Hastings Pier Panorama

June 23, 2016 by Words | 5 Comments

This is really just an experiment. I was in Hastings today and took this panoramic photo of the pier (recently restored) during a short break between meetings. The experimental bit of it is that it’s two shots merged together in the latest Photoshop.

Up until now I’ve been using Elements 9 (yes, something that old), but I finally succumbed to the Creative Cloud option (free via a work licence) and so far so very good. I’m still playing around with it so you can expect a few more experiments in the coming weeks. Creating 3D images is on the list.

I’m also using the latest Lightroom (version 6, part of Creative Cloud) for initial processing (great ‘red eye’ tools for animals among other things, so a nice upgrade from my stand-alone version 5).

Here’s the picture. Click on the image to get a 2000px wide version

Hastings Pier

Hastings Pier

Camera note: all photos taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens.

Posted in coastal, Landscape Tagged |

Variety Pack #234

June 22, 2016 by Words | 2 Comments

All sorts of bits and pieces today. It’s probably not quite #234 in a series, but it’s the kind of post I haven’t done for a while. I’ll start with an old friend from Falmer Pond, taken yesterday. It’s a duck (not a rat in case you were hoping.)

Duck reflected in Falmer pond

Duck reflected in Falmer pond

Also from yesterday a shy lizard (the green one again)

Common lizard campus

Common lizard campus

And a rude lizard!

Common lizard showing forked tongue

Common lizard showing forked tongue

This morning took me down to Brighton seafront (I’m all over the place at the moment for work). These were taken around 8.30am in foggy conditions. The first is the latest iconic Brighton structure, the incomparably dreadful i360.

i360 (i-Sore) tower in the mist on Brighton seafront

i360 (i-Sore) tower in the mist on Brighton seafront

Much more to my taste are the stunning ruins of the old West Pier. I never tire of them.

The ruins of the iconic West Pier, Brighton

The ruins of the iconic West Pier, Brighton

Lastly, something from the garden… one of the badgers.

Badger in the garden at night

Badger in the garden at night

Camera note: pier and i-Sore taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF50mm f/1.2L USM lens; the duck with the EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM lens; lizards with the EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens; and the badger with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Badger, coastal, Landscape, lizard, water birds, Wildlife Tagged , , , , |

Green Lizard

June 17, 2016 by Words | 4 Comments

Between periods of torrential rain there were just enough glimpses of sunshine to tempt the car park lizards out into the open, including one that until now had proved elusive. The green lizard. It’s much more skittish than the brown lizards that congregate on the wall but I was able to get quite close.

Common lizard at Watts bank, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Green common lizard at Watts bank, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

The more familiar brown lizard was also out.

Brown lizard at Watts bank, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

Brown lizard at Watts bank, University of Brighton, Moulsecoomb campus

lizard

Looking at you!

In case you’ve not been looking at my Fox of the Day you may have missed that the large male is becoming a little less cautious. Here’s one of him from a couple of nights ago.

Male fox

Male fox

Camera note: lizards taken with the Canon 7D Mark II and EF 100mm f/2.8L macro IS USM lens. The fox was snapped with the EF 200mm f/2.8L II USM lens.

Posted in Foxes, lizard, Wildlife Tagged , |