Mike Hardisty Photography

How fortunate that this weeks challenge should be about indulgence. Last week I was lucky to be invited to attend one day at the Battle for the Dragon competition, which is part of the Welsh International Culinary Championships, held this week at Llandrillo College. The competition also gave me the opportunity to use my  Samsung P&S … Continue reading »

Before I get into this weeks challenge I would like to thank all of you who took part in the poll, which I included in last weeks photo challenge. I asked “Do you think a visible watermark is too distracting?” and gave you three choices; Yes No Not Sure Previously, I have always published my images with … Continue reading »

As photographers we often have regrets. Not having a camera with us. Forgetting to re-charge the standby battery for the camera. Only having one memory card on a shoot and not having a spare. Taking that all important and non-repeatable shot, then realising your camera was on the wrong settings. I could go on and … Continue reading »

The Torbay Express is a named passenger train operating in the United Kingdom. Historically, the Torbay Express name was applied to services operated by the Great Western Railway from London Paddington to Torquay and Paignton. In recent years, the name had been reused for a passenger charter steam locomotive service which runs on certain summer Sundays and some Saturdays, each year from Bristol Temple Meads, via Weston-super-Mare and Taunton to Torquay, Paignton and Kingswear. In the image above you can … Continue reading »

Now you might say what has this got to do with “Hope”? You could be right but there again …… I have always believed that any theme which uses abstract words like Hope, Dreams, Thoughts, etc is very much down to the interpretation of the individual photographer and because of this you will see a varied and interesting medley … Continue reading »

Well I’ve gone and done it. Created “HDR Images by Mike Hardisty“, a new blog dedicated purely to HDR Photography and my HDR images. Unlike this blog, which gives information about the area or subject I have been photographing “HDR Images by Mike Hardisty” will give only the briefest of details as I wanted the … Continue reading »

As a photographer, and especially one who uses HDR, I am always looking for ways to simplify post processing of the photographs I take. I think I have found a solution that suits me in a piece of software called Machinery HDR Effects. Just recently I was re-introduced to this software that previously was not available in … Continue reading »

Rocky Valley is a small valley with spectacular scenery in north Cornwall, United Kingdom (in the parish of Tintagel). The valley is carved by the Trevillet River in Trethevy around one mile east of Tintagel.  At their highest point the slate canyon walls tower over seventy feet above the river below. Rocky Valley was mentioned in travel books as a place of exceptional beauty … Continue reading »

Over the holiday period I conducted an annual audit of my images which are posted on my blog, Flickr account and website. It saddens me to say that this year I have found many more than normal being given away as free wallpapers, used on commercial sites and in some cases being combined with other … Continue reading »

Mersey class lifeboats are all-weather lifeboats operated by the Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) from stations around the coasts of Great Britain and Ireland. The Mersey is designed to be launched from a carriage, but can also lie afloat or be slipway launched when required. Its propellers are fully protected from damage when launching or in shallow water by partial tunnels and two bilge … Continue reading »

On a recent trip to Scotland to visit my father I found myself on the motorway in blizzard conditions. Beattock Summit is a high point of the A74(M) motorway as it crosses from Dumfries and Galloway to South Lanarkshire in south-west Scotland.  The highest point on what can be a lonely stretch of road is 315 m (1033 ft) and that’s where I was when the blizzard … Continue reading »

This is my 200th post and it seems fitting that this weeks challenge is Celebration. Especially as we are now coming into the holiday season and it’s that time of the year when many of us celebrate Christmas. Now I’m not so naive as to think that everyone in the world celebrates what is a Christian … Continue reading »