2024 Project 52 - Weekly photos by Geoff F

[billtils]

With that second image I was uncertain about the power lines and whether to try to clone them out; but I eventually thought they draw the viewers eyes into the scene centre so I left them alone.

I see no power lines - do I need to go to Specsavers?

[Geoff F]

Coming from the top right corner to towards the centre, Bill.

Incidentally, Specsavers at Totnes keep reminding me about an eye test but I won't be going anywhere near Totnes in August. Maybe October or November when the crowds have gone.

[Geoff F]

Week 27 - More Gates. Continuing with the theme of difficult to photograph gates to wildlife areas.

Andrews Wood



7D with Canon 24-105 lens. 1/160 F7.1 Iso 500. Merge of 2 bracketed exposures



1/30 F5.6 Iso 800. Merge of two bracketed exposures

[Geoff F]

Week 28 - Gates at South Milton Reedbed

'Have you read the notices'



1/125 F8 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures.



1/200 F9 Iso 400

And a style



1/60 F8 Iso 400 Merge of two bracketed exposures

[Cantab]

Geoff, an interesting set of gate photos. In nearly all the photos, I imagine there was significant need for dealing with the dark and light areas.

In the first photo, I was intrigued by what happens to the broad path just beyond the gate. Does it disappear into the woods or turn a corner?

I did my best to read all the notices! Was this trip focussed on vegetation and insects or were you also on the lookout for interesting birds?

[billtils]

Yes I read the notices. including the "No cycling" don't know that I would fancy taking a bike ride along there ...

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments.

Yes, they were all virtually impossible scenes with a very high light range. Where possible I have tried to show something of the path behind the gates.

The first Andrews Wood Gate has a narrow lane which is overgrown at the top and creates a tunnel effect. It is just passable by a vehicle and leads to a car park; so, in effect, I was returning to the car park after going through the gate. Then another entrance takes me on to the road. Incidentally, if you look at a map, Andrews Wood is between Loddiswell and California; although that sounds confusing.

With the South Milton gates, the path eventually ends up at the coast so it is sometimes used by villagers and people staying at a campsite to access the beach.

[Geoff F]

Week 29 - More Gates. Entrances to Woodleigh Wood.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens. 1/640 F11 Iso 320. Merge of two bracketed exposures



1/125 F10 Iso 640. Merge of two conversions from a single Raw image

And a couple of the local inhabitants. A Damsel Bug but I can't tell which species. Marsh Damsel Bugs have short wings but at this time of year so do the nymph stages of other Damsel Bug species.



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/200 F9 Iso 400. Flash used

And one of the larger horseflies. Band-eyed Horsefly, but fortunately this species prefers to bite larger farm animals not people.

[Cantab]

A further interesting set of photos. The first one is intriguing; it gives the impression of a gate with no fence -- although I eventually saw that there was a fence post to the right of the gate and presumably some invisible wire.

[Geoff F]

There is wire on the right hand side, Bruce, but a 1 metre gap to the left side for people to walk through. Just out of site is a noticeboard. I think the idea is to allow people to have free access but to stop vehicles.

[Geoff F]

Week 30 - Tor Woods. It was a day of high thin cloud which produced hazy sunshine and a flat dull light, so I did a merge of two bracketed exposures then finished with a Curves layer using Multiply Blend Mode at 30% to add a bit of contrast. Maybe I went a little too far with it.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens. 1/100 F10 Iso 400

And some cattle in the next field



1/200 F10 Iso 400

A Painted Lady



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/320 F10 Iso 400

And a Picture-winged Fly (Urophora stylata)



1/200 F10 Iso 400

[billtils]

Absolutely super 'fly and 'fly shots Geoff ... and I do like the contrast of the 3 cows (which also demonstrates how effective "the rule of 3" can be)

[Geoff F]

Thanks Bill. In reality, I did move the right side cattle, plus sky and foreground, slightly towards the centre to achieve a better composition.

[billtils]

Geoff - I think you may have taken my "rule of 3" as a reference to the oft cited rule of thirds but that was not what was intended (which is why it is in inverted commas). I meant that quite often a group of 3 elements makes for an interesting composition. It depends on the subject of course - your insect shots in the same post absolutely demand there is only one but (at least for me) 3 cows are better than one (or 2, or 4 or more )

[Cantab]

Geoff, I agree with Bill: a superb set of shots.

Quite apart from the overall composition, one reason that the three cows works so well is that the viewer has direct eye contact with one of them.

For my money the contrast in the first photo works well. I've never used the multiply blend mode even though I've seen previous references to it, including I believe a recent post by Manfred. I think the time has come for me to investigate it. Photoshop's large collection of blend modes has been something that has appeared daunting or not worth the time of learning, perhaps because the changes that some of them make are something I can never see wanting to do.

[Geoff F]

Blend Modes can be used creatively to produce various effects but in the simplest form, just add a Curves layer but don't do anything with it except change the Blend Mode to Multiply. Then adjust the opacity until you get a pleasing result.

Week 31 - Aveton Wood. A difficult to reach area from a narrow road, with grass in the centre, and only a few passing places, which aren't really wide enough to pass a larger car.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens. 1/320 F11 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures.



1/100 F9 Iso 400. Merge of two bracketed exposures.

The orange form of Birdsfoot Trefoil. They are normally bright yellow, sometimes streaked with red but they can be all orange.



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/500 F11 Iso 320

And a Lacehopper - Cixius nervosus



1/200 F10 Iso 400. Flash used.

[Geoff F]

Week 32 - A couple of hours at Andrews Wood. I had a go at the far end of Andrews Wood, with a separate entrance.



7D with Canon 24-105 lens. 1/50 F8 Iso 500. Merge of two conversions from a Raw image.

And while I was there I found two Wasp Spiders (Argiope bruennichi). This is something which I keep looking for and have only previously found one at a nearby site.



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/200 F11 Iso 400 flash used.

[billtils]

Super spider (and web) shots Geoff. I've never heard or seen anything like that - perhaps they like warmer climates ?

[Geoff F]

They are normally considered to be an uncommon south coast species, Bill, but the only ones I have seen were about 10 miles inland.

[Geoff F]

Week 33 - The entrance to Woodleigh Wood. On a day of sunshine with clouds.



7D with Canon 34-105 lens. 1/320 F11 Iso 250. Merge of two bracketed exposures.

And the adjoining field



This Kite-tailed Robberfly has caught a hoverfly



Sigma 180 macro lens. 1/200 F11 Iso 400 flash used

And one of the dreaded Cleg Horseflies. A pity that something with such stunning eyes can be such a nuisance.