Cambs Photography Event - Portraits

I was a bit outside my normal photography space but enjoyed the challenge of yesterday's event. Lots of models and scenarios to explore on a rather wet and dull day. Used various camera techniques including modes on the Fuji start the creative process. A few close-up portraits first before we meet a few weird characters in the woods

 

Two New Species in Toft, Cambridgeshire - Global Warming Effects?

 The hornet (Vespa crabro) is a big cousin of the wasp, and has become more common in the UK possibly due to global warming.  This is my first photograph taken Toft though have sighted it before. Definitely a new invader that is spreading north very quickly is the Ivy Bee (Colletes hederae).This bee was first recorded in the UK in 2001, it has now been found in much of southern England and Wales and in the Channel Islands.   

There is a mapping project for this - http://www.bwars.com/content/colletes-hederae-mapping-project. 

Fish-Eye Fun at Duxford

A few symmetrical shots from Duxford in the morning on Saturday before the crowds arrived. The first one has had a bit of Photoshop help but others as taken in American and Air Space Hangars. Plenty of scope for a return visit.

Duxford 1940's Air Show

I took advantage of a compliementary ticket to the Battle of Britain airshow yesterday and spent some time photographing the various groups that enjoy reliving the period including the First World War Flying Corps and the Home Guard from the 1940s. The show commenced with a display of Hhurricanes

Dragons, Robbers and Spiders etc at Pensthorpe, Norfolk

There was still a variety of 'bug' life in the meadows at Pensthorpe though dominated by spiders, many of them 'courting' over a tasty meal. Migrant Hawkers and Common Blue Damselflies were still on the wing and several Kite-Tailed Robber Flies seen. (Note to myself - turn down the flash setting!)

 

Evening Light at Sheringham, Norfolk

I had an hour till my lecture in Holt last night so took a walk on the promenade up to the Lifeboat Centre. Light was constantly changing and hence the colours of the sea. Like the detail in the first image (a panorama of three shots). The small jetty at an angle makes the whole image appear to tilt but have checked the horizon many times.  

Wicken Fen, Cambridgeshire

We did the circular walk from the Visitor Centre over to Burwell Fen and back. This Egret was busy catching dragonflies (mating pairs of Migrant Hawkers) but wasn't successful in finding a stategy to actually swallow them before they escaped. Other Hawkers in the area appeared to mob the Egret and perhaps distracted it. Rest of photos for the yearly comparison records.