Another calm evening...

Had to go and take a few shots, processed these so far..

Nikon D7000 and Sigma 10-20mm/f4.5 - Tone mapped in Photomatix

Some Sun Set

Some fairly recent sun sets I'm posting after some processing.

This time I managed to be out on site in time before the sun managed to set behind the horizon!


This one came out a bit over the top with the colors but I decided to keep it like that nad the water looks a bit weird after merging the seven exposures...


Took the car out to a spot where I haven't been before to do HDR:s, Finnäset.


The calm weather allowed all the pollen stay on the water surface, but it looks pretty good anyway.


This was actually on the way out on to the peninsula had to try capture the light in the woods. Thankful for the non existent wind. =)


A final shot before the sun disappeared behind the mountains...


Captured a couple of Northern Pikes in their act, I could hear the splashing a long time before I managed to spot them, they didn't take much notice of me. :)

29:th of May...

Made a visit at mum's, delivered some flowers on Mothers Day, got some lasanga for dinner.


On my way to Grängesberg I made my only visit at the Spring Fair in Ludvika, slightly better weather today but some stands had some problems with the strong wind!

The wind came from south but was surprisingly cold, we had some coffee outside but had to give up and go inside again, not far after the sky turned black and there was a short hail storm!
Then the sun brurst out again, April weather in May!

Well, the fresh donuts tasted good anyway. =)
And I got some home made lasagna with me back home. Yummy!

Blacksmith practice!

Today we had some activities as one of out colleges is about to leave for another employer and we wanted to do something extra.

We all got a try at making our own fire pitchfork! To do that we went to Smedjebacken, just a few kilometers south from Ludvika.

Outside the forge. On Ovako's factory area, Ovako is lending the premises to the club.
The furnaces, apparently this is one of northern Europe's largest permanent forges!
Some of the tools.
Demonstration of the forge and how to regulate the airflow.
Some instructions before some hand's on.
"Do not grab objects that doesn't look hot with your bare hands, the look might be deceiving!"
Heating.
Forging!
More demonstrations of the different steps.
We have never been this effective at work! ;)
One of the final steps, separate the material to two pieces at the ens to make the fork part.
Takes some effort to pound through the metal.
Sorry, forgot to shoot the most important piece, the result, but I'll try add that later! :)
All I can say, if you ever get the chance to try forging, take it! Already thinking about taking a course later on or perhaps join the blacksmith club. http://www.vagasmida.blogspot.com/

Update!

The result:
It ended up a bit short since I wanted to make a proper handle, only for small fire places. :)
The fork part shape became a bit too roundish, next time...

Back to the present...

Some more current photos, from today, took a short ride with the Pugsley which has been collecting dust lately. Planning to use it on a local bike "race" called Långa Dagen (the Long Day).

Some might remember that I posted some photos from last years race that I had to give up after my chainring got loose and I ovalized it since I had lost some bolts, that won't happen this year!

A bad video showing how windy it was occasionally.

Had no imagination so I took a familiar route, up to Gröna Stigen.
Last days rain had dried up nicely.
The forest anemones is every where.
Didn't take the jogging trail.
I went down towards Knutsbo and the trail parallel to the bus road.
Short clip from the trail:

Fresh after the rain.
Some light made it through the trees.
Looked like a paralyzed deer in the headlights!
Scared some spiders!
OK, there were some wet patches.
Windy under the power lines.
No more spring leaves...
Well, some more wetter areas.
After another small climb there was a long stretch down hill, always exiting with a rigid bike, full concentration!
I swear I saw a troll!
The convallaria has just started to bloom.

Nooo!! End of the trail... :(
No more wind protection from the trees.
Made a short visit at Jägarnäs but the cold wind scared me away.
Found some trails past the houses.
The syringa vulgaris is also about to bloom, not sure what's so vulgar about it?
Unknow tree blooming.
After going over a small hill I went up towards Högberget.
Not so high but still nice view.
Decided to take the steep trail down but first a stop at the big rock.
First time I climbed up on to it.
Looked like there had been a bench here, perhaps before the trees were obscuring the view there was a nice view from here too.
After going down towards Ludvika again there was not much left before I was back at home.
Over an hour and 11km.