markbarton.co.uk

30 June 2010

A couple of trips to Stanley Park, the 29th was late morning, shooting Herons, Squirrels and Cygnets. I returned the next day quite early - 6ish and concentrated on one juvenile Heron, it paid off! The first image is my favourite, I love how almost the entire scene is abstract colours and bokeh, and the bird is pin sharp. The 3rd Heron shot down is not cropped (none of them are) and shows how close I was able to get from behind. I could have put my macro lens on and gotten even closer but I didn't want to disturb it. I am quite proud that I was able to take all these pictures without making any of the birds take flight even once. I have drained the first picture of saturation, I think the green was a bit overpowering, I was torn between lowering the saturation and going B&W. Retaining some colour kept the feeling of "being there".

Side note - the squirrel shot is ISO 1600, another test of my 5DII's sensor. I have added the barest minimum noise reduction to that image (20%). I am very impressed with the 5DII/Lightroom 3 combination - I have gone ahead and purchased a licence now, LR3 all the way!

Grey Heron - 200mm, 1/400sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, Uncropped.

I think I prefer it in B&W.

Grey Heron - 200mm, 1/1000sec, f/4.0, ISO 800, Uncropped.

Grey Heron - 200mm, 1/500sec, f/4.0, ISO 800, Uncropped.

Grey Heron - 200mm, 1/400sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Uncropped.

29 June 2010

Squirrel - 200mm, 1/500sec, f/4.0, ISO 1600, Uncropped.

Cygnet - 200mm, 1/1250sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, Uncropped.

Cygnet - 200mm, 1/640sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Uncropped.

18 June 2010

I've been playing around with two new pieces of software, trying to decide which one to buy; Adobe Lightroom 3 and Bibble 5 Pro. They both practically do the same job, but in slightly different ways. I have never used these kinds of catalogue based RAW conversion/workflow applications before, always been a Bridge/PS man myself, so I won't pretend to write a thorough review. Both are a joy to use, but LR seems to have the edge when it comes to noise reduction, on the other hand Bibble seems to be a faster, more efficient tool. Anyway, here are some shots that I've taken over the last few days, and processed using the trial versions of these programs.

Aphid on Bird - 105mm, 1/250sec, f/16, ISO 400, Uncropped.

Reed Bunting - 200mm, 1/6400sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Uncropped.

Reed Bunting - 200mm, 1/400sec, f/5.6, ISO 200, Uncropped.

22 May 2010

Quick trip to Stanley Park and found a Magpie chick, very cute, just sat on a branch at head height along the main path.

Magpie Chick - 200mm, 1/640sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Uncropped

Magpie Chick - 200mm, 1/400sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped

20 May 2010

Next day, a sweltering 6 hours on the Farne Islands.

Guillemots - 200mm, 1/8000sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Uncropped

Puffins - 200mm, 1/2000sec, f/4.0, ISO 200, 25% Cropped

Puffin in Flight - 200mm, 1/8000sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Uncropped

Puffin - 200mm, 1/6400sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, 25% Cropped

Tern - 50mm, 1/2500sec, f/13, ISO 1600, Uncropped

Razorbill - 200mm, 1/3200sec, f/4.0, ISO 200, Uncropped

Tern - 50mm, 1/8000sec, f/13, ISO 3200, Uncropped

Tern - 200mm, 1/2500sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Straightened

19 May 2010

Bass Rock trip! One of the most amazing places I have witnessed. Perfect light and no rain, couldn't have asked for more. Thanks to Jon and Bren for making this happen.

50mm, 1/1250sec, f/8.0, ISO 400, Uncropped

200mm, 1/5000sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, Straightened

200mm, 1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, Uncropped

200mm, 1/3200sec, f/5.6, ISO 800, Uncropped

200mm, 1/800sec, f/5.6, ISO 200, Uncropped

200mm, 1/2500sec, f/4.0, ISO 800, Uncropped

200mm, 1/1250sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Uncropped

200mm, 1/1600sec, f/4.0, ISO 200, Uncropped

105mm Macro, 1/2000sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, Uncropped

105mm Macro, 1/2500sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, Uncropped

13 May 2010

My most productive day ever! Martin Mere, I grossly underestimated you. The hides still suck, but this time of year there's plenty to shoot baby-animal-wise. I had a field day, very enjoyable.

Hawaiian Goslings - 200mm, 1/1250sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Uncropped

Geese Fighting - 200mm, 1/1000sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, 25% Cropped

Whooper Swan - 200mm, 1/2000sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Uncropped

Duck - 200mm, 1/1000sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped

Coot Nest - 200mm, 1/500sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Straightened

Coot Chick and mother - 200mm, 1/1600sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, 25% Cropped

Coot Chick - 200mm, 1/800sec, f/4, ISO 400, Straightened

Coot Chick - 200mm, 1/500sec, f/4, ISO 400, Straightened

Moorhen Chicks - 200mm, 1/1000sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped

Southern Screamer - 200mm, 1/1600sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Uncropped

11 May 2010

A trip to Fairhaven Lake again, stopping off along the way in St Annes. Found a group of baby Moorhens (tiny!) about the size of a duckling's head! Also got a quick opportunistic shot of a starling drying itself.

Moorhen Chick - 200mm, 1/1000sec, f/4, ISO 400, Uncropped

Starling - 200mm, 1/400sec, f/4, ISO 200, Uncropped

08 May 2010

Baby season continues with more goslings. I also found 2 baby Blackbirds, ducklings and a Tree Creeper chick! Couldn't believe my eyes. Anyway, didn't get any shots of that elusive beast, but did get plenty of cutesy anthropomorphised ones of goslings.

Goslings - 200mm, 1/2000sec, f/4, ISO 400, Uncropped

Goslings - 200mm, 1/800sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, Uncropped

Goslings - 200mm, 1/640sec, f/5.6, ISO 400, Uncropped

Blackbird chick - 200mm, 1/320sec, f/4.0, ISO 400, Uncropped

France Holiday April 2010 part 2

Here are a selection of panoramas I took while on a day trip to the island of Chausey, just off the west coast of Normandy. This beautiful island has it's own vastly different microclimate to the mainland, kind of like the poor man's Mediterranean. The panoramas were all taken with a 50mm lens in portrait orientation using a Kirk L-Bracket on a full frame camera (my 5DII *smug grin*).

This last one is a macro panorama (I wanted to see if it would work- and it did!) of a large chunk of lichen found outside my parents house. I used my 105mm macro for this one, and a flash handheld.

03 May 2010

A very productive day at Brock Bottom with the Dippers and their newly out-of-the-nest young. These little guys could just about fly, and were very fearless and inquisitive - a perfect subject. All shots are of the juveniles and one of the parent feeding her young.

200mm, 1/640sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, 25% Cropped

200mm, 1/1600sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, Uncropped

200mm, 1/1600sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped

200mm, 1/3200sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, 25% Cropped

200mm, 1/1000sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, Uncropped

200mm, 1/1000sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped

01 May 2010

First visit to Lytham Crematorium gardens and their infamous Parakeets. Accidentally found where one of them is nesting. This is a 50% crop, but I can get closer, it just strains the neck to wait there that long, will need to set up a tripod in the near future.

Ring-Necked Parakeet - 200mm, 1/2500sec, f/2.8, ISO 250, 50% Cropped.

30 April 2010

After a fruitless day at Roudsea, I decided to go to Fairhaven Lake quickly, and had a go at shooting Swallows in flight - yes with a 200mm full frame, I do like a challenge. Anyway, this shot is very heavily cropped 4:1 ratio - each pixel here (in the enlarged view) represents 4 pixels in the original frame. I reckon I can get closer though, with a little persistence and slightly better light.

Swallow - 200mm, 1/4000sec, f/2.8, ISO 800, Heavy Crop.

29 April 2010

A quick evaluative/learning day, testing my new Canon 200mm f/2.8 (prime) lens. Conclusion - I love it!! These shots were taken in appalling light at no higher than ISO 400. I was also testing my new bag - Lowepro Outback 200, which is very practical, I recommend it to anyone who needs easy access to a lot of stuff without taking anything off you back. I used to own a Lowepro Slingshot and this is way more practical and easily accommodates the above lens with hood attached. I've also been practicing with a feature of my camera that I have barely touched - One Shot AF. Oh yeah, and there's crap loads of Goslings down at Fairhaven Lake right now :D

Goslings - 200mm, 1/800sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped.

Gosling - 200mm, 1/640sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped.

Goslings - 200mm, 1/800sec, f/2.8, ISO 400, Uncropped.

Swans - 200mm, 1/3200sec, f/2.8, ISO 200, Uncropped. Yep, you can still catch stuff in flight with a mere 200mm, hehe.

France Holiday April 2010

Here's a selection of the snaps I took while on holiday this year...

Field Mouse (I think) - 105mm, 30sec, f/13, ISO 200, Uncropped. And before you ask, I didn't kill it.

Female Stag Beetle (?) - 105mm, 1/15sec, f/10, ISO 800, Uncropped.

Gull - 400mm, 1/1250sec, f/7.1, ISO 400, Uncropped. Yep, that's in flight.

Thrush - 400mm, 1/800sec, f/5.6, ISO 200, Uncropped.

Sanderlings - 400mm, 1/640sec, f/8.0, ISO 200, Uncropped.

22 April 2010

Found the Tiger Beetles!! (Ainsdale sands) Even caught them in the act, the one underneath seemed a bit unnerved by my presence, but luckily the one on top had her pinned down nicely :) These guys are among the most challenging insects I've ever photographed, very edgy, fast runners, agile fliers and they are very well camouflaged.