Macro
29.07.21
Apart from a week of blue skis, nothing shouts summer more than a sunflower in full bloom. Not one of my creations unfortunately.
///hurdling.heated.spirits
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
125mm / ƒ9.0 / 1/125s / ISO 320
05.07.21
Found around 50 of these Gatekeepers on the edge of a field up at Pleinmont. Never seen so many in one place. There’s a few butterflies on my list to find this summer, the main one that I’ve only found once is the Green Hairstreak. I found one a few years ago on some gorse at Petit Bot but didn’t get a chance to get a shot.
///freelancer.ankles.lushly
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
215mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/640s / ISO 400
29.06.21
I can’t unsee a really happy and over excited flower that’s just had its tummy tickled or a flower version of Pikachu but it’s a Bee orchid. Designed by nature to mimic a bee so that they would attempt to mate with it and spread their pollen.
///mocking.formed.develops
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
150mm / ƒ9.0 / 1/80s / ISO 400
25.06.21
Set myself a colour theme today to make things a bit easier. There’s green everywhere you look but delve deeper into the green grass and you’ll see more than first meets the eye.
When these crickets are fully grown their wings grow the entire length of their body and I’ve seem them take off and fly pretty far!
///scaffold.wellies.output
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
125mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/320s / ISO 320
22.06.21
Th vibrant lavender was like a magnet for the bees once the rain had cleared. We all know by now how important bees are but if you haven’t watched Black Mirror yet, check out the Series 3 episode 6 - Hated in the Nation.
///gaps.collated.booklet
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
210mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/125s / ISO 500
15.06.21
Whilst watering the plants, the frog jumped out. It’s happened before but there’s absolutely no way in, or out, of our garden unless the gate is open (which it wasn’t) and frogs can’t jump 2 metre high walls and fences!
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
200mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/320s / ISO 100
10.06.21
They may be common but they’re a stunning mini species of butterfly. With the sun hiding for most of the day, the insects tend to stick to one spot until you disturb them.
///warden.constituents.subplot
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
220mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/200s / ISO 250
09.06.21
Macro, a miniature world that often gets overlooked. I’m sure I’m not alone when I say that every time I see a butterfly you have to actually say in your head ‘ooh, a butterfly’, or maybe it’s just me!
Difficult to photograph during the day as they are most active and don’t like to stay still for long. This one looked a bit battered and seems to have lost part of it’s leg from the rough winter.
///arrive.diddled.coughed
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
220mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/640s / ISO 200
02.03.21
In my 36 years of existence, I’v never seen one of these beetles. I was informed by a very helpful guy from ‘The Pollinator Project’, who was passing by as I was taking photos, that these are now very rare insects and encouraged me to record the finding. Apparently once their eggs hatch, they wait on plants to hitch a ride on bees who then take them back their nest where the larva feed on the bees eggs and emerge the next spring!
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
150mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/100s / ISO 320
15.02.21
I spend countless hours in the warmer months hunting down insects but some days I just casually glance down and there they are. I’m over winter, bring on spring sunshine.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
175mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/320s / ISO 320
14.01.21
Cooking oil mixed with water in a pyrex dish, coloured plastic plates and iPhone light underneath. First attempt at this, mixed results ;o)
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
200mm / ƒ5.6 / 1/8s / ISO 400
13.11.20
Italian Arum growing in a pile of wood chips with a little backlight poking through the trees illuminating the thick white veins on the leaf. Although this is far from the ‘natural’ colours, I got pretty bored of editing it so went to town on the sliders. Still not quite happy, like a kid scribbling with a crayon, I raced though experimenting with colours and split toning and abruptly stopped when I hit some fiery oranges.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
235mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/125s / ISO 250
22.10.20
Amanita mushrooms starting to pop up around the mossy paths around the reservoir. Found this tiny one breaking through the leaves.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV - EF50mm f1.4
50mm / ƒ/5.0 / 1/200s / ISO 400
12.10.20
My intention was to photograph the Nerine display at Guernsey Gardens but they just weren’t doing it for me this year. If you go for yourself, check out the succulent display in the greenhouse.
Canon EOS 5D Mark IV - EF50mm f1.4
50mm / ƒ/4.5 / 1/125s / ISO 200
08.09.20
Lots of spiders appearing in the long grasses at the moment but this little beauty was posing in some lovely evening light.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
185mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/200s / ISO 400
28.08.20
The humble garden spider. Are you a lover or a hater? Watch out for those ones that come out from under your sofa with the TV light casting a shadow that makes them look like tarantulas!
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
250mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/125s / ISO 500
24.08.20
The motivation just wasn’t there again today. Macro is great to fall back on, if you can find the subject. Butterflies are out in abundance at the moment but no doubt they won’t be around for much longer.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
210mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/500s / ISO 400
19.08.20
A few days ago I found a great butterfly spot next to the reservoir but most are only active when the sun’s out. The one butterfly you can always rely on to be out and about, whatever the weather, is the common blue. Hard to spot but being so small you can maximize the depth with macro.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
250mm / ƒ7.1 / 1/250s / ISO 500
17.08.20
An accidental find hidden deep a Buddleia bush, probably a Jersey Tiger Moth but there’s a fair few variations of this kind. I was following some butterflies round, and these bushes are heaving with them at the moment, until this caught my eye.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
250mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/250s / ISO 400
17.07.20
Set out looking for frogs, came out with a Great Green Bush Cricket. One handed macro isn’t the easiest, even when the subject is this big but he stuck on my finger just long enough before gliding off into the reeds.
Canon EOS 70D - EFS 55-250 USM
100mm / ƒ8.0 / 1/500s / ISO 320