Stalks at Sunset...

Back from a five mile walk, this late afternoon and early evening. Weather forecast was for a late sunny spell, but this was about as good as it got, though, still, a lovely walk, in a fresh, but not uncomfortably cool breeze.

Crossing fields blipped in May, but now harvested and barren, I was drawn to these seed-heads silhouetted against the late sun. Manually focussing the 10-24mm Nikkor (at its widest) halfway between closest subject distance (literally inches) and infinity and a small - f19 - aperture got it all pretty much sharp. This lens, like most, is fairly appalling at minimum f22, due to diffraction and so therefore, I avoid using that, if I can. A polariser helped with the blues and cloud separation.

The walk back at dusk, alongside the golf course, with its avenue of beech trees and manicured greens, squirrels scurrying and up to the racecourse. Then back down and across fields where three deer weren't hugely pleased to see me and eventually scattered (I carried on walking toward them, that's why) and back along the local beauty spot across the Lower Bermerton watermeadows, known locally as The Broken Bridges, finally across the River Nadder and as it got dark, made it back into streetlit Salisbury.

Have two events to photograph over the weekend, so am glad to have got visiting my father, a day-trip to Devizes and this lovely walk over the last few days and so I can catch up on Journals more tomorrow. In the meantime, The IT Crowd and a steaming bowl of cream of tomato soup and crusty toasted bread beckon. A goodnight and a great weekend wish to everyone!