Making a Difference

 I have been busy with my camera recently which has been nice after a bit of a break and this weekend I have shot 1300 images. Initially for the star trails (see previous post) and then at the Rhyl Air Show and it was my intention to share a few images from the air show today but I realised I still have a few good shots from Sizergh to post and while I will come back to them after I have posted some shots of planes I decided to first go for these bees.

The reason for this choice is because today we gave my grandson a book that was written and illustrated by my very talented niece, all about a bee who felt unimportant. It is a little reminder that just like the bee we are all important and have something to give, we can all make a difference in our own unique way.

Plus I really liked the bold colours and the fine detail in these shots which have a really summery feel. 

On An Island

 Looking across the pond to this small island I noticed a tumbledown shack which on its own, at first glance was not particularly interesting but taking a ,moment to really look I noticed the reflection in the calm water and the variety of colours illuminated by the sun.

These shots were taken from different vantage points and used 4 second exposures to enhance the reflections. 

Primrose

 

These Common or English Primroses are absolutely beautiful. The yellow flowers are so delicate with the golden centre fading out to a pale almost creamy yellow.

These were hidden close to some moss covered rocks in a woodland garden I was lucky because the sun was shining through a gap in the tree canopy so these flowers were perfectly illuminated.

I think they are gorgeous 

A Little Bit of Sunshine

 Yellow is my favourite colour. 

It was a brilliantly sunny day and it just lit up this bed of beautiful lilies, creating a wonderful and uplifting display.

Spring Sunshine

 

There were masses of daffodils forming a golden carpet through the woodland garden. It was really beautiful but getting down to flower level and focusing on an individual bloom really shows the flower off at its best. It looks especially good because it is backlit by the sun and it brings a warm glow.

Love on The Bridge

There is so much that I love abut this image; the light highlighting the handrail  guiding you into the image, the beams of sunlight shining a spotlight onto the couple on the bridge, the way the trees appear to be leaning in to frame the sun and the fact that the sun is almost heart shaped adding to the romance of the picture.

From this position the couple on the bridge appear to be gazing down to the falls below when in fact they are holding tightly onto each other and looking down at their feet as they cautiously make their way on the icy path. 

Behind me is the larger falls and the spray from the waterfall is adding to the mist and creating the sunspots in the image as well as making the footpath almost impassable with ice.

Breakthrough!

I had gone to Burton Mere Wetland to do a spot of wildlife photography but I am always on the look out for a great shot and with these images today I think I have captured a couple of great landscape shots.

I knew as I looked up from the path towards the railway embankment that with the sun breaking through the low afternoon clouds the fence and the tree would make a good image and swapping my long lens for a smaller wide angle zoom I got the shot I wanted and the lighting works really well.

I swapped my lens back with the intention of going up to Burton Point where I had heard short eared owls can often be spotted but as I approached the path up the hill I changed back to the wide angle for this super shot with the suns rays stretching out highlighting to copse of trees and the break in the wall. I love this shot and I love the swirl of the clouds. I wasn't lucky enough to see any owls but to be honest I think this shot more than makes up for that. 

It was also nice to see the Iron Age fort where once there was a small family settlement.

Whose Shadow?

You may have noticed that I haven't posted anything for a week, what with Christmas and various other things on my mind I just haven't got round to it.  So I thought that I would start up again with a little puzzle. 

Can you work out whose shadows you are looking at in this picture?

Scroll down for the full image...

Of course, it's a couple of meerkats soaking up the last of the days' sunshine. It really was very cold out there today so you can hardly blame them. They're just so cute. I have a few more pictures of them to share among some of the other creatures I snapped this afternoon so come back and have a look over the coming days.

Starburst

It was a sunny morning in Caernafon and these boats were lined up along Afon Seiont next to the magnificent castle. It was such a restful scene.

Although the sun was shining, there was quite a breeze and it was actually quite chilly but even so it was a lovely spot.

Lovely Lizards

Now I know that some people wont like these pictures because of the subject matter but I have always loved reptiles and so whenever I have seen lizards like this I have been more than a little excited. 

They are very timid creatures and really skittish which means it is very difficult to get good photos. I am pleased with these shots though, these lovely creatures were so sleek and elegant and posed just long enough to capture.