Santon Downham 2 - Playing with Light and Focus Stacking

As well as photographing the different types of fungi in Thetford Forest on Sunday, I also spent time doing different light set ups with a continuous LED light source sometimes with a magenta filter. The first image is of the Pine Cone Ttoadstool - around 3mm maximum cap size growing out of cones with the light behind to illuminate the cap. I tried to get backlit spore release from the Puff Balls but this definitely needs more experimentation. The last two images are focus stacks of the Sulphur Tuft toadstool. The first is a stack of 51 images and shows too much depth of field. I suspected this at the time by looking at the last image in the series so took a second stack of 31 images which brings most of the clump into focus but still separates from background (Fuji bracket handheld, Zerene stacker). 

Fungi Foray at Santon Downham 1

A party of 10 CCC and RPS Members enjoyed a day in Thetford Forest scrabbling among the leaf litter and fallen branches for fungi. It is a superb year for them with the wet and warm conditions. Here some 'straight' shots of a few types that we found including a stand of Fly Agarics which took some finding - we were sure they must be moving as each set of directions we received from walkers were different!

Cambridge Wanders versus Rosslyn Park 2nds

Cambridge Rugby union FC's 2nd team were heavily defeated by Rosslyn Park while the CRUFC first team unexpectedly won. Here a few images from the 2nd team match - the light was very good though gave some problems with the greens which varied greatly in hue depending whether the sun was out or behind clouds. 

Fisheye Fungi

This year's wet autumn weather is fantastic for fungi. We have lots in the garden and in the fields around the village. These taken with a Canon15mm fisheye on a Fuji body so always set wide open at f2.8 - probably not that useful but I do like the inclusion of the out of focus background

Eyed Hawkmoth Caterpillars

We have been rearing some Eyed Hawkmoth Caterpillars for a few weeks now and the largest ones must be getting ready to pupate. There is quite a variation in colour from lime green to a softer green. First four images focus stacked (second two needed a bit of retouching before saving so may redo these stacks) - 80mm Fuji Macro. Last two using 50mm Zeiss macro with 16mm extension rings - their rear 4 pairs of false feet are like clam shells with lots of internal teeth that can open and grip any surface.

Points of View in Ely

 Tonight I judged the CCC Points of View competition which I set this year in Ely. We had a glorious sunny Saturday for the Photography Day back in September. These are the 5 images that I have chosen for the topics that I set:- Three, River Ouse, Ely folk, Double Take and Curves. Sue Badcock was the unlucky or lucky person who came out on top and therefore has to set next year's topic and venue.

Refined Decay in Launde Abbey Gardens

We are spending the weekend at a Nature Photographers' weekend  at Launde Abbey, an Elizabethan manor house, extensively modified, originally built on the site of an Augustinian priory.Thomas Cromwell owned but never lived in the house but his son, Gregory, lived at Launde Abbey for ten years before it passed to other families. Finally, in 1957, Cecil Coleman and his wife purchased the abbey and presented it to the Diocese of Leicester. They paid for the conversion works to make it into a retreat house. It has extensive grounds including a splendid wall garden with a fairly derelict greenhouse complete with negelected peppers, tomatoes, cacti, flowers etc. Phil and I spent a couple of hours there on Saturday playing with double exposures etc.