New Forest Photography Challenge!

[Answerprancer]

I have to go to Southampton tomorrow for my highly uninspiring dull and tedious job but I thought I'd make the whole hideous ordeal a bit more palatable by taking a detour via the New Forest with my camera and a bit of extra photographic equipment.
So, what shall I take pictures of and in what circumstances? I have about two hours to do this and I shall be entering from the north east Totton/Ashurst/Lyndhurst).
Just to make this a little less egocentric, does anyone here have any photos of the NF they could share? They could be photos you took or just lovely inspiring photos linked from elsewhere :-)

[Answerprancer]

I know, Ena - been going there on and off most of my life - shame I only have a couple of hours.
Go on Craft - I'm deeply sorry, no one answered and my adhd kicked in.

[ttfn]

If you ever go to Bucklers Hard, break open the piggy bank. Worth it, imo - take a boat trip down the river, the boat-building history is fascinating.

Exbury Gardens at the beginning of May is fabulous - the azaleas are unbelievable.

[ttfn]

I love the NF - can you tell? LOL

[Answerprancer]

So do I - one of my most favourite places in England, been camping there since I was about 7. I will only be able to go there from about 3pm though, and have to be home (SW London) by 9pm.

[Answerprancer]

Doctordb - re "something different" - suggestions please? before I go to bed, I have to be in Southampton by 9am!

[ttfn]

Entrance fee a bit steep for just a couple of hours

http://www.thenewforest.co.uk/thedms.aspx?dms=13&venue=3700444&;oo=964&askid=d460df9a-f914-448d-91b7-07d6c2530668-0-uk_gse

[ttfn]

Maybe another time

The flying displays by the birds of prey offer some fantastic opportunities

http://www.explorethenewforest.co.uk/Libertys.htm

[Answerprancer]

You know what, I think I'll just have a ramble near Lyndhurst then pop off to my favourite pub in Fritham for a pint! (Guess which one - hell, there's only one!)

[ttfn]

I've had the odd shandy there :)

Enjoy your day.

[Answerprancer]

Night night :-)

[jomifl]

AP, I read your post just a little too late to give you my take on the New Forest (where I lived for several decades). Next time do a photographic tour of the pubs, you could easily make it last a year. There are lots of pubs unfrequented by the tourists and lots of out-of-the-way places that most of the locals don't know about, some with a great deal of history attached.

[Answerprancer]

Thanks for that info Jomifl, I went to the Oak in the end and didn't leave the NF till 10pm lol

[Answerprancer]

Ok, here are some pics taken on Thursday including the obligatory pony pic!):
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y348/Photator/BracketFungus_zpsfdb76237.jpg
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y348/Photator/Path_zps081e68ce.jpg
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y348/Photator/Pony2_zps6c079ab7.jpg
http://i1028.photobucket.com/albums/y348/Photator/LyndhurstCemeteryChapel_zpscecdd985.jpg

[Answerprancer]

...it's ok, I'll load up some more later !

[Answerprancer]

You'll be delighted to know that I have now changed the settings foisted upon me by "Photobucket" with no warning so you can now see those pics I posted larger and without all the image info and site clutter.

[Zacs-Master]

I likes the Orse. i does.

[Answerprancer]

Cheers! They were really friendly that day, I don't normally approach the NF ponies but that one and a couple of the others sidled over and didn't mind having their noses stroked (probably after food).

[Zacs-Master]

I know it's a bit late now, but you could have gone on Flickr to see what standard you had to acheive / beat. You must have used a nice short f-stop to acheive the blurred background (or some post image editing?).

[AlwaysConfused]

I was going to suggest the royal oak in fritham, but seems you already know the place. I used to take my collie to the lakes, then off to the pub for a pint or five a bite to eat. One day he buggerd off and I couldn't find him. Bad, bad me :(So to think of my next move and to console myself, I walked to the pub. The little booger was sat there waiting for me, and the bar staff had put a bowl of water down for him. Apparently he had been busy chasing piglets.

[Answerprancer]

It was probably about F2, possibly even wide open (on my manual focus SMC Takumar 50mm 1.4 from the 1970s).
I probably could have got a few better shot's but the light was running out and I felt a bit rushed.