Wishing all my friends and customers past, present and future, a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous and enjoyable New Year!
Daniel
Archive » 2007
Friday, 21 December 2007
Merry Christmas
Wishing all my friends and customers past, present and future, a wonderful Christmas and a prosperous and enjoyable New Year!
Daniel
Wednesday, 7 November 2007
2008 Desktop Calendar
Just to let you know that I have just added a page for my 2008 Desktop Calendar, which can be found here, or through the 'Design' page.
This is the fourth year I have produced the Calendar now, and it always proves popular. I pick some of my favourite photos to illustrate the year, and each calendar is handmade, so it's a real labour of love for me.
Below are some pics of the calendar, which is available to buy for just £5.50 each, plus 50p P&P per order. You can pay me direct through Paypal too, so it couldn't be easier.
This is the fourth year I have produced the Calendar now, and it always proves popular. I pick some of my favourite photos to illustrate the year, and each calendar is handmade, so it's a real labour of love for me.
Below are some pics of the calendar, which is available to buy for just £5.50 each, plus 50p P&P per order. You can pay me direct through Paypal too, so it couldn't be easier.
Monday, 5 November 2007
Westhay Starling Roost
This is the second of the articles I wrote for the Healthy Life, Mind Body and Soul magazine that I've published on my blog. It relates my trip to Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve near Wells, in Somerset, to see the starling roost. As it's that time of year again, and seeing as it's been featured on 'Autumnwatch' on the BBC, I thought it time to share it with you.
The Starling Roost
It’s not often that a much-maligned bird like the Starling gets its own slot on prime-time television, but I’m sure many of you saw Bill Oddie in Somerset as he watched a massive Starling roost performing its amazing aerobatics; strange shapes forming as the huge flocks wheeled around the sky, before plummeting down into the reeds to spend the night. It made me want to see them and, as luck would have it, my wife and I were going to Somerset for a few days in early November. A quick Internet search came up with the location of a huge roost - Westhay, near Glastonbury.
As it happens, this wasn’t the one that Bill filmed; he was near Slimbridge. That roost numbers 1-2 million birds, quite impressive. However, the Westhay one is estimated at between 3 and 7 million (you try and count them; I think we can give them a little room for error), and is well known as one of the best places to watch these birds performing.
Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve is cared for by Somerset Wildlife Trust, and consists mainly of reedbeds and open water where peat extraction works once scoured the land. Now it’s home to Otters, Bitterns and a multitude of wildfowl. That would be great in itself, but add the spectacle of the Starling roost and it’s surely somewhere any keen wildlife enthusiast should visit.
Our trip in November coincided with the early arrivals at the roost - numbers don’t fully build up until December onwards, and will include many birds from the continent, not just Britain. They’ll stay until winter’s over, which, as far as they’re concerned, is early February. Still, estimates for the time we were there were around 1 million birds, and it was absolutely stunning.
The Starlings prefer to do their aerial displays on calmer, milder days, so our first visit, on a Monday afternoon, wasn’t destined to go down as one of the greats. The clear skies of lunchtime had clouded over, the wind had picked up and a distinct chill was in the air. At about half past three the first birds started to arrive, and each successive group came in larger flocks, until the largest ones which spread out along the horizon, producing a seemingly endless supply of Starlings, which flowed down into the reeds with little of the artistic flair that we were hoping for. Once the sun went down, and the birds stopped coming, and we were feeling really cold, we called it a day and went back to the B&B and the roaring fire. Overall, it was a little disappointing - we were hoping to witness aerobatics the like of which we’d not seen before, and obviously I wanted to take some good photos of the Starlings in action, neither of which happened. However, it was still worth the visit, and we decided to go back if we came down to Somerset later in the winter.
A couple of days later we were in Wells, the day was chilly but sunny, and the car park ticket ran out at two o’clock, so we wondered what to do with the rest of the afternoon. I suggested that we revisit Westhay, as I was still keen to get some better photos, and the sunset looked more promising than the previous one. Some time later, we were again stood in the small, open ‘hide’, from which you can see at about reed-top height, waiting for the Starlings to come back. A small crowd of people had gathered, and were not disappointed to see the first birds swooping down. Again, they just descended straight into the reeds, and we were not given the delight of watching thousands of birds twisting and turning through the air, but even so, it was still a magical experience.
The sunset glowed, as cloud after cloud of Starlings came in, the rushing sound of thousands of beating wings swiftly followed by chattering calls as they settled in the reeds. We’d watch one huge flock, spread out over hundreds of yards, get closer and closer before pouring down out of sight, 30 seconds separating the landing of the first birds from the last. And in the distance, a bigger flock would be forming, following the previous one in and adding to the clamour of noise from the reeds. And from behind us, and from the right and from the left, more birds would arrive in groups of 60,000 or more (one photograph that I took shows around 3,000 birds, and this is just a small section of one of the big flocks).
This went on for around 20 minutes, the sun sinking below the horizon and the chill air cooling rapidly, with now only a few stragglers arriving with a mad dash. With the show over, the birdwatchers left, but with a clear sky and a feeling of calm after the storm, my wife and I stayed for a few minutes more. That’s when we noticed the Starlings were not at rest, but had now started flying around in the reed-bed, spreading out from where they’d landed, flowing through the reeds, their wingbeats sounding like rushing water, closer and closer to us. With a wonderful sense of awe, we delighted in the experience. It was now far too dark for photography, so we simply watched and listened - just the two of us and one million feathered friends.
Further details about Westhay Moor N.N.R. can be found on Somerset Wildlife Trusts website - www.somersetwildlife.org.
The Starling Roost
It’s not often that a much-maligned bird like the Starling gets its own slot on prime-time television, but I’m sure many of you saw Bill Oddie in Somerset as he watched a massive Starling roost performing its amazing aerobatics; strange shapes forming as the huge flocks wheeled around the sky, before plummeting down into the reeds to spend the night. It made me want to see them and, as luck would have it, my wife and I were going to Somerset for a few days in early November. A quick Internet search came up with the location of a huge roost - Westhay, near Glastonbury.
As it happens, this wasn’t the one that Bill filmed; he was near Slimbridge. That roost numbers 1-2 million birds, quite impressive. However, the Westhay one is estimated at between 3 and 7 million (you try and count them; I think we can give them a little room for error), and is well known as one of the best places to watch these birds performing.
Westhay Moor National Nature Reserve is cared for by Somerset Wildlife Trust, and consists mainly of reedbeds and open water where peat extraction works once scoured the land. Now it’s home to Otters, Bitterns and a multitude of wildfowl. That would be great in itself, but add the spectacle of the Starling roost and it’s surely somewhere any keen wildlife enthusiast should visit.
Our trip in November coincided with the early arrivals at the roost - numbers don’t fully build up until December onwards, and will include many birds from the continent, not just Britain. They’ll stay until winter’s over, which, as far as they’re concerned, is early February. Still, estimates for the time we were there were around 1 million birds, and it was absolutely stunning.
The Starlings prefer to do their aerial displays on calmer, milder days, so our first visit, on a Monday afternoon, wasn’t destined to go down as one of the greats. The clear skies of lunchtime had clouded over, the wind had picked up and a distinct chill was in the air. At about half past three the first birds started to arrive, and each successive group came in larger flocks, until the largest ones which spread out along the horizon, producing a seemingly endless supply of Starlings, which flowed down into the reeds with little of the artistic flair that we were hoping for. Once the sun went down, and the birds stopped coming, and we were feeling really cold, we called it a day and went back to the B&B and the roaring fire. Overall, it was a little disappointing - we were hoping to witness aerobatics the like of which we’d not seen before, and obviously I wanted to take some good photos of the Starlings in action, neither of which happened. However, it was still worth the visit, and we decided to go back if we came down to Somerset later in the winter.
A couple of days later we were in Wells, the day was chilly but sunny, and the car park ticket ran out at two o’clock, so we wondered what to do with the rest of the afternoon. I suggested that we revisit Westhay, as I was still keen to get some better photos, and the sunset looked more promising than the previous one. Some time later, we were again stood in the small, open ‘hide’, from which you can see at about reed-top height, waiting for the Starlings to come back. A small crowd of people had gathered, and were not disappointed to see the first birds swooping down. Again, they just descended straight into the reeds, and we were not given the delight of watching thousands of birds twisting and turning through the air, but even so, it was still a magical experience.
The sunset glowed, as cloud after cloud of Starlings came in, the rushing sound of thousands of beating wings swiftly followed by chattering calls as they settled in the reeds. We’d watch one huge flock, spread out over hundreds of yards, get closer and closer before pouring down out of sight, 30 seconds separating the landing of the first birds from the last. And in the distance, a bigger flock would be forming, following the previous one in and adding to the clamour of noise from the reeds. And from behind us, and from the right and from the left, more birds would arrive in groups of 60,000 or more (one photograph that I took shows around 3,000 birds, and this is just a small section of one of the big flocks).
This went on for around 20 minutes, the sun sinking below the horizon and the chill air cooling rapidly, with now only a few stragglers arriving with a mad dash. With the show over, the birdwatchers left, but with a clear sky and a feeling of calm after the storm, my wife and I stayed for a few minutes more. That’s when we noticed the Starlings were not at rest, but had now started flying around in the reed-bed, spreading out from where they’d landed, flowing through the reeds, their wingbeats sounding like rushing water, closer and closer to us. With a wonderful sense of awe, we delighted in the experience. It was now far too dark for photography, so we simply watched and listened - just the two of us and one million feathered friends.
Further details about Westhay Moor N.N.R. can be found on Somerset Wildlife Trusts website - www.somersetwildlife.org.
Thursday, 4 October 2007
Pentax User Magazine
I'm lucky enough to be the featured photographer in the Portfolio section of Pentax User Magazine this issue (Issue 4, 2007), and I have to say I'm very pleased with how the spread looks.
If you're sensible enough to a) use a Pentax and b) subscribe to Pentax User, you'll no doubt have already seen the feature. However, for those of you who don't and/or don't, click the image below to see the full article with eight photos to illustrate.
Many thanks to the Pentax User editorial team for the opportunity to present my work in this way. The Pentax User website is www.pentaxuser.co.uk.
If you're sensible enough to a) use a Pentax and b) subscribe to Pentax User, you'll no doubt have already seen the feature. However, for those of you who don't and/or don't, click the image below to see the full article with eight photos to illustrate.
Many thanks to the Pentax User editorial team for the opportunity to present my work in this way. The Pentax User website is www.pentaxuser.co.uk.
Sunday, 30 September 2007
1-2-1 Photographic Tuition
I've mentioned it on my blog before, but I now have a specific web page for my One to One (1-2-1) personal photo tuition. A link's shown along the bottom menu bar, but for now you can click here.
Although I cater for all brands of camera, from Minolta to Sony, Nikon to Canon, Olympus to Leica, my personal preference is Pentax. Don't let that put you off if you don't use Pentax, I can still offer advice and guidance to your specific requirements, it's just that usually all you see when a workshop or tuition is advertised is "EOS approved" or "Hands on Nikon". I'm more like "Pick up a Pentax"...
So as the number of Pentax users increases, due to the stunning bodies they produce at an even more stunning price (<£300 for the K100D and around £475 for the K10D, both with a 'kit' lens), there are going to be more people looking to get to grips with their new camera. If you happen to be near to Essex, I'm your man - with 4 years experience of running workshops, both with Essex Wildlife Trust and Havering Adult College, I can address your needs and get you on the road to photographic heaven!
Private 1-2-1 tuition with Daniel Bridge.
Although I cater for all brands of camera, from Minolta to Sony, Nikon to Canon, Olympus to Leica, my personal preference is Pentax. Don't let that put you off if you don't use Pentax, I can still offer advice and guidance to your specific requirements, it's just that usually all you see when a workshop or tuition is advertised is "EOS approved" or "Hands on Nikon". I'm more like "Pick up a Pentax"...
So as the number of Pentax users increases, due to the stunning bodies they produce at an even more stunning price (<£300 for the K100D and around £475 for the K10D, both with a 'kit' lens), there are going to be more people looking to get to grips with their new camera. If you happen to be near to Essex, I'm your man - with 4 years experience of running workshops, both with Essex Wildlife Trust and Havering Adult College, I can address your needs and get you on the road to photographic heaven!
Private 1-2-1 tuition with Daniel Bridge.
Thorndon Workshop 17/11/07
So here's some 'further news'! I have booked in another 'Photography in the Park' Workshop at the Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre at Thorndon Park, Brentwood, Essex, on Saturday 17th November 2007.
These photographic workshops cover apertures, focal lengths, exposure and composition, as well as looking at the equipment I find useful for photography in nature reserves and country parks. The morning is spent indoors, with a discussion and slideshow to illustrate the effect of lens choice, different apertures, and ways to compose your images, then we go out in the afternoon to put ideas into practice, and get hands-on with any specific queries you have.
It's a fun day, and at a bargain price of just £25, but you'll need to book soon to avoid missing out on this, which is probably my last workshop this year. Ring Thorndon Park Visitor Centre on 01277 232944 to secure your place.
These photographic workshops cover apertures, focal lengths, exposure and composition, as well as looking at the equipment I find useful for photography in nature reserves and country parks. The morning is spent indoors, with a discussion and slideshow to illustrate the effect of lens choice, different apertures, and ways to compose your images, then we go out in the afternoon to put ideas into practice, and get hands-on with any specific queries you have.
It's a fun day, and at a bargain price of just £25, but you'll need to book soon to avoid missing out on this, which is probably my last workshop this year. Ring Thorndon Park Visitor Centre on 01277 232944 to secure your place.
Thursday, 27 September 2007
2008 Workshops
I've added some dates for workshops in 2008 (all at Fingringhoe Wick at the moment, Thorndon dates to follow), details of these are, naturally enough, on my Workshops page.
Keep checking back for further news...
Keep checking back for further news...
Monday, 24 September 2007
New Canvasses
I mentioned in an earlier post that I had a Blackthorn Blossom image printed to canvas, which was on sale at 'New Art Prints'. Well, that canvas has been sold, so I've replaced it with two more (shown below), as well as a few prints (also shown below).
The canvasses are of a Teasel head and a Fern leaf laying across a rock, both square images, printed to 16" x 16" size.
The prints are a small selection, including moss, common blue butterflies, the ever popular Oak Tree and a cobweb.
So that visitors to the gallery can see a wider selection of my photos, I produced a small catalogue for them to look through.
Once again, for those interested in seeing these prints, the gallery's address is:
New Art Prints
Unit 43
Barleylands Craft Village
Barleylands Road
Billericay
Essex
CM11 2UD
Look out for the sign for 'Terra Fusion' framers, with which New Art Prints art gallery shares a unit.
The canvasses are of a Teasel head and a Fern leaf laying across a rock, both square images, printed to 16" x 16" size.
The prints are a small selection, including moss, common blue butterflies, the ever popular Oak Tree and a cobweb.
So that visitors to the gallery can see a wider selection of my photos, I produced a small catalogue for them to look through.
Once again, for those interested in seeing these prints, the gallery's address is:
New Art Prints
Unit 43
Barleylands Craft Village
Barleylands Road
Billericay
Essex
CM11 2UD
Look out for the sign for 'Terra Fusion' framers, with which New Art Prints art gallery shares a unit.
Friday, 24 August 2007
Workshops Part 5
I've added another date for a 'Photography in the Park' workshop, which will guide you through the pitfalls of composition, exposure and technique, with a slideshow and discussion in the morning and an afternoon of photography, putting theory into practice.
Once again at Thorndon Park, a superb venue with fabulous woodland surrounding the Visitor Centre, this workshop is in just two weeks time on Sunday 9th September 2007. There are already participants booked on, so don't delay, book your place today, spaces are limited.
Ring the Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre on 01277 232944.
While I'm here, I'll just mention that I will be displaying my prints in the EWT Visitor Centre at Hanningfield Reservoir next Sunday 2nd September at their Family Fun Day, running from noon until four o'clock. Hope to see you there.
Once again at Thorndon Park, a superb venue with fabulous woodland surrounding the Visitor Centre, this workshop is in just two weeks time on Sunday 9th September 2007. There are already participants booked on, so don't delay, book your place today, spaces are limited.
Ring the Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centre on 01277 232944.
While I'm here, I'll just mention that I will be displaying my prints in the EWT Visitor Centre at Hanningfield Reservoir next Sunday 2nd September at their Family Fun Day, running from noon until four o'clock. Hope to see you there.
Saturday, 11 August 2007
Private 1-2-1 Tuition
I've mentioned it before, but I thought I'd give a few more details about the private one-to-one tuition I offer, which is based on 4 hour sessions, at a cost of £75, and are loosely along these lines...
1/2 hour chat to see what you want to learn (no obligation, if you decide not to go ahead, that's fine), then we go for a walk to try out and/or explain different techniques.
One gentleman was interested in the way that I took pictures, so he basically wanted to see how I would frame and expose the shots, rather than actually take them himself. But I would normally expect us both to be taking pictures and comparing them to see how different viewpoints, lens choice etc has an effect on the outcome. But whatever you want to address is fine, whether it's just the basics of what you camera does, or looking at specific techniques.
The best places for these are really Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centres, where we can sit down with a cup of tea for a chat, then have plenty of subjects to seek out once we're outside. Thorndon Park is a good one as there's plenty to shoot once we're out and about, but Hanningfield, Chafford Gorges or Bedfords Park are also more than suitable.
I can do weekends or weekdays (I work 3 days a week for Essex Wildlife Trust, but am usually available Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and one day at the weekend), and any 4 hours during the day.
If that's of interest, let me know and we'll see when we can schedule you in!
1/2 hour chat to see what you want to learn (no obligation, if you decide not to go ahead, that's fine), then we go for a walk to try out and/or explain different techniques.
One gentleman was interested in the way that I took pictures, so he basically wanted to see how I would frame and expose the shots, rather than actually take them himself. But I would normally expect us both to be taking pictures and comparing them to see how different viewpoints, lens choice etc has an effect on the outcome. But whatever you want to address is fine, whether it's just the basics of what you camera does, or looking at specific techniques.
The best places for these are really Essex Wildlife Trust Visitor Centres, where we can sit down with a cup of tea for a chat, then have plenty of subjects to seek out once we're outside. Thorndon Park is a good one as there's plenty to shoot once we're out and about, but Hanningfield, Chafford Gorges or Bedfords Park are also more than suitable.
I can do weekends or weekdays (I work 3 days a week for Essex Wildlife Trust, but am usually available Mondays, Tuesdays, Fridays and one day at the weekend), and any 4 hours during the day.
If that's of interest, let me know and we'll see when we can schedule you in!
Friday, 3 August 2007
New Print Style
I've just updated my 'Buy' page to reflect the new pricing structure for my Limited Edition Prints. Rather than offering the mounting and framing options that I did before, I have decided that it's better for the customer and myself if I supply prints that can be popped straight into a ready-made frame by the customer if desired, or they can pass the print on to a framer who will do a better job than I at mounting and framing.
So the new style prints look like this:
Sized so that they fit most ready-made frames, I have reduced the number of potentially confusing options for the customer, with three of the most popular sizes of print available. Alternatively, any image can be printed to canvas, pricing of these is also shown.
This also means that at future exhibitions I can have a selection of prints ready to take away, rather than all of them being printed to order.
So the new style prints look like this:
Sized so that they fit most ready-made frames, I have reduced the number of potentially confusing options for the customer, with three of the most popular sizes of print available. Alternatively, any image can be printed to canvas, pricing of these is also shown.
This also means that at future exhibitions I can have a selection of prints ready to take away, rather than all of them being printed to order.
Wednesday, 1 August 2007
Pentax SMC FA50mm f/1.4 Lens
I mentioned on my previous post the Pentax SMC FA50mm F/1.4 lens that I recently got hold of, just before I spent a week in Wales. I'd previously had a manual focus 50mm lens (f/1.7), but having heard how superb the autofocus 1.4 version was, I couldn't resist any longer.
On a couple of days when I was away, this was the only lens I used, and I had great fun shooting with a wide aperture (usually f/2.4 or f/2.8), and relishing in the super-shallow depth of field it gave. The out-of-focus areas are beautifully smooth ('nice bokeh').
Here are a few examples from the scuplture park at Lake Vyrnwy, Powys.
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO100
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/350s, f/2.8, ISO100
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO400
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO400
The more I use the lens, the more I love it.
On a couple of days when I was away, this was the only lens I used, and I had great fun shooting with a wide aperture (usually f/2.4 or f/2.8), and relishing in the super-shallow depth of field it gave. The out-of-focus areas are beautifully smooth ('nice bokeh').
Here are a few examples from the scuplture park at Lake Vyrnwy, Powys.
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/125s, f/2.8, ISO100
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/350s, f/2.8, ISO100
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/30s, f/2.8, ISO400
Pentax K10D, FA50mm f/1.4 @ 1/60s, f/2.8, ISO400
The more I use the lens, the more I love it.
Sunday, 29 July 2007
Pentax K10D
I realised earlier that I really don't say much about the camera I use. In some ways it's good to think of the camera a simply a tool, and as long as it's capable of giving you the results you want, that's all you need. When I was using film I used a Chinon CE5, which in itself was a great reply to the perennial "You must use a fantastic camera" comment. People were expecting me to say "Yes, a £5,000 Canon/Nikon", when in fact it was a secondhand £50 Dixon's own brand...
These days I use the Pentax K10D. It's a 10 megapixel Digital SLR, which is nothing extraordinary these days. What is extraordinary is that it's fully weather sealed, has in-camera image stabilisation (so any lens, not just the expensive ones, are stabilised), is immensely customisable, so both of it's command dials can do just about whatever you want them to, has some new exposure modes, has an 11 point autofocus system (nine of which are cross type sensors) and has unlimited continuous jpeg shooting (over 3 frames a second until your card is full). All for £399 body only.
The Nikon (D80) and Canon (400D) cameras in the same price bracket just don't compare. Add to that the great kit lens (18-55mm), which knocks spots off the Canon offering for sure, and you can't go wrong. And no-one else makes lenses like the 'Limited' series, or the 'Pancakes'.
I've just got myself the Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens, which is just sublime, and along with the Pentax 16-45mm, Pentax 50-200mm, Sigma 105mm macro and Sigma 10-20mm I've got a versatile, high quality set-up that allows me to achieve the results I need.
Never let anyone tell you that you need a Canon or a Nikon to be a 'proper' photographer.
These days I use the Pentax K10D. It's a 10 megapixel Digital SLR, which is nothing extraordinary these days. What is extraordinary is that it's fully weather sealed, has in-camera image stabilisation (so any lens, not just the expensive ones, are stabilised), is immensely customisable, so both of it's command dials can do just about whatever you want them to, has some new exposure modes, has an 11 point autofocus system (nine of which are cross type sensors) and has unlimited continuous jpeg shooting (over 3 frames a second until your card is full). All for £399 body only.
The Nikon (D80) and Canon (400D) cameras in the same price bracket just don't compare. Add to that the great kit lens (18-55mm), which knocks spots off the Canon offering for sure, and you can't go wrong. And no-one else makes lenses like the 'Limited' series, or the 'Pancakes'.
I've just got myself the Pentax FA50mm f/1.4 lens, which is just sublime, and along with the Pentax 16-45mm, Pentax 50-200mm, Sigma 105mm macro and Sigma 10-20mm I've got a versatile, high quality set-up that allows me to achieve the results I need.
Never let anyone tell you that you need a Canon or a Nikon to be a 'proper' photographer.
Hedgehogs
Not exactly photography, although there is a photo on this post, which is more than I can say for others that I've done. Today we collected two hedgehogs from the South Essex Wildlife Hospital, and these have been released in our garden. Prior to release we needed to ensure they had a nice, waterproof home (a chamber at the bottom of our logpile) and a way out of the garden so that they can roam about and get their food. They may just wander off and never be seen again, but hopefully they'll stick around.
Hedgehogs are in trouble due to loss of habitat, poisoning from slug pellets, getting run over etc. The South Essex Wildlife Hospital currently have around 200 needing rehoming. If your garden and surrounding area is suitable, they'll be only to grateful of your help to provide a release site - give Sue there a call! If you want to donate to this charity too, please do, they do an amazing job. If you can give them some of your time, even better!
This is the male, before we got him out of the box and ushered him into his new home.
Hopefully we'll have success with these two, and some of you will provide some others with places to go.
Hedgehogs are in trouble due to loss of habitat, poisoning from slug pellets, getting run over etc. The South Essex Wildlife Hospital currently have around 200 needing rehoming. If your garden and surrounding area is suitable, they'll be only to grateful of your help to provide a release site - give Sue there a call! If you want to donate to this charity too, please do, they do an amazing job. If you can give them some of your time, even better!
This is the male, before we got him out of the box and ushered him into his new home.
Hopefully we'll have success with these two, and some of you will provide some others with places to go.
Monday, 9 July 2007
Canvas Print
Well, perhaps I'm behind the times, but I've just got my first canvas print made, by the very helpful people (Daniela and Chris) at 'Life as Art' at Barleylands, Billericay, and very nice it is too (if I say so myself). Very good service by the team there.
Once I'd collected it, I nipped next door and dropped it off at 'New Art Prints', a lovely little gallery run by Peter Patterson (see below), with a good mix of paintings in all media, and a few photos.
The canvas was duly hung, and is now available to the discerning buyer! Like all my prints, it's one of a Limited Edition of just 25.
For those interested in seeing this print, the gallery's address is:
New Art Prints
Unit 43
Barleylands Craft Village
Barleylands Road
Billericay
Essex
CM11 2UD
Look out for the sign for 'Terra Fusion' framers, with which New Art Prints art gallery shares a unit.
Sunday, 24 June 2007
Hoverflies
I ran my first 'Macro and Close-Up Nature Photography Workshop' yesterday at Thorndon Park in Brentwood, Essex. Everyone seemed to have a great time, learned at least something, and spent an afternoon grubbing about in the undergrowth, finding out just how many subjects there are for a macro lens!
One technique I touched upon, and one participant tried his hand at, was getting hoverflies in flight. It's tricky, very hit and miss (mainly miss), but good fun when you have a bit of time to spend on it.
My method is this. Switch your camera to manual focus, and prefocus the lens on a spot about 10 inches away. Use a flashgun that you can set to manual and using trial and error, get a correct exposure (I use ISO200, f/13, 1/125s). Now, holding the camera at arms length approach the hovering Hoverfly, estimate when it's in the frame and in focus, and shoot!
Good ones can look like this:
Most come out like these... :)
It's just a bit of fun...
One technique I touched upon, and one participant tried his hand at, was getting hoverflies in flight. It's tricky, very hit and miss (mainly miss), but good fun when you have a bit of time to spend on it.
My method is this. Switch your camera to manual focus, and prefocus the lens on a spot about 10 inches away. Use a flashgun that you can set to manual and using trial and error, get a correct exposure (I use ISO200, f/13, 1/125s). Now, holding the camera at arms length approach the hovering Hoverfly, estimate when it's in the frame and in focus, and shoot!
Good ones can look like this:
Most come out like these... :)
It's just a bit of fun...
Monday, 28 May 2007
Inspiration
I was giving some one-to-one tuition yesterday, with a young lady called Sally, whose passion is Gig photography. She showed me her portfolio, much of which was dark, moody black and whites, with tight cropping on the musicians faces.
We spoke about techniques and equipment, and I suggested that a 50mm, large aperture lens would be ideal for the images she was creating, as she loved the shallow depth of field, and that focal length would help her get in close for those tight crops.
I felt inspired by the work she had done - similar in a way to what I would do with flowers or insects - and as I was going out for a family meal that night, I thought I'd just take my 50mm f/1.7 lens...
Both images Pentax K10D with 50mm f/1.7 SMC-A lens, F/2 at 1/60s, ISO800. RAW file processed in Capture One LE, adjustments and 'toning' in Photoshop Elements 4.
And just to illustrate how a flower might look given the same treatment, here's a Marsh Marigold, shot with my *istD and Sigma 105mm Macro lens at f/2.8 and 1/250s at ISO200. Same processing as the above two.
We spoke about techniques and equipment, and I suggested that a 50mm, large aperture lens would be ideal for the images she was creating, as she loved the shallow depth of field, and that focal length would help her get in close for those tight crops.
I felt inspired by the work she had done - similar in a way to what I would do with flowers or insects - and as I was going out for a family meal that night, I thought I'd just take my 50mm f/1.7 lens...
Both images Pentax K10D with 50mm f/1.7 SMC-A lens, F/2 at 1/60s, ISO800. RAW file processed in Capture One LE, adjustments and 'toning' in Photoshop Elements 4.
And just to illustrate how a flower might look given the same treatment, here's a Marsh Marigold, shot with my *istD and Sigma 105mm Macro lens at f/2.8 and 1/250s at ISO200. Same processing as the above two.
Thursday, 24 May 2007
Workshops - Part 4
Due to popular demand, I've added one more 'Photography in the Park' Workshop at Thorndon on 13th October 2007 (but there's already a waiting list for that one, so you'll have to be very quick to get on it - ring the Centre today: 01277 232944).
Also, although I did have a PITP workshop at Fingringhoe Wick on 22nd September, I've decided to change this one to a Macro and Close-Up Nature Photography one, as the demand for these workshops has been phenomenal! Just one at Fingringhoe wasn't enough.
Once again, details for these Workshops are on my Workshops page!
As spaces are limited on these days, I have been asked on several occasions whether I do personal one-to-one tuition. I have now started to do this, so get in touch if this is of interest to you - my rates are very reasonable!
Also, although I did have a PITP workshop at Fingringhoe Wick on 22nd September, I've decided to change this one to a Macro and Close-Up Nature Photography one, as the demand for these workshops has been phenomenal! Just one at Fingringhoe wasn't enough.
Once again, details for these Workshops are on my Workshops page!
As spaces are limited on these days, I have been asked on several occasions whether I do personal one-to-one tuition. I have now started to do this, so get in touch if this is of interest to you - my rates are very reasonable!
Friday, 18 May 2007
Macro Workshops Part. 3
Just spoken to respective Visitor Centre Managers and currently all my Macro Workshops are fully booked. I'm looking into booking one or possibly two more - they've been unexpectedly popular.
I knew photographers wanted them, just didn't realise how much.
Keep an eye out for more news...
I knew photographers wanted them, just didn't realise how much.
Keep an eye out for more news...
Saturday, 12 May 2007
Macro Workshop (again!)
Popped in Thorndon this morning and was told that there are only 2 spaces left on the 11th August Macro workshop.
As I said before, book early (like, now - go on, leave them a message, 01277 232944) to avoid disappointment!
If you can't get onto that one, there may still be places on the Fingringhoe Workshop, Sunday 1st July. Have a look at my Workshops page for details.
I may be able to schedule one more at Thorndon, but it all depends on when I'm free, and when the Visitor Centre has the room available.
As I said before, book early (like, now - go on, leave them a message, 01277 232944) to avoid disappointment!
If you can't get onto that one, there may still be places on the Fingringhoe Workshop, Sunday 1st July. Have a look at my Workshops page for details.
I may be able to schedule one more at Thorndon, but it all depends on when I'm free, and when the Visitor Centre has the room available.
Friday, 11 May 2007
Spring Clean
This is the first of the magazine articles I'm posting here, this one submitted to 'Healthy Life...', but not suitable for their magazine as it seemed too much like an advert. I wrote it as a retrospective look at the work I'd done the previous year, and felt this sort of 'spring clean' could apply to all walks of life - assessing how you've done, and things you can hope to achieve in the year ahead.
Spring Clean
Late winter sees me looking back over the images of the previous year, as a sort of spring clean. Often, when you’ve shot thousands of images over a busy period, all you have a chance to do is edit them, organise them, and move on. This time of year gives me a chance to have a more leisurely sort through, taking my time to view and digest the pictures I have.
I’m also doing this now as I’m currently deciding which photos I’m going to enter into the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, and although I have a very good idea of the candidates - earmarked at the time; you always know when you’ve got something extra-special - having a thorough reassessment often throws up some surprises.
So here are five images that I’ve taken during 2006 that I’m especially pleased with, and why they tickle my fancy...
The first is one that I’ve wanted to get for quite a while, but opportunity and luck had failed to come my way. However, one sunny day in the summer, I got a phone call from my friend Colin to say that there were two Hummingbird Hawkmoths regularly nectaring on Buddleias at Weald Country Park in Brentwood. I nipped over there, and spent a couple of hours chasing these little moths around, sometimes they’d disappear for ten minutes or so, sometimes they’d be bobbing around right at the top of the bush, but occasionally they would come into range of my lens, and the result is shown here. I’ll try to improve on it this year...
Sticking to the insect theme, I’m really pleased with my shot of a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, sunning itself on a bush at Bedfords Park. I love the sun glinting off the wings, and giving the body that amber glow. The whole shot looks warm - it’s a because the sun’s in front of us, so the leaves and insect are backlit, almost luminous.
The third picture is of dew-laden grass in Scotland. I was staying with a friend in a village near Edinburgh, in October, and the cold mornings, with clear blue skies, meant the dew was heavy. On my knees in the garden, I soon saw that every blade of grass had a delicate bauble balanced on its tip. One of many compositions I tried, this being the most simple, often the secret behind a good image.
The last two photos were taken on the same day, at Trebah Gardens in Cornwall. These gardens are in a small valley that runs down to a private beach, and it was here, walking along the shoreline, that I saw a small pebble with a wonky grin. With its cartoon-ish face, I knew I had to take its picture, and it makes me smile every time I see it. I must get this printed up onto canvas - I think that will suit it down to the ground.
Further up the valley again, I passed a tree with peeling bark. I took a quick snap and moved on, so have no idea what sort of tree it was. The shot has lain dormant ever since, and it’s only now that I’ve seen it’s potential and taken a closer look. I’ve cropped it down to a square, increased the contrast, and produced a graphic, simple image. I like it a lot.
These are some of my favourite images from the past year, but I know they won’t appeal to everyone. Photography is subjective, just like any art form. I attach all sorts of other emotions to these pictures because I was there at the time. I can remember the sense of achievement at capturing the hovering moth or the play of light on the dragonfly. My few days in Scotland were a treat, and I associate the image of the grass with this trip and the good feelings it gave me. I was smiling when I took the shot of the pebble, so this too brings back happy memories. Perhaps that’s why I like these shots - because of the memories they stir.
Which leaves the image of the bark. I have less emotional attachment to the photograph, so can appreciate it more objectively I think. There’s mystery to it, there are no clues as to where or when the shot was taken, it invites you to consider the texture and the darkness. As I said, I like it.
Spring Clean
Late winter sees me looking back over the images of the previous year, as a sort of spring clean. Often, when you’ve shot thousands of images over a busy period, all you have a chance to do is edit them, organise them, and move on. This time of year gives me a chance to have a more leisurely sort through, taking my time to view and digest the pictures I have.
I’m also doing this now as I’m currently deciding which photos I’m going to enter into the BBC Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition, and although I have a very good idea of the candidates - earmarked at the time; you always know when you’ve got something extra-special - having a thorough reassessment often throws up some surprises.
So here are five images that I’ve taken during 2006 that I’m especially pleased with, and why they tickle my fancy...
The first is one that I’ve wanted to get for quite a while, but opportunity and luck had failed to come my way. However, one sunny day in the summer, I got a phone call from my friend Colin to say that there were two Hummingbird Hawkmoths regularly nectaring on Buddleias at Weald Country Park in Brentwood. I nipped over there, and spent a couple of hours chasing these little moths around, sometimes they’d disappear for ten minutes or so, sometimes they’d be bobbing around right at the top of the bush, but occasionally they would come into range of my lens, and the result is shown here. I’ll try to improve on it this year...Sticking to the insect theme, I’m really pleased with my shot of a Migrant Hawker Dragonfly, sunning itself on a bush at Bedfords Park. I love the sun glinting off the wings, and giving the body that amber glow. The whole shot looks warm - it’s a because the sun’s in front of us, so the leaves and insect are backlit, almost luminous.The third picture is of dew-laden grass in Scotland. I was staying with a friend in a village near Edinburgh, in October, and the cold mornings, with clear blue skies, meant the dew was heavy. On my knees in the garden, I soon saw that every blade of grass had a delicate bauble balanced on its tip. One of many compositions I tried, this being the most simple, often the secret behind a good image.The last two photos were taken on the same day, at Trebah Gardens in Cornwall. These gardens are in a small valley that runs down to a private beach, and it was here, walking along the shoreline, that I saw a small pebble with a wonky grin. With its cartoon-ish face, I knew I had to take its picture, and it makes me smile every time I see it. I must get this printed up onto canvas - I think that will suit it down to the ground.Further up the valley again, I passed a tree with peeling bark. I took a quick snap and moved on, so have no idea what sort of tree it was. The shot has lain dormant ever since, and it’s only now that I’ve seen it’s potential and taken a closer look. I’ve cropped it down to a square, increased the contrast, and produced a graphic, simple image. I like it a lot.These are some of my favourite images from the past year, but I know they won’t appeal to everyone. Photography is subjective, just like any art form. I attach all sorts of other emotions to these pictures because I was there at the time. I can remember the sense of achievement at capturing the hovering moth or the play of light on the dragonfly. My few days in Scotland were a treat, and I associate the image of the grass with this trip and the good feelings it gave me. I was smiling when I took the shot of the pebble, so this too brings back happy memories. Perhaps that’s why I like these shots - because of the memories they stir.
Which leaves the image of the bark. I have less emotional attachment to the photograph, so can appreciate it more objectively I think. There’s mystery to it, there are no clues as to where or when the shot was taken, it invites you to consider the texture and the darkness. As I said, I like it.
Wednesday, 9 May 2007
Macro Workshops
The 'Close-up and Macro Nature Photography' Workshop has apparently been just what Essex photographers were waiting for, and the Thorndon date has been fully booked already.
Luckily, we've been able to secure an extra date at Thorndon, the 11th August, so that we can run a further workshop.
Book early to avoid disappointment!
See the details of all my Workshops here.
Wednesday, 4 April 2007
Magazine Articles
I write a regular feature in 'Healthy Life - Mind, Body and Soul' Magazine, which aims to promote certain lifestyle choices as being beneficial to your wellbeing. Although I don't necessarily pop down the Reiki Practitioners every month, I can advocate getting outdoors and enjoying nature at it's best, whether you have a camera with you or not.
I've decided to post these articles here over the coming weeks, as well as other writing that hasn't been previously published. They should give you an insight into why and how I take my photographs, and perhaps inspire you to take a closer look at the world around you.
Enjoy!
I've decided to post these articles here over the coming weeks, as well as other writing that hasn't been previously published. They should give you an insight into why and how I take my photographs, and perhaps inspire you to take a closer look at the world around you.
Enjoy!
Saturday, 31 March 2007
Blue Tits in the Garden
It looks as thought the Blue Tits are nesting again this year - I was watching them earlier, arriving at the box with feathers, moss and grass. We missed them last year, but the year before I'd got some nice shots of them going to and fro with caterpillars for their young.That was the first year I'd got my digital SLR (a Pentax *istD), and I wasn't as used to using it then as I am now. This year will hopefully mean better images, with a different fence too!
That year's photos were interesting because some of the caterpillars were identifiable, so we could tell what butterflies we had in the area. One of the shots (not the one here) showed a Purple Hairstreak caterpillar (thanks to Colin Jupp for the I.D.), a butterfly I wasn't familiar with until last summer - they tend to stay around the top of Oak Trees, most noticable in late afternoon/early evening. Got some pics of them, but they were a long way off.
It would also be good to get some of the fledglings after they've left the box, although they always seem to disperse quite rapidly, after leaving the nest first thing in the morning.Fingers crossed they might loiter a bit this year.
Wednesday, 28 March 2007
Wildlife Photographer of the Year
I've just finished uploading my entries to the Shell Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition - the first time I've entered it. Very easy to do this year, just choose your pics (that's the hardest bit), caption them, upload them to the website and you're done.
I entered 14 images, in various categories, and was surprised how many (8) I took using my macro lens - even ones that weren't of a macro nature. Seems I really like the Sigma 105mm. If I'd had it at the time, two more of the shots would have been taken with it too, but instead I used my Pentax 50mm lens with extension tubes.
So now I waited with baited breath...
I entered 14 images, in various categories, and was surprised how many (8) I took using my macro lens - even ones that weren't of a macro nature. Seems I really like the Sigma 105mm. If I'd had it at the time, two more of the shots would have been taken with it too, but instead I used my Pentax 50mm lens with extension tubes.
So now I waited with baited breath...
Tuesday, 13 March 2007
Photo Workshops
I run photo workshops throughout the year, currently I have them running at Thorndon Park Visitor Centre and Fingringhoe Wick Visitor Centre from April to September. This year, in addition to the general 'Photography in the Park' ones I've been doing for the last 4 years, I've planned 'Close-up and Macro Nature Photography' workshops at both sites.
For details of these workshops, see my 'Workshops' page!
For details of these workshops, see my 'Workshops' page!
Saturday, 10 March 2007
Dereliction, Moss and More Moss
Spent an interesting couple of hours in the Walled Garden at Bedfords Park, taking shots of moss, the rundown state of the various buildings, greenhouses and general ambience.The picture on the right is the 'kitchen' - not the most inviting place to cook a meal, but it gives you an idea of the state the garden has been allowed to get in.
Everywhere you look, there's moss. A lot of moss, of many types. Some that prefer growing on tarmac, some on concrete, some on walls (including one that's normally found on damp trees, but here is in the old pineapple bed).But there's also broken glass everywhere, and this is one 'feature' that needs to be removed as soon as possible. Kneeling down to get shots of lichen was a careful affair, inspecting the ground closely to make sure I wasn't about to spike my knee on a bramble, let alone a shard of glass.
Tim the moss and lichen expert seemed to enjoy himself, bustling around the site, listing the different species he found, a few of which were of particular note, either because of the place they were growing, or their abundance, or the rarity of them.
As far as I'm concerned, many of them look quite spectacular, but I couldn't tell one from another.I'm simply drawn to the shapes and colour, the patterns formed by the leaves, the drooping fruiting bodies. I must return and investigate some more...
Thursday, 8 March 2007
Moss, Lichen and Dereliction
Saturday morning will see me at Bedfords Park, near Romford, where Lois Amos and the Friends of Bedfords Park group have finally been given permission to renovate the Georgian Walled Garden. This is the only major remnant of the old house that used to look out over the Thames basin, and it has been derelict for some years, after the London Borough of Havering, who own the Park, stopped using the garden as a nursery for the borough.Lois has been and is passionate about the need to renovate and get this feature back to it's former glory. Now that permission from the council has been given, the Friends group can crack on with clearing debris, restoring the greenhouses and cold frames, reinstating beds, etc, but first there is to be a plant survey, to see what's growing there at the moment.
Ten years of nature taking it's course can easily lead to all manner of things sprouting up, and with 12 foot walls, a sheltered climate can produce so rarities and oddities. So along with the usual flowers and grasses, there'll be an expert looking at the variety of mosses and lichens. Not me, but I'll be there to capture this first step in a long journey, which will hopefully only be part way through when the garden is up and running again.
I love shooting mosses - for a start, they don't run away! But better than that, they have all manner of peculiarities to inspect at close range. And with the right lighting, they can look spectacular...I'll let you know how we get on, and what we find in amongst the broken glass and twisted metal.
Wednesday, 7 March 2007
Artist's Website - Paul Young
I decided to start this blog after I'd designed the website for a local artist called Paul Young. The website can be seen here: www.MoreThanArt.co.uk.
Paul had wanted to be able to update his site regularly and often, as he paints murals and signage boards and has pictures and information that he wants to show the World as quickly as possible. Looking at the options available, I decided a blog, integrated into his site (just like this one), would be the easiest solution all round.
Paul's blog is here: www.MoreThanArt.co.uk/blog
Drop in and see him, leave a comment or two, and perhaps commission him to paint something amazing on your walls!
Paul had wanted to be able to update his site regularly and often, as he paints murals and signage boards and has pictures and information that he wants to show the World as quickly as possible. Looking at the options available, I decided a blog, integrated into his site (just like this one), would be the easiest solution all round.
Paul's blog is here: www.MoreThanArt.co.uk/blog
Drop in and see him, leave a comment or two, and perhaps commission him to paint something amazing on your walls!
Texture and Form
So this is a photo I took at my local park (Hutton Country Park) a few weeks ago. It had been a foggy morning, and the moisture clung to tiny scraps of cobweb like crystals on wire.
These Greater Burdock (thank you Lois!) were by a stream that runs through the park, and I used my Pentax 50-200 at minimum focus distance, with a little fill flash.
The RAW file was converted in Capture One LE, and then desaturation, toning and contrast control were applied in Photoshop.
I really like the golden tone, it suits the subject as it's similar to it's natural colour, but it really helps to bring out the texture and form. I can't wait to print it up as a 10" x 10" - framed in a warm, dark wood, it will look gorgeous.
Here's one of my favourites from that morning, showing the dew clinging to a hornbeam twig. I actually think this isn't on a cobweb, but either some hair or fibres stuck to the twig, but I could be wrong.
This was taken with my Sigma 105mm macro lens, a favourite of mine, again with flash, as it was a bit murky amongst the trees, and a light breeze was plenty to move the subject around.