Goose

 This was one of the first images I captured on my morning visit to Brockholes. I had been watching a couple of Brown Hares nearby when I spotted this greylag goose through the reeds, enjoying the early  morning sun. It was sitting so calm and serene and I think this image sums up how I felt in that moment with the sun on my back and total calm all around me.

Looking at in now I am also drawn in by the warm layers of colour (which actually are misleading because it was pretty cold at just 3C or 37F).

Hot and Cold

Ok, so to describe this as Hot and Cold is a bit of a stretch. 

The same image has been given different treatment, the first colour image is how the wire actually appeared and with the low sun lighting the scene there is a nice (albeit slightly misleading) warm tone.  

The second image in black and white has a stark and cold feel to it which is actually more representative of how I felt that day.

I really like the way the ice crystals have grown along the wire but I have a bit of a dilemma. I love black and white photography and I think this image works really well with the black and white treatment. But I also really like the colour image and I can't decide which I like best, each time I think I have made up my mind I look again and I am not so sure.

Why not leave a comment and let me know which version you prefer...

Sail On

Early morning on the banks of the River Ribble just outside of Preston I was photographing a beautiful Mute Swan on a stretch of the river that was mirror calm, the only movement being the gentle ring of ripples around the swan.  Then out of the corner of my eye I spotted this other swan coming, steaming in. Head down and wings curled he looked quite intimidating. Also with the rising sun breaking through the trees on the opposite bank this shot is beautifully lit. 

This image contains some of my favourite elements, ripples, reflection and wildlife. What more could you wish?

Venetian Gold

Here is another of my series of abstract reflections.

This one was shot in Venice. 

I love the liquid gold that is light reflected early morning sunlight captured between the blue on one side of the image and the green on the other.

I think it is possible to see a face in the image, maybe a face hidden behind a mask which is fitting really as this was taken while Venice was preparing for its' famous mask festival.

Morning Reflections

I had gone to Dunham Massey specifically to photograph the resident Fallow Deer and if you haven't seen them yet take a look at my blog posts from the past two days because I am really pleased with some of those pictures, especially the third image I shared yesterday.

But as I walked up the path to the park I was blown away by the colours of the early morning sky and the lovely reflections. I have selected a couple of shots for today and I have another for tomorrow.

The first shot shows a view of the old stable block and clock tower with a beautiful sky behind it.

The second shot shows the house itself with the "lake" in the foreground. There is so much to like about this image; the colours in the sky give a warm glow and the promise of a nice day and these colours are reflected throughout the image especially in the bottom of the picture. I also really love the trees which together with their reflection make an almost perfect circle as if it was shot through a sphere. I think this is a really beautiful picture.

Dee Estuary at dawn

Yesterday's early morning shots of the marine lake at West Kirby were all in colour but today I have chosen mostly monochrome images of the lake and the Dee Estuary. I loved the rich warm colours in yesterdays pictures but I think the images above show that the scenes work as well in black and white. I hope you agree.

Marine Birds

I was really disappointed yesterday morning because although there was great early morning light and mist rising off the fields I wasn't able to get out with my camera and today there was no frost and no mist so I thought the photo opportunities would be more limited. However there was a beautiful sunrise and it was a cold and crisp morning and definitely worth getting outside for an hour or two.  I joined the early morning joggers and dog walkers around the marine lake and took a number of pictures which I am more than happy with.

For today I have chosen a few pictures of some of the birds that I saw.  The first I think is a Knot, which had been feeding in the shallow edges of the lake I had tried to get a picture with it reflected in the water but as I approached it took flight,in this picture you can see the water droplets falling from its feet and I like the way the primary feathers are highlighted by the morning sun.

The second picture is of a Cormorant which was fishing in the lake, just moments after taking this shot the bird dived beneath the surface, it reappeared some distance away making a second shot impossible.

The final picture is of a gull that had been resting on the path around the lake but had been disturbed by a dog.  I like the silhouette of the bird above the Flintshire hills in the distance.

Remember to share the Facebook link and retweet on Twitter for a chance to win a mounted print in the draw on New Year's Eve.

Llyn Gwynant Morning

Here are three more pictures from my trip to Llyn Gwynant in Snowdonia. We got up really early to get these shots and walked further round the shore than on the previous evening. There was a bit of a breeze and the low cloud blew slowly through the valley helping to create these dramatic images.  

I really love being in the mountains and to be out at a time when most people are sleeping to watch the sun rise and see the changing colours on the hillsides.  I often look at pictures of far off places I would love to visit but these photos remind me that we have so many beautiful places so close to home and I am grateful to have the opportunity to get out and see them and of course to photograph them to share with you...

Ullswater

Canon EOS 6D  Canon 24-105 mm F4/23  28mm @ F11 ISO 250 1/40s

Canon EOS 6D  Canon 24-105 mm F4/23  28mm @ F11  ISO 125 1/40s

Canon EOS 6D  Canon 24-105 mm F4/23 67mm @ F14  ISO 100 1s

Canon EOS 6D  Canon 24-105 mm F4/23 80mm @ F10  ISO 100 1s

In September last year I went camping overnight on a very basic campsite overlooking Ullswater in the English Lake District.  It was a great trip and although the ground was very uneven and my car got stuck I was glad I went.  I was also grateful to the leaders of a school trip who helped to push my car out of the mud.

I got up early on the Saturday morning and the photos below are two view of the fells on the opposite side of the lake, I like the way the early morning sun is lighting up the clouds and the way in the second picture the clouds hug the top of the fell.

The other pictures are of a small waterfall from slightly different viewpoints, I have experimented with different exposures/shutter speeds to create different effects with the flowing water.