My 2014 Weekly Photos - Part 2

[Brownbear]

Beautiful captures Geoff! I love your images of the beautiful countryside, and I also love the image of the sheep - truly precious!

Yes, Bruce, the term Gum Boots (gum for rubber) was used here in the past. Maybe as a result of the American influence during WW2.

Week 20 - Planting Potatoes

Went out chiefly looking for insects but also took my 70-200 lens in case any landscapes or farming scenes came along. I could see these farmers working in a field ahead of me through gaps in the hedge but couldn't get a good angle with the light. Eventually walked along the side of one field, with a path through it, to where I expected a better scene. Still a bit distant and not quite the perfect light angle though.



7D with Canon 70-200 lens. 1/160 F11 Iso 200.

And a wider shot showing a typical local village in the distance.



Also tried some shots of sheep grazing in a field overlooking a suitable seascape but they didn't come up to expectations. Possibly a poor light angle; or I did something wrong.

But I did like the expression on this sheep's face.

Put that camera down and give me a hand to push this roller out of the way!

[John 2]

Nice set, 2 and 3 (Watching you watching me) in particular. Had a bit of a surprise today. A colony of Tree Bumblebees has taken over one of our bird houses. Aggressive little b.........s they are as well. I had always thought that Bumblebees don't have sting but these do!

[bnnrcn]

Hi Geoff, I especially like #1 and #3 I would crop the geen part in the foreground of #1 and add some contrast in order to make the texture and lines stand out more.

[Geoff F]

Yes, John, those Tree Bumblebees seem to be spreading. All female bumblebees do have a sting but they are very reluctant to use it.

I had tried that shot with and without the hedge top, Binnur. There is actually more in the original shot; but eventually I thought that corner looked a little stark without a bit of greenery.

Another Day - Another Field.

Went on another bug hunt today and found they were still planting potatoes but this time in a field which was near to a road so I could get some closer shots.





But from a lower angle it was difficult to find a position which clearly showed the furrows.

[Geoff F]

Week 21 - Stormy Sunset

Looking towards the next 'city' as rain clouds were building.



7D with Canon 70-200 lens. 1/160 F11 Iso 200. Took several shots but many were too dark because I had excessively worried about over exposure of the bright area and applied too much compensation.

Next Day and Rain over Dartmoor

We missed most of the rain here but just to the north they were having some heavy showers.



1/320 F11 Iso 200. Also took several shots of this scene but this was the only one which showed those little wisps of lower cloud. I would have liked to try going a fraction wider but there are trees on either side of my position. And at 70 mm I was at the limit of my lens.

[bnnrcn]

Nice images again Geoff I especially like the last one with beautiful colours and nice composition. Don't you think the sky is a bit too much? May be a little cropping?

[Geoff F]

I was trying to make the clouds more of a feature than the land, Binnur. But here is an alternative crop for comparison. I think that going any further would lose the 'fluffy tops' to the rain clouds.

[Cantab]

Week 21 - Stormy Sunset

Looking towards the next 'city' as rain clouds were building.



7D with Canon 70-200 lens. 1/160 F11 Iso 200. Took several shots but many were too dark because I had excessively worried about over exposure of the bright area and applied too much compensation.

Next Day and Rain over Dartmoor

We missed most of the rain here but just to the north they were having some heavy showers.



1/320 F11 Iso 200. Also took several shots of this scene but this was the only one which showed those little wisps of lower cloud. I would have liked to try going a fraction wider but there are trees on either side of my position. And at 70 mm I was at the limit of my lens.

Geoff, the first is my favourite: drama and contrast. I like the second one but can't decide whether I prefer the original version or your later crop.

[Geoff F]

Thanks for the comments.

Some sunshine appeared this afternoon but the next weather front was approaching with some nice cloud shapes; so I had another go at cloud landscapes. Not yet sure whether there is anything worth keeping as I have only done one edit so far.

[purplehaze]

Geoff,

I'm loving the colours of the pasture in this shot, but wishing they were paired with yesterday's cloudscape. Too much to ask for? I think the heavy texture and detail of the clouds in this shot competes with the strong colours and graphic elements of the bottom third, but what does work for me is a 16x9 crop putting the horizon on or around the middle. A no-no, I know but I think in this shot it works.

[deetheturk]

Very nice Geoff,i like them!

[Geoff F]

With these scenes, Janis, I was definitely putting the clouds first; so any land below them is mostly a 'space filler'.

Although with any background, even when that actually occurs in the foreground, it is always good to try for a pleasing arrangement.

In reality, I was thinking that there are several different 'horizon' options here. The nearer line of highest ground; the much more distant and somewhat hazy line of the Dartmoor hills and finally some bands of greyish clouds which appear to act like another horizon.

The cloud 'width' was the limiting factor for me, although I rather liked having that ploughed brown field amongst the varied greens of pasture land and pale new wheat blowing in the breeze.

[purplehaze]

With these scenes, Janis, I was definitely putting the clouds first; so any land below them is mostly a 'space filler'.

I thought that might be the case. You have to forgive me; I'd have to travel across two Canadian provinces to see anything approximating that landscape, so it makes me kind of giddy.

In reality, I was thinking that there are several different 'horizon' options here.

Yes, I noticed that, too.

I rather liked having that ploughed brown field amongst the varied greens of pasture land and pale new wheat blowing in the breeze.

Yes, the brown helps make it for me.

[bnnrcn]

Hi Geoff. I like the crop version and the last one is just excellent. Lovely clouds, colors and patterns

[Geoff F]

I thought that might be the case. You have to forgive me; I'd have to travel across two Canadian provinces to see anything approximating that landscape, so it makes me kind of giddy.

That is mixed farming for you, Janis. Potatoes in one field, wheat or oats/barley in the next and cattle/sheep in another; to say nothing of cauliflowers etc! It does help to provide a steady income throughout the year.

These fields are fairly small, although some hedges have been removed, because until the rather recent arrival of modern machinery there was no point in having a field which was bigger than the area which could be ploughed by a pair of horses in one day.

[Geoff F]

Week 22 - Garden Fungi

At least all this dull damp weather is good for the fungi; and the snails which appear to have been feeding on this group.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens. 1/100 F14 Iso 400

I have previously attempted to make spore prints which help in identification but without any success. This time I tried a different method. Take a mature fungus and remove the stem (cleanly cut with scissors etc) then place the moist cap, gills down, on a piece of glass. Cover with polythene film, eg kitchen cling film, to prevent drying out. Leave for at least 4 hours.



Something which I will try again.

After the allotted time, remove the fungus cap and place a piece of paper under the glass for a photo.

Maybe this is something which other people might be interested in trying. There should be ample opportunities for being creative here.

These fungi look a bit like Psathyrell hydrophila but I find the 'toadstool' fungi to be very difficult to identify, even with spore prints.

[bnnrcn]

Very interesting technique Geoff ! Let me make it clear for myself. You didn't actually shoot the fungus, you shot the prints on the glass, didn't you ?

[Geoff F]

Yes that is correct, Binnur. A photo of them growing to put everything in context then placed a cap on the glass and waited for spores to form and drop onto the glass. Removed the fungus cap and photographed the glass; with suitable paper beneath.

The paper colour etc could be varied as required. I went for a plain white because the spore drop was dark brown.

Some people recommend placing the cap onto white card but I didn't have much success with that. I think the fungus dried out and didn't release the spores.

Another method, which also didn't work for me is to cut a hole in a piece of card to take the stem, still attached, and put the stem into a glass, or other suitable container of water with the card lying between the underside of the cap and the container top. I think you need fairly stiff card for this method to work; and possibly loosely covering with plastic film as well.

[purplehaze]

Love the spore print, Geoff. I had no idea one could do such a thing. I am definitely going to have to try that with my nieces this summer. At least one of them is keen on fungi, and macro photography.

[Geoff F]

Week 23 - Navelwort Rock

Insect hunting wasn't producing much success but deep in the woods I found Navelwort plants around these rocks. So when the sun went behind some clouds I had an experiment with several different positions and exposures. Sunshine, even slightly dappled through the trees just didn't produce what I wanted. Hence the slower shutter in hazy light.



7D with Tamron 24-70 lens 1/40 F14 Iso 400 on tripod.