Night Photography in Cambridge After the Rain

Yesterday was wetter than Ros and I had hoped for our photoshoot in Cambridge. Some photos from the day's shoot to follow but here some from the afternoon as the light faded. The rain really helped with wet pavements and cloudy skies to reflect the city lights. The 6th and 7th images were taken at the starting exposure for full night photography (30secs, f8, 800 iso) and are more or less unaltered from the RAW file. I closed the aperture for the subsequent images to f16/f18 to cut the flare from the lamps and give the classic star burst effects. We have a CCC outing on Sunday afternoon so hopefully these images will be helpful in determining exposure settings. Monochromes are Lightroom conversions

The Great Fen Project and Clever Gadwalls

The Great Fen is a habitat restoration project in Cambridgeshire. It is one of the largest restoration projects in the country, and aims to create a 3,700 hectare wetland connecting Woodwalton Fen National Nature Reserve (NNR), Holme Fen NNR and other nature reserves to create a very large conservation site. We had intended visiting last year but somehow the months went by so we were determined to make it in 2016. Woodwalton Fen has a sixeable population of Bittern and also Harriers and Red Kites. We only saw Buzzards in the air but were fortunate to glimpse 2 Bitterns. A return visit definitely on the books.

While waiting for bittern action, I spent time observing the Gadwall ducks - an unusually large number present on a deep Mere (they are dabbling ducks). They were pursuing Coots especially when they dived for food. I researched this on the internet and found a large amount of literature on Kleptoparasitism in Gadwalls. This learned behaviour of pirating food off Coots is thought to be responsible for the large increase in Gadwall numbers in the UK.

Annual Invasion in Cambridge

Earlier this week, the Colleges in Cambridge saw the invasion of large numbers of Sixth Formers and their parents for Entrance Interviews for the University and also very large flocks of Redwings and Fieldfares from Scandinavia

Welney Pastel Tones: 2. Ducks and Waders

There are large flocks of ducks on the Washes at the moment including my favourite Pintails. The second flight shot shows Widgeon, Teal and Gadwall while the Mallard were formation dancing on the ice. The Waders are mainly black-Tailed Godwits put up by a Marsh Harrier that was being mobbed by a Crow.

Welney Pastel Tones: 1. Swans and Geese

It waas a misty frosty morning at Welney on Monday producing some wonderful muted tones for the photographs of Whooper Swans and Greylags. The Mute Swan came into land a bit fast and overshot onto the ice doing a magnificent out of control slide.

Focus Stacking: Moss Fruiting Capsules on Apple Tree

Mainly for my own records: a 97-image focus stack with the two images at the beginning and end of the stack. Zeiss Touit lens on Fuji XT-1, f2.8 and focus rail. Natural light

Shortgrove Estate; Infrared on a Sunny Day

Yesterday was our second Start-to-Finish Day - thanks Sylvie. As before I used a converted infrared camera but the results this time on a very clear sunny day were very different with lots of contrast. For those who borrowed my camera and want a resume of how to adjust the files, here is a link to a leaflet I wrote http://www.pin-sharp.co.uk/dn/dn_30.pdf

Guildford Castle, University of Surrey and City

Guildford has one of the best preserved Norman Keeps thought to be built around 1066. There is also an impressive Victorian Bandstand, an immaculate bowling green, War Memorial Arch and a Blue Cow. The University of Surrey was given University status in 1966, previously Battersea Polytechnic. It nestles on the side of Stag's hill below the Cathedral and echoes the warm tones of the brickwork. I also explored the old regions of the City with its cobbled pavements, old Guildhall and The Hospital of the Holy Trinity which still serves as an Alms House.