So when you saw the title of this post what did you think?
Sheep dog trials perhaps. As I write that it amazes me that for 23 years between 1976 and 1999 Sheep Dog Trials was prime time TV in the UK, described as a BBC gem it had 8 million viewers in its heyday. But the flocks in this image are not sheep but birds and there's no chance of herding them...
I thought this was a nice scene with the twitcher out on the sands focused on the flock of wading birds gradually coming closer as the tide rolled in. I really like the way the dog is standing focused in the same way as his companion completely still so as not to scare the birds away.
I also really like the layers of colour and light in this scene and the way the wind turbines seem to hover on the horizon.
In my last post over a week ago I spoke about having lens envy and since then I have traded some of my old gear and bought a lens that I have wanted for ages, the Canon 100-400mm L series telephoto and I am so excited about it. Primarily I wanted it for my wildlife photography but it is a great all rounder and I popped down to the prom for a little while to test it out. I absolutely love the lens, it is everything I had hoped it would be and paired with a 1.4x extender I am confident that I will be able to get some great shots.
I had to shelter from a hailstorm at one point but even that didn't put me off and I was rewarded with these shots of the rainbow touching down over the container port at Seaforth.
For today I have chosen two panoramic shots taken with my phone's camera.
The first was taken yesterday morning when I stopped for a short break during my cycle ride along the Wirral Coastal path. The tide was just coming in I think and there were a few people out walking or running and enjoying the early morning sun. I don't think the frames have stitched together perfectly in this shot but all the same it is a terrific view looking out across Liverpool Bay towards North Wales and the Burbo Bank wind farm.
The second shot was taken this evening right at the water's edge shortly after low tide and a few hours before sunset. I have never walked out this far before (about a mile and a half) except to Hilbre Island which you may just make out on the left of the shot, and I was so glad I made the spur of the moment decision to do so. The view is fantastic and I am so glad that I live so close to the sea so I can enjoy it whenever I like.
I dont think it matters where in the world you are there has been some pretty wild weather conditions and here on the North West coast we've taken a bit of a battering.
We didn't get the now that was forecast but we've had really strong winds, heavy rain and it has been bitterly cold. Add to that a full moon and a 10 metre high tide it made for some pretty dramatic conditions.
I had been down to the riverside to take some pictures of the Liverpool waterfront and I then headed off to New Brighton to look out to where the Mersey joins Liverpool Bay in the Irish Sea. The lighthouse is the Fort Perch Rock Lighthouse and it was taking a bit of a battering. The sea, as you can see was really wild and the clouds make quite a dramatic picture.
The wind was bitingly cold and it has taken the rest of the day for me to get warm enough to sort through my pictures and do this post. Hope you enjoy it.
Here is another selection of shots of the kite surfers at Derby Pool from yesterday showing some of the skill and drama of this exciting sport. I will post more tomorrow so make sure you come back to check them out...
The watery theme continues although when I started out today I had no idea what I would be posting. The weather this morning was dreadful and I didn't think I would get a chance to get any new pictures at all. After lunch though things started looking up and I set out with my camera and as I was driving along near New Brighton I caught a glimpse of these kite surfers on Derby Pool. The wind was pretty strong and these guys were getting some high speeds and literally flying at times, it was really impressive and I will be keeping my eyes open for more opportunities like this.
I have never tried taking shots like these before but I think I have managed to get a few decent pictures and I will share a few more over the next few days along with some of the other shots from my afternoon on the beach.
First of all, I didn't realise I was quite so tall, ha ha.
Here are a few shots of the sunset across Liverpool Bay, taken this evening from Red Rocks on the Wirral coast between Hoylake and West Kirby. It's a really lovely spot and at this time of evening it's really peaceful too. These pictures were taken using the camera on my phone, so very basic and no post production of any kind.
