M-Shed Bristol

I enjoyed a visit to the M-shed  in Bristol with its innovative internal architecture and great displays illustrating Bristol's people and places. I played around with multiple exposure which worked well with the bright colours and open staircases

St Mary Redcliffe Bristol

St Mary Redcliffe in Bristol is a Grade 1 listed building in Bristol. The first reference to a church on the site appearing in 1158,^[2] with the present building dating from 1185 to 1872. I enjoyed time photographing the very ornate interior using 9 stop high dynamic range bracketing.

First Breeding Bird Survey of 2024

Yesterday was my first Breeding Bird Survey for 2024 in Hardwick Woods on a cool misty but relatively bright morning starting at the required half hour after sunrise (yes I waited till the clocks went forward!). This Dunnock typifies the 'soft' light conditions. The wood is currently closed to the public and will be for the foreseeable future - this is to protect the habitat. Even with the closure people have been tramping through especially off the main tracks which are knee deep in mud in places - this is resulting in damage to the environment.  The spring flowers are mostly in bloom with the bluebells just starting. Most of images were taken looking into the wood from the Bridleway; The Oxlips were through the fence in the new enclosure which I helped coppice this year - the plants are thriving in the open canopy and away from munching deer.

Bee-Grabber Flies and Flower Spider

This Myopa testacea, a Thick-headed  or Conopid fly, is also known as a Bee-Grabber as it does exactly that - travels to the top of plants and sits there waiting for a passing bee. It then attaches itself to the bee gaining entrance to its nest and laying eggs in the nest. The Myopa  larvae parasitze the bee larvae. These photo-stacked images show how wonderfully adapted it is for this with large upward facing eyes, powerful legs and sharp curved claws. The two head enlargements show the difference between a jpeg from in camera stacking and the same set of images, but the Raw versions processed first in DXO rawPrime 3 and stacked with Zerene Stacker. Final image focus-stacked flower  spider.

Pasque Flowers for Easter

The Pasque flowers are out early on Royston Heath and are there in large numbers. It was a bit windy today for flower photography but I enjoyed trying a few different techniques and also finding some mini creatures - spiders, snails, fly, caterpillar and a Red-tailed Mason bee that makes its nest in snail's shells!