Lakeland Gem

 Even on a cold morning in early spring I had to wait my turn to get these images as there was another photographer set up on the jetty where I wanted to be but in these surroundings there is no need to rush, it just meant I had longer to take in the beautiful scenery.

Even when I set up my gear I was in no rush as these are all long exposures in order to smooth out the surface of the lake which due to the strong wind was actually quite choppy.

All three images were shot on my 17 - 40mm wide angle zoom and using a variable ND filter to compensate for the longer exposure times. The first image was at 21mm for 1.6 sec. The second at 17mm for 5 sec and the third at 34mm for 2.5 sec. I am so pleased I have the variable filter in my kit because it has allowed me to experiment and get some really interesting images.

I do love this spot, it has changed a little bit in the past few years, I remember being here in 2017 in the snow and the wooden jetty was very fragile with warnings (which I ignored) to keep off. Now things are a lot more sturdy so I didn't have to take any risks.

Derwent Water from Crow Park

 

Here are two very similar views of Derwent Water near Keswick, taken from slightly different vantage points along the shore. I have used a long exposure (1.6 seconds) to try to calm the movement in the lake and  f22 with an ND filter to help bring out the detail in the sky. As you can see there was a really dramatic sky with quite oppressive cloud cover which has created a strong atmosphere. I like the shaft of sunlight coming almost straight down over the jetty and the lake cruisers.

I have also processed one in black and white as I think the scene looks just as good in full colour or black and white.

I have been here several times in recent years and each time there is something different in the view. It is really impressive and hopefully you will agree well worth taking the time to take it all in.

Memories

 

I recently took my mum out for a day trip to the Lake District, we went to Keswick but on the way stopped off at one of my favourite sites; Castlerigg. I had thought mum had been before but it turns out she hadn't so t was really nice to take her round and shared some of my memories of visiting. Over the years I have been here for sunrises and sunsets, a lunar eclipse and a comet and I once met a lovely young couple who I photographed sat in the circle as the sun was coming up. Each time I have been I have met someone new and enjoyed chatting with them, which is unusual for me as I normally keep myself to myself. Perhaps there is something about this place that brings me out of myself.

More From The Dell

 I continued to mess about (experiment) with long exposures, these two were both 6 second exposures to see what sort of effects I could create. Fortunately down in the dell by the riverside there was not too much wind and so the foliage is still fairly sharp despite the lengthy exposure but the water has a sort of brushed on appearance which I rather like.

I like the overall feel of the setting in the first image and in the second I like the steely or leather like quality to the water. By using this technique there are so many colours visible that you would miss as the water rushes by.

The Dell

 I am sticking with a watery theme for today with this shot looking  upstream towards the waterfall at Bodnant  Gardens. I was stood on the bridge looking down at the falls for the abstract pictures I shared a few days ago. 

I knew as I walked along by the stream that I wanted to get this shot and I had to position my tripod on some stepping stones mid-stream to get it using another long exposure and my variable ND filter. I have also tweaked some of the colours in lightroom to add vibrancy to the overall image and I am very pleased with the results.

Precious Metal

 So for today I have posted a couple of abstract images and I wonder whether you can tell what they are...

It maybe a little easier from the first image because that is in its natural orientation, whereas for the second image I have rotated through 90 degrees.

Both are 6 second exposures from above a waterfall and I have focused on a small section of the falls as the water splashes onto the rocks below. I have tweaked contrast and curves to draw out the colours within the water as it passes over the top of the falls. I was surprised at how much colour is there because when standing above the water as it passes beneath you it appears murky and brown, with the odd streak of light. But here you can see gold and yellow and different shades.

I keep flipping between both images trying to decide which one I like most. I think I am going to settle on the second one because by shifting the perspective I feel I have increased the abstract feel and that is really what I was going for when I took the original photographs. The water falling upwards through the frame almost looks like flames and the dark shape appearing out of the white spray could be a monster, or perhaps something less frightening, say a bear (with a sad expression). I wonder, do you see that or do you see something entirely different? 

On An Island

 Looking across the pond to this small island I noticed a tumbledown shack which on its own, at first glance was not particularly interesting but taking a ,moment to really look I noticed the reflection in the calm water and the variety of colours illuminated by the sun.

These shots were taken from different vantage points and used 4 second exposures to enhance the reflections. 

The Dell

 There is going to be a decidedly watery feel to my next few posts as well as some long exposures.

Today's lone image is from Bodnant Garden. I had been watching a pair of Goldcrests and a pair of treecreepers in the trees along the banks of the stream when I noticed the way the sunlight was playing through these trees and I took a little time to set up this shot. I had to wait for visitors to step away from the small bridge, and as I was on a narrow path I had to ensure I was not causing an obstruction as I set up my tripod. 

I used a 10 second exposure here at f22 and I used a variable ND filter to compensate for the long exposure (I can't recall what setting I used for the filter) I think the overall effect with the "frozen" waterfall and the sunlight through the trees creates a really tranquil scene. The sound of the water as it flowed by was so relaxing, it was easy to get lost in the beauty of this place.

A Carpet of Colour

 

I thought for today's post I would share a riot of spring colour with this carpet of beautiful Crocuses.

As I said the other day being so early in the season there was not a great deal of colour throughout the gardens at Bodnant as most flowers/plants are only just "waking up". However walking along one path towards the dell there was this vast array of crocuses, interspersed in a few places by daffodils creating the appearance of a wildflower meadow in summer.

Predominantly purple and white these flowers look stunning against the lush green of the grass. It was nice to see that despite recent storms and heavy rain the flowers themselves were not badly damaged and in the sunshine this was a wonderful sight. Some of the individual flowers look stunning set against the blooms around them as they catch the sunlight.

Foraging

 

I may have gone a little overboard today posting 6 pictures of 5 different bees but hopefully they will bring a little sunshine into your day.

As I mentioned yesterday the early spring blooms combined with the sunshine certainly brought out the bees so I had some fun trying to capture some sharp images. I shot these at 1/1250s using my 100mm macro lens. A fast shutter speed was necessary to freeze the motion of the bee in flight (pic 4) where its wing almost looks like it is crafted from glass. In that image and the last one too you can see the pollen sacs beginning to fill up.

Although the bees in the other pictures appear settled on flowers they were actually constantly on the move so again the fast shutter speed was essential.

Using a macro lens also allowed me to capture lots of detail, in particular I wanted o look at the difference in their eyes. If you look at the bumble bee in the first shot his eyes are smooth, as if they have a hard black shell, I wonder how it is actually formed and what the bee can see.

In contrast the black bee in picture 5 and the honey bees in the other images all have compound eyes, if you look closely you can see they are made up of a concave array of hexagonal cells. I wonder whether this has advantages over the smooth eye of the bumble bee?

What I only spotted when I started to process these images was that the right eye of the first honey bee on the bright yellow flowers is actually damaged, it has been pushed inwards, leaving a shield shaped indentation. Perhaps he has flown into some obstacle, I am sure it must have an impact on his vision, after all, imagine what it would be like if you got hit in the eye with a big stick!!!

The Lenten Rose

 Last Saturday was a beautiful sunny spring day and I was faced with the prospect of a visit to a well know DIY/Home improvement store. For me that is akin to torture so I rebelled and proposed a day out instead. I ended up at Bodnant gardens in North Wales which is always a lovely place to visit. As it is so early in the season there was not a great variety of flowers in bloom but there were lots of buds with the promise of much more to come as spring advances. There were however some early blooms scattered around and these were inviting lots of bees which was good to see.

I have quite a few pictures to sort through and I am starting with these three shots of a Hellebore. I have to say that I am not normally a fan of hellebores however this particular variety (Helleborus x hybridus Ashwood Strain) really caught my eye with its dark edged petals and when you look below the drooping heads you find a brightly coloured centre (is it yellow or green?) holding the pollen and nectar which proved to be very attractive to several bees. 

I have learned today that Hellebores are native to Greece and Turkey and that they are part of the buttercup family.

Something Creepy

 Isn't this little chap adorable? 

This is one of my favourite woodland species, a Treecreeper. Although they are quite widespread (214,000 pairs in the UK) they are really difficult to spot. They are very small, and they are constantly on the move as they almost scurry up and down tree trunks and along branches in search of food. They cling tight to the bark, often using their tails to give additional support, their brown plumage is perfect camouflage and that curved beak is just right for probing the cracks in the bark for the insects that make up its diet.

When I spotted this one I was also pleased to see a second treecreeper further up on a neighbouring tree which is unusual as they are normally solitary birds; although as we are at the start of spring it is possible this was a breeding pair out foraging together. Anyway whatever their story I think this is a little woodland gem and I am definitely very pleased to have captured these images which I can share with you.

Formation Flying... Keep Up Back There!

 I am told (via Google lens) that these ducks are Gadwall and my perusal of various guide books suggests that is correct. In one RSPB guide they are described as "a rather undistinguished duck" but in another RSPB guide they are described as "elegant, exquisitely marked birds at close range". It has a similar appearance to a Mallard but is smaller in size, they are seen in much fewer numbers than mallards so I am quite pleased to have witnessed this small flock flying around at Mere Sands Woods in Lancashire.

They were quite a way off so there is not much detail unfortunately but what I really like about these images is the shapes of the birds in flight as they swoop and turn looking for a good place to land or rather splash down. 

You can see that many of the birds have open beaks and as they were flying they made quite a racket. I wonder what they were communicating to each other, and which bird was leading the conversation, I noticed that the bird at the back in each photo was not joining in and perhaps they were being told to keep up!

Chirk; Inside and Out

 Two more shots of Chirk Castle, one from the formal gardens and the second from inside the castle courtyard.

The snow continued to fall while I was taking these shots but I was not deterred. I think this castle looks good in all weathers and the heavy sky and snowfall just add to the atmosphere.

Pearlescent Bark

I have stuck with just one image today, an abstract image of the bark of a tree. 

I have played about a little with the edit in lightroom for this image and I am really pleased with the result. I wouldn't normally take risks with colour because I know that I don't see things the way most people do and while I like the effect of this edit I cannot be sure what other viewers will see.

The colours in the bark were all there, the result of sap leaking out of the tree, as well as stains from the rain and algae. I have increased the saturation of specific colours to add a little drama and to emphasise the pearlescent effect. 

I  grew up believing trees are green and brown but when you look closely there is always so much more to see, and enjoy.
 

Out In The Cold

 Another shot from Chirk castle, and another of the Lucchesi bronzes facing out across the lawn and the topiary. This statue is called "Destiny" and it won gold medals at Dresden in 1895 and at the Paris Exposition in 1900.

As you can see the snow was starting to come down quite fast when this shot was taken, even though a matter of minutes beforehand there had been clear blue skies, and almost as quickly as the snow storm arrived it passed. However, even though the sun came out again it remained bitterly cold and while the bronze nymphs remained outside there were no brass monkeys to be seen...

Statuesque

 Around the gardens at Chirk Castle there are a few beautiful, classical sculptures and although I have seen them many times I am always drawn to look at them whenever I visit. I think there is a real quality to them and I am captivated by their expressions.

In the first of today's images the cherub is almost hidden away in Yew hedge at the side of a small rose garden and perhaps that is why the child/cherub is holding a rose sniffing the delicate scent. This is quite a peaceful and happy scene in contrast to the second image. I have not shown the stature in full, which is of a woman with her hands bound. It is a bronze (one of four) by Andrea Lucchesi and is called "Vanishing Dream" and her wistful or sad expression is a reflection of something lost. I think the mood of the sculpture is enhanced by the fact that it was snowing quite heavily when this shot was taken as can be seen from the streaks of white across the image.

Although there is something pleasing about the first image I much prefer the second because of the quality of the artwork itself, the powerful expression and the overall atmosphere it creates.

On this recent visit I did not photograph the four bronzes but I think on a future visit I will do so and it will undoubtedly be the subject of a future post.