Blue boat...

Although not exactly first light, today's photography was taken during early morning at Sandbanks, Poole Harbour, Dorset. Arriving just as the sun began to burn off the dawn mist, I'm drawn by the reflection and emerging blue sky - effectively cutting the scene in half - and highlighting the boat at low tide.


24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/11.  -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 200

© 2011

Under mother's wing...

Getting successful wildlife images often requires the photographer to have (at the very least) a basic understanding of the behaviour of the animal in question, as well as anticipating the moment a good image will present itself.

This particularly applied to today's photograph of a Greylag gosling under its mother's wing. Possibly one of the same family I photographed last week - there are several in the same area -  a parent bird sat by the waterside with its wings partially extended, offering its young a protective wing.
Several took up the option, and it was just a matter of time before one would poke its head through the plumage as it became more crowded below. All I had to do was to wait for the right moment to shoot.

The photograph also benefits from being made with the subject in open shade, which helps to saturate colours and allow more detail to be shown. Direct sunlight would have drastically lessened the quality of the picture.



300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/400 second at f/8.  -0.67 EV compensation. ISO 640

© 2011

One of nine...

Today's photograph is of a Greylag gosling (Anser anser) - the ancestor of most domestic geese -  and is the largest wild goose native to the UK.  Although common in lowland areas all year round, they can sometimes be seen in suburban parks such as this one at Poole, Dorset. This particular gosling has 8 siblings

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor lens with TC-14EII converter. 1/1000 second at f/5.6. - 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400

© 2011

Spring at its best...

Two years ago, I stumbled upon Brenscombe wood, Isle of Purbeck, Dorset, when it was at its finest: light green foliage, and carpeted with bluebells. Last year I returned to the same spot for more images, but was a week or so too early for the full display. I made the mental note to return during the following weeks, but for some reason or other, I never made it.

This year I had the timing; the weather; the full display...only to find the area has now been fenced-off from the public! The well-worn footpath that still crosses the wood is now out of bounds, and a barbed wire fence makes sure of it.

Not to be deterred (I had, after all, cycled thirteen miles to get there) I soon found that suitable angles were still available for some photography. In fact, those responsible for erecting the wire fence provided some convenient supports (fence posts) to steady the camera - an absolute boon in the low light levels - as shutter speeds were slow and apertures were small.


24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/30 second at f/11. - 0.33 V compensation. ISO 500

© 2011

Rather them than me...

I've not take a single photograph that I've been pleased with for a fortnight. It's not for the want of trying, it's just that nothing has inspired me. The creative person goes through these droughts from time to time, and I usually just ride them out...something will always come along (eventually).

I started the day with my first trip this year to Purbeck, Dorset, with the intention of photographing the bluebells in Brenscombe wood, but a rear tyre puncture put the dampers on the shoot before I got there.
Yes, I do carry spare inner tubes, patches, tyre levers and all that is necessary to effect a repair, but when the bike pump fails it can render it all useless, as it did today. Fortunately, a passing cyclist lent me her pump to inflate the patched-up leak, but after this setback I decided on damage limitation, and return home (and to buy a replacement pump). The bluebells will have to wait.

It's not until shortly after sunset that I come across a reverse (or catapult) bungee jump attraction in the lower pleasure gardens, near Bournemouth pier. The passenger cage is suspended with elastic ropes between two telescopic towers, and is held down by an electro-magnet. Once released, the sphere (containing two passengers) rises vertically with a g-force between 3-5, and can reach heights of between 50 to 80 metres (165-262 feet).

Not for the feint-hearted.

70-200mm f/2.8D Apo Sigma lens. 1/400 second at f/4. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 1000

© 2011

The Lady Wimborne Bridge...

More good weather, plus the spirit of adventure, and I find myself riding the Castleman Trailway in Dorset.  This 16½ mile route follows the old Southampton to Dorchester railway (closed by Dr. Beeching in 1964) and is named after Charles Castleman, a Wimborne solicitor who is largely responsible for the railway. The first trains ran on 1st June 1847.

The most impressive feature along the route - so far as I saw on today's 50 mile ride - is the Lady Wimborne Bridge (photo) that spans the Canford House main drive. One of the most ornately carved bridges in the country, this Grade II listed building was opened on 14th February 1876, and the last train across it before the line closed, was on 3rd May 1976 - almost a hundred years to the day of its building.


24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/320 second at f/11. - 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 320

© 2011

Too hot to handle...

With temperatures expected to reach 18˚C, I opt to spend the day at the Stour Valley Nature Reserve, Dorset, with a super-telephoto lens, photographing nature. There have been numerous reports of otter activity along the river banks, and I continually keep a watchful eye for such an appearance, but it's a Grey Heron that give me the best shot of the week.

This resident adult bird was moving from rock to rock in mid-river, searching for its next meal. I watched for around half an hour while it made several attempts at a catch, when it suddenly bit off more that it could chew and pulled a perch from the water (photograph). Although it had a secure grip (and very possibly punctured the fish with its bill), it soon became obvious that it was too large and heavy to handle, let alone swallow, and allowed the fortunate fish to fall back into the river.


300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/2000 second at f/6.3. - 1 stop EV compensation. Monopod. ISO 400

© 2011

Rear derailleurs and fertility rites...

Whoever promotes cycling as a cheap mode of transport has got it all wrong. Since buying a mountain bike almost two years ago, it has cost over half as much again of the initial cost with upgrades and parts replacement. Only yesterday the rear derailleur failed on a ride, leaving me with only one gear to limp home on.

Today, I fit a replacement and set off to the local river for a test ride and some spring shooting. Glorious spring weather continues and the trees are beginning to acquire pale green foliage. The hawthorne  (Crataegus oxyacantha) is in flower (photograph).

At one time thought to have magical properties, hawthorne flowers were once used to decorate May poles, the centrepiece of ritualistic fertility dances.


24-70mm f/2.8 AF-S Nikkor. 1/640 second at f/11. - 0.67 EV compensation. ISO200

© 2011

Watery mural...

Today's photograph is part of a mural, painted on the external sides of a water pumping station, in the Borough of Poole, Dorset. Painted by local students in 1998, it had the full support of Wessex Water (who's building it is), and received a special commendation in the prestigious Dulux Dimensions of Colour competition for that year.


24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/1600 second at f/5.6. ISO 200

© 2011

Personal best...

Everywhere I go today, there are people engaged in preparation for the coming summer months. Whether it be the installation of the RNLI lifeguard lookout posts, situated along the length of Poole Bay, or some much needed maintenance to watercraft in Poole harbour, Dorset (photo).

It was a busy day, shooting wise, and I cycle just over 49 miles to achieve it: a personal best for a day's riding. By some standards that may well be considered just "warming-up", but to someone who's idea of exercise used to be a game of chess, with the window open, something of a triumph.


300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/2500 second at f/5.6. - 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 320

© 2011

Shameless pet photo...

I'm making no bones about it - it's a pet photo. Once in a while I manage to get a better-than-average shot of my cat, and today is such a day. The rim lighting, plus the pastel tones of the background make for a decent animal portrait.

A touch of fill-in flash completes the effect.


24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/250 second at f/4. - 0.33 EV compensation, with - 0.7 stop fill-in flash. ISO 200

© 2011

Diving for ragworm...

Today, I spend an hour or so at Sandbanks, beside Poole harbour, Dorset, photographing gulls feeding. As the tide ebbs, these sea birds start feeding on ragworm as soon as the water is shallow enough to make successful dives.

This Black-headed gull has just surfaced from such a dive, with a catch in its bill. At this time of year the adult bird is starting to get its summer plumage, but contrary to its eponymous title, the head feathers are a chocolate brown, not black.

300mm f/4 AF-S Nikkor. 1/1600 second at f/7.1.  - 0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400

© 2011

Vernal equinox...

Spring, like autumn, is a transitional period as nature wakes up from winter, and for me one of the great photographic opportunities of the year. As the daylight hours increase insect life is more prevalent, fruit trees are in blossom and the appearance of wild spring flowers bring some much needed colour. As pale green leaves begin to appear on the trees during the next few weeks it will be time to photograph sunlit woodlands, carpeted with bluebells and wild garlic.

But its Poole harbour that is today's attraction for me. The weekend's "supermoon" has produced some exceptionally low tides, while the clear skies help things along. Ideally, I wanted to shoot scenes of colourful boats left high and dry in the late afternoon sunshine, but they were rather sparse for good compositions as many are still out of the water for the winter. Instead, I elect to photograph a solitary boat, making use of what reflections were available, as the sun sets over Brownsea Island.

Next weekend British Summer Time (BST) begins! 

24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/200 second at f/11. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 400

© 2011  

Super moon rising...

It's the closest it has been for 19 years, and although some foretell all sorts of strange events, the moon will create nothing more than unusually high or low tides.

Photographed at 19.39 this evening, our only satellite is seen here rising over the Isle of Wight, with the 751ft (229 metre) Chillerton TV transmitter to the right. It is difficult to get a crisp image as the moon's disc when it is this low in the sky as it is usually distorted by atmospheric turbulence, but the colour is accurate.

This "lunar perigee" sees The Moon a mere 221,567 miles (356,577 km) from the Earth, or 90% as close as it ever gets.

300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/80 second at f/5. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 640.

© 2011

Underneath the arches...

Graffiti: It has been around since ancient times - there are examples dating back to Ancient Greece and Rome - and is more or less ubiquitous these days. This form of expression is somewhat controversial, but I find some graffiti rather appealing. In fact, I'm going to devote some time and energy photographing the more amusing illustrations as an ongoing project.

This particular example is a stencil graffiti, a technique originating in the early 1980s, and was painted on the rear wall of the arched beach shelter at Alum Chine, Poole Bay, Dorset. This method is popular, as it greatly reduces the chances of the artist being caught.


24-70mm f/2.8G AF-S Nikkor. 1/1250 second at f/6.3. -0.33 EV compensation. ISO 200

© 2011

Earlier than last year...

While parts of Scotland were digging their cars out of the snow this morning, the southern part, at least, of the UK was enjoying a spring day, with temperatures peaking at 12˚C.

As mentioned in a recent post, spring is estimated to travel from south to north at 8mph (13kmh), so it will be another week or so before northern regions can look forward to the daffodil and tree blossom displays, prevalent in the south.

Today's image is shot in the same place as my daffodil post last March  - but ten days earlier. Here, all the flowers have bloomed, whilst there were numerous heads still to open in last year's photograph.


24-70mm f/2.8G Nikkor. 1/320 second at f/8. +0.67 EV compensation. ISO 400. Polariser.

© 2011

Not now, I've got a headache...

The nesting season for a good many bird species has got underway: in this instance for the local Mallards at Throop, Dorset. Although these ducks form pairs during the autumn, this partnership effectively dissolves once the female lays eggs. However, males will still forcibly mate with unattached or isolated females (and even with those of a different species).

Unfortunately for this particular drake, the recalcitrant female is having none of it, and makes repeated evasive manoeuvres in a bid to resist his advances. I shoot several high-speed bursts at the peak of the action to capture today's image.


300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/800 second at f/10.  -1 stop EV compensation. ISO 400

© 2011

The plough and harrow...

The high pressure weather system that currently sits over most of the UK is a bonus to farmers and photographers alike - both taking advantage of the clear conditions and better light to work in.

Currently exploring potential locations for Spring photography, I'm peddling the local country lanes in search of something different. The past few weeks have proven fruitful in this respect, and have been duly noted, but today's image happened by chance.

It is late afternoon when I come across a field being ploughed in preparation for seeding at Holdenhurst, Dorset. There is, predictably, an attendant cloud of gulls in its wake, ready to take advantage of anything edible turned over by the plough. The tractor is also towing a harrow alongside the plough, breaking up any clods of earth left behind by the ploughing operation, giving the soil a finer finish.
Neat.


105mm f/2.8D Sigma macro lens. 1/2000 second at f/5.6.  -1 stop EV compensation. ISO 400

© 2011

The duck season continues...

The Ferruginous Duck (Aythya nyroca), above, is a scarce visitor to the UK, with as few as 30 recordings a year. I photographed this specimen on a pond at Throop, Dorset, during late afternoon. Sometimes confused with the female Tufted Duck, it is easily differentiated by its white, beady eye and white stern.


300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/800 second at f/8. - 1 stop EV compensation. ISO 400

© 2011

Under blue skies...

Never photograph birds under anything but a blue sky - a piece of advice I was given a long time ago - is something I always try to adhere to. But although not alway possible or desirable - at dawn or sunset, for example - more often than not it increases the chance of producing images that are pleasing to the eye. This is especially the case here where water is involved. The ripples, created by the Tufted Duck, are highlighted by a clear sky and contrast nicely with the red reflections of surrounding trees and reeds.

Although bright-overcast conditions produce more saturated colours in photography, the water would not have taken on the vivid colours it has here, thus reducing the impact of the photograph.


300mm f/2.8 AF-S VR Nikkor with TC-14EII converter. 1/1000 second at f/8.  -1stop EV compensation. ISO 400. Monopod

© 2011