These are the last few of my water droplet images for now, I will try some more another day.
For the colour in these shots I used Vimto in the first two switching to red food colouring in the last two. I wasn't sure how this would work out because the colour is so concentrated and as you can see it very quickly dispersed in the cold water.
I think they create some interesting effects.
After incorrectly identifying a flower the other day I was especially careful to research today's' specimen to avoid any embarrassment.
It is, I can confidently say a Red Gazania. Photographing red flowers is quite tricky because it can be difficult to get a true representation of the colour but I think I got this one spot on.
The second shot was a bit of a bonus as I had focused in on the centre of the flower to pick out the detail in the heart of the flower and I hadn't noticed the aphid at first but I am quite plesed that I captured the little critter, it gives a sense of scale as well as being a cool shot.
It is really no wonder that plants are not generally referred to by their scientific names. Take todays flower for example, Kniphofia is quite a mouthful, and if you try the family name; Asphodelaceae it all makes sense to give it an easier name, Red Hot Poker seems like quite a good name for it.
This was a nice specimen with fleshy looking flowers that open out to beautiful red bells. Quite stunning.
The first shot reminds me of a giant glass sculpture I photographed earlier this year on the Venetian island of Murano, see my post A Lotta Bottle from 10th March
I have been on a bit of a mission recently; to get a good shot of a Kingfisher (Alcedo atthis).
I was lucky to see one at Burton Mere earlier this week but it was too far away to get a shot so today I went to Mere Sands Nature Reserve where this little chap is often spotted. I have seen it a couple of times but I have only been able to photograph it once before.
Today it settled for less than 10 seconds on this small branch. As you can see from the first image it was quite a way off and hard to spot between the reeds so getting a clear shot was out of the question. Nevertheless I was thrilled to get any sort of image and happy to share it here. I will keep on trying and one day I am sure I will get the perfect shot.
There is something really special about these birds and it is always a thrill to see them. They are quite rare in the UK with between 3,800 and 4,400 breeding pairs spread throughout the whole of the UK (source RSPB) so any sighting however brief is definitely a treat.
Unlike yesterday, when not everyone would agree about how beautiful the subject was I don't think anyone could seriously disagree about today's offering.
Red flowers are difficult to photograph. It's not because they're camera shy or move about more than any other colour but because getting a true representation of the colour is really difficult. So there are some flowers that I never bother trying to shoot.
I am not 100% certain but I think this flower is a red variety of Rudbeckia, often known as Black-Eyed Susan a perennial flower that looks great with masses of colourful flowers which open out to a broad flat(ish) face with bright petals that gradually fold back towards the stem and in doing so the central black platform becomes a ball of tiny spikes and curls which look gorgeous and are a magnet for bees and other pollinators.
I have a number of shots of these flowers from my most recent visit to Ness Botanic Gardens and I wanted to share some of my favourites. I really love the final shot with the bee hard at work and the subtle back lighting. I think its a great image. If you like them or if you have favourite why not leave a comment.
I never tire of photographing Robins. They have such great characters, they're bold, inquisitive and sometimes cheeky. I love these shots because of the lighting, the texture of the mossy log and the green and blue background from the massed bluebells on the slope behind.
I know lots of you like to see these pictures too so I will keep on snapping Robins whenever I get the opportunity.
Today's post is anyone who like me finds the lack of colour in our winter woodlands a bit depressing.
Don't get me wrong a good woodland walk is always rewarding and there is always something to see but I miss the colours and signs of life which are largely absent during the cold and damp winter months. So a flash of colour from like the bright yellow of the occasional gorse bush or the vibrant red of these berries help lift our woods and heath lands and help keep me going til spring
I really love the warm glow in the sky above Lake Superior in this shot. It was a great day to get up early to enjoy the dawn and I hope you agree it was worth it.
Walking through the woodland around Brimham Rocks it was lovely to find a number of different fungi and this is one of my favourites so it was especially good to find such a fantastic specimen
I have been so excited to share some pictures of the beautiful hummingbirds that during the first week of my trip were regular visitors to the garden.
They were very skittish and incredibly difficult to shoot, possibly wary of my lens which I have decided needs to be camouflaged for wildlife photography (more of that on another day). Difficult as they were to shoot I think that patience and perseverance paid off. This is definitely one of the better shots but I have some more that I am just as pleased with. I had thought of putting several up today but I want to spread them out so will share some more in the future.
This is a female Ruby Throated Hummingbird, lining up for a feed from the Bee Balm which seemed to be its favourite food source in the garden. I really miss sitting out and watching these little beauties, they were just so mesmerising. They were definitely an item on my bucket list of creatures I have always wanted to see. They didn't disappoint, I hope you agree.
