Happy New Year

In a contrast to the appalling weather of recent weeks, the sun came out today as 2013 got off to a bright start. I'd been stuck indoors for the best part of two weeks because of both the weather and a neck problem, which meant I hadn't been able to drive my car until today, and I was sick of it so I put my camera and dog into the car and headed up to Culver Down.

Long-distance ship shots aren't usually the best and these are no exception, especially as I was having to photograph them into the sun and slight haze. Long zooms are great for small objects, such as birds, at closer distances but not large objects, such as ships, at long distances. Not that it matters, it was a good excuse for a walk with my dog and to aim the camera at something.

Here they are, all lined up. I've added their names in Photoshop

King Eric (front) and Seadance.
King Eric: IMO: 9228849, built 2001; 23217 gt, Marshall Is flag
Seadance: IMO: 9183300, built in 1999, 57066 gt, Malta flag

Morning Lily: IMO: 9446013, built 2011, 70687 gt, Panama flag

Nordic Grace: IMO: 9230892, built in 2002, 84598 gt, Norwegian flag

Paramount Helsinki: IMO: 9453963, built in 2010, 62851 gt, British flag

No photographed were Marianne Kirk (oil tanker; IMO: 9419735, built in 2009, 29955 gt, British flag) and California Highway (car carrier; IMO: 9574078, built in 2010, 59447 gt, Panamanian flag), as one was too far away and the other was straight in front of the sun.

It seemed as if the world, his wife, his dogs and his kids were all on Culver Down today, not surprisingly as it was a nice day and a public holiday, but goes to show how it is near impossible to escape people here in overcrowded Britain. The shops in Sandown were mostly open as I drove through, which struck me as a little odd. Can't the retail staff get a day off on New Year's Day?

I am hoping to be in Southampton on the 10th, for some 'proper' photography, depending on the weather.