*** This Week Through Your Eyes 2026.08.15 ***

Not a lot of options with the backgrounds on the day I took those kestrel photos, it was a dull and murky sort of day and the only opportunities I had were to shoot them against the grey sky.

Regarding the exposure, I think the one in the tree looks about right to my eyes (assuming you're talking about how bright they are and not shutter speeds which I typically lock around 1/800s). Any darker and the detail around the eyes would disappear into the shadows.

The flying one was very underexposed due to the grey sky and it's a really heavy crop. Again, I've adjusted the exposure so you can see detail around the eyes. I think the main problem with that one is a combination of the original underexposure and bird being very tiny in the frame, so it's really stretching the definition of what might be classed as acceptable image quality as there's not a lot of detail to play with and what there is was mostly crushed into the shadows in the original image, making the recovered details look a bit washed out. The only reason I included it was that I like the pose of the bird and the fact it was looking straight at me.

Here's a comparison of the unedited images compared to the final results.

The grass shot was inspired by the ones you posted the previous week. I need to take more of them, but it's hard work on the knees.

Now that's a long train. Nice shot.

This is an excellent set of images, really nice work. Sad to see traditional ways of life fall by the wayside, which makes images such as these even more important.

A fun colourful set. I'm always wary of getting a bit too close to cows, having been chased by some when I was young (and a couple of times more recently too). I last came across a group of this particular breed in the Ennerdale valley of The Lake District a few years ago and although I believe they're very docile, I still kept my distance.

This shows the context from which that shot was taken. This is not the shot that I processed for my submission.

Shadows

Light filtering through the trees...

Great contrast!!!

You truly have so many great shots here that I really can not decide...
Colours and subjects are superb!

Love your layers of light here. Excellent.

Great beasts of burden.

THE shot to me, all encompassing.
Others are great too.

Great abstract.

Some great effort went into creating this series.

One of the results...

Fab, fab colours.

Outstanding. It would be wonderful if THAT was a scene from OUR little town today! Also... your e-book... great eye and very thought-provoking. The "late eighties" doesn't seem that long ago, but maybe it is.

Cool. The pattern is mysterious.

Hey! Are YOU talking to ME? LOL.

Very interesting and a fun excursion/tour. I like the "color" in this one.

The color, waves, the gravel/stones and the "big guy" come together nicely.

This one is excellent. The soft tones and depth. Your shot variety is impressive and always interesting.

Thank-you for the comment. You are very observant! Which is not surprising based on the photos you post. :-) These oil trains typically run in a push-pull configuration (there are probably two locomotives at the other end). Regarding the tank car shape... as I understand it, there are a couple of complementary reasons for the slight "dip" in the center. To increase capacity (within a fixed car length) the tank diameter was enlarged but the overall height needed to be maintained due to clearance constraints (tunnels and bridges). Also, with the slightly "depressed" fill valve and work platform at the center/top, this "shape" creates an airspace above the load at each end of the tank that allows for thermal expansion. I suppose... if the tank train sits here in Seattle, that's one thing, If it sits under the sun in Arizona or Texas, that's another!

Thank-you, Sir! Pull over on the side of the road and take a picture!