Monday, 21 February 2011
Sunday, 20 February 2011
Confused Dunnock 20.02.11
One confused bird this one, continually jumping up on this car mirror then back down to peck at the mirror and back again and again and again, and so this went on for several minutes until it took flight, only to come back and repeat the exercise. I’m sure if I go out now its still at it. Looking at similar reports, whilst amusing, it appears that the bird thinks its reflection is an intruder so pecks at the mirror , especially at this time of year when they are thinking of pairing up with a mate and getting territorial. It has been known for glass to be broken during this exercise and really isn’t good for the bird as it gets quite agitated. Solution, cover your mirror with a bag to remove the reflection or hope it finds a mate soon.
Severn Bore Low Light Composition In Full Colour 19.02.11
Power lines we love to hate but once again they aren’t going away so make them work for you in the composition. Make sure they are up right though which seems to be a challenge for some. Don’t forget, those big round ceramic balls the cables hang from, they are always vertical, well, subject to weather conditions with side winds, or cable tension but dictated by gravity and weight of the cables so should be easy to line up with the edge of your picture through the view finder.
In post editing vertical and horizontal can be corrected if missed whilst taking your shot in a hurry. Most cameras have a grid function so It’s a good idea to have in use if your unsure.
Lens distortion can also put things out of vertical or horizontal but i will reserve that talk for another time
In post editing vertical and horizontal can be corrected if missed whilst taking your shot in a hurry. Most cameras have a grid function so It’s a good idea to have in use if your unsure.
Lens distortion can also put things out of vertical or horizontal but i will reserve that talk for another time
On Planet Earth water is perfectly level wherever you are. Spirit / water levels were used in the construction of the great Pyramids of course. When water is active it has a mind of its own but can follow predictable paths as the Severn Bore continues to demonstrate, so watch out for those big splashes.
Reflections are just great for drama in a picture, they give form and depth so keep an eye on those as much as the main subject you are focusing on. It can be tricky as it requires almost 2 sets of eyes in your head but by keeping it in mind you will gradually learn to see more.
A hand held camera allows freedom of movement when a subject is not static, so do some dummy run shots just before you are going to take your proper shots, just to get used to positions you want to focus on but also to see what camera settings you need to consider. It’s a good idea to check where you stand as well if moving positions to save falling over in mid shot when panning or changing position. As a rule I only use a tripod on static subjects that are in awkward positions or as a steady some times. I will talk about this later.
Friday, 18 February 2011
Tuesday, 15 February 2011
Monday, 14 February 2011
Valentines Day Came Early At South Cerney 12.02.11
Fishing Resumes At Wick Water Lake 2 12.02.11
Fishing Resumes at South Cerney Angling Club lake 2 at Wick Water. After losing many fish during the big Freeze in December & January when the lake froze over , fishing has resumed with some catches already reported . A recovery looks to be underway now but time will tell.
Sunday, 13 February 2011
Exchange 11.02.11
Exchange 11.02.11
I was just walking by the kitchen window when i saw one of our little blue Tits being seen off by a female Black Cap. Over the years we seem to have only one pair of Black Caps visit the garden, just recently they have taken to the feeders. I managed to grab the camera and through the double glazing get a couple of shots from a distance, so please excuse the quality but thought it was worth showing for the record.
Thursday, 10 February 2011
Wednesday, 9 February 2011
Tuesday, 8 February 2011
Monday, 7 February 2011
Saturday, 5 February 2011
Blue Tit InThe Tree 03.02.11
Blue Tit In The Tree 03.02.11
Often away from the group, this little blue tit keeps an eye on me sheltering inside the tree. In the darkness the bird is just hesitating before taking food from the near by feeder.
Wednesday, 2 February 2011
Monday, 31 January 2011
Shock Remains 30.01.11
Well, It did make me think when I saw this ahead of me. I quickly regained my thoughts as we of course don’t have a back bone like this, phew. I would say on closer inspection it looks like it could be the remains of a deer but will check to make sure before I commit my self. I came across this washed up on the banks of the River Severn nr Arlingham Towers today.
Sunday, 30 January 2011
RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch 30.01.11
As part of the RSPB Big Garden Bird Watch to establish our UK bird population , we thought we would follow the program today and are pleased to report some birds did make an appearance on a freezing cold day. All the feeders were topped up. I carried on in my hide taking photographs of Sparrows and a Dunnock, whilst my wife filled out the chart with some additions to the birds listed. We will be registering our list on the RSPB site in due course.
This is what we saw between 11.25am – 12.25pm in our garden.
1 x Black Birds male
1 x Black Bird female
3 x Blue Tits
1 x Chaffinch male
1 x Chaffinch female
2 x Dunnock
6 x House Sparrow
4 x Jackdaw
1 x Magpie
1 x Robin
1 x Song Thrush
1 x Wood Pigeon
1 x Black Cap male
1 x Black Cap female
1 x Bullfinch male
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