be required but didn't realise it would be so hard to find! I ordered one recently and the firm took all day to let me know they didn't have stock, I then ordered from a HK retailler and they topped this by taking 9 days! to tell me they don't have stock.

The problem is I won't be able to use my £600 dedicated Macro flash system until I can get this £30 part. Annoying but one of those things, I'll have to wait until someone gets stock then order one on. For now I'm holding orders with a couple of people and will see who can get it to me fastest.


H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Macro work - Part VI

Well the lense finally arrived last week after an agonising wait. I haven't managed to get any shots with it yet as I've been hectic this last week. I did hope to get out this weekend and take some but it was just too damn hot!

Typical, we complain when it's too cold, too wet or too hot. Guess we are just a nation of complainers : I will be heading out this week to get some but I'm also waiting on the 72mm Macro-lite adaptor to allow my MT24-EX to fit. I won't be bothering with indoor shots until this arrives.

I did order with a UK company at 11AM who waited until 4PM that day to tell me they didn't have stock despite their site showing it! That really annoys me as I lost a day's shipping and could have ordered elsewhere. In this age of competitive retaillers these people really need to pick up their game!

Anyway I digress, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 is gone and the Canon 180mm f/3.5 L Macro is in it's place. going to either need a new bag or a leave a lense at home. For now I'll be leaving the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5 - 5.6 L at home. Don't really use it much these days but I am loathed to sell it.




H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Bank Holiday Weekend

Well what a blistering Bank Holiday weekend it was, stepped out into the garden on Friday afternoon and it was like an oven! Recorded nearly 30 degrees in the house at one point *phew*

Managed to tidy out the garage enough to fit the lift in better and get access to a few of the Katana bits ready for a re-assembly. Still a mess in there though :

Also managed to start the re-carpeting of the stairs, took alot longer than anticipated as the old carpet had alot of nails in it! Most of them have damaged the underside of the treads as they are hardwood and have been badly nailed. Annoying really as they are lovely stairs.

Didn't manage to get out and get any shots, very very hot so decided against baking in the sun. Might grab a coolbox for the Freelander to keep some drinks cold while they are on offer.


H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Motorcyle Work Bench - Part II

Well it arrived yesterday, went to pick the pair up [one for my Dad] and they were 183Kg each! Managed to get mine set up and in the garage last night with alot of huffing and puffing. Now all I need to do is find the room to give it a permanent home. I will start on sorting out the garage tonight and hopefully have it finished for the weekend.

I really want to start on Project Kat [PK] or Project Gixxer [PG] again this weekend as we have the Bank Holiday and it's sure to be raining. Am waiting for the subframe to arrive for PG and need some powder coated bits for PK so will probably work on the latter and start the 'dry fit' to work out what bits I need to order.



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Macro work - Part V

Well, I ordered the Lense and expected it to arrive on Saturday after some delays posting it. I waited in Saturday for it and it didn't arrive! Mailed the seller and waited the usual 6 hours for a response, turns out "it wasn't posted sorry" which turned into a rather abusive thread of emails.

In the end the seller has thrown in a Hoya filter and the lense should arrive today, I have no confidence in the seller or their communications and I won't be sending them large amounts of cash again! Our dealings are now concluded and no matter how good the price I won't be using them again. I have spent nearly £4k with them and feel this should cause them to be more pro-active with their communication. Having to constantly chase them is not something I'm happy about.

So now we wait, and wait until the lense arrives. If it doesn't arrive today I will demand a refund, pay the extra and order elsewhwere with next day delivery.



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Lost Kit - Revisited

I was re-reading some of my older posts and realised I have a gear listing in there which is getting outdated. It suprised me how many lenses and bits I have changed since April, the main changes are the 24-105mm L IS has gone and has been replaced with a 24-70mm f/2.8 L and a 70-200mm f/2.8 L IS. The 100mm f/2.8 Macro has also just [today] been replaced with a 180mm f/3.5 L Macro.

I also note I had £6k+ in gear, the total cost today is a staggering £9k+ :

I'll get some photos of all the kit and post up some of the bigger bits.



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Project Gixxer - Part V

Well it appears the rear subframe from the GSXR750 [99] comes in two sections, the front and rear. I've managed to pick up a complete unit recently and am just waiting for this to come in, thats the good news. The bad news is that I can't find anyone to weld it for me, everyone I approach is saying no because it's old aluminium so is harder to weld!

Oh well I will check the fit when it arrives and devise some other method of fitment if I can't find a welder. I did look at a TIG course and considered buying a welder until I spotted the £2k price tag!

I will test fit the rear and get some snaps for you all, hopefully on my sparkly new bike bench if it arrives in time.


H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Macro work - Part IV

Well, I order the Canon 180mm f/3.5 Macro L this morning, should hopefully have it for the weekend so I can attach the MT24 and get out for some superb Macro shots. The funny thing is I decided to buy the 180mm first without having sold the other two so I could have it this weekend. Then I received two offers, one for each lense so is well, my credit card won't be getting too battered :)

Awaiting it's arrival with baited breath [see The Long Wait for an idea of how much I loathe waiting!]



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Project Kat

Well a new project for you all, well new to you but has been with me for around 2 years now. My latest 85 Katana is nearing completion. I have a new bike bench on the way so will be starting a dry fit next week to make sure I have all the bits and pieces ready for final assembly.

Was looking through the numerous boxes last night to find any brackets I need coating to give to a new local guy. If he's good I will give him more work [have lots outstanding!] but for now I want to try on some spare brackets I have. What really suprised me though was the amount of spares I actually have and the amount which are duplicates. Didn't think I had that much stuff so I guess it's time for a clearout at some point.

I do have a full spare set of body work, I originally was going to spray this candy apple green, to go with the silver frame but saw a lovely burnt orange colour last night and that would look superb.

I guess I need to get the bike built, engine rebuilt and into the rolling chassis before I consider paint. Not to mention the 'spare' bodywork needs alot of repairs!

Ah well, onwards and upwards as they say. Watch this space for updates and photos as usual.




H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Project Gixxer - Part IV

Hmm, was sure we were well past 'Part IV';

So this has now stalled in that I need a later rear sub-frame and a decent aluminum welder to mate it to the new chassis. I did look at a welding course at my local college, £280 for 10 3 hour sessions covering from stick to TIG but squeeled when I saw the price of a TIG rig!

Hope to have this project but to bed before the summer [of lack thereof] is over, will keep you updated and might get some photo's while I'm clearing the garage this weekend ready for the new lift.





H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Motorcyle Work Bench

I've been looking at one of these for a while now, I'm getting too old to crawl around of the floor to repair & rebuild my bikes these days. I've ordered a lift now, Clarke CML2 [I think - Long story] for a bargain price. Should be here in the next couple of weeks then I need to clear the garage, sort my spares and use it to 'dry fit' the Katana.

I need to ensure I have all the brackets & bits sorted for the final assembly so will need to get some sorted ready. Sent a few to a local powder coaters to check their standards [they are duplicate brackets I have] then will let them have my fork legs if they are any good.

Still need to do the engine rebuild but that should be fine as I have a local firm lined up for the work.






H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Awful weather - Part II

Well the weather continues to be dire, we are under severe weather warnings right now with upto 2" of rainfall predicted in the next few hours. Not looking good for my 'garage clean' this weekend or even getting out to get some photos!.

Hopefully we will get at least 'some' summer this year, I would say we have had around 3 weeks of decent weather so far :

Ah well, I have some Macro work to do indoors anyway and alot of paperwork to catch up on. Also have alot of RAW's to process from a football shoot I did last week so won't be short of work!.


H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Macro work - Part III

Well after much deliberation, reading of reviews and talking it through with the missus the lenses have been placed for sale to make way for the Canon 180mm f/3.5 L Macro. It appears to be, from all reviews, a superb lense and the natural progression from the lack-lustre 100mm.

I have obtained a great price and will be ordering it shortly, I have placed the lenses for sale on the AV Forums [www.avforums.com] to allow my fellow photogs the chance of these lovely lenses, failing that they will be on eBay later this week.

I will genuinely be sad to see the 100-400 go, it hasn't had much use though and lately I have been using it less and even leaving it at home. Anyway I hope the 180mm offers me many happy hours, coupled with the MT24 I can't see it not being a superb set-up.


H4rri
~~
www.randomphotos.net

Macro work - Part II

After looking further into the Macro swap it appears I could sell the Canon 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 for around £750, the Canon 100mm f/2.8 Macro for around £250. This would fund the Canon 180mm f/3.5 L Macro, a 1.4x teleconvertor [for the 70-200] and an angled viewfinder.

The latter is something I have been thinking about for a while now, it would help when I'm on the deck attempting to take thos low level shots.

I simply can't decide if I would miss the 100-400 though, I haven't used it for a while and have even left it at home the last couple of times I've taken my gear out. I just can't help feeling I would miss it but then the 1.4x TC should give me enough reach to get me by.






H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Awful weather

Since swapping to the soft-back on my Freelander I've 'dropped the top' twice :( Not all due to the weather but it hasn't helped. It's been raining for a couple of days now and it's supposed to be the middle of summer.

I haven't managed to get out and do any photo's recently either, shot at a party at the weekend but the results were pretty awful so not happy with them. I don't seem to have been able to get out for a decent shoot since I got my 5D late last year, depressing when you think I have nearly £9k of gear waiting to be used.



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Shiney bits

Bought some lovely sparkly 2.5" stainless steel rock sliders for the freelander last week. Managed to get them fitted on Tuesday night and boy what a palaver! They come with tiny little bolts and washers so these had to be replaced, the rivnuts you use to affix to the existing chassis holes where a bugger to fit too!

The bars themselves weigh a bit too so lifting them to fix them was a struggle on my own. They do look great on there though, will have to get some photos of them and post them up for you.

Did notice a couple of little issues when I was under the truck, there is an odd drain pipe hanging out of the nearside wheel well, one of the exhaust rubbers is off and I have a bolt missing out of the sump guard. All easily fixeable though, might even get them done tonight :)



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Macro work

Since selling my Canon 350D to replace it with a Canon 5D I found myself lacking alot of lenses. Most relevant to this particular topic was my macro lense, I previously had the Canon 60mm Macro but as this is an EF-S lense and not compatible with the 5D it had to go. I replaced it with the Canon 100mm Macro and expected the same quality from it as the 60mm. Sadly this isn't the case, it just doesn't seem to have the same quality as the 60mm in terms of build or image.

I have taken a few shots with it and persisted despite my reservations but this is mainly due to the fact that it will cost me in excess of £800 for the only other Canon alternative, the 180mm f/3.5 L Macro. Whilst I would love this lense it's just more expense and more weight, neither of which I can justify right now.

I did pop the 100mm on this weekend and used it as my only lense when wandering back toward the car at the river Parrett. Here are a few shots, see what you think:



















H4rri
www.randomphotos.net

Public footpaths

So we're wandering along a public footpath next to the River Parrett in Somerset when this damned horse decides to attack us! He came running up and tried to bite me on my back & shoulder, luckily I managed to get far enough away to avoid being hurt but still!

I am seriously considering finding the farmer and reporting him for having dangerous animals wandering on a public footpath, surely these area's should be free for all to enjoy. I hate to think what would have happened if I'd had my 3 year old with me!

Anway, this is the beast in question, looks like butter wouldn't melt eh:






H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

51 Freelander TD4 GS Soft-Back

Some shots of my freelander for your viewing pleasure:















H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Postal delays

Well I've ordered a few shiney bits for the Freelander and a couple of other bits recently hoping I would get them in good time. With the postal delays I am missing a few bits, the people who used couriers though have got me their bits in good time.

I ordered my IR filter and that arrived the next day, a pair of rock sliders for the freelander came next day too as they we both couriers. The sunroof holder I ordered was RM though and that took 3-4 days to arrive!

Will have to bear this in mind when I order and send bits in the near future, can't help but think RM are going to be losing money and customers over this :



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

The long wait - Part II

Well at last the long wait is over, I have the Freelander in my posession and on my drive. Has a baptism of fire with it though as I've had to cover 200 miles this weekend starting as soon as I picked it up.

Noticed a couple of little issues like a smell of raw diesel [which aparently is most likely a loose injector] and the clutch is a little low so will need replacing in a short time. Also need to look at four tyres as the ones on there are getting low and causing road noise.

Got some photos of it this weekend and will put them on-line soon, just need to process them first and the Mac Mini will not recognise my card reader!

Swapped the hard-back out for the soft-back too this weekend, that isn't an easy job and to be honest don't see myself using it much. To drop the top you need to zip out the windows, remove them and replace them with covers and drop the top. I would say it's a 5 minute job to drop the top and 10 minutes to get it back up again. Not worth the hassle unless I'm out for the day. Still, at least I have the option ;)




H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Painting & Decorating - Part II

Right, finished my little girls room on Thursday night, managed to lay the carpet and get it all in bar the radiator cover. She came to stay on Friday though so it was more important to get it all back together for her.

She did love it too, had her speechless LOL never had that before.


H4rri
~~
www.randomphotos.net

Painting & Decorating

Have I ever told you how much I loathe decorating! The cutting in around the walls, it alsways looks straight but never is, no matter how hard you try you always get paint where it shouldn't be. The stink of the paint, the cleaning brushes and rollers and just the general downtime while you wait for the paint to dry *sigh*

Then there's the expense of it all, multiple coatings for the walls to get them in a fit state, the paint, rollers, brushes, trays etc. It all mounts up :(

Have been decorating my daughters room recently, been going at it for 5 days now and though the end is near there's still alot to do. We chose Turkish Delight [bright pink] and Amethyst for the walls, coupled with pink shelving, light switches and an amethyst radiator cover [all contrasting for effect] so it should look lovely BUT ....

Damn is that pink bright! I just hope my little angel doesn't think it's too bright and can't sleep in it. I really don't relish the thought of trying to tone down the pink.

Ah well, at least she'll love it and it has been due for a while :)



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net

Filters et al

Just ordered a 77mm R72 Infrared filter, looked at both the Hoya and the Kood versions, the Kood being half the price of the Hoya took it. If I use the filter alot then I might replace it but to be honest I've used Kood filters before and find them to be very good.

Should get some interesting shots from it. Haven't used my other filters much though, I have ND's, ND Grads, Sunset and a polariser which haven't seen much use yet. I also bought a red filter after seeing how gorgeous the sky was through my red sunglasses, unfortunately the filter just doesn't work the same LOL.

Not long now before I get the Freelander, then can head out and get some shots. Just got to find the charger for the 5D and charge the batteries ;)



H4rri
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www.randomphotos.net