Scuff

It was good to get out on Friday for the first time this year. It was worth the wait. No pressure, just a bimble about to shake off some of the rustiness of my riding.

The Canon Apps are better to use with the built in WiFi.Camera connect for my M3 and Eos Utility for my slr both work reliably.

Just finished replacing the damaged bits and pieces on my blade from a minor tumble at rockingham speedway! Also fitted a couple of daytime running lights on the hand guards of Elaine's MT09 Tracer.

This is my advice to students under my instruction..... Always sacrifice position for safety and/or grip, ie. Move away from oncoming traffic on left hand bends, keep out of debris or rough road surfaces at the edge of the road when taking right hand bends. You need not position for a view due to the slow speeds involved or the open nature of the bend. It is the riders responsibility to make the best decision as to their position for a view depending on the physical nature of the bend and the view available. If it is safe to to so, you may choose to straighten bends by using the offside of the road in order to maintain speed and a more upright machine position for that speed. Due regard must be given to road markings such as double white lines and other potential hazards such as junctions and blind brows.

My lovely new wife and myself are on honeymoon in Iceland at the moment. We have both wanted to come here for ages. What a wonderful place. Whilst she is having a lie-in as there is a dusting of snow and she is worn out with all of the exploring we have done, I thought I would share some of the images that I have taken. The area is rugged and beautiful and sparsely populated. We are staying at Lake Myvatn and have enjoyed exploring the area. There are plenty of Octy Estates here. Even saw a scout earlier today. I hope you like them and give you a feel for this part of Iceland. This first Image was taken Just North of Husavik. Here is Elaine striding into the distance looking for a viewpoint for a photo. That's not a grad filter for the sky, that's how it was! Canon 1Dx with 70-300 f4-5.6Lis @ 300mm And here is the view from the above road. It snakes down into the massive estuary and you can see the small road bridge. Canon 1Dx with 70-300 f4-5.6Lis @ 150mm On a whale watching trip where we were privileged to see both a Minke and a Humpback whale. The weather was closing in and this is a shot was taken from the heaving deck of the boat. Vlknafjoll from Skjaf-andi. Canon 1Dx with 70-300 f4-5.6Lis @ 200mm Lake Myvatn pseudo craters. Canon 1Dx with 70-300 f4-5.6Lis @ 300mm Skutustadll Canon 1Dx with 70-300 f4-5.6Lis @ 176mm Dettifoss up close. I got very wet taking this! I was sitting on a rock at the waterfall edge with a frightening drop on my right. It took me ages to spot out all of the raindrops from the lens. To give a sense of scale, look closely at the opposite bank, the squiggly line is a path and there is a person wearing a light coloured coat just above the dark bank. A hand held shot with a slow shutter speed to give some movement to the water. 24mm Lens. Canon 1Dx with 24mm f3.5L TS-E This was looking away from the falls along the valley. 17mm Tilt/Shift lens. Shifted down to include more of the valley and tilted 1.5 degrees down to give sharpness from front to back without a tiny aperture. Canon 1Dx with 17mm f4L TS-E. Looking across to Grimsstadaheidi Canon 1Dx with 24-105 f4L @ 105mm Pseudo Craters Lake Myvatn. Canon 1Dx with 17mm f4L TS-E. Hlidarfjall from HyverFjall. The Black Sand and rocks give an almost alien feel to the landscape. Canon 1Dx with 24-105 f4L @ 55mm

The sun must be really close in the last one! Shadows in all directions :-D Nice nonetheless.

The last few :-) Eriskay Cottage - Canon 1Dx and 24-105 Takeoff from Barra Beach - Canon 1Dx + 300mm f2.8Lis Pebble Sculpture in sunset over South Uist. - Canon 1Dx + TS-E 24mm f3.5LII + 600ex-RT Flash fired remotely via the ST-E3 RT.

Here are some shots all taken within about 20 minutes of each other. They involved rushing around, grabbing the camera and slapping on the 300mm, and getting soaking wet. But I think they were worth it. South Uist - Canon 1Dx handheld with Canon 300mm f2.8Lis Lonely cottage in South Uist - Canon 1Dx handheld with Canon 300mm f2.8Lis Eriskay from South Uist - Canon 1Dx handheld with Canon 300mm f2.8Lis Rainstrom in South Uist - Canon 1Dx handheld with Canon 300mm f2.8Lis Eriskay from South Uist - Canon 1Dx handheld with Canon 300mm f2.8Lis

Its been hit and miss with the weather, but a few brief sunny spells between the showers allowed us to get some more images.... Baile Mor, North Uist - Canon 1Dx with Canon 24mm TS-E f3.5L II Baile Mor, North Uist - Canon 1Dx with Canon 24mm TS-E f3.5L II Kallin, North Uist - Canon 1Dx with Canon 24-105 f4Lis Baile Mor, North Uist - Canon 1Dx with Canon 70-200 f2.8Lis

Thank you all for looking, and for the kind comments. This place is wonderful with wonderful people. I will post some more from my travels around here as and when I get a wifi signal :-)

I am currently touring around the Outer Hebrides. The Octy Scout is taking it all in its stride. 550 miles in 2 days stuffed full of camera gear. Here are a few images from the last couple of days. All images taken with a Canon 1Dx and the Canon lenses listed. With TS-E 24mm II With 24-105 With 24-105 With 24-105 With TS-E 24mm II With TS-E 24mm II With 70-200 f2.8Lis With TS-E 24mm II

I have been at this game for over 40 years now! And we have never had it so good. I am not going to try and persuade anyone here that film or digital is better or Canon or Nikon is better. Whatever the photographers abilities, and whatever they chose to photograph may not be of interest to anyone else, but that doesn't make it any less valid or important. I shoot commercially with full frame SLR's now. I have been through the film years, shooting trannies and neg film from 110 to 5x4. And boy am I glad I don't have to sit in a darkroom anymore, horrible smelly dark places :-) But it is valid that many new photographers have a go with film in an effort to be more disciplined with their photography. I just like to be disciplined with digital as well. I am the same photographer as I was years ago, I use the same discipline now with expensive cameras and lenses. They don't make me any better, but if I take the time and effort to carefully compose and expose a shot, I want the camera and lenses to produce the best possible quality of file to process and print. I love photography, I love trying to improve, I love looking at people's images. Thanks for reading :-)

Just nipped out between the showers to do some test shots with my new SLR. At least the tall grass in the middle of the track cleaned the underneath of the Octy Scout :-)

1.No Waiting / Storm Blue / 2.0 TDI PD / MY09 (Pre facelift) 2.andyjl1968 / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI PD / MY07 3.Nick_H / Arctic Green / 1.8Tsi / MY11 4.dekka48, / black magic,/ 2.0 PD, / 2008 5.skodal, / Anthracite Grey, / 2.0 CR Diesel, / MY11 / hopefully september!!! 6.foo / Anthracite / 1.8TSI / 2009 7.Stuart / Arctic Green / 2.0 PD / May 2010 8.NikNak / Anthracite Grey/ 2.0 CR / MY11 / Delivery around August 2010 9.Constant / Brilliant Silver Metallic / 2.0 TDi / Jan 2008 10.Gaz196 / Black Magic / 1.8 TSi / MY11 Sept '10 11.GGG / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 PD / May 2010 12.Pedro Pete / Anthracite / 2.0 CR / . Arriving End Sept? 13.Inego / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 PD/ Jan 10 14.Kumquat/ Satin Grey/ 2.0 TDi/ Nov 2009 15.CEPi / Cappuccino / 1.8 TSi / Apr 2010 16.sparky2 / Satin Grey / 2ltr PD TDi / July 2009 FL 17.Normcall / Red / 1.8 TSI / 2009 18.username taken / black / 2ltr pd / june 2010 19.KayakJim / Brilliand Silver / 2.0 PD TDi / MY08 20.rkenny / Satin Grey / 2.0 PD Tdi / March 08 21.GroundHog / Satin Grey / 2.0 PD TDi / MY08 22.Captain Kremen/Satin Grey/2.0PD TD/2007 07 23.ralle / Cappuccino / 2.0PD / 2007 57 24.atkinsong / Candy White / 1.8 TSI / May 2010 25.uscouter / Cappuccino / 2.0PD TDi / March 2010 26.Eddie Deguello / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI CR / Sept 2010 27.London Les/ Satin Grey / 2.0 TDI CR / Wk 33 Sept 2010 / Alcantara, Xenon AFSII, Spare, Silver Rails, MFSW, Maxidot, Curtain Airbags, MDI 28.Scouter2 / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 TDi / Apr 2007 29.harrylime / cappucino beige / 1.8 tsi / January 2010 30.Mark999 / Dynamic Blue / 2.0PD / May2010 31.Magicknight75 / Black Magic / 2.0 Fsi /Feb 08 standard skoda spec apart from full size spare 32.All the Scout standard toys + Xenons, MFSW, Maxidot, Curtain Airbags, OEM Bluetooth. 33.Jeeves / Anthracite / 2.0 TDI PD / Feb 2010 34.Niall / Satin Grey / 2.0PD TDi / May 07 / 07 Octavia Scout TDi / standard skoda spec apart from full size spare 35.Wilkopilko / Brilliant Silver/ 2.0 TDI PD / June 2007 36.Utarg / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 CR / Just been told I can pick it up 17th July! / Alicantra,Spare,Maxidot,MDI 37.Finbarsko / Satin grey / 2.0 PD / 57 38.ScruffyBadger / Brilliant Silver Met / 2.0 TDi PD/ June 2008 39.Unclelatch / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI PD / June 2010 / MFSW, Maxidot 40.BOBW / cappucino beige / 1.8TSI / May 2010 41.Simon Cobb / Cappuccino Beige / 2.0 TDI CR / fully optioned apart from MDI and SATNAV 42.AuScout / Satin Grey / 2.0TDI / Oct 2008 43.royskie / Red / 2.0TDI / November 2007 44.Bill Blake / Rosso Brunello / 2.0 TDI / Jan 2010 45.downes martin / Rosso Brenello / 2.0 cr 140 / MY 2011 46.Monnae / corrida red / 1.8 Tsi / my 2011 47.silver1011 / Black Magic / 2.0 TDi / August 2008 / Xenons 48.billycann / Candy White / 2.0 TDi / Dec 09 (facelift) Raised boot floor, spare wheel. Really wish I'd remembered xenons and Maxidot!!! 49.Lasseson / Black magic / 2.0 tdi cr / delivery dec 2010 50.Scout60 / gray anthracite / 2.0tdi / 60 plate 51.Essm / silver met /2.0tdi / Nov 2008 / lots of extras incl OEM bluetooth 52.krimat t/ Cappucino beige / 2.0TDI cr / delivery dec 2010 53.Fin69 / Anthracite grey /2.0TDi PD/ July 2010 54.Snala / Brilliant Silver / 2.0TDI CR / NZ spec + MIDI/Hill hold/LED DRL's /Oct 2010 55.Thorfinn / Corrida Red / 2.0 CR TDi / October 2010 56.Badgersport / Candy White / 2.0 CR TDi / October 2010 / Polished proteus wheels 57.eenymac / Anthracite / 1.8 TSI / March 2010 58.hope it doesn't stretch any further!! 59.Scuderria / Cappuccino Beige Metallic / 1.8 TSI / MY11 (expected in March) 60.Jawsnpaws / Satin Grey Metallic / 2.0 PD TDi / April 2008 61.lard-ajc / Anthracite / 2.0 PD TDi / June 2008 62.Carpus/ Anthracite/ 1.8 TSI/ Sept 2010 63.egide / Satin Grey Metallic / 2.0 PD TDi / May 2008 64.JJBS3/ Rosso Mugello?/ 2.0TDI PD / Jan 2010 (Remapped at REVO...much better!) 65.Greenie58 / Brilliant Silver / 2.0 PD TDI / July 07 66.Browny / Black Magic / 2.0 TDI CR / on order... 67.Slimboyfat303: Silver / 1.8TSI Scout / 2011 68.az12d/Cappuchino Biege/TDi/59 plate, awaiting new one in feb 11 69.6nations / arrived June 2010 / TDI / White 70.Scoutel / Cappuccino / 1.8 Tsi / January 2011 71.London_Jock / Pacific Blue / 2.0 TDI CR / Ordered Dec 10, expected build May 11 72.27motorhead / Cappuccino / 2.0TDi / March 2008 / Bought from Marlborough Skoda in August 2008 ex-Sales Managers car 73.Anthracite, 2.0 TDI 1st Feb 2011...Yipee! after 7 months wait! 74.alannfrost / Safari / 2.0 TDI / DSG/ arriving early June 2011 75.Speedy_Gonzales / Anthracite / 1.8TSi / Ordered 06/02/11, Delivered 15/06/11 / Extras Polished Proteus Alloys-multi function steering wheel for radio/maxidot-Space saver spare wheel 76.Trenca / Candy White / 2.0 TDi PB / FL February 2011 / Xenon+Foldable Mirrors+Tow 77.Scout Master / Rosso Brunello / 1.8TSI / most extras ordered except Sat Nav / Ordered Aug 10 / delivery 1st March 11 (hopefully). 78.Cullenator / Cappucino Mettalic / 1.8TSi / Black leather interior / June 2010 79.scousemouse / Blackmagic / 1.8 TSI / arriving June 2011 80.m1cvt / white /2.0 TDI PD / March 2010 81.Placey / Black Magic 2.0 TDI Mar 08 soon getting a new one the same in April... 82.Zippy / Steel Grey / 1.8 TSI / due August 2011 83.theptyboy / black 84.stevo1 / Brilliant Silver /2.0 TDI PD / NOV 2007 85.steviehg / Aqua Blue / 2.0 TD CR / Extras: sunroof VBF Multi F Maxi Dot / ordered 16/11/2010, last update 29 weeks 86.rosswm / Brilliant Silver / 2.0TDI / July 2007 87.mlp / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI CR / May 2011 88.scoutabout / Storm Blue / 1.8TSi / May 2011 89.Uncle Bulgaria / Cappuchino / 2.0 CR DSG / May 2011 90.Anddenton / Anthracite Grey / 2.0 TDI PD 140 / May 2008 / Maxi-dot, Multi-function SW, Xenon HID's, Columbus SN, Bluetooth, MDI, headlight brows, LED DRL's, Blue LED interior lights, dechromed badgeless grill on way. 91.Jasper13 / brilliant silver with polished alloys / 2.0 TDI CR PDF DSG / June 2011, had to wait 6 months but love it now its here!! 92.Tonyp5a / Anthracite with polished alloys / 2.0TDi CR / July 2011 93.sandal farm/red with polished alloys/2.0tdi/july 2011 ordered nov 2010 94.Carabus901/ black with polished alloys/ 2.0 TDI/ Jul 11 ordered Dec 10 95.Turboscout / Black / 1.8 TSI / July 2011 96.biker123 / red 0 2.0TDI / 2008 97.Octapuss / Aqua Blue / 2.0 TDI CR DSG / June 2011, 98.scoutdave / Storm Blue metallic / 1.8 TSI / 2010 (owned from Aug 2011) 99.lamlash / satin grey / 2.0 TDI CR / Oct 2011 / no extras 100.jpgb / Safari metallic/ 2.0 TDI CR / 2011 / DSG 101.diesel steve / rosso red / 140 tdi / june 10 102.stringbean / Rosso Red / 2.0 TDI CR / December 2011 / Maxidot, MFSW, Xenons, LED DRL, Curtain Airbags, Spare Wheel, 'Polished' Proteus Alloys 103.SCOUTMASTER / AQUA BLUE /2.0 TDI PD / JUNE 2010 (owned from new)/ SATNAV, OEM BLUETOOTH, MAXIDOT, MFSW, XENONS, ALCANTARA, ELECTRIC DRIVERS SEAT,CURTAIN AIRBAGS, FULLSIZE SPARE, RAISED BOOT FLOOR and SHARK REMAP. 104.indianinorge / Corrida Red / 2.0 TDI CR / MY2012 / Webasto, Amundsen SatNav, DAB +++ / Delivered for Christmas :-) Can't take the smile off my face! 105.Locheil/ silver / 2.0 TDI / May2007 / (2nd owner, 63k mls on clock, FSH etc), xenons, curtain airbags 106.smurfster / 2.0 TDI / May 2007 / 104K mls 107.Samwise / Dark Metallic Green / 2.0TDI / July 2008 / 41K mls 108.rz67 / Satin Grey / 1.8 TSI / October 2011 109.Scuff / Rosso Brunello / 2.0 TDi / oct 2010 (2nd owner 12k miles)

Cheers