Depth of Field in Depth of the Woods

It is always difficult to decide how much to have in focus in an image - obviously it depends on the reason for taking the shot. The first four were taken with the idea of a pictorial idea of a life in the woods (f 7.1 for the Shield Bug; f16 for the next two and f20 for the Morrell fungus). The last two images are focus stacked at 2.8 to give a simple background but maximum detail of the subject. By chance I have a wonderful uniformity of colour palette, which is probably the thing that most influences my reaction to an image.

Waresley Wood on a Misty Morning

Spring is certainly in full swing in Waresley and Gamlingay Woods now though the bluebells need another week or so to be fully out. The misty conditions in the morning were ideal for flower photography with water droplets adding interest to the images.

Gamlingay and Sandy with Temperatures Around 30 Degrees

We chose Monday, which was a very hot day in Cambridgeshire, to visit Sandy to photograph the Bee-Wolf Wasps but called in first on Gamlingay Woods where the Brimstones, Silver-Washed Fritillaries and Ringlets were out in force together with a spider enjoying a Hoverfly breakfast. At Sandy, it was too hot for me other than in the shade so my efforts were a bit limited but was pleased to see the Ruby-Tailed Wasp (Hedychrum niemelai)

Hummingbird Hawkmoth and Flying Companions at Gamlingay Wood

There were plenty of insects on the wing on a warm still afternoon at Gamlingay Wood including this Hummingbird Hawkmoth (too brief a visit to get more than half a dozen shots), three Volucella Hoverfly species and lots of butterflies. I tried to get out-of-focus backgrounds with the Red Admirals and Commas.

Silver -Washed Fritillaries in Gamlingay Wood

As with other butterflies, seems to be a good year for Silver-Washed Fritillaries with plenty on the wing in GamlingayWood. Also Meadow Brown, Green-Veined White and Ringlet. I haven't been able to identify the Cimbicid Sawfly and the shutterspeed (1/500th) was a bit slow for the hoverfly (Volucella pellucens)

Gamlingay Fungi - Improving Technique But.......

I am still practising with the Fuji gear to perfect Macro images; a visit to Gamlingay Woods afforded some opportunities to practise. There was a lovely clump of Porcelain Fungi on a fallen branch and one group of Shaggy Parasols. These were the only fungi found except for the small fruiting bodies under the bark. Used a tripod so better on sharpness this time but omitted to notice camera set on 3200 iso after indoor shots until halfway through. Surprised how noise-free they are considering!

Afternoon In Gamlingay Woods

 In the afternoon on Thursday, we visited Gamlingay Woods - my first subject was a Hornet resting for a very short time before catching a hoverfly and off before the next frame. Silver Washed Fritillaries present but very active only occasionally resting to feed and not in the numbers of previous years. Other butterflies included the Large Skipper and a Specked Wood so worn you could see through the wings.