Author Archives: Words

Song Thrush and Woodland

Another damp February day. Nothing at all this morning (it was too wet), but by lunchtime the rain had eased to a fine drizzle and it the shlter of local woodland meant that I could more or less avoid getting wet. Of course, the conditions are limiting (dark), but actually ideal for taking more slow-zoomed landscapes.

woodland

I’m beginning to understand a little more about what will and what won’t work these shots (and no, I’m not posting the most obvious disasters), so to an extent they are ‘planned’, though the final effect is very much dependent on how still I hold and zoom the camera. I need to try this with a tripod.

One more in this experimental vein, but taken from a much closer position and framed around three pairs of golden-brown branches. This is a much harsher shot overall, and the zoom was faster.

woodland

There were plenty of small birds around (blue tits, chaffinches, blackbirds and robins), but the one to feature today is a song thrush which moved to the woodland fringe where there was just enough light.

song thrush

song thrush

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Posted in Birds, Landscape Tagged , , |

Rat Portraits

The brief break in the weather has ended. More rain today, and forecast for tomorrow. It was not too bad early today, which is when I took these four shots of one of the local rats down at Falmer Pond.

rat

Rat nibbling on bread left out for the birds

rat

Side portrait of the rat in weak early morning sunshine

rat running

Rat on the move (click image to enlarge)

rat

Nice and close!

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Posted in rats, Wildlife Tagged |

Goose and Other Patterns

If you follow the Permuted twitter feed you’ll have seen this first shot earlier this evening.

greylag neck

It’s a close crop of the neck of a greylag goose. I loved the hard texture of the feathers. Here’s the full shot.

Greylag goose

I also took a wing detail, again looking for textures and patterns, trying something slightly different for a change.

Greylag goose wing detail

Later in the day I did take some slightly more conventional shots (and one that isn’t). First is a boxer dog that was enjoying a run in the country. It was taken against the light, but the movement was good.

Boxer dog running

Next is a little grebe (or ‘dabchick’). It’s tricky to get close to these tiny water birds, and they spend an inordinate amount of time beneath the surface. I caught this one just as it was beginning a dive, hence the forward posture and slightly fluffed body. One of my best of this species.

little grebe

The final shot is a watery abstract. It’s a rickety fence reflected in the meanders at Seven Sisters. I’ve tweaked the contrast on this one to help bring out the colour.

fence reflection

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens.

Posted in dog, Landscape, water birds Tagged , , , , |