The magic, beauty and spirit of the Farnes

I decided to skip Skomer Island and try the Farnes this year. A weekend was finally made available, so after a 3am start, and epic four hour journey, I was greeted with severe swell and cancelled boat trips. However, I endured and managed a few hours on both Inner Farne and Staple Island the following day. This is a glimpse into what I saw:

With this photograph, I've decided to leave it faithful to the raw file. The 400mm f2.8 giving me the space, isolation, dreamy look to my image that I, well... dream of I guess. 

With this photograph, I've decided to leave it faithful to the raw file. The 400mm f2.8 giving me the space, isolation, dreamy look to my image that I, well... dream of I guess. 

These are two friends I made whilst the sea was unleashing its rage on the Islands. A little bit of bribery and a fisheye helped me to create this down at the harbour.

These are two friends I made whilst the sea was unleashing its rage on the Islands. A little bit of bribery and a fisheye helped me to create this down at the harbour.

A low angle shot of a Tern

A low angle shot of a Tern

 The cliff edges can be quite a harsh place to raise the next generation and I hoped to capture a photograph that gave a sense of this. There will be a blog dedicated to this species at some point.

 The cliff edges can be quite a harsh place to raise the next generation and I hoped to capture a photograph that gave a sense of this. There will be a blog dedicated to this species at some point.

Taken using at 800mm to compress space and highlight the populous colonies.

Taken using at 800mm to compress space and highlight the populous colonies.

We should all strive to wait for the right light and a moment of serendipity before creating.

We should all strive to wait for the right light and a moment of serendipity before creating.

And lastly, why not try something different. For me, learning landscape photography has been like discovering photography all over again. Perhaps that is the way we can all keep growing, and most importantly, enjoying this gift and passion for photo…

And lastly, why not try something different. For me, learning landscape photography has been like discovering photography all over again. Perhaps that is the way we can all keep growing, and most importantly, enjoying this gift and passion for photography we all share. 

Sandwell RSPB

Taking advantage of the early morning atmosphere...

BIAZA PHOTO AWARDS 2016

Hey everyone, nice to have these two images commended in this years BIAZA photo competition. Never been big on entering photo competitions as I felt they would affect my artistic vision, but decided to go for this one. Thanks to everyone who has supported me and my work. 

Click here for more.

A lovely moment of trust and nurturing.

A lovely moment of trust and nurturing.

Behind the scenes at a second innoculation session.

Behind the scenes at a second innoculation session.

Reds

A snapshot of my first encounter with red squirrels.

Bottlenose Dolphins

A sunny day in Wales with calm waters and an active juvenile pod.  

Thundering out to sea.

Thundering out to sea.

Beautiful skies and calm sea

Beautiful skies and calm sea

Our first friend of the day passes by to have a closer look.

Our first friend of the day passes by to have a closer look.

Pinpoint focus with the 400mm @ f2.8

Pinpoint focus with the 400mm @ f2.8

Inquisitive pass to have a closer look at the underwater camera

Inquisitive pass to have a closer look at the underwater camera

Knot slideshow

Thousands of wading birds take to the air as the incoming tide pushes them off the vast mudflats at Snettisham. Click on the below for a slideshow.

Skomer 2016

My annual visit to Skomer Island was an ideal time to test out my new canon 400mm f2.8 is. 

Not the lightest of lenses, but manageable, especially after viewing the results on the back of the LCD screen.

Not the lightest of lenses, but manageable, especially after viewing the results on the back of the LCD screen.

The 400mm f2.8 works well to show animals in the context of their environment.  

The 400mm f2.8 works well to show animals in the context of their environment.  

35mm @ f4

35mm @ f4

400mm @ f4

400mm @ f4

Starlings

An outing with the 50mp Canon 5Ds thanks to Janet Baxter Wildlife Photography. The camera reminded me a little of the 5d mk ii in terms of fps, but was surprisingly good for wildlife photography at first glance. I will aim to test the 5dsr later this year also. I guess as long as you pick your moments, and shoot bursts in pulses, rather than holding onto the shutter, the buffer can be usable. The only issue I had was the slow reviewing of images. However the quality of images and resolution spoke for itself.

Canon 100mm f2.8 macro IS L

Canon 100mm f2.8 macro IS L

The starlings finally arrived and took to the air.

The starlings finally arrived and took to the air.

An onlooker stunned by the sheer number of birds.

An onlooker stunned by the sheer number of birds.

My favourite shot of the day taken with the canon 400mm f2.8 is and 2x at 800mm. 

My favourite shot of the day taken with the canon 400mm f2.8 is and 2x at 800mm.