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.)

End of Storm Lorenzo

The weather was much better than the original forecast today with a dry sunny afternoon, finishing with a dramatic sunset in the west and double rainbow in the east.

Masterclass at Wrest Park

Several members of CCC attended a Masterclass on colour balance in portraiture run by colour Confidence at Wrest Park. This is a topic I haven't visited for a time. The first image shows without and with colour correction. The tutor's (Kevin Wilson) style is very much to place the subject close to the background rather than the shallow depth of field portraits that I have generally taken. He certainly knew exactly what he wanted from the model - Kyran in this case. I liked the colour palette's chosed for backgrounds but did find that wall papper a bit much. Here colour images - many will satisfy me more in monochrome I suspect.

Autumn Signs in Toft Wood

If we believe the Press then it is to be a hard winter this year; certainly folklore also predicts this with a very heavy crop of berries. The Spindle tree with its pink and orange berries is my favourite at this time of year. My Grey Dagger moth caterpillar has finished feeding and is pupating under some bark ready to overwinter and already the Alder and Hazel are showing catkins.

Dangerous Liaison

This male spider made many attempts to approach and mate with the female. He approached slowly and extended a leg towards her but on each occasion the female appeared unreceptive and he retreated. The second image is an attempt at focus-stacking but it failed as the spider was constantly on the move, although it does give a feeling of the tension in the approach.