Loving the macro

Another trip to meadows and fields chasing after butterflies and damselflies was how I passed one of the bank holiday weekend mornings. I think I am a bit too early to see and real action at the moment and things will heat up in a few weeks when average temperatures are warmer. I haven't yet seen a dragonfly and most if the butterflies have been white. I have seen a couple of Peacock butterflies but not managed to capture any yet. Snails seemed to be about in abundance though, and a LOT of mating going on with other insects!

The macro lens is permanently on the camera at the moment and trying to capture the little critters has been kinda fun. I never thought I'd be that interested in insects and the like but it's actually a skill to get all the subject sharp at such close range so there is an element of competitiveness with my own abilities as well as learning new techniques.

I'm sure I'll also get the wide angle lens back on the camera soon to create some landscapes. But for now... Bring on the dragonflies! :-)

More little Critters!

It supposed to be coming up to the time of year when Dragonflies and Damselflies are 'on the wing' and start to emerge from the depths of ponds to flutter about and nurrish in the surrounding fields.

So last night (evening), I headed out to Sandbach Flashes to see if there was anything about yet. After scanning the water reeds and the water area itself, i soon realised that all this wet and miserable rainy weather we've been having this week has frightened the little buggers off! They've probably all decided to hybernate for another week or two!!

So, without wanting to waste a trip out with my camera, i decided to get some nice close up shots of the flowers in the field...how nice! Whilst photographing these flowers, i noticed that there were lots and lots of daddy long legs hopping floating about like they do! Trying to capture these little fellars is pretty difficult because when you get close they scamper off!

Anyway, whilst tracking down the daddy longlegs in my sights, I finally spotted something that looked like what i came for... A Damselfly!

This was a more relaxed creature who was quite happy to pose for me and my camera. Please meet the Azure Damselfly.

PepperArt

What to find in a meadow

I went on a trip this morning to Swettenham Meadows - part of the Cheshire Wildlife Trust. I headed out intending to get some nice macro shots of the flowers or maybe a nice landscape shot - more of a reccy than anything though really, as i'd never been before.

When i got there, i soon realised the potential for this place was pretty big as far as beautiful nature shots go. There is potential for landscape, flower, macro, and insect photography. Today though, i was hooked on trying to photograph insects, namely butterflies and bumblebees.

PepperArt

The bumblebees were a bit more friendly and less sporadic than the butterflies. The butterflies didnt seem to want to stay still for too long.

I'm looking forward to going back to discover the dragonflies!

Solihull BPE Exhibition

I am happy to announce that 'Urban Directions' was accepeted into Solihull's Exhibition of British Photography 2009 and will be displayed at The Old Schoolhouse, Churchbridge, Oldbury, West Midlands, England, UK at 5.15pm on 13th June 2009.

PepperArt

This is the 2nd time this image has been accpeted in a BPE accredited exhibition this year. To read more about how I created it, please visit my website here.

Powis Castle & Garden, North Wales, UK

A coach trip out with my camera club to Powis Castle & Garden National Trust site in Wales last weekend proved fairly fruitful as far as image results were concerned.

Weatherwise though... What a wet day! It pee'd it down for a lot of the day but that didnt stop me getting some good shots and enjoying myself.

The castle itslef what a bit of a disappointment. I was expecting some big really old rustic building and was presented with what looked like a mansion house. The attaching gardens however, were definitly worth the visit.

With high trimmed hedge walls and various colourful plants and flowers it was a spectacular sight.

I think my favourite images of the day are as follows: -

PepperArt