This humble Honey Bee is taking a short break on the petals of a Cosmos flower.
I was going to post a picture of the centre of the flower because it is quite spectacular when seen close up and they are a lovely flower however I love this shot of the bee and decided that this was the right picture to share today. They are so industrious and having been really busy myself for the past two days I can empathise with the need to stop for a moment and take a breather.
I doubt that insects experience emotions like love but they are hardwired to breed to ensure survival of the species and these two beautiful dragonflies are doing their bit.
I spotted these on a walk alongside the canal near Glasson Dock and while this is a private moment it is also a good opportunity to get a close up and appreciate how lovely these fairy like creatures are.
Posting this I thought of my niece who sent me a cool picture recently of flies on her bin so hopefully she will like this one...
These handsome creatures are pheasants enjoying the evening sunshine. They were parading confidently in full view (although I did have to hang over a hedge to get the shot). Luckily this was taken during the closed season for shooting pheasants and so they could feel safe. It won't be long before they will have to be very wary though because shooting starts on October 1st.
Yesterday was a trip into the past but today I have decided to get back to nature.
Driving to work this morning the sky was so dull, grey and featureless and as the day wore on it didn't get any better. In fact outside right now it is positively miserable and I needed to find something to bring a little colour to my day.
Looking at these pictures maybe I have tipped the balance to a colour overload but what colours... I love wild flower meadows and this small swathe of wildflowers while not quite a meadow (it actually bordered the approach to Brick Croft nature reserve) is certainly a welcome sight today.
Yesterday I said that today would be a landmark post and the reason for that is this is my 1,000th post.
I started my blog just over three years ago and while I haven't been able to post every single day I have done my best and I am really pleased that I have reached this milestone. I am also grateful that so many people have taken time to look at the pictures I share and from time to time the comments that you make.
I have had a tough time choosing pictures for today; should it be a grand landscape or a colourful flower? perhaps something abstract or a stunning macro image? or how about a street photo, something architectural or one of my favourite wildlife shots? I have so many to choose from. I thought about selecting a few of my favourite pictures from past posts but rather than do a retrospective I decided to select something new but with a nostalgic theme.
These three shots were taken during a recent visit to the National Waterways Boat Museum at Ellesmere Port where there is a row of cottages decorated and furnished to reflect the styles of different periods in history. One of the cottages really caught my attention because I recognised lots of the furnishings from my grandparents home, although they never had these flying ducks which are classic decor from post war living rooms up and down the country. Many years ago I bought some wooden ducks and similar flying hippos which were rather fun but not quite as classic as these.
I love the second picture, more precisely I love the glazed pots with their metallic shimmer contrasted against the pastel shade of the wall.
The third image is the interior of an old telephone box. In an age when just about everybody has a mobile phone there are lots of people who will wonder what this was all about. As a child we were lucky enough to have a telephone at home and I can still remember our number (Fareham 5970) and while our telephone was a bit more modern than the one in the picture my grandparents phone was just the same and I always liked the feel of it in my hands when making a call. I also remember my grandparents had a party line and how odd it would be to pick up the handset to make a call to find that somebody else was in the middle of a call.
Selecting these pictures has helped bring lots of nice memories, looking back can be fun but it should also serve to remind us about how far we have come and to value everything that we have.
These little critters are Colombian Spider Monkeys and they were enjoying the summer sunshine but the heat doesn't really match that of their home in Colombia.
Stood with some of the other visitors to the zoo I wondered what the monkeys made of everyone staring and pointing at them. They certainly seemed curious and their faces are so expressive. But its not just their facial expressions that are so captivating but their overall body language.
I think they are very photogenic and I love all of these shots but the middle picture is my favourite. Leave a comment and let me know what you think.
Also tomorrow is a landmark for this blog so make sure you come back tomorrow for what I hope will be a real treat.
A few weeks ago I posted a couple of pictures of the tall ship that my son had sailed on. He described how he had climbed the rigging and gone out to the end of the spar to adjust the sails. I thought what a great adventure that must have been and so these shots are in recognition of that feat.
These shots are of HMS Warrior at the Historic Dockyard in Portsmouth. It has an interesting history including a period as a prison hulk before being restored to its former glory.
A few more action shots today from my afternoon shooting the kite surfers and wind surfers at West Kirby during a spectacular high tide and strong winds.
I don't know about you but I think this looks like a lot of fun.
I was pleased to capture the first shot as the two surfers appeared side by side, almost in sync with each other.
I also like the concentration on the surfers face in the second image, it is almost as if he is looking at the camera but I think he was actually concentrating on how he would land this jump.
In the third image I like the sense of scale added by the huge wind turbines in the background and the feeling that the guy is about to fly out of the frame.
I have been on a bit of a mission recently; to get a good shot of a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).
I was lucky to see one at Burton Mere earlier this week but it was too far away to get a shot so today I went to Mere Sands Nature Reserve where this little chap is often spotted. I have seen it a couple of times but I have only been able to photograph it once before.
Today it settled for less than 10 seconds on this small branch. As you can see from the first image it was quite a way off and hard to spot between the reeds so getting a clear shot was out of the question. Nevertheless I was thrilled to get any sort of image and happy to share it here. I will keep on trying and one day I am sure I will get the perfect shot.
There is something really special about these birds and it is always a thrill to see them. They are quite rare in the UK with between 3,800 and 4,400 breeding pairs spread throughout the whole of the UK (source RSPB) so any sighting however brief is definitely a treat.
Two pictures today connected by the fact that they were shot at White Coppice in Lancashire. I visited recently and had a lovely walk along by the river and on the fells which had spectacular views as far as Snowdonia to the south and the Cumbrian Fells in the north.
I had heard that there was a waterfall there but in spite of recent heavy rainfall there was very little water. Even so I had a nice time especially sitting by the ruins of an old mill. The hamlet dates back to Tudor times and there are a few beautiful cottages from that period which overlook the village cricket pitch. It was such a restful spot and these two images reflect the peace I felt while I was there.
I love the light and shade in the first image and the clear reflection. The Robin in the second shot looks a bit scruffy but he's so cute. He was quite wary of me but was tempted by a small handful of seeds that I put out for him
I have been jumping around with different themes in my posts recently and today is no exception, although the subject of today's pictures wasn't doing any jumping as he sat for ages posing for me. I had really expected him to scurry away into the reeds but I was able to get right down to his level and stick my macro lens right up close to get these shots.
This is a Common Toad and I spotted him on the path at Burton Mere RSPB reserve. In spite of being called common he has something of a snooty attitude and I like the way he confidently stood his ground. Even with me shoving a camera in his face and another walker stopping to have a closer look he maintained a dignified air before casually creeping away.
Unlike yesterday, when not everyone would agree about how beautiful the subject was I don't think anyone could seriously disagree about today's offering.
Red flowers are difficult to photograph. It's not because they're camera shy or move about more than any other colour but because getting a true representation of the colour is really difficult. So there are some flowers that I never bother trying to shoot.
I am not 100% certain but I think this flower is a red variety of Rudbeckia, often known as Black-Eyed Susan a perennial flower that looks great with masses of colourful flowers which open out to a broad flat(ish) face with bright petals that gradually fold back towards the stem and in doing so the central black platform becomes a ball of tiny spikes and curls which look gorgeous and are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
I have a number of shots of these flowers from my most recent visit to Ness Botanic Gardens and I wanted to share some of my favourites. I really love the final shot with the bee hard at work and the subtle back lighting. I think its a great image. If you like them or if you have favourite why not leave a comment.
Flies get a bad rap and it is hardly surprising since they have some pretty disgusting habits but if you can put your prejudices to one side and look closely there really is something of beauty. Look at the glassy wings and shimmering thorax and those fantastic eyes.
The honey bee is industrious and popular but are viewed cautiously and fearfully because of their potential to sting. They too are marvelous creations and really quite beautiful. I love to photograph them hard at work and with their dusting of pollen.
I love these gorgeous yellow flowers. I am not sure what they are, a variety of sunflower perhaps, but they are certainly a hit with the bees.
The sign said "do not approach our deer, they may seem tame but they are wild animals".
They may be wild but they are obviously accustomed to the many visitors to Dunham Massey and so it was possible to get quite close for these shots.
I think you will agree these are great shots of these beautiful Fallow stags. They seemed to be enjoying the early autumn sun but I imagine that in a week or two when the testosterone kicks in things will be a bit more hectic in the park. If you catch my drift...
I shot this picture earlier today in the wash house at Dunham Massey in Cheshire. This was the part of the estate where the beer for the household was brewed and in later years it became the workshop for maintaining carriages and the estates vehicles.
I like the industrial feel of this picture with the strong lines, angles and shadows. I wasn't sure what the structure is but after a little research I believe it is an extending ladder or scaffold. It was made by Heathman & Co of Parson's Green in London who were makes of ladders at the turn of the 20th century.
It seems fitting to share this image today because Parson's Green was in the news this morning and as a shout out to everyone affected by the events there.
This lock is at the National Waterways Museum at Ellesmere Port which marks the end of the Shropshire Union Canal where it joins the Manchester Ship Canal and the River Mersey.
In the original image the principal colour is green and it sort of takes over. Converting it to monochrome and adding some coloured hues ensures the main focus in the image is the lock gates (at each end of the lock) and the flowing water.
Here are a couple of great shots of tiny fungi spotted on a walk in the New Forest.
It was a wet day but that didn't stop us taking a long walk near Millyford Bridge. At one junction in the forest path there was a small pile of rotting stumps which had colonies of these small fungi. They're great subjects for photography. The first almost looks like it would be at home under water, like a coral while the second looks like a miniature forest in its own right.
One of the things I love about camping is the fact that it brings you close to nature, or in this case it brings nature close to you.
Every morning and evening when my son and I returned to our tent in the New Forest and sat out to enjoy a meal in the sun we were visited by a nuthatch and a family of fledgling Chaffinches. They would come and sit in the bracken and cheep noisily helped along by the scraps we fed them. Well they were so lovely we couldn't resist.
So today I have tried something new. I process my photos using Adobe Lightroom but mainly use auto settings to make minor adjustments to exposure and highlights. I have tried a few times to create colour highlights in black and white images (see my recent post "Shipwreck" from 4th Sept) with fairly decent results, but I haven't really experimented with any of the other features for fear of mucking things up and getting the colours completely wrong.
However because changes made in Lightroom can be easily undone there really is no harm in trying and so I decided to watch a couple of tutorials and be a little creative.
I like boats and this old hulk moored at Glasson Dock is full of character especially as it is moored alongside some new and sleek yachts. The original image was shot in colour but I have converted it to black and white and then added a colour hue to the highlights and shadows to create a warm and atmospheric image rather than the original which is quite bland in comparison. I also applied a graduated filter to bring out some detail in the sky.
I am really pleased with my first attempt and I hope that you will like it too. I would be pleased to read any feedback in the comments below.
I don't have much of a garden and I can take no credit for anything that grows in it but that doesn't stop me enjoying it in any way.
The front garden is particularly small and features a number of hardy fuchsias that keep flowering year after year and a massive lavender plant that waves about in the wind and provides a feast for hundreds (if not thousands) of bees throughout the summer.
The other day I spotted this unusual wasp flying among the plants. There was another similar to this one that was flying around with a small fly clasped between its front legs. Sadly that one didn't settle anywhere long enough for me to get a clear shot but I am fairly happy with this one. I believe that it is a Digger Wasp and if you follow this link you can see a really good photo of one holding a fly just as I observed ( click here)
The spider in the second image had spun its web between two plants and was patiently waiting for a meal to come along. I am really not a fan of spiders but I cannot deny that this is a little beauty.
With the news being dominated by reports of the destruction and devastation caused by Hurricanes Harvey and Irma and the threats of Hurricane Jose on the other side of the Atlantic a windy Saturday on the West Wirral coast is never going to hit the headlines.
However the strong winds and a super high tide was enough to bring out a number of wind surfers and kite surfers. I decided to head down to West Kirby and watch some of the action and of course I took my camera with me. I have tried to photograph kite surfers before but on that occasion the light was pretty poor and the surfers were quite a way offshore so I wasn't totally happy with the results. Today the light was much better and so I could use a fast shutter speed and overall I think I got some decent images.
I have posted 5 different shots today. I have lots more and so in time I will share some of those. I like the energy and movement in all of these images and there is a real sense of thr power of the elements.
