Sunny Morning in Stroude

A very sunny Sunday so I went for a walk around Stroude to catch some late autumn colour. The walk was quite successful and along the way I spotted Roe Deer, a fox, green woodpecker and red kite.
I was using a wide angle lens so the wildlife had to take second place to the landscape and trees.

 The slight frost overnight left a lot of dew on the grass and undergrowth. This did make the ground very wet underfoot so wellies and waterproof trousers were needed.

Sparkling dew

 The shot I had in mind at this location didn't quite work out as the sun was in the wrong position. Looking at the map I don't think it would ever be right unless the sun rises in the North! It still made a pleasing picture.

Still reflection

 The colours of the leaves had lost some of their early autumn punch but the clear blue sky did allow for good colour contrast.

Yellow on Blue

Under the tree canopy I looked for fungi but there were very few to be seen. NOt to be outdone I took this shot looking back toward the sun.

Shady Birch Trees

As the morning warmed up I noticed lots of dragonflies pairing up and darting about the waters edge. They were moving very quickly so were had to get in frame, here is one of the better shots. Looking online they seem likely to be Ruddy Darter!

Ruddy Darters

As I was about to put the camera away and head home I spotted a Red Kite circling above.

Red Kite

All in all a most pleasant walk on a warm, sunny Sunday. 

Deer Rut in Richmond Park

Deer rut in Richmond Park - An Iain Green Photography day. http://www.naturebygreen.com/

Following on the training days I have done at WWT Barnes with Iain Green I decided to go to one of the guided days in Richmond Park to photograph the deer rut. This is a regular event run by Iain and one of his photos from here features on the cover of his book. (Which incidentally I won in the intermediate photography day last year).

We a group  of four and Iain) met at 07:45 on a dull day and immediately saw a small herd of red deer with a large stag keeping order. There was a minor challenge from a smaller stag but a few bellows and a trot towards him from the 'boss' soon put paid to that. The London skyline was just about visible but it was quite murky.

The morning brightened slightly but the skies remained overcast and later on the rain returned. Despite this there were plenty of deer to see and much bellowing echoing across the park.

There was plenty of autumn colour in the trees and bracken, it just needed a bright blue sky to really make the colours stand out.

As the light was low I took advantage of the longer shutter speed to try a zoom burst of the leaves.

We came across several types of fungi were growing up in the grass and dead tree trunks.

The walk finished at 2 P.M. and shortly after that the rain really came down hard so I was glad to be back in the car.

Ashford Camera Club AGM 2012

The ACC AGM took place on 2nd October. Along with the usual AGM business the themed competition was held. The theme, set at last year's AGM, was Red. Everyone can submit up to four pictures and members vote for their favourites using tokens.

I submitted four pictures this year.
The first was a Guelder Rose berry taken at the London WWT centre at Barnes.

Guelder Rose

 The next two were taken on Brownsea Island. The first is one of the mad chickens (they run right up to you and then slowly strut along in front whilst making low, slightly menacing, chicken calls.

Chicken Stare

The third pictures is of a Red squirrel feeding at the National Trust feeder on Brownsea Island.

Red Squirrel

and finally, some Chinese Lanterns from Chinese New Year in London.

Chinese Lanterns

There were a lot of photos submitted (all as prints) and the votes were well spread. I received a vote for Chicken Stare and Guelder Rose berry. The winning print was of the Field of Rememberance focussing on just the crosses and dominant red poppies.

Next year's theme is Humour.

ACC Q3 DPI Competition 2012

Following the summer break the Ashford Camera Club is back in session. The digital projected image competition for quarter 3 is on 25th September. (I haven't been entering any prints so far this year).

The two images I have submitted are shown below. The judges comments will follow, unless they are really poor in which case I might remove this post!

General category:  Prospect Cottage

This is Derek Jarman's cottage in Dungeness, Kent. The model is Gill.

Score 9.5/10. The judge liked the composition including the low angle which brought in the strong colours of the flowers. The exposure of the black cottage was good and the interest in the sky helped add to the picture. The young lady, who appeared to be looking at something out of frame, was placed well.

Nature Category: Eagle Eye

This was taken at the English School of Falconry. The bird is a juvenile Bald Eagle and so is yet to gain the characteristic white plumage of a mature adult Bald Eagle.

Score 9.5/10. Good composition with the bird looking into the frame. The blurred background helped concentrate on the bird which showed sharp detail in the eye and feathers. The half point was lost on the overexposed beak. Annoyingly, I noticed this when reviewing my pictures for the competition but it was too late to resubmit! 

BBC Countryfile Photographic Competition 2012

I have two photographs to submit to the annual BBC Countryfile Competiton. The closing date is Sunday, 22nd July. Full details can be found here..http://www.countryfile.com/countryside/2012-countryfile-photographic-competition.

The entries are of a running pony in the New Forest and a pair of Cornish Sheep.

Nigel Wilson Travel Photography Weekend

I thoroughly enjoyed the weekend learning about all sorts of photography with a group from the JLP photography club and Nigel Wilson. http://www.photographycourses.org.uk/about.php

The Saturday was classroom based and included reviewing our previously submitted pictures, one we were happy with and one were weren't, and discussion about what makes a good photograph.

This is the picture I was happy with, the walker in the red top gives a real focus of attention to the picture and then the eye is drawn down the Long Walk to Windsor Castle.

The picture I was disappointed with was a great subject but I couldn't work out a good composition.

Improvements could be to get higher to see more of the benches or crop the image and convert to black and white; like this...

The main thrust of the session was the thinking that should go into the photographs. "Everyone can take a photograph, not everyone can make one".

On the Sunday we met a location, which cannot be disclosed, to put into practice all that  we had been discussing. What with all the new ideas and a Saturday evening to inspire me I was all set for a good morning of photography. Unfortunately it poured with rain for a lot of the time but good waterproofs and plenty of confidence that my camera wouldn't leak kept me going. The venue was challenging as there was too much to photograph and the time just flew by.

Once back at the classroom we had to pick five pictures from the shoot and present back to the group. The standard, from all the group, was very good and showed we had picked up lots of tips and ideas from the Saturday.

A really good course that improved my understanding of photography and taught me plenty of new ideas too.

Wraysbury on a Sunday morning

As is my wont on a Sunday morning, I took a walk around the old gravel pits and woods close to Wraysbury. The sun was shining but the forecast was for rain later in the day so I wanted to make the most of it. The temperature was quite pleasant so I hoped to see newly emerged butterflies and possibly even damsel flies.
On my circular route I took a more wooded path than normal, I usually keep close to the water. This produced several male Orange tips (only the males have orange tips!) a Speckled Wood and two Brimstone. There was also a small white one which may have been  'Small White' or a female Orange tip (who don't have orange tips!).

Orange Tip

Speckled Wood

Along by the reservoir banks the sheep and lambs were keeping their distance so I couldn't get any particularly good shots but I did try to get a 'little lamb lost' shot.

It is always worth a look for Peregrine Falcons on the electricity pylon close to the rail crossing but no luck this time. In fact it is usually during the winter when they show up here. Hopefully, they are off rearing some young aerial hunters. One thing hoping they wouldn't be too close was a male chaffinch.

Chaffinch

One final weird sighting was a cluster of toadstools growing out of a dead tree trunk - strange for spring but a result of the recent wet weather?

Toadstools in Spring

All in all a very good couple of hours and a good way to spend the best weather of the day.

I was using my Canon 450D with 70-200mm lens.

ACC Q1 DPI Competition 2012

Now I am in the advanced class I need to ensure the best quality pictures! I have not submitted a portrait photograph as I do not have anything up to scratch.

General category - Faded Prospect. derelict cottage at New Romney in Kent on the South coast. The judge wasn't keen on the lack of colour in the house and didn't have much else good to say about the picture. 7/10

Nature category - Barbary Macaques ( Gibraltar apes ) The judge thought the pose was good but suggested we didn't need to see the whole of the adult animal and a tighter crop may have been better. 8/10.
Subsequently, there has been what can almost be called email hoo ha about the standard of the judge and his inconsistencies. Oh well it is only a bit of fun.

ACC Q1 Print Competition 2012

Owning to techical difficulties on my printer (user fault as the 'remove this sticker' was still on the ink cartridge!) I couldn't produce any prints for the first competition of the year. Now I am in the advanced class they pictures need to be top notch to do well - no reason why they shouldn't be :-)