In A Swirl

I haven't posted for a couple of days so wanted to start back with something special from my Reflections of Venice.

There is a mesmerising quality to this shot with the swirls in the surface of the water almost like eyes, or perhaps peacock feathers. Whatever you can see I hope you will agree this is quite special.

Abstract

I was going to crop two images from this one shot but I think it works really well as a single image with the transition from light to dark and with the contours giving a sense of movement and depth.

Seeing The World Through Reflections

Today it was my intention to share more pictures from my recent trip to Venice but instead I have picked some images from a photo shoot this morning that were inspired by some of the pictures I shot in Venice.

So, I went to Burton Mere RSPB Wetland Reserve. I wanted to get there early before the weather turned bad and I almost turned back because the sky was clouding over and I thought it would be a washout. I was glad however that I didn't turn back because as well as getting a few nice shots of birds I was also able to capture some more ripples and reflections.

I have always enjoyed sharp and clear reflections but I have tended to look at the bigger picture, to see mountains reflected in the surface of a calm lake in the early morning for example. However, in Venice I noticed the more abstract scenes that appear when you look closely at the reflections in detail. There is so much going on in these images with the play of light on the surface of the water, the contours and even textures that you simply would not see if you just glance casually as you pass.

The first two images are cropped from the same picture and I think they are amazing, especially the first one which looks as though it is lit from below.

I like the third image because of the blue highlights reflecting a break in the clouds.

You cannot tell from these pictures what is being reflected because they are just a small part of the overall scene but I think they work really well and I know that I am going to enjoy looking closer at reflections when I go out with my camera in future.

After The Tide

I took these shots to show the contours where the receding tide had sculptured the sand around the base of some rocks at the base of the cliffs. I think it creates some interesting patterns and if it weren't for the small tell-tale signs (the small shells, the seaweed and the dogs footprints) it would be difficult to work out the true scale of these miniature canyons.

I like the colours and textures in these pictures. 

As you know, if  you have seen my recent posts it was a cold and snowy day, and if you look carefully at these images you will see the white streaks of snow flakes blowing through the shot.

Weathered Wood

I really like this image, it is so satisfying. I like the contours, colours and textures. It was quite unexpected to see it to be honest and I wasn't sure how it would look but I really think the image works well.

Timber

I had stopped to take pictures of water droplets (see the third shot on yesterday's post) and I leant against this tree to help keep steady but when I turned I saw this marvelous exposed wood which gleams with vivid colour. I love the variety of colours, the contours and textures of the wood and its grain.

Blue Moon

Tamron SP150-600 mm F/5-6.3    ISO2500 F10 600mm 1/4000s

So I will admit to a bit of post production trickery in the first of these images.  Given that this is the second full moon within this calendar month it is called a Blue Moon, there won't be another until 2018.  It has nothing to do with the colour but I thought I would play around and create a blue image for a bit of fun.  

The second picture is more or less as shot with just a minor adjustment for contrast and highlights.  If you look at the bottom edge of the moon you can make out the contours of hills and valleys on the moon's surface.  

At these settings there is still a bit of noise so I will keep practicing to get a sharper, clearer image.

#OnceInABlueMoon #TTMAB #FullMoon 

Mini Forest and the Ivy League

So its a mass of green and  texture today.

The first of today's images is moss growing on the trunk of a tree.  The whole trunk was covered from roots to branches.  I took this picture because with the contours of the bark the mossy covering looks almost like a forest canopy over hills and valleys.  I like the texture and the different areas of light and shade.

The second shot of the ivy, growing on a stone wall caught my eye because of the way the leaves had caught the sun through the shade of the trees.  I like the waxy appearance of the leaves and the shapes and colours.


#Moss #Ivy #Woodland Walk