Party @ Whitegates Hotel, for it's dedication

Congrats Vasili for your hard work and creativity in your endeavor !

CarPark @ Whitegates

Apple season is just about here... These are great for "Tartes".

Whitegates' backyard

Picasa Web Albums

Picasa Web Albums launched by Google, pretty nice, but limit to 250 MB. See my Albums at: http://picasaweb.google.com/gungadoo/

It's not every day that I'm mentioned on Shelton Mullter's Shutter's Inc Professional Photography podcast... see http://www.audio2u.com/shuttersinc.htm , episode 39, at around 1min 40sec...

The game involved throwing a football in the air, and calling names...

the "boys" had fun playing a "different" game with a soccer ball.

Anne, enjoying a cherrie (currently in season in the UK).

Anne & Daniel's Birthday...

The indignated hourse was hesitent at crossing (or fording) the river... perhaps because it was not selected to run in the Ascot races... ?

Small bridge in the Binfield countryside...

Binfield farmland (Pollen "infested", at this time of the year).

People waitin to catch the train, that the Ascot train station (just 10 minutes from Bracknell, by train).

Winning hourse being presented on the winning ring. I couldn't quite see the queen from the road, but did see her on the big screen, congratulating the winner.

Even from the road (with a good zoom) you can get a glimpse of the Parade Ring...

The dresses are not always "old fashion"

Ascot, this afternoon... notice the Queen's flag on the right pole...

Whitegates Hotel, open for the Ascot clients... Congrats Vasili !

Early morning picture of Whitegates, on the Summer Solstice.

Ascot 2006

Picture (from BBC) of the entrance of the Queen, on the first day of the Ascot Races... (see http://www.bbc.co.uk/berkshire/content/image_galleries/royal_ascot_2006_day_one_gallery.shtml for more pictures)

The Ascot Dress Code

The Dress code is something else...

Ladies are required to dress in a manner appropriate for a formal occasion. This means that: a hat must be worn; strapless dresses are not permitted; midriffs must be covered; and trouser suits, of full length, must be of matching material and colour.
Gentlemen are required to wear either black or grey morning dress, including a waistcoat, with a top hat.
Overseas visitors are welcome to wear the formal national dress of their country or Service Dress. Please note those not complying with the dress code will be asked to leave the Royal Enclosure. Children, Girls must wear a dress or skirt, Boys a suit or jacket and smart trousers with a tie. Jeans and trainers are not permissible.

(according to http://www.royalascot.co.uk/index.php?page=intro15&submenu=99&open=on)

New complex is splendid... not that the horses notice though.

Somptious, outside !

Somptious, inside !

Royal Ascot is back (after being relocated last year due to major renovations)... See http://www.royalascot.co.uk/

Father's Day Lunch with the Senty's, at our place. after a long bike ride...  

Insalata Caprese (my favorite... after the Salad Niceoise), for Father's Day  

Nikon Certificate

Yes, got the Nikon Certificate for Level II Professional Photographer... after spending a day @ Nikon's Training Center in London. Here's one of the pictures I took during the hands-on class... (No post-processing, except for RAW to JPEG conversion).

Here's the EXIF info for this picture:
Make = NIKON CORPORATION
Model = NIKON D70s
Date Time = 2006-06-14 12:05:44
YCbCr Positioning = co-sited
Exposure Time = 1/8"
F Number = F22
Exposure Program = Shutter priority
Components Configuration = YCbcr
Exposure Bias Value = -2EV
Max Aperture Value = F3.48
Metering Mode = Pattern
Light Source = Natural
Flash = Off
Focal Length = 18mm
Color Space = Adobe sRGB Mode II
Scene Type = A directly photographed image
Exposure Mode = Auto exposure
White Balance = Cloudy
Focal Length In 35mm Film = 27mm

One of Nikon-UK's training room

Great online (Flash based) tutorial for Nikon available at http://www.nikondigitutor.com/index_eng.html

Follow the scores here: www.google.co.uk/ig/worldcup or http://fifaworldcup.yahoo.com/06/en/index.html

While daddy stays a supporter of ITALA !

Anoushka doesn't hide her alegance... Even mothercase has a section to cater for these tiny-supporters: http://www.mothercare.com/page/england

Happy 4 months, Anoushka... on the day of the start of the World Cup !

Ansel Adams, on Photography technology...

"Your equipment DOES NOT affect the quality of your image. The less time and effort you spend worrying about your equipment the more time and effort you can spend creating great images. The right equipment just makes it easier, faster or more convenient for you to get the results you need. (...) Any good modern lens is corrected for maximum definition at the larger stops. Using a small stop only increases depth..." Ansel Adams, June 3, 1937
-----------------------------------------
I thoughts this article was quite interesting on photography technology v.s. the Art: http://www.kenrockwell.com/tech/notcamera.htm, specially as I'm contemplating acquireing the new Nikon Lens that every professional photographer is raving about: the Nikkor 18-200mm AF-S DX VR f/2.5-5.6G IF-ED Lens

Then the trainer took over and did this trick !!! (these copters have as much negative pitch than positive pitch on their blades, allowing it to fly just fine, upside-down)

Ok, let's try some acrobatic figures...

ok, I got it finally to hover...

The instructor has the master remote control and I had the slave. If I made a mistake, he'd correct it (good thing, else I'd crash the copter many times over)

And one cool thing, the rear roter speed is computer controlled by a Piezo-Gyroscope. This made the flight much much easier !

The copter was in Carbon-Fiber and Aluminium... 6 Servos, Alcohol & Nitro-Methane fuel powered (making it much more efficient than a regular gasoline engine). At a peak RPM of 18,000, watch the blades ! This particular model can reach 70 mph in speed (without diving first), weighs just under 5 kg and can lift an extra 2 kg (not enough for Anoushka, as she now weighs 4.95 kg).

Today, I had fun "trying" to fly a remote controlled helicopter

This looks like fun... if you don't have "hay feaver"

My sister Serena, in chattanooga