Meredith's Passion for Bugs

My grandaughter Meredith loves all kinds of animals from horses down to the smallest bugs. She is very good at spotting flies and other insects in the foliage - she makes an excellent companion on a bug hunting trip. Here are a few images of how I imagine a 4-year old views the insect world. 

Kew Gardens 4. Kew Palace

 Kew Palace was built as a private house in 1631 and used by the royal family between 1729 and 1818. In happier times, George III, Queen Charlotte and their 15 children enjoyed a relatively simple domestic routine at Kew. In later years the atmosphere darkened as Kew became a retreat for the ailing King as his 'madness' took over. Great to be able to wander through the reconstructed Georgian rooms on the ground and first floor and then see the original state on the top floor. The two final images are each 6-part panoramas.

Kew Gardens 3. Infrared Buildings

The buildings at Kew are great for infrared photography. I am never sure whether I prefer the 'colour' image - i.e. using a custom made profile to bring the grey to neutral tone or using Silver Efex to do the conversion and tonal adjustments.. So here some pairs of images and some with just the profile where the subtle tones I feel help the image..

Kew Gardens 2. Trees in Infrared

After my recent previous visit to Kew, I decided to take my infrared camera for the wonderful old trees. Here are a series showing how the images change as the sun got higher - by midday there was so much infrared light around that getting contrast in the images is very difficult but I do like the ethereal feel this gives. More of the buildings and structures in a later blog

Kew Gardens 1. Contrasts

Lots of photographic subjects at Kew today, so first a set of high-contrast images where colour, light and shade dominated.