Attack of the spider!

Spotted this whilst out on a walk at Savernake over the weekend, a spider on the back of a trapped fly. I had not long tried taking some snaps of a similar fly, but it flew away as I was changing some camera settings. Sadly for this one, it didn't really have the chance to get away.


105mm 1/320 at F6.3 ISO 1600

Warmer times...

A coastal lock-up just off the beach at Los Abrigos, Tenerife taken last February. With only one lens on the day I took this, it's framed a little tighter than I would have liked, but something appeals to me about this photo. Maybe the make-shift security on the door, or the nicely painted but well used fishing boat. Incidentally, Los Abrigos is a nice place to visit should you find yourself in Tenerife and sick of the usual touristy areas.


1/800 at F6.3

Eifel Tower

Looking through old photo's, I found this picture taken last year in Paris. The Eifel Tower is illuminated after dark, making it even more picturesque. I like the angle this photo was taken at, showing the incredible detail even underneath the tower.

EOS 40D 17mm 1/25 at F4, ISO 1600

Road trip....

In an attempt to find something different Saturday, a friend and I drove out from Chippenham toward Tetbury. Along the way we found a couple of good spots, notably near Westonbirt Arboretum, but ended the day back in Chippenham doing the usual macro stuff.


We stopped by the side of the road after spotting this poppy field, sadly a couple of weeks away from being totally red, but a nice image none the less.
105mm (24-105 F4 L) 1/5000 at F4.


Taken in a field belonging to Westonbirt Polo Club, for some reason we had drivers beeping their horns at us while taking these. Maybe they know something we don't...
105mm 1/5000 at F2.8



More of the same bugs as featured below, this time appearing to be getting some sleep inside of a buttercup, joined by a small caterpillar.
105mm 1/200 at F6.3

ps - the second Sigma 50mm F1.4 turned out to be a pile of junk too. Consider that lens given up on! Now to ponder what else to spend the money on...

Mating season...

Everything seemed to be mating on today's photo trip, but this one takes that a little further. Another macro, but worth a post for comedic value.

105mm 1/80 at F7.1

Old Canal

I thought I'd post something outside of my normal selection of macro flowers, macro bugs and macro flowers...


These were taken along the walk from Chippenham to Lacock where a canal restoration is underway. The work completed so far has resulted in rather a wide stream in place of what was previously more of a trickle, allowing for some nice water reflections.



24mm 1/60 and F11


24mm 1/100 at F11

Sigma 50mm F1.4... testing!

Ok, so this is my second copy of this lens and the focus still seems off. I need to test a bit more, particularly with objects less close to the lens. I need to remember this isn't for macro!


The first shot is of a leaf in my garden, I had a bit of trouble focusing this, though at F1.4 the depth of field is clearly quite small.



The second of some grass type leaves, also from my garden, I'm not totally sure what they are but they will flower in orange in the next few weeks. This one is a bit more arty! Again at F1.4

A bit of pink

A bug walks out from the cover of a pink flower in Bowood's Rhododendron garden. I like the contrast in colours, while the bug could be better focused, I think the overall image is a nice one.


1/1000 at F3.2

Do you like butter?

Taken in a fenced off field in Lacock this weekend, I particularly like how the background bokeh in this shot makes the buttercups pop out in the foreground.


1/1600 at F4

Bowood Bugs

Moving away from flowers, Bowood also turned out to house rather a varied array of bugs.


1/200 at F3.2


1/125 at F6.3



1/320 at F7.1

Rhododendron Walk

A trip to Bowood's Rhododendron Walk this weekend provided a nice setting for a mixture of shots. Trying to move away from macro was only partly successful, but allowed me to make a bit more use of my 24-105mm lens. Sadly my new 50mm lens turned out to be a dud, and is on it's way back for a replacement...


1/400 at F3.2


1/1000 at F2.8


1/160 at F3.2


1/800 at F3.2

Another macro...

Took delivery of my 50mm lens today, so hopefully this blog will feature some more varied shots moving forward. For the time being though, another macro, and another dandelion!




105mm 1/400 at F3.2

Self Portrait

In preparation for the arrival of my new Sigma 50mm F1.4 lens, I took the opportunity to try some self portraits with my 24-105mm F4 L lens. Using a tripod, the self timer, and some guess work on focusing I managed to get a series of fairly well composed photographs of my self. I am keen to get a better understanding of portrait work, with the aim of taking some nice pictures of my niece and nephew.

The biggest disappointment, outside of focus, was how flat the images were, and how relatively noisy they were despite ISO 100-200 being used. The exposure will not have been correct, care of it being calculated prior to me being in the frame. I wanted to buy a remote for the shutter anyway, so maybe I will try again once I have one. The sensor also appears to have something on it, though I can't see it myself, it is visible on my shirt.


85mm 1/8 at F11

So, while slightly disappointed with the actual image quality (certainly poor for the lens and body combination), I am happy with the picture itself. Certainly not bad for someone who hates having their picture taken, and has the worst 'camera smile' I've seen!

On a sadder note, I spotted that my 5D has a 'hot' pixel, meaning that it records nothing, it is just red. This appears to only be problematic at low shutter speeds, and can be easily edited out on a PC, but rather irritating considering the cost of the body! Hopefully some manual sensor cleaning (as recommended online) will sort it, otherwise it's back to the shop!

Bittersweet

Some photo's from the weekend. A nice day for photography, overshadowed by the unfortunate act of some car thieves who made away with some of our possessions, though thankfully not the car. Live and learn.



75mm 1/320 at F4



105mm 1/160 at F4.5



105mm 1/160 at F4