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 Q3 DPI Competition

General - Spirit of Ecstasy. Taken at the Egham Royal Show 2010. Scored 9.5 points. The judge liked the composition and the amount of the car in view, particularly as it was suitably out of focus. Also, the colors with the blue bonnet of the Rolls and the reds reflected in the chrome (which is in fact my reflection).

Portrait - Enjoying a Beer. Taken in Mayrhofen. One of the few people portraits I have and it scored 9. Good points being the the out of focus background and composition although let down slightly but the loss of elbows and the base of the beer glass.

Nature - Grey Squirrel. Taken at Brompton Cemetery. Scored 10. Sharp detail in the squirrel, well placed in the photograph and a non distracting, out of focus, background.

ACC Q3 Print Competition

A successful evening at the third quarter, print competition. The judge held all three of my photos back for further consideration. Next week sees the third quarter digital projection competition. Should be interesting as the intermediate standard in the club is very good!

General - Abandoned Boat. Taken in Bideford, September 2011. Scored 9.5. Only let down by insufficient space around the boat. This was not a crop but the full picture so I should have stood further away to take it.

Portrait - Smile! Taken at ACC studio session. Scored 9.5. Let down by the reflection in the glasses. I did notice this but did not know how to remove it in photoshop.

Nature - Golden Pheasant. Taken in Kew Gardens. Scored 10.

ACC Q2 Print competition

General Jump  7.5 points. Taken in Mayrhofen 2011
Lack of action in picture and jacket should be red!

Portrait: Richard 7.5 points. Taken in Mayrhofen 2011

Nature: Brown Hare. 9 points. Taken on the day of William and Kate's (royal) wedding.

ACC Q2 DPI Competition

Portrait sideways glance 8 points

Nature: Swallowtail 8.5 - background too dark lack of definition in the wings.

General: Catch Me. 9 points. Good lines into distance, the right number of people nicely placed.

WWT Photography Competition 2010

The Wildfowl & Wetland trust are running a photography competition. The details are here http://photo.wwt.org.uk/  The public can vote for their favourite pictures.


My two submissions can be seen here:
http://photo.wwt.org.uk/gallery/single/4219
and
http://photo.wwt.org.uk/gallery/single/4220

Knoydart - Day 0

The journey begins.
All packed up so left home at about 18:30 to get the bus to Staines station, the train via Hounslow (less crowded) and onto Vauxhall and finally Euston where I am now in the First Class passenger lounge drinking complimentary coffee and about to eat some cake.  Very good connections so arrived at 19:45 so hour & vhalf until the next main leg of the journey begins

My luggage consists of my mountain gear bag (with tripod inside) Lowepro rucksack and small breifcase st;le bag for the bits that wouldn't go in the other bags! All in al quite heavy so glad to have a safe refuge until the train departs at 21:15.