Instagram meet on Saturday 1st April 2017 with #igerscoventry at Compton Verney the awward-winning art gallery and 'Capability' Brown parkland in Warwickshire.
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Sunday 26th March 2017 Peak District No3

No early start as its Mothers day and breakfast was being cooked by No1 Daughter for Mrs Jones, so we set off after a lovely cooked feast, Thorpe cloud was just over an 1hr and the sun was out we reached the carpark and instantly realised we were not going to have this place to ourselves the queue for the carpark was long, i think everyone has had the same idea the sun is out lets go here!

We had a walk along the river Dove it really is a beautiful place we reached the point where the stone steps that cross the river a queue of people waiting either side to cross, so quick long exposure shot got rid of the crowds, but not a great shot. This short but strenuous walk to the top Thorpe Cloud is well worth it, just under 950ft but lovely views from the top.

Today was not going to be a photo day just so many people but will return for a sunrise or sunset at some point. I did manage to take a couple of Aerial shots as this was well out of the way of the crowds.

Dovedale Carpark Ilam, Ashbourne DE6 2AY

Thorpe Cloud and Dovedale Walk is the plan for this Sunday, Thorpe Cloud rises straight up from the River Dove at Dovedale and reaches a height of 942ft. Its distinctive conical shape viewed from Dovedale gives the hill a mountainous feel, with the beautiful stepping stones over that span the river

Birmingham Camera show, managed two days in Hall 5 Saturday was for a pre booked super theatre  Louis Cole better known for alias (FunForLouis) on all social media he is a British film maker and YouTube Vlogger a really interesting character and it shows how powerful social media is making a living from daily Blogs on youtube.

My main purpose of the show this years was looking for a new tripod and lens, currently using Manfrotto 190 tripod that i really like but really want invest in a carbon version, had it my head of another Manfrotto but having popped in to the show on Saturday soon realised the amount of products on the market was a lot more to look at.
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Monday 10.00am came and had my list of events that i wanted to goto Adobe theatre really have some interesting shows, from product demonstrate to working through your photography workflow.

My lens purchase was simple, looking for a wide angle lens and shooting with a cropped sensor Nikon my choices were fairly limited, i have been looking at four lens all with pros & cons, the Nikon was out down to cost at £750.00 almost double the cost to the other three and reading reviews this really didn't warranted the cost, Reading review after review and actually handling the lenses my personal choice the Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5 won. I actually like the Toking lens and was joint top the reviews are excellent but Sigma pipped it.

• Sigma 10-20mm f/3.5
• Tokina 11-16mm f/2.8
• Sigma 8-16mm f/4.5-5.6
• Nikon 10-24mm f/3.5-4.5

My Tripod purchase was a difficult choice as with the show there are a lot manufactures all showing serious tripods from all heights and sizes and weights. I had what I wanted in my mind was a replacement to my Manfrotto 190, looking for Carbon version but i have to say if money was no object it i would have purchased a Gitzo. I have budget in my mind and I'm sticking to that. to say I spent a few hrs looking at just tripods was understatement I covered over 5 miles walking between stands my watch told me my exercise for the day had been achieved! The show opened up my eyes, the fact you can try so many at the same time was brilliant, my choice of tripod manufacture changed immediately, I was taken by a company called Sirui the build and strength was excellent I ended up buying a travel tripod a Sirui T05X £169.00 carbon, really didn't go with this in mind but having booked a new travelling Holiday for 2017 this was in the back of my mind and suits this just perfectly. 

My main tripod replacement will have to wait, I do have my eye on extremely completive priced carbon tripod made  Novo Explora T20 Carbon made by UKDigital this just was so reasonable and ticked so many boxes this is my next purchase.

For me the 2017 Birmingham photography show was very good this year mainly because i was able try so many things before you buy, do you get a bargain yes & no there are so many online retailers now its hard to get a deal at any show, but i certainly didn't pay more. I picked a few memory cards, leads and batteries i was seriously tired but happy.