Corfe Castle For a long time now, I have wanted to get up early and shoot over to Corfe Castle, for a foggy morning, Well finally I did it, I took 185 shots and as we say "filled me boots". Corfe Castle With the fog constantly coming in thick and then fading it made for some excellent picture opportunities . Corfe Castle It was terrific, I still have to go back and process some more, but that is best left for another day, I have put a fair few on the Website, so feel free to take a peek. Corfe Castle

Another thing I am dying to try is nightime photography, I will have to wait until I get my new camera, but it does put a new angle on photography that I never knew possible, the idea is that you catch the stars and the milky-way as well as the landscape you are looking at, great effects, I have been scouting around looking for a suitable site and found a few, but I want to be unique, so it will not be just Pulpit rock or Durdle Door, anywhere that there isn't any lights. Nicodemus Knob

This Nicodemus Knob on Portland, this could be a great spot for night photography, the plan will be to get a high powered torch on the rock to light it up and at the same time catch the sky, fingers crossed it will all work out, watch this space.

I have been to the Bill and taken some evening pics recently, it was amazing that all of a sudden the place was empty, here are some of the results.

Portland Bill Lighthouse

Portland Bill Lighthouse

And finally the light had almost gone, I had to use my headlight to pack up after this one. Pulpit Rock

Really like the way this came out, it was along exposure due to the lack of light and no filter.

We went over to Morton Ford the other day on a little drive out, we had a nice cup of Tea at the cafe and I took a few shots of the Ford. Morton Ford Morton Ford Morton Ford

Most of these pics are in my Landscape folder on the main page of my Website.

Happy days again 

Mark

Harvest Mouse Just recently I was lucky enough to have a Small Mammal photography day with a local well known Photographer Colin Varndell.

It was fantastic, got to photograph various creatures including this header a Harvest Mouse, Now I will not try to cheat at all, a lot of the pics were from captive animals, but apparently, "that is how they do it"

The Harvest Mice were the only kept Mouse out of all of them, the others released after we had taken some pics.

We did spend some time in hides taking shots of Birds and Grey Squirrels, but to be honest and absolutely no disrespect meant to the course, or Colin, but I prefer to snap the birds in the open. Grey Squirrel Grey Squirrel

It was after the Bird hide, that we got up close the Field Voles, I have seen them before caught one on Camera running on the beach at Preston. Field Vole

But to see one really close, looking at me, almost pleading to be let go, was terrific. Field Vole

They were caught in a flap trap, along with Bank Voles. Bank Vole

I was able to get a shot of one of these later, but with flash, it's eyes overexposed and looked awful, so I will not put one of those pics up.

After this Colin brought out the main event, the Harvest Mice. Harvest Mouse

Absolutely wonderful, I have never seen these before, especially like this, Colin has 4, the thing they want to do is climb, so they are in a large enclosure with quite high sides, and in the middle various plants are put in and anchored down for this purpose.

A Raspberry cane. Harvest Mouse And a Burdock Harvest Mouse

Later we had another hide session, we had to sit and wait, branches were laid between 2 points and smeared with peanut butter, after a short while first we had like I said a Bank Vole, then we had a few Wood Mice come out, they didn't seem that bothered by the Flashguns going off, so we were able to get a few pics. Wood Mouse

I get these in the garden, Elaine goes mad every time she glimpses one, I don't mind as long as they stay outside.

I have also been over to Brownsea again, and Yes I got to find the Red Squirrels, but the light wasn't perfect and they were busily feeding on the Beech Nuts. Red Squirrel Red Squirrel I have loads more to show, I will get my finger out, I have a whole array of Fungi pics some more Bird and Landscape stuff.

There are more photos from this section on my website take a look it's free 

Happy Days :-)

At the beginning of September a pair of Spoonbills turned up at Lodmoor.

They were very obliging and great to photograph, they would come within 6-10 feet of were I was stood, the light was perfect so there were no excuses for missing them.

It seemed every time I went down there, they were there.

People from all over the country came down to see them, I met some good folks over there,  one chap came down from Gloucestershire, on talking to him, I found out he had won the Amateur Photographer, Picture Of the Year, last year, what an interesting bloke, I looked at his website,               ( WWW.petedowning.com) really impressive, wow!!!! I have a lot to learn, We ended up chatting for a couple of hours just like old mates, it was brilliant.

So anyhow I will put some pics up here of what i took, there are loads on my site.

If you look at these 2 birds, there is a clear difference in the Bills, the Adult, (I'm sure it's a female, the male has a yellow collar) She has a Black bill, the Juvenile has a Pink bill

One thing that I found interesting, is when they needed to go to toilet they always got out of the water had a little shiver and shake then did a big white squirt.

How rude :-)

I did get them flying as well

Sad that they have gone, still lots of other things to put up yet.