Reaching Out...

In February when I visited Vienna I stopped in at the botanical garden but perhaps unsurprisingly there was nothing much to see. At least,there were no flowers to add colour and at first I was a little disappointed. However one of the great things about gardens in winter is you get to see the structure of things like this magnificent tree.

Standing against its trunk it was amazing to see the shadow stretching forwards like a hand reaching out just as the tree was reaching up to the sun. 

My Obsession

This selection of fungi is testament to how much of an obsession it was on my trip to Canada to capture as many different species of fungi as I could. It was a freezing cold day in Centennial Park and I was out on my own in the forest while nearly everyone else was back at the house in the warm resting up after our mammoth hike the previous day. 

So maybe I am just a little but crazy but I certainly don't regret it. I think these are all amazing varieties, some of them have an alien quality about them especially the second one.

Like The Clappers

Canon 100mm f/1:2.8   ISO 100  f/4.0   1/80 sec

When we look at Bluebells, as a rule we look from above or perhaps from the side to take in the mass of colour or the beautiful bell shaped flowers but do we stop to look closely at the detail?  

In case the answer to that question is no take a look at the pictures that I have shared today. With the benefit of my macro lens and with my camera securely mounted on a tripod I can show you the wonderful interior of the bluebell with its clapper like stamen with their sugary pollen coating. Isn't it wonderful the way the petals peel back in that bell shape to expose the heart of the flower, enticing bees and other pollinating insects to do their work to ensure beautiful displays of these native beauties year on year.

Bluebells

Canon 100mm f/1:2.8  ISO 100   f/6.3   1/160 sec

I had intended to share some of my pictures of the carpet of Bluebells in the woods at Burton Mere but when I was trying to choose I was a little disappointed with them because although the bluebells make a fantastic display there is also a lot of greenery that detracts somewhat from the flowers.  The green was that sticky weed, like velcro which happens to be called "Sticky Weed" or more properly Galium aparine. There was masses of the stuff and it spoils the overall effect of the pictures so I may have to try again to get some better shots.

So instead I decided to share a couple of macro images which are, I think, really beautiful.  You don't have to be a genius to see that the two pictures are of the exact same flower and the camera settings for each shot are identical. There is a slight difference in the angle but the principal difference is the lighting with the first image lit solely by the sun, from behind while the second is also lit from in front using a small hand held torch.

I really like both images, they have different qualities, I like the colour of the flowers better in the second image but I like the background effect in the first. If you have a favourite why not leave a comment, and let me know the reason for your choice...

Different Perspective

Canon 100mm f/1:2.8   ISO 100   f/3.5    1/100 sec

I have said it before that although the Dandelion is generally considered a weed it really depends on your perspective and these two shots demonstrate that they really are beautiful wild flowers.

I love the bold yellow and the shape of the petals with the crimped ends and the sugary pollen. Either individually or as a mass display they really don't deserve to be dismissed so easily.

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.

Stacking Up

Having spent the past week in London I was looking forward to the weekend and hoped to get outdoors with my camera but things didn't work out that way and so I am going back over old files and I picked this picture for my blog today.

I love all things outdoors and I think fungi make fantastic subjects because of the textures, shapes and colours, and of course at this time of year there are plenty about. In this shot I like the crisp clean colour of the individual layers contrasted with the lush green of the moss.

Young and Beautiful

I was going to share some pictures of some of the stags today but looking through my pictures I couldn't resist posting some more of the new generation, they're so flipping cute.

It was such a treat to get up close and get these images I am so lucky.

In The Ancient Woodland

Over the past few days hopefully you have enjoyed my posts of woodland creatures (if you haven't seen them why not take a few minutes to have a look). The main reason though that I had got up early to go to Boilton Woods was to see the display of Bluebells. 

I was a little disappointed to begin with as I walked down the steep wooded path because there was not the expansive carpet of flowers that I had hoped to see. However as I walked further into the woodland I was treated to a fantastic display of flowers spreading up the wooded hillside. 

I have some great pictures to share and as a teaser I have decided to post this beautiful picture of an isolated group of three stems. I love the way the morning sun lights up the delicate bells and the way the blue flowers stand out against the soft green mossy log. If you like this shot (and even if you don't) please come back tomorrow to see some more from my early morning photo shoot at Boilton.