Head To Head

Although it was fairly sunny as the afternoon progressed, in the shady woodland around Dunham Massey the light was limited and so a very high ISO (4000) was needed to get these shots so they are soft and perhaps lacking in definition. That being said they are still quite nice images of some of the deer that call Dunham Massey home (or whatever the deer equivalent for "home" is).

The larger stags hang out together in small groups while the young bucks also group together and the females and last years foals form small family groups and could be found scattered through the woods.

Although the herd is used to the visitors to the park they are still wild animals and very timid and always on high alert so getting close was quite a challenge. It was quite rewarding though, especially when the two bucks started sparring with each other. It was clear that it was not a serious fight but they were definitely testing each other out as well as getting to grips with their new antlers.
 

Simply Snowdrops

 After my experimental film yesterday (which I was super happy with and hope you will take a look at if you haven't already) here are some more conventional shots of snowdrops as promised.

There is something special about these little flowers that come up so early in the season. It is still winter and yet they herald the start of spring. They can form impressive carpets of flowers which is why yesterday's images were so effective. But, they can also look stunning as individual plants or in small clusters as you can see in the pictures above.

Other woodland flowers that are coming through right now are cyclamen and aconites which are also really beautiful but they do not have quite the impact that snowdrops do. Soon we will see crocus, daffodils and then bluebells and then we will know that Spring has really arrived.

Experimental Film

 

In February last year (25th to be precise) I posted under the title "whoosh" some long exposure images of the snow drops at Chirk, inspired by driving through snow on the journey there. Each shot was about 2 seconds duration and I used my 24mm-105mm L series zoom lens staring at 105 mm and zooming out to 24mm.

Looking back at those images I am not very happy with them and I thought I would try the same effect again on my most recent visit to Chirk. This time I used a shorter exposure, for the first image it was 1 second and for the rest it was 0.8 seconds. I am overall much happier with the results this time round and feel the effect is much more in line with what I hoped to achieve... something like the look when you make the jump to light speed!

Anyway I hope you enjoy these images and while you look why not listen to this tune by They Might Be Giants, and hopefully your face will not implode.

If more conventional photos of snowdrops is more your thing stop by tomorrow as i also have some of those.

Something Sticky

 

Earlier this year I had very few new pictures to share and that was really frustrating. I wasn't getting out nearly enough with one thing or another so I felt like things were drying up a little bit. More recently I have been out, photographing all manner of things; fast jets, sand yachts, landscapes, star trails, medieval architecture, woodlands and beaches and now I have so much stuff I don't know what to post, I have felt a little stuck.

So if you will pardon the pun, I thought I would share something sticky and what is more sticky than a stick? I can hear the groans now, sorry.

These shots were taken on a recent walk in a Welsh forest on a cold day early in November. The light was not the best but every  now and then as the winter sun managed to break through the clouds there were moments when the woodland colours shone through the grey.

The forest was mostly pine so there wasn't a lot of colour but I thought these pine cones, mosses and lichens made for interesting images which I hope you will enjoy. 

Nuthatch

 

I really love nuthatches, there is something bout the way they move about the trees often hanging upside down and almost always on the move. I love their colours and the bandit face mask.

I think the first time I photographed one was in the walled garden at Royden park not far from where I live, it was feeding at a bird feeder and going back and forth to a nest. I have a nice memory of seeing several in the grounds at Sizergh Castle too and I sat for ages watching them.

This one was spotted in Boilton Wood at the edge of Brockholes nature reserve near Preston. It is probably my favourite shot that I have captured of a nuthatch because of its pose, the colours and lighting which is enhanced by the early morning sun behind me and the carpet of bluebells in the background.

A Little Bit of Bokeh

 After the Goldcrests (see yesterdays post) had flown away I hung around for  little while and tried to make use of the sunlight through the trees. 

I spotted a little bit of lichen on a broken branch so tried to get a nice image of it, in doing so I noticed the bokeh created by the light breaking through the trees and shrubs in the background. So I spent some time experimenting trying to capitalise on this interesting effect.

I practiced with some other plants as well as the lichen and I will share them in my next posts.

These were shot using my 100 - 400mm telephoto lens and 1.4x converter at F8, 1/1000 sec and ISO 3200 

Making a Mark

 

These shots were taken in the Black Forest just outside of the town of Triberg. I had gone to see the waterfalls which are famed as one of the highest in Germany.

I had been once before in March 2015 with my son, however on that occasion due to the snow the paths to the falls were closed and I didn't get to see them. I had hoped to see them during my recent visit in November, before the winter snow arrived. However, following recent heavy rains the paths were once again closed. 

I was of course a little disappointed although the forest is so beautiful and the drive through the mountains to get there had been lots of fun. I was determined not to let that setback ruin my day and enjoyed a walk in the forest before heading into town for some hot chocolate and a piece of cake, and a little shopping.

I loved walking in the forest, surrounded by the variety of trees, I immersed myself in the sights, sounds and smells of the woodland in winter. I took lots of photos that captured some of the magic of the experience and along the way I spotted this mile marker a little way off the main path in the trees. I tried to imagine the people from years past who would have used this stone as a guide along their journey and wondered what life in the forest might have been like. 

The colours in the forest at this time of year were rich and varied and in these images I have used the masking tool in Adobe Lightroom to highlight the stone and separate it from the background using a variety of settings. I like all three images, not only because they help me recall a wonderful day out but also because they look good. As well as the richness of the colours I love the texture of the stone that has weathered over so many years exposure to the elements.

Drip Drip Drop!

I tried so hard to capture a shot as one of the droplets on the end of these fern fronds let go and completed its journey to the ground but getting the timing right was impossible, at least in the time I had available. I would have been helped by having a flash but that was safely at home.

Nevertheless I am very happy with these shots. I find it fascinating how the surface tension of the raindrops means they hold their shape for so long as they slowly make their way along the leaves and dangle clinging to the tip as if by a thread. I also like the way they shine.

Roses are Red

Violets are violet!  I love these flowers how about you?

OK so I know it doesn't rhyme but I have never claimed to be a poet...

These are Viola riviniana commonly known as dog violet or wood violet. I think it is a stunning little flower. Hidden away in the woodland shade it would be so easy to miss as you walk by, but it is definitely worth a second look.

Solution

 Yesterday I posted a couple of close up images and asked you to try to guess what it was. No one actually tried to guess but never mind. Here is the solution to the puzzle I set.

It is a rather handsome cock pheasant that was strolling along a woodland path as I was walking back to my car. I was used to seeing hundreds of these as a teenager in the fields around my home in Lincolnshire. I don't see so many where I live now but I am always impressed by their stunning plumage.

Bluebell Wood

Here are a couple more woodland shots from Boilton Woods 

Looking at these pictures the smell of the beautiful flowers comes flooding back.

You Know Spring Has Arrived When...

This morning we were blessed with beautiful clear skies and glorious early morning sunshine. It was a cold start to the day but definitely worth the effort of getting up and out early to capture the early sun on theses beautiful bluebells in the Gorse Covert at the RSPB reserve at Burton Mere.

I always look for the emergence of bluebells to signal that Spring has truly arrived. I have lots of happy memories of walks in woodlands where there were carpets of native bluebells and although this display is not as dense as some of those I grew up with it is still heartwarming and a boost to the spirits.

Little Jenny Wren

Walking through the woods at Mere Sands I was treated to the beautiful sound of so many song birds.

Spring has arrived and as the woodland comes to life with green shoots and blossoms you can feel a change in the air. 

One of the prettiest songs on my walk was that of the wren and I managed to spot a couple in the shade. They are very small, very timid and they move about very quickly making them very tricky to spot and even harder to photograph.

I love the way they use their tails to balance just before flying off. They are just so cute. 

I was curious to know why the Wren is known as a Jenny Wren so did a little research and dug up a few interesting facts.

They have a powerful song which I have mentioned already, but did you know they can hit two different notes at the same time?

They are quintessentially British birds and are one of our most common songbirds, in the past they were know as "King among birds". In German they were called "hedge king" or "kinglet".

They eat insects, spiders and even tadpoles but perhaps surprisingly they also like a piece of cheese.

The term Jenny Wren applies because they are fiercely protective of their young and the female in particular will be extremely vocal to alert her brood against danger, and this has led to a tendency to view wrens as female leading to the moniker Jenny Wren.

Standing Tall

Canon 24 - 105mm 

ISO 100   85 mm   F/4.5   1/160 sec

ISO 100   96 mm   F/4.5    1/160 sec

I love the colours in these shots and the soft focused backgrounds with hints of colour that help to highlight the flowers that are the main subjects in each picture.

Buttercups are such simple flowers and this single specimen shot against a background of bluebells is really lovely.

I also love the contrast of pink and white in the second photo with the central flower in sharp focus but the others in the foreground and background providing a soft focused frame.

Inverted Bloom

I don't know what these flowers are, but I am sure that someone out there will know and maybe you will tell me, because I think they are really beautiful.

They were growing in the shade alongside the path and I almost missed them but I am glad I didn't.