Common Darter: Playing with Light and Lenses

As a prelude to today's RPS Macro day at Paxton, I have processed the images taken at Shuttleworth 10 days ago in very bright sunlight. Different apertures produce very different specular highlights in the background (image 3-f14; image 4 F22). I tried using a wide angle (c24 mm full-frame equiv.)  to get the darter in its environment (images 5 and 6). The last image is  an infrared - renders the darter like glass.

Shuttleworth Swiss Garden Infrared

Last Wednesday, Shuttleworth House and Swiss Garden were open free during Heritage Week. It was a very warm sunny day so I added my pocket SonyRX100 that has been modified for infrared to my kit and was pleased I did. This conversion does not produce the sharpest of images but they are fun to take and attempt a conversion that I like. Here a set using a custom profile that results in a more or less monochrome image with just hints of colour in some areas.

 

CCC Evening Playing with Water!

Thanks Paul for bringing along the Pluto water droplet system and Charles for his set ups. Great fun though never enough time to get that finished image as it is possible to change the timing and size of the first and second drops (and even add a third though we haven't tried that yet). Then there is background, flash positions, flash colour etc etc.

 

 

High Contrast Images from Ely Cathedral

Unusually for any event that I organise, yesterday's CCC Points of View took place in hot bright sunshine so it was ice creams rather than hot chocolate on the wish lists. When the images are all in for judging, I will share some of my efforts at the topics, but here are a few images taken in the Cathedral  mostly using light and shadow in the design. The third image is an in-camera double exposure - one of the topics and quite a few Members were trying this for the first time with their cameras.

Ayscoughfee Hall in Spalding

As I had a bit of extra time before lecturing in Pinchbeck, I visited Ayscoughfee Hall and gardens near Spalding.This was a family home built in the 1450s, standing in 5 acres of Gardens. The gardens are full of features including this huge topiary yew hedge,an extensive aviary and large water area.

Switzerland 7. Final Walk in Infrared

I carried my Sony RX100 infrored converted camera with me all the trip but usually forgot to get it out so decided the views of the Eiger and Jungfrau etc  would be taken on that during my walk. It was a very clear (and hot) day giving very contrasty images - good for playing with light and shade.