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Author Topic: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....  (Read 36311 times)

Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #75 on: May 19, 2011, 10:04:26 pm »




^ 2 inches of mean machine - The fiercest predator in my pond - Dragonfly larvae (exuvia).
« Last Edit: May 20, 2011, 12:14:44 am by RedRobin »


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Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #76 on: September 16, 2012, 04:54:59 pm »
.
I have taken a lot more wildlife photos since starting this thread, so thought I would update it.

I have also updated my camera from a Fuji FinePix F200 EXR to a F500 EXR. I still have all the limitations of a compact digital camera but pocket-sized better suits my lifestyle. I usually shoot in 100 ISO on 16 x 9 format and initially upload into iPhoto on my 27" iMac. Some photos get copied into Aperture but I find that I don't feel the need to edit much outside iPhoto and very rarely in Photoshop. Obviously they are never going to be as sharp and pristine as photos taken by richwig, TC, PND, and other wildlife photogs on the forum but I am more about graphic composition and capturing the moment (not that the others aren't doing that as well).

Inspired by needing to crop some pics to use as Facebook 'covers', I quite like that more extreme panoramic format too, but those are all cropped in the editing stage when on the iMac.

Here are some of my favourite Sunflower shots this year:



^ Taken by my daughter (her idea) a few days ago. Many of those Sunflowers are nearly 8ft high!



^ Of course I absolutely had to buy this sign when I saw it. It's on my 'Bird Cafe' post.



^ I got lucky didn't I. It was a windy day too, so I had to hold the stalk with one hand while taking the pic.



^ Growing so high that some are almost out of reach for photography!



^ The chap on the left is a Hoverfly. There are over 5,000 different species and most are nectar-feeders (and are very friendly!).





^ It's so satisfying to see so many Honey Bees and Bumble Bees visit my garden for nectar and pollen etc. They have had a very hard wet Spring and Summer and honey will be in short supply next year as Bee populations have suffered very badly. They don't fly in the rain! It's easy to underestimate the important role to Life which Bees play.

[More pics to come]
« Last Edit: September 16, 2012, 04:59:19 pm by RedRobin »


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Offline Top Cat

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #77 on: September 17, 2012, 08:42:29 pm »
Great pics Robin, full of natural colours and life.  :notworthy:

Offline rich83

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #78 on: September 20, 2012, 07:39:05 pm »
Great sunflowers robin... ours were crap this year!  :sad1:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #79 on: October 08, 2012, 12:24:53 pm »

Great sunflowers robin... ours were crap this year!  :sad1:


....Some of mine are still only just emerging into flower and it's October:



Others have fed the Honey and Bumble Bees and are turning to seed (more for me to plant next season):



Most are close to 8ft high!  :scared: :



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Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #80 on: October 08, 2012, 12:27:32 pm »
.
I don't know exactly why but of all the many Sunflower pics I have shot so far, this is possibly my favourite:



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Offline Panthera

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #81 on: October 08, 2012, 02:40:26 pm »
.
I don't know exactly why but of all the many Sunflower pics I have shot so far, this is possibly my favourite:



I can see why. Nice rich bold colours and nice arrangement.
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Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #82 on: October 08, 2012, 04:48:56 pm »
.
I don't know exactly why but of all the many Sunflower pics I have shot so far, this is possibly my favourite:


I can see why. Nice rich bold colours and nice arrangement.


....Cheers  :drinking:

I think its composition has been determined and benefitted by my cropping it to fit as a Facebook page 'Cover' - Those ultra panoramic crops can often help a photo.  The angle of the shot is because the sunflower is so tall. I got lucky with the flying bee and the breeze arranging the flower petals.


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Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #83 on: October 16, 2012, 09:41:40 am »


^ Slow-worm - Nearly 24 inches long and they can live up to 50 years.

This is where I came across it:



West Dorset countryside is full of hills and this one is only a 10 minute walk away.


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Offline TurboTrev

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #84 on: October 16, 2012, 07:42:35 pm »
Great pics. :congrats:   Love the slow worm one, I'm a big reptile fan. :happy2:

Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #85 on: November 01, 2012, 10:59:05 pm »
.
This photo is never going to win any awards but I'm pleased I captured what was going on: A female Kestrel which had just killed a Vole:



I grabbed the shot through my closed kitchen window and on zoom on my FinePix F500EXR compact.

The only other bird of prey I have seen in my garden is a Sparrow Hawk.


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Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #86 on: November 17, 2012, 08:33:58 pm »


^ Male Palmate Newt.

At this time of year (November) the Newts will have left my pond and found somewhere to hibernate for the Winter before returning to my pond in February/March to live and mate - They have exciting courtship displays. I am currently extending my small wildlife pond and suddenly found this Newt in the new part so I scooped him up with a soft net and popped him in a shallow glass jar for photography. It's important not to handle Newts during the hibernation period because you will transfer your body temperature and upset their natural 'clock'. [/newts lesson]

I've always got my pocket size camera on me so I miss fewer shots. Photographically I accept the compromise and work with what I've got. I have to say I am pleased with the colour and composition of this photo.


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Offline phil1975

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #87 on: November 25, 2012, 12:39:27 pm »

One sunny day earlier in the year





Little fella popped out for a snack one lunchtime.


Hardly wildlife in the garden I know, but taken as a shot to nothing at Vancouver aquarium.
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Offline Andy

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #88 on: November 25, 2012, 12:43:42 pm »
Brilliant  pics Robin;keep them coming

Offline RedRobin

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Re: RR's Wildlife Portfolio....
« Reply #89 on: November 25, 2012, 12:45:40 pm »




....Lovely natural lighting and angle on that Painted Lady butterfly, Vanessa cardui - Not very common.  :happy2:


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