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.

June - Lost Files from Farne Islands

While on our trip to the Farne Islands in June this year, I took some images with my 10-24mm Fuji lens and then was unable to find them on the computer and had wiped the card. Of course, in my mind, these were the best images ever. Today I found them filed in a strange place on my laptop and, although as always reality falls short of expectations, I am very pleased to find them.
Here Arctic Terns in aggressive mode in two different lightening situations and therefore processed differently.

Signs of Autumn at Cambridge Botanics

The Botanic Gardens in Cambridge is looking slightly autumnal and altogether stunning as always. Sadie was on the second of the required two days off school with the sickness bug but was well enough to enjoy a trip out. 

Wrest Park Portraits: Alice in Monochrome

The other model at the workshop on Friday was Alice. I have chosen to present these in monochrome as the contrast of the red dress, blue wallpaper and cream and gold woodwork gave plenty of opportunity for contrasts and for hiding background distractions. (Colour image included at the end.)