Winter Solstist at Hardwick

 The Winter Solstice at Hardwick Wood was celebrated today with a huge bonfire to clear up all the bramble, hawthorn and other spiky debris that would impede new growth in the coppiced areas. Unfortunately, I had a lunchtime commitment so I had to miss the jacket potatoes, chestnuts etc

Miniature Life in a Log Pile

It has taken a couple of days to process these images taken in one of the log piles in my garden - focus-stacked images with 60mm lens plus 26mm extension rings and natural light. The possible IDs are Trichia varia for the first and Hemitrichia spp for second - I need to photograph older stages to be sure according to expert advice. I like the orange peel surface on the first. The next six are various slime moulds (I think) and then a couple of fungi species (Henningsomyces candidus and ?), , finishing with an incredible spider sac with mesh bag - not yet identified to species but so intricate and colourful. 

 

Final Venue for Cambridge Night Photography

After our visit to the Fair, we walked via St Andrews Street, Sidney Street and Bridge Street to Magdalene Bridge  and back via Trinity Street etc taking long-exposure/live-composite images. Petty Cury was empty except for one person in a wheel chair and a lot of rubbish bags. Yaseen Uasyf asked for some photos of himself on the bridge.

Polar Fair in Cambridge

Our second venue for night photography in Cambridge on Sunday was the Polar Fair - very busy generally but found a few quieter spots to record the kaleidoscope of colours and shapes. Last couple moving the camera during Live Composite mode (ie camera is taking 1sec exposure continuously - I don't think it records how many shots)

Cambridge Christmas Build-Up

Some images from Cambridge Camera Club trip on Sunday and what more appropriate for Christmas in Cambridge than a punt full of Choir members singing carols! We spent the first hour around the Market and King's Parade as the light faded and gradually the sky brightness matches the light below (so called Blue hour). At this time, there is less dynamic range so easier to capture images with even lighting and less harsh shadows, which makes it especially flattering for portraits etc. I was also playing with the Live Composite mode on my Olympus camera which continuously adds anything lighter to the image - usually used on a tripod (very good for water reflections and light trails) but can also be used 'on the move'. Last image not quite what I wanted - need the phone on a tripod as well as the camera but like the way the lighter areas bleed into the phone image.

Wetland Birds Count

Paxton Pits along with other wetland reserves carry out a monthly count of the birds on the Pits  (WeBS). Beautiful morning for our December count though difficult for ID etc against the light. The most prominent birds for our route round Rudd, Cloudy and Weedy Lakes were the 40 or so Canada Geese plus this one Canada GooseXGreylag hybrid. Looking it up they appear quite common and very consistent in marking with just the head, neck length and beak revealing the Greylag parentage. All the usual Ducks plus a solitary Grey heron. Couldn't resist photographing the Long-tailed Tit at the end of the walk.