Lakelandlass

Mark - As you will know, this is also my preferred type of show. I, too, thought the very slow zooms suited the subject and along with the music gave a very peaceful feel to the a/v. Looks like you chose a good time to visit - not so busy! We did a similar self-drive trip prior to the Alaska cruise some 6 years ago but didn't see as much wildlife. You were lucky catching the whale. Maureen

Thanks John, for the music which I have put away with the rest of my collection but I don't have any plans to do anything with the rest of my Italian pics for a while. Maureen

First of all, thanks to all who have commented. John - Until your comments, I had never heard of Rondo Veneziano. However, just done a quick search on the Web, sampled a few pieces and yes, I wish I had heard of them earlier. Will download some and see if any work better. Having said that, despite the reveille at the start, I do like the piece I have used. It comes from an album of Italian Love Songs. One thing about creating these a/vs, we do get to explore different music. Thanks for your comments. Maureen

A very short visit to Burano, an island in the Venice lagoon, on a disappointingly dull and damp day. Thanks to Bill, once again, for hosting at www.beechbrook.com/pte Maureen

My thanks to Greg and Daniel. Maureen

Jeff - we embarked in Malta before spending the following day at sea. Then Korcula - Zadar - Venice (2 nights) Koper (for Piran and Ljubljana) - Split - Hvar - ending in Dubrovnik. Maureen

Dave - I'm on the point of buying a Panasonic LX5 (for casual use) which, I understand, does incorporate video, so you never know. However, to get quality video you really need to use a tripod which is not very practical for me, I'm afraid. Maureen

Dave - neither of my current cameras has a video facility. Maureen

Thanks to both Bill and Rick. However, Rick, I think it's good to try something else now and again. No doubt I will again be putting something together for The Lakes later in the year. Maureen

But now you've 'Netted it. (Ugh.....) Maureen

I am grateful, Xaver, for your comments. I am trying to improve my synchronisations of music and images. However, as for the border - I like it. Pictures look more 'finished' with a border, than without even though it's probably in just my opinion. Maureen Maureen

Well, whoever guided you did it well. You must be well pleased. Maureen

Lin - you may have confused me with another Maureen as I haven't been ill but thanks for the thought. Maureen

Patrick My kind of show, my kind of scenery. With tack sharp pictures I felt as if I was there and what wonderful weather you had. One I shall keep with others you have done. Maureen

Peter - absolutely awesome work. Maureen

Thanks, Paul. I spent a long time trying and listening to different pieces of music - this one just seemed to click with me. Maureen

Thanks, everyone, for comments. I have passed them onto my son and he is delighted and encouraged. What may be of interest to some is that all of the photographs were taken - not in RAW - but in high quality Jpegs. Most, of course, taken tripod mounted. Maureen

A Brief Snapshot of Yorkshire. Yorkshire is a large county in the North of England famous, amongst other things, for its high moorland, beautiful Dales villages and its coast. 'A Brief Snapshot' because this presentation concerns itself with North Yorkshire only. These are not my photographs but were taken by one of my sons, a keen amateur photographer, who was pleased for me to make them into a slideshow. My thanks again to Bill at www.beechbrook.com/pte Maureen

Thanks, Dom, for your comments. Maureen

Thanks, Bill. Unfortunately, the next big trip isn't for several months but hope to produce something before then. Maureen

Mark. there were a few folk on the deck trying to use a tripod. I just tried to wedge myself against some of the infrastructure and hoped for the best. We went mainly for the snow and there again, we were told by the Norwegians to go in February. We got it both times. Next time we go, if we are lucky enough, it'll have to be the autumn. Maureen

Mark - that was a very nice presentation, certainly my type of show. Recognised some of the pics, too. I particularly liked the subtlety of your very slow zooms and the way you have put it all together using different formats. You say 'first draft'. Can we look forward to more? Maureen

HI Mick - interesting comments for which I'm grateful. Apart from one shot in my Scottish a/v (late last year) I had never done pan and zoom before so it has been a bit of a learning curve for me. Yes, I have moved on slightly from my normal style as I had become too settled in my comfort zone, as you know. Hopefully, as I try to progress, I will become more selective as to which images I decide to move in any future show, but for the moment, I am reasonably happy. Maureen

My grateful thanks to ALL of you who have commented though I have to say that a week ago I nearly threw it out. Anyway, that's another story. Davy - now why did I know you would approve of the music?! Wish I had your creative mind (although you already know that). I wouldn't have to travel so far. Mark - We did the same trip at exactly the same time (February) just three years ago and enjoyed it so much we had to repeat it. I have included some pics from then as we too had some pretty bad weather on this last trip. In fact, after the first couple of days, the decks were covered in snow and ice right until we got back into Bergen. But what the heck - that's what it's about. The aurora pics were taken in 2008, too, as we had a very poor showing this time. I have kept your a/v and was looking at it recently, and your comment about the beautiful skies is absolutely bang on. Bert - will reply to your question (email) separately. Thanks again, everyone. Maureen

On www.beechbrook.com/pte - once again thanks to Bill for hosting. The Hurtigruten (Coastal Express) sails daily from Bergen in Norway to Kirkenes close to the Russian Border, making over 30 stops on the way, carrying passengers and freight. We did the north-south journey at the beginning of February this year and this was once famously described as the 'world's most beautiful voyage'. Few will argue with that. Despite the very poor quality of the Northern Lights images (taken hand-held for 30 secs from the top deck of a moving and pitching ship in sub-zero temperatures) I have decided to include them as, for a great many people, the chance of seeing this natural phenomena is the main reason they undertake this trip in the winter months. A special 'thank you' must go to Jose (Orizaba) for his kindness and patience, and for pushing me that little bit further into PTE. Maureen