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Damsels and Dragons
At our local quarry, a number of species of damselflies and dragonflies make their appearance during the summer months. The site has several shallow ponds (some of which dry up entirely in dry weather) and plenty of heather. With patience, it’s possible to photograph insects in the heather and in the reeds at the edge of ponds. The quarry closed in the 1990s and now provides space to allow the development of habitats for wildlife. Fifteen different species of damselflies and dragonflies have been identified in recent years, though they are not often in great abundance. I think I’ve seen 10 or 11 of them over the last two years. Yesterday…
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Cumbrian Spring
Most of my friends already know that I don’t manage to get up for a dawn shoot very often…I can think of three or four times is all. Last week I was lecturing in Cumbria and a photo-friend, who lives in the area, offered to spend time with me photographing the northern lakes. No surprise that it was almost 12 noon by the time I was ready to leave Cockermouth. All things considered, we were very lucky, with some lovely mild weather (for March) and calm waters on Buttermere and Crummock Water. The Buttermere pines are a favourite subject for many photographers but it is probably 20 years since…
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Warrior
It’s ages since I had fun making a composite, as I have spent the last few months on writing a photography-related book. But last night, with only a programme on TV about jet planes (sorry, yawn, yawn) to compete for my attention, I made a start on something new. The subject is Claire and the background is in Devon. Deciding on the different elements is a challenge. Backgrounds are difficult for me, as I never seem to have enough of them. Deciding when an image is finished is even more difficult…deciding if it any good, impossible. Perhaps all composites should therefore be considered to be a work in progress until they have…
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The Secret Life of Squirrels
Did you ever wonder what squirrels are doing when they are not digging holes in your garden or finding cunning ways to break into your bird feeders? Well, down in the deepest, darkest, most hidden part of your local woodland, they are living their very secret life…
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To leave or not to leave…that is the question
Britannia I have a surrealism project on the go, one of the regular “challenges” that we set at our photo club, Oldham Photographic Society. We began to set these challenges about three years ago and we do six per year. Also ongoing, we have an insect photography challenge and our previous four projects were macro, time lapse, high speed flash and painting with light. I’ve done a bit of surreal photomontage in the past and have lots of books for inspiration (and there’s plenty of inspiration on the web) but I was struggling to come up with something new. Although surrealism involves the juxtaposition of disparate elements or an avant garde…
