Posts tagged ‘Photography’
Evolutionary Marvel
Over the last year or so I have been putting peanuts out for a couple of badgers that visit our garden two or three times a week. They don’t come every night and very rarely together, and it can be at anytime after dark Despite my efforts to get them to arrive earlier or even at a regular time none of which have been successful.
However because they often don’t eat all the nuts, we get lots of visits from birds early next morning that clear up the remainder. One such bird is the Greater Spotted Woodpecker.
This bird is skittish to say the least. Three months ago the slightest movement of the camera or even a gust of wind would have this bird disappearing from view. However firing the camera, whilst he is feasting, has over time, taught him to ignore the sounds and movement, which previously scared him senseless. My aim was always to do something different picture wise and I had come up with an idea of placing the camera high in the tree to get an image of him has he worked his way up the tree trunk.
Easier said than done as he has many trees in which to choose from.
The temptation of the odd peanut strategically placed and good old-fashioned patience is starting to pay off, though I stress this remains very much a work in progress.
Over the last few weeks I have got closer to this bird than I ever have, and one cannot help marvel at the way it goes about its daily life. How did it evolve to become such a specialist?
The woodpecker group of birds are found around the world in different guises. No other bird to my knowledge smashes its beak into such a solid object as a tree, and as in their case, it’s the tree that comes off the worse for wear.
I’m not going to go into to much detail here about how it survives many of you already know about the woodpeckers biological make-up that allows it to behave in such a way, and if you don’t, then Google it, it’s worth doing. My thoughts go past that and ask the question how did they come about?
If any other bird was to try smashing it’s head against a tree the shock wave alone would surely do irreparable damage. At what point did evolution stick a shock absorber in the bird’s head. It’s not as if, this could be done on a gradual basis. It’s one of those things that either works or it doesn’t, and if it doesn’t one dead bird and end of the evolutionary line.
Any way if anyone has the answer I would love to know, meanwhile its back to trying to get some more unusual images of this evolutionary marvel.
Has the internet devalued the Arts.
This question has been brought to the fore on many occasions, but it is one that I tended to brush aside, wanting to believe it was untrue. The last evening my young daughter aged 11 was showing off her PowerPoint skills to me on her computer. I was impressed; She was flicking round PowerPoint at a speed far greater than I can even now, building graphics and slides with ease.
Then without warning she did something which knocked me over, something I would have never of done probably because I’m a photographer.
Suddenly there was a raft of puppy images on her screen as fast as she could move the mouse one image was selected and inserted into a slide. Hold on I screamed what did you do there. Just adding some pictures to my slides came the reply. Where did you get them from, I’m not sure you should be doing that. Why it’s easy she said. I was horrified it was definitely easy, but my thoughts were with the image creator. Was it theft, turns out that no it wasn’t, getting her to show me where she had got the images, it stated personal usage was allowed, and after all that was all she was using the images for, her own entertainment.
But it did set me thinking if an 11-year-old can do this easily then the picture thief will certainly be able to do it, and unless it gets out into the wider world the chances of you ever discovering that your hard work has been stolen is virtually nil.
It seems the Internet is not a pot full of pluses. High streets are failing tradesmen are losing work to DIY as finding out how to do a job is just a click away. It is a sharing society, this I have no problem with if it’s yours to share.
For law-abiding people who decided to go the legal way to obtain a photo the price has never been so cheap and the piece of mind is priceless, some sites allow free usage providing it’s not for commercial gain. Even so it is really easy just to take it, but I urge you think before you steel that image. If you have ever thought about the level of investment time effort and knowledge in which to get a special image then you’ll know it not easy. Whilst everyone has a camera of some sort it is not everyone who has the eye for an image or indeed the time or desire to sit for hours on end to get it. I for one have started to watermark my images trying to protect my image rights; whilst I know this is not perfect, it does at least deter the casual thief. (Be assured if you purchase the image legitimately the watermark is removed). Above all remember would you be happy if someone walked into your office and stole your hard work and passed it off as their own or even just used it to further their position with out your permission. If this still doesn’t hit home then I’m sure that if someone were to break into your house and steal your stuff by the same token you wouldn’t mind, or would you!
Inspiration
As a photographer I am constantly looking for new ways to portray a subject. In this digital age there is no shortage of images and despite the high numbers, fewer images seem to move me in a way they once did. But today is different I came across the World Press Photo site and loved the images. http://www.worldpressphoto.org It isn’t the subjects (though there is a wide range) it’s the way the photographers seemed to have done what all photography should do, and taken a snapshot of the moment, whilst capturing the emotion of the subjects. Truly inspirational and some of the best images I have seen in a long time. Good stuff. Congratulations to all the winners.
Let me know your thoughts.
Spring is here
Yep its official spring has arrived with vengeance. Temperatures have been up in the high teens here in the north of Scotland, and so I have been running round like a headless chicken trying to fit as much photography in as possible, and as predicted more time is needed. Now im not saying the weather has to be good for photography, but the reality is images look good when the sun shines. It can be a double edge sword though as there have been times this week, when I have literally been casting a shadow over the early spring flowers in order to get the images required. Having an understanding girlfriend is a real bonus at moments like those, It / she make’s life so much easier than the usual, “I need to be in two places at the same time mode” that I usually find myself in. (Probably would be wise to say thank you to her at this point)
As we head into April I’m really looking forward to the emergence of the smaller creatures as this is an area I intend to explore more this year. Already I have seen the odd Peacock and Small Tortoiseshell butterflies knocking about along with the Common Scotch Argus again showing earlier than other years.
And so its back to being a chicken again. Keep your eye on the galleries to see some of the work and im now going to spend an evening in the company of skittish badgers that’s if I can stay awake long enough.
Thanks for your interest.
Being out there still get’s my vote.
Having had a full English Breakfast last sunday, and watching as the rain gave way to glorious light, I decided that a second rarity would take place, we would go for a family walk. This was met with mild enthusiasm from Julie my partner and a total rejection from the youngest member of the household whom had only just surfaced from the duvet.
Despite her unusual protests (normally Rosie jumps at the chance of adventure) and after a series of “do we have to, where are we going to go, I have been round those wood’s loads of times, I don’t need to see them again…………..” You get the picture, we set of with no plan, A flask of hot chocolate, a camera each and enthusiasm, on my part any way.
After a short while and family chit-chat suddenly I found some flowering gorse (I know it’s January) I decided to try to get some images. The girls suitably unimpressed carried on walking, as I cursed for not putting the Macro lens in my pocket. Out of the corner of my eye a lichen covered post started to draw me ever closer as I studded the possibility of making an artistic image. I needed to find a way to get as close as the short zoom lens would allow. The more I looked the more possibilities came to light.
After a good hour I decided to try catch the girls up who by now had disappeared out of sight. After only 200 yards I found them both lying in the undergrowth photographing the frost on fallen leaves, and having much fun looking at the different patterns the frost had formed. They also were cursing at the lack of a macro lens. Finding some interesting frost Patterns we then carried on to the ridge over looking Lochness and poured ourselves a hot chocolate each, and taking in the view our young protester announced I love being out here its just so wild. Was this the same girl who left the house with us. The one that moaned belligerently for the first 300 yards.
I had to agree as much as I love taking images the just being there, seeing nature in all it’s glory is by far the best part and as I pointed out it’s just a case of making the time and effort to do it. As in life sometimes to do nothing is by far the easier option. But then our inner-self and well-being suffers.
