Around the Abbey with my family...

With Kirkstall Abbey being so close to our house, it is nearly always the first place that we take people when they come to visit and Friday with my Grandparents was no exception.

I always love looking around the Abbey with different people and different cameras as I always look at it a little bit differently and using my phone camera (and Vignette app) I got to pick up a lot more details of the abbey than I would have done with my Lomography cameras.

Luckily the weather held out for us whilst we were walking around (you can see we're all wearing coats in case of rain lol) and we got to see the Abbey in its full glory!

p.s. I kind of love the over the top light leaks that this app gives - I never really get those with my fim cameras and I'd probably not be entirely thrilled if I did - but it definitely has a certain charm when used with these photos. I'm having far too much fun with this app!

A new phone means... camera apps!

You would think as someone who uses mostly film that I wouldn't be interested in camera apps that recreate the look of retro cameras... but I've always loved the look of Instagram and Hipstamatic - especially Naomi, Nicole and Katrina's photos - its such a great way to capture fun memories without worrying about the cost or if something might go wrong developing, or you've left the shutter on B instead of N...

And now I have my own to play with - hurray!

Here are some photos that I've been experimenting with this morning whilst waiting for the bus and walking to work.

Admittedly it's an android and not an iphone - and after trying a number of camera apps yesterday there is only one I really like - Vignette - some of them look better aesthetically than others and some were just terrible but I'm quite taken with the final results of Vignette - especially the grungy instant transfer one frame.

What do you think of camera apps? I would love to know - I can't wait to use this phone to finally upload fun snapshots onto twitter - even if it just an amazing sandwich!

p.s. thinking about it I used to use Poladroid and Rollip all the time when I first started blogging, its not much different... sometimes I just need to take photos whatever the camera.

Location: my walk to work just outside Leeds
Camera: HTC Desire Camera with Vignette App.
Effect: Grungy Instant Transfer 1 frame with either the toy camera, portra or velvia effect

(I think these will be my top 3 choices)

Bourton on the Water Part 1

For 3 years of my childhood we lived in Oxfordshire and one of my favourite places that I remembered visiting from that time was Bourton-on-the-Water (the website says the Venice of the Cotswolds, I like that description!).

As it was absolutely glorious weather at the weekend, it was understandably busy with tourists and families visiting to paddle in the water so of course we joined in...

Luckily, Bourton was just as cute and lovely as I remembered and we had the best day out!

I'm back!

Over the past week we have

~been to two castles ~
~paddled in streams ~
~ seen lots of lambs, calves and ducklings ~
~eaten in 8 different restaurants ~
(Wimpy is included Dad, haha!)
~ and had some amazing desserts ~
~ and two delicious ice creams ~
~ sat in a hot tub at 7am ~
~ visited some childhood haunts ~
~ seen some stones dated back to 3000 bc ~
~ got lots of hugs from family and friends ~
~ traveled for about 10 hours through various means ~
~taken a lot of photos with at least 4 cameras ~
~ visted Shakespeares Grave ~
~enjoyed the Cotswolds ~
~listened to the royal wedding on the radio ~
(we're bad Brits, oh well)
~ had so much fun ~

I can't wait to blog all about it!!