Thanks for your lovely reaction to the shot of Jack that I posted yesterday. At this time of year, with the weather being so awful, and with the pigs taking up so much of my time I seem to just feed the donks, do the mucking out and leg it back to the house. So the responses yesterday helped to remind me just how lovely these gentle animals are, and how I must make more time to spend with them, regardless of the weather.
I have said before that to me the donks are more like dogs in their personality (donkanality??) than horses or ponies. They seek you out and more or less demand fuss and affection from you, getting quite jealous with each other if they think they aren't getting their share. If I ignore him Angus Donk nudges me very hard from behind with his nose. Many is the photograph that has been dramatically blurred by this.
Just before leaving them yesterday I took a few pics of the donks by just holding the camera low down, waiting for them to come and look at it and just clicking away without knowing what I was actually capturing. I got quite a few that I liked, including this one of Lilly. In fact, I liked a lot of them more than I normally like the shots that I usually take where I am actually looking through the viewfinder.
The storm that was predicted for yesterday didn't actually dump as much rain on us as had been forecast, but we did lose a 6ft tall photina bush which somehow managed to get blown across the garden from what appeared to be a relatively sheltered spot.
We are off out to a birthday drinks 'do' in the village in about an hour. I am determined to exercise self control so I am not completely useless for the rest of the afternoon.
Who am I trying to kid? Unfortunately, self control is pretty low down on my list of virtues.
Lily is so beautiful - I just missed a load of low down goose shots because my camera wouldn't focus fast enough - what settings do you use? Then I need to get the manual out to find out how to change them. My friend near Oswestry has just posted on FB that there is a massive oak tree through the roof of her neighbour's house. She watched it falling and the whole back of the house has gone with the tree resting on the beds. Nobody hurt thank goodness.
Yet another photo that I'd just like to crawl into and live in. I'll happily help out with the pigs! But i really want to scritch the donks! I love learning about their personalities!
@judithg That's so scary about the tree. Those poor people.
For the shot I used Aperture Priority. The light wasn't great so I cranked up the ISO a bit so I could get a fast enough shutter speed at an aperture that was narrow enough to get a reasonable DoF (they've got long faces donks!) It was all a bit hit and miss, but I did get more where the donk was properly in the frame than I expected to.
What a great photo, I love that face and the story about your donkeys. I have encountered some as we are out and about and one was so friendly that we returned to see it. It ran as far as it could as we left and I had taken my photos and I teared up. I figured it just wanted to have us stay. It was so sweet. Have gone back a few times and it has not been around. I love animals of all kinds and sorry that I have not checked out your photos after following you. I get to the park near our house and that seems to be it these days. Very envious as to the animals you have but know it is a lot of work. FAV Such a wonderful shot.
For the shot I used Aperture Priority. The light wasn't great so I cranked up the ISO a bit so I could get a fast enough shutter speed at an aperture that was narrow enough to get a reasonable DoF (they've got long faces donks!) It was all a bit hit and miss, but I did get more where the donk was properly in the frame than I expected to.