Ripples And Reflections

Following on from my tunnel reflections yesterday I have gone for this abstract image from further along the canal.

It may look just like a random reflection but from a certain point of view you can see that it is the reflection of a narrowboat and you can make out the windows and a splash of colour from the blue paintwork.

Light At The End

I have chosen two shots of the Chirk tunnel on the Llangollen canal because although they are very similar they are taken from different points along the tunnel and I can't decide which one I prefer. 

I really like the first one because of the longer perspective, the light glinting on the brickwork along the length of the tunnel and the irregular line of the handrail. I also like the ripples from the water dripping from the roof. And then because of the length there is a feeling of being in a tube which I like.

I like the second one because there is more detail in the reflections and the shiny colours.

Now, having "analysed" them I have made up my mind which one I like best...

Snowy Owl

I love the brilliant orange eyes of this beautiful Snowy Owl as he is looking intently at the surroundings.

I also love the expression on his face in the first shot, it is a half smile and I think he looks really quite cute.

Little Hunters

Another change of theme today, but in case you missed yesterday's post it's well worth taking a look because I think it is one of the best pictures I have shared for a long time.

Today though I have selected these beautiful portraits of two small but very powerful hunters.

The first is an American Barn Owl. It differs from the European Barn Owl by having much darker plumage down its back. I love its sweetheart face and its peaceful expression.

The second image, my favourite, is of a White Faced Scops Owl, in this shot he is sitting on a fence post about to fly to its handler. It really is a delightful little bird with a huge personality.

Snow Capped

I really really love this picture. I had pulled into a little car park alongside Derwent Water to eat my lunch and looking back I saw this magnificent view. I took a number of shots from slightly different vantage points and I watched this cloud slowly moving towards me across the lake.

I love the colours in the sky and in the reflections, I love the pristine snow on the slopes of Skiddaw and I love the way the cloud appears to hang so low in the sky giving a great sense of perspective to the overall image. 

I am especially pleased to have captured this image because as I clicked the shutter first time nothing happened, my memory card was full and unusually for me I didn't have a spare with me. I almost decided that my day's photography was at an end but determined to capture what is one of the best shots of the day I scrolled through my card and deleted a number of images I had taken earlier in the day. I think you will agree that was a good decision. I think you can also see why, like so many other people I am so drawn to the Lake District and why I always have my camera with me.

Stone Circle

Last week I posted some black and white images of the stone circle at Castlerigg. They were taken in the morning, before the sun had broken through the clouds and they are dramatic and powerful images of a truly amazing place.

After I left I went down to Keswick and then drove in a loop taking in the Honister and Whinlatter Passes stopping to get some great landscape shots before heading back to Castlerigg where I was blessed with another chance to photograph this magical and inspiring spot before heading home. 

The light in the early afternoon was perfect and the snow covered fells look superb, the sunlight on the stones gives them a warm, almost golden glow in stark contrast to the cold grey of the morning.

When I was a child growing up in the south of England I had seen pictures of the lake district but it seemed so far away and it always seemed unlikely that I would ever get the chance to visit. Now I live just a couple of hours away and so I can visit pretty much whenever I want. Even though it is no longer "out of reach" it still remains a place of wonder and I have lots of great memories from days out walking in the forests and fells or camping trips, memories that I will treasure. 

Woodland Gems

I have connected these three images from my New Years Day walk at Mere Sands Woods. I had gone to photograph some of the bird life there but as I walked through the woods my eye was drawn to some of the objects on the woodland floor. 

These pieces of fallen timber are all host to a myriad of other life forms, ferns, fungi, lichen and moss as well as all manner of insects and invertebrates. Each fallen log or branch is a miniature eco system in its own right. I love the richness and variety of colours and the way the light and dappled shade creates patterns on the ground. 

When we walk we often miss so much beauty around us, especially the stuff beneath our feet and so it feels good to share these pictures with you as a reminder to look down as well as up when walking in our wonderful woodlands.

Living The Dream

Recently I was offered a narrowboat for free and I was genuinely tempted by the offer. I have often thought how nice it would be to travel England's waterways on a barge, I imagine it to be such a relaxing thing to do, cruising along at such a leisurely pace enjoying the countryside as well as connecting with England's industrial heritage. I only went off the idea when the question of mooring fees, insurance and restoration costs came up and I realised that for now at least this is not an option I could take up.

But as I thought about, albeit briefly, I recalled this scene from the Llangollen canal between Christmas and New Year. Along the canal there were lots of moorings on the towpath which offered a place to stop for 48 hours before you would have to move on. Then there was the large marina at Chirk and a smaller marina at Trevor where obviously there would be mooring fees. But on the opposite bank I spotted this isolated little camp where the bargee had obviously set up a more permanent camp next to a little clearing with their washing strung between the trees and a bicycle on hand for trips to the nearest town/village. I think this is an idyllic scene and looking at these pictures I can feel myself drawn to this type of life.

I'm Watching You

So I will be swapping and changing themes over the next few days, after all I have been busy in recent weeks and I want to share the best of those days out.

Today I have gone back to Dunham Massey for this shot of a magnificent stag. It was wonderful getting so close to this wonderful creature but as calm as he appeared to be he never let his guard down and I knew that he was always keeping a close eye on where I was and what I was doing. Every now and then he would lift his head and sniff the air as in this shot. I could sense that he was warning me not to get too close and I had to remind myself that this is a wild animal and it was best to keep at a safe distance.

Snowy Fells

I have chosen just one picture for today, this superb view across Derwent Water to the snowy peak of Causey Pike. I would have preferred less movement in the water so there was a sharper reflection but in spite of that there is a lot to like in this picture. I really like the colour of the sky with the promise of more snow, I like the wispy cloud blowing across the top of the fell and I like the layers of light and dark throughout the image.

It is almost a year since I was last in the lake district so I was happy to be there after such a long break and I was glad that the conditions gradually improved as the day wore on. I am constantly thankful to live in such a beautiful country with so many wonderful sights within easy reach and as much as I enjoy my job I am always looking forward to my next opportunity to get out into the countryside.

Cat Bells and Skiddaw

Here are a couple of atmospheric morning views of the fells around Derwent Water taken from the jetties at Keswick.

The first shot was taken in black and white partly because there was very little colour in the shot anyway but also because I really like the effect particularly as it emphasises the smoky quality of the wispy clouds. I have added a slight coloured hue to the finished image just for a bit of warmth. The snowy peak in the background is Skiddaw which is 931 metres high. 

Skiddaw is an unusual name and I was chatting to someone the other day and together we wondered who names the fells and mountains and what the names might mean. I have done a little bit of research and courtesy of wikipedia it seems the name Skiddaw is derived from Old Norse skyti or skut + haugr which means "archers hill" or "jutting crag hill", an alternative version offers the word skitr meaning "dung, filth or shit", which would give the full meaning "shit hill" which doesn't really seem fair given that it is a stunning feature of the landscape. I do have some colour shots to share at some point because the sun did eventually come out and then you will see just how stunning it is.

The second image is taken looking towards Cat Bells which is partially obscured by the trees. I love the stillness of the water and the reflections of the wooden jetties and the trees surrounding the boathouse on the island. Cat Bells is about half the height of Skiddaw (around 431 metres) and it gets its name from the term "Cat Bields" meaning shelter of the wild cat, not that there will be any wild cats there now.

The snowy peak in the background to the right of this image is Causey Pike which at 637 metres is quite a modest peak. I don't know how it got its name so I cannot help there.

For Ben and Cat

So yesterday's post was a bit on the serious side and I promised that today I would share something a little more upbeat. When I said that I had no idea what I would choose but as things turned out the perfect opportunity came up right at the start of my photo shoot today.

With the promise of clear skies and knowing that there would be plenty of snow on the lakeland fells I decided to head up to Castlerigg in the hope of capturing a beautiful sunrise. I nearly abandoned this plan on the journey up due to really hard driving rain but I was so keen to get some good pictures I carried on.

I arrived at Castlerigg shortly after sunrise but as you can see from these pictures it was grey and overcast with no sign of the sun so I chose to shoot in Black and White as it better captures the mood of this wonderful site.

When I arrived I was greeted by a young couple Ben and Cat who had travelled up from London to see some snow and they had gone to Castlerigg just as I had to experience the sunrise. They were clearly taken by the magical atmosphere of this 5,000 year old stone circle standing in the shadow of the majestic fells and in spite of the damp and cold, and  the lack of sun they were happy to sit within the stones and absorb the essence and the history that can be felt here especially when you have the place to yourself.

Ben and Cat were so open and friendly and chatting with them was the perfect start to my day. I promised them that I would dedicate my blog post to them and that is what I have done. Thank you both for such a friendly greeting.

I took a number of shots of the stones from different angles and I have picked two for today. With Ben and Cat in the circle I picked angles that would have them out of the frame but as I was finishing up I noticed that from a certain angle this lovely couple appeared to have become part of the circle and if you look at the second image closely you will see that one of the stones is not a stone but is in fact Ben and Cat.

Later in the day the sun did come out and after spending time elsewhere I returned to Castlerigg for a few more shots which I will share another day.

Behind Bars

I think today's pictures are incredibly sad. I almost decided not to post them but I thought it was important to do so.

This beautiful Great Grey Owl is one of my favourite owls, it is largest owl species and recently I have enjoyed seeing posts by photographers in Canada (John Ongaro for example) with shots of these superb birds in the wild against beautiful snowy backdrops. I would be so excited to see a Great Grey Owl in the wild, I can't tell you how excited, it is beyond words. They are so beautiful, graceful and majestic. 

I have taken pictures of them in the past, at Chester Zoo where they are housed in a large aviary where they seem quite comfortable and content but they are still captive and it feels wrong somehow. I was talking to a friend recently about just this point. I think zoos and wildlife sanctuaries have a place for supporting conservation and rescuing sick or injured animals but some species such as this owl don't necessarily need the protection that these places offer. Of course they give people an opportunity to see the birds for themselves and that is good but at the same time I feel sad when I see them restricted when they should be flying free.

The aviary that this particular bird is in isn't particularly small and I am sure that it complies with all "industry standards" but the front was made of wooden bars which made it impossible to get a clear shot and as you can see from the second image the face is framed by the vertical bars. The first picture is a cropped image for the purpose of showing the reflection of the bars in the owls' eye and that is what gives these pictures such a sad quality.

Well having said all that I hope the tone of today's post isn't too depressing or preachy but the pictures are actually technically good and have some merit and also  I promise that tomorrow I will post something much more upbeat.

An Interlude

For the past few days I have been sharing lots of pictures of some incredibly beautiful birds of prey and so it might seem strange that today I have posted two pictures of rusting metal.

The point is though that beauty is subjective and can be found in different places and in different things. 

While I am drawn to nature for inspiration and I find great joy in photographing wildlife (yesterday's falcon is a perfect example, it gives me goosebumps every time I look at it) I also find pleasure in strange places. This piece of agricultural salvage is a good example. It is a beet cutter, for chopping beets etc as fodder for cattle, sheep and other animals and hidden away in an overgrown corner I liked the way it caught the limited light and added a real contrast to the sleek elegance of the birds all around it.

I shot in black and white because it fits the subject really well and I think these are really good images.

Hybrid Theory

Choosing today's picture wasn't difficult, actually I had already decided yesterday to share this portrait of a beautiful hybrid falcon. It is a cross between a Gyr Falcon and a Saker Falcon (you will have seen a shot of it in flight in yesterday's post) and it is super sleek and elegant. It is also very fast and supremely agile and it was a real treat to watch it flying to a lure.

Did you know that the art of falconry has been practiced for over 4,000 years with evidence from Mesopotamia (The Epic of Gilgamesh) providing accounts as far back as 2,000 B.C. (That makes me think of the song "The Mesopotamians" by They Might Be Giants but that really has nothing to do with falconry). 

I remember a presentation by a falconer at Beaulieu Abbey a few years ago, he described how falcons were prized possessions and extremely valuable. A good bird was seen as a status symbol. Falconry remains a niche sport especially in Gulf States like Qatar and good birds fetch ridiculous prices. In 2015 it was reported that a Gyr Falcon was sold for a whopping $250,000 (£180,000) that's just a little bit out of my league so I will just have to get my fix visiting places like the sanctuary where this little beauty was on display.

Birds In Flight

So before I get into today's post and talk about the pictures below I have to put something right. The other day I did a post titled Long Eared Owl and I shared some beautiful shots of a really magnificent bird. The only problem is it was not a Long Eared Owl it was a Eurasian Eagle Owl and I wanted to clear that up, it doesn't change the fact that they're great pictures though so if you haven't seen them take a few moments and have a look.

But now for today...

I won't pretend that these are necessarily great pictures but they're not dreadful either. They do show how difficult it is to get perfect shots of birds in flight especially in low light conditions where it isn't possible to use a fast shutter speed. The light really was poor on this particular day and these birds don't hang about so it is not a good combination.

Nevertheless there it was a good challenge and while I have discarded lots of images I think these few are worth sharing. Bear in mind that these were all shot handheld at 1/200sec with and ISO of 640 between 300mm and 600mm with birds capable of flying 50 - 60mph or more.

So from top to bottom we have a British Barn Owl (this one is called Bob and at one point he sat on my head), next we have two shots of a Snowy Owl, next up is a Harris Hawk and then a hybrid bird, a cross between a Gyr Falcon and Saker Falcon (which by the way is absolutely beautiful and I will share a better picture of it tomorrow) and the final two shots were the last of the day and feature a Black Kite that was demonstrating how agile it is by catching food that was tossed into the air. 

I am fairly happy with these pictures, but as ever they just spur me on to want to do better so come the better weather (better light conditions) I will be back to try again.

Kes

I can't remember how old  I was (probably around 10 or 11 I think) when I first saw Ken Loach's movie following the life of young Billy Casper and his experiences with falconry. I was really moved by the film and (spoiler) I think I even cried when Billy discovered Kes' fate at the hands of his thuggish older brother Jud. I later read the book on which the film was based (A Kestrel for a Knave by Barry Hines) and I fell in love with the idea of owning a kestrel myself. 

I never realised that dream but my love for birds of prey has never diminished. I always get a thrill when I see Buzzards soaring or Kestrels hovering near the roadside, I get excited when driving through Wales and see the beautiful Red Kites and invariably I get frustrated that I can't stop to capture shots of these amazing birds. 

I know it isn't quite the same photographing captive birds but visiting bird sanctuaries does provide an opportunity to get up close and really appreciate the beauty of these creatures.

Today's shots are of a really lovely female Kestrel and I think you can see why I love them so much. I love the rich brown tones (I had to check that they are brown ha ha) and the patterns on its feathers, I like the intensity of its glossy black eyes and I like how even though they look so delicate these are really powerful birds, fast and agile they are just beautiful.

Lanner Falcon

Today's offering from the Turbary Woods Owl & Bird of Prey Sanctuary is this beautiful Lanner Falcon.

This is not a native species but is normally found in Africa and Southern Europe. In 1666 some were reported in The Forest of Dean and Sherwood Forest but these were likely to have been escaped hunting birds.

They have a different hunting style to the Peregrine Falcon which tends to stoop attacking its prey at great speed from above, the Lanner by contrast has a more horizontal flight and takes its prey in flight. This bird was part of the flying demonstration and it was truly a great spectacle. As it flew above the trees a large flock of pigeons scattered noisily before the falcon returned to the arena to chase the lure. It whooshed past at speed and getting a photo of it in action was incredibly difficult we will see later in the week whether I was successful or not. For now these three shots of the falcon on its perch will have to do.

I think the first picture is my favourite because it is looking straight at the camera with its piercing gaze. I have cropped the third image to get a little closer to highlight the detailed markings on its face and to show off that imposing beak.

Long Eared Owl

I have had a great day today. 

I set out early this morning intent on a spot of landscape photography and with the hope that I would catch a beautiful sunrise across the Trough of Bowland but sadly the sky stayed grey and overcast all day. So I quickly gave up on the idea of landscape photography and I almost decided to head back home. 

However after a delicious bacon butty and mug of hot chocolate I reassessed my options and following a quick search on the internet I decided to go to the Turbary Owl  and Bird of Prey Sanctuary. 

I wasn't sure what to expect to be honest as it was tucked away behind a garden centre and my first impression wasn't too promising. However it was actually a great place to spend a couple of hours on a cold, cloudy Saturday. It was well worth the £5 entrance fee and I didn't mind paying the suggested additional donation for taking Hi Res photos because all of the money goes to the upkeep of the centre which is run by enthusiastic and knowledgeable volunteers.

There were lots of birds to see and get up close to, there was also a really good flying display with opportunities to get hands on with many of the birds. I had Bob the Barn Owl land on my head at one point and later I got to hold two other beautiful owls. It was such a thrill to hold them but also to see the looks of joy and wonder on the faces of the other visitors who also got to handle these precious birds.

I have to admit I went for it today taking close to 300 images and so there will be plenty to share with you. Today I have chosen a few shots of the magnificent Long Eared Owl. In these pictures he is settled on a perch where he is looking very regal. 

In the third shot I think it looks rather feline the way it is hunkered down. I have shared two variants of the third image with the second one having a monochrome background in order to make the owl stand out. I think it is very effective but I also like the full colour version so why not let me know in the comments which of the two versions you like most.

Hidden Beauty

Ok, so there is nothing hidden about the beauty in the first shot, it is quite simply a stunningly beautiful butterfly and he is putting it all out proudly on display.

In the second image however the butterfly is of a much different kind, preferring to hide its light so to speak. Yesterday's image of the Chameleon was all about body language and camouflage and so it seemed right to show two different, contrasting creatures today with the bold colours to attract attention for one and the full on camouflage for the other.

There is so much to love about the world we live in.

Body Language

Apparently Chameleons can change colour according to their mood as well as for the purpose of camouflage, and also it is thought to attract a mate. Unfortunately I am unable to determine what mood this little fella is in, is he happy, sad or indifferent?

We all know that we can communicate through body language, sometimes it is intentional and easily understood, other times it is extremely subtle and hard to read and sometimes it is completely subconscious and often it is misunderstood. Sometimes we can even mislead people by controlling our body language to confuse or mislead people. Oh what complex beings we are!

Here's Looking At You

Today I have gone back to the pictures of deer at Dunham Massey rather than the buildings and reflections that I shared over the past two days.

These three deer are all Fallow Deer but these shots perfectly show some of the different colourings that are quite common from the fairly even brown tones of the stag in the first picture to the almost black backed doe in the second shot and then at the most extreme end the white in the third shot. This is not an albino deer but a genuine white variety. A fourth variety is almost totally black but I haven't got a shot of one to share today.

It didn't matter how quietly I approached the deer they were always on the alert and while they didn't all run off they kept a watchful eye on me. 

It is always a privilege to be able to get close to animals in the wild and I love to share the pictures I capture.

Clearly Reflected

An early start on Saturday meant that I got to witness a truly beautiful sunrise and the lighting for these pictures was absolutely perfect. In the shade of the stable block there was no breeze to disturb the surface of the water and so the reflections of the trees, buildings and clouds are flawless. Another bonus due to the early start was that I had the place almost entirely to myself and without the masses of visitors who would arrive later in the day I was able to get these undisturbed shots.