I've been lacking motivation on the photography front for a while now so I decided to set myself a fun challenge for 2011. It will probably not be achievable in just one year but I'm going to do my best.
Challenge: To obtain a photograph of each of Scotland's wild animals in their natural habitat.
http://wildlife.visitscotland.com/species/
Anyone who wishes to join me on any of my trips is more than welcome and any handy tips will be greatly appreciated.
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
Floating and Tiny Me!
On holiday in Gairlochy, near Fort William, the weather was unbelievably bad with winds up to 131mph, destroying really old trees in the area. It was really fortunate that my brother and I went for a walk near this tree a couple of days before it was blown down.
Being trapped in the cabin was far from boring. I was so relaxed on this holiday that I decided to take some experimental shots and work with photoshop elements to prepare myself for some ideas I've previously had for images.
I didn't have my mouse with me so the touchpad had to suffice. The final results are therefore not great. However, now that I know roughly what I'm doing I'm going to plan how to make my original ideas work.
Please excuse my rubbish pose and facial expression but I had to run up onto my chair and throw a 'floating' pose that wouldn't look like I just jumped in the air in the space of the 10seconds that my timer allowed me.
Being trapped in the cabin was far from boring. I was so relaxed on this holiday that I decided to take some experimental shots and work with photoshop elements to prepare myself for some ideas I've previously had for images.
I didn't have my mouse with me so the touchpad had to suffice. The final results are therefore not great. However, now that I know roughly what I'm doing I'm going to plan how to make my original ideas work.
Please excuse my rubbish pose and facial expression but I had to run up onto my chair and throw a 'floating' pose that wouldn't look like I just jumped in the air in the space of the 10seconds that my timer allowed me.
Wednesday, 1 December 2010
A loss in The Shire
I decided to take a walk in the field behind my parents house today, during the 'golden hour' before sunset. I got it totally wrong and the winter sun was behind the houses rather than behind my favourite two trees, where it sets in the summer.
As I had planned to take some photographs I was a little disappointed by my light failure but it was nothing compared to when I discovered the loss of one of the trees!
Near the top of the furthest-away path from the field, leading up to the Renfrewshire cycle route, is where my two trees lived. Both so close together, spread out in perfect symmetry and forming the illusion of a single tree. The trees confuse the brain in the Spring and Autumn months when the foliage and flowers/seeds on both sides form different patterns and colours - the time when I had always planned to photograph them but never got around to it.
The left tree - the prettier of the two - blooming tiny, white flowers in Spring, is no longer there and the remaining stump gives the impression that it has fallen due to decay.
I am utterly disappointed!
{The Remaining Tree: photo update 02/12/10}
As I had planned to take some photographs I was a little disappointed by my light failure but it was nothing compared to when I discovered the loss of one of the trees!
Near the top of the furthest-away path from the field, leading up to the Renfrewshire cycle route, is where my two trees lived. Both so close together, spread out in perfect symmetry and forming the illusion of a single tree. The trees confuse the brain in the Spring and Autumn months when the foliage and flowers/seeds on both sides form different patterns and colours - the time when I had always planned to photograph them but never got around to it.
The left tree - the prettier of the two - blooming tiny, white flowers in Spring, is no longer there and the remaining stump gives the impression that it has fallen due to decay.
I am utterly disappointed!
{The Remaining Tree: photo update 02/12/10}
Wednesday, 24 November 2010
Starling Flocks
I would love to be able to photograph a Starling Flock. They are spectacular scenes of an unpredictable nature that seem so elegant and impossibly incident free.
They usually occur in Autumn, when the birds are flocking together for winter, each night before the birds settle down to roost.
Here are some images of these birds that I like.
Photograph: Fayez Nureldine
Painting: Laurent Grasso
Photograph: Massimo Cristaldi
And my favourite....
Photograph: Danny Green
They usually occur in Autumn, when the birds are flocking together for winter, each night before the birds settle down to roost.
Here are some images of these birds that I like.
Photograph: Fayez Nureldine
Painting: Laurent Grasso
Photograph: Massimo Cristaldi
And my favourite....
Photograph: Danny Green
Sunday, 17 October 2010
Spider webs and TLRs
I went to the Glasgow Botanic Gardens today and it was oddly colder inside than out. In the carnivorous plants section you could see your breath and I'm pretty sure that's not right. I seem to remember being really hot the last time I seen these plants. The plants were all looking a bit poorly.
I've been in the Botanics a few times but there are always new things to photograph. This time I was rewarded with an amazing sight - a spider building its web! It was at least 1meter in diameter and I nearly walked right into it.
The spider worked fast, moving around it's web foundations quickly and precise as it weaved the tighter threads.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my macro lense with me so I had to use my telephoto (zoom) which is quite slow and it was already quite dark inside. I have managed to put together a few shots to give an impression of the web-building that I was witness to.
And as if the spider web wasn't enough excitement for me today, I bought an old TLR from an antique shop on Byre's Road. I'm not sure if it works but everything seems to be fine. I just need to buy a 120 film and try it out. Fingers crossed.
I've been in the Botanics a few times but there are always new things to photograph. This time I was rewarded with an amazing sight - a spider building its web! It was at least 1meter in diameter and I nearly walked right into it.
The spider worked fast, moving around it's web foundations quickly and precise as it weaved the tighter threads.
Unfortunately, I didn't have my macro lense with me so I had to use my telephoto (zoom) which is quite slow and it was already quite dark inside. I have managed to put together a few shots to give an impression of the web-building that I was witness to.
And as if the spider web wasn't enough excitement for me today, I bought an old TLR from an antique shop on Byre's Road. I'm not sure if it works but everything seems to be fine. I just need to buy a 120 film and try it out. Fingers crossed.
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