Regents Park & British Wildlife Center

I hope you all had a great Christmas, I had a great time catching up with all my family and friends and find out what they have been up to during 2013.

Even during the bad weather we have been having over the last few days I have been able to get out and about and get a few photos, my favorite of these were taken in Regents Park, London which I traveled up to with Dad on our way to the Natural History Museum where we were looking at the images from this years Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition.

These images of a Great Crested Grebe were all taken on the large lake by the cafe in Regents Park and by using my fold out screen on my Canon 60D I was able to hold the camera just centimeters above the water giving you this view across the water. In my eyes I much prefer images taken like this as it draws the attention straight to the grebe and by using a wide aperture it has minimized the depth of field meaning only the grebe is in focus.

On Sunday I was with Jack again, on a Workshop at the British Wildlife Center. This gave him a chance to put the skilled he learnt in his first workshop into practice while using my equipment. We also looked into how these same skills can be transferred into his own camera and how with a few little things he can improve his photography massively.

After the workshop I just caught the start of the owl display, so I decided to go and practice my own photography on the owls as they flew by. During the display they showed 5 of the 8 species they keep at the center, below I have included two photos one of a Barn Owl in flight and the other of a Short eared owl.

Red Sea 2013 - Taster Blog

Hi Everyone I'm Back,

Now where to begin.......in a word it was amazing. I was in the water everyday and saw some amazing fish species in a variety of different shapes and colours, each as eye catching as the next. From swimming above the coral to swimming along side Green Turtles. It was amazing over the next few days I will be putting together a full blog post of all that I got up too, so think of this as a little taster into what is to come!

Below are just three of the images I took on the trip, don't worry there are many, many more to come and I can't recommend highly enough how much I suggest you all plan your trips there.

A family of Humbug dascyllus

Squaretail Coralgrouper

Porcupine fish 

Back in Horsham

I got back to Sussex from Cornwall on Saturday and straight away on Sunday I was setting up shots from my shoot at Rangers Lodge Wildlife Rescue and Rehabilitation Centre where I was photographing two of their rescued Hedgehogs in scenes which show one of the threats that they face in the wild.

While there I photographed them next to a fork, with slugs and slug pellets and more. I will be editing them all over the next day before I go to Egypt on Wednesday so keep an eye out for more of these images and take into account the threats that these wonderful creatures face in the wild and more importantly from us.

Today I was out at Park Cameras where I have invested in a GoPro strap from the Red Sea, before I left Falmouth I borrowed a GoPro Hero3 white edition from a friend. This will be my first time using one so could be interesting and take some time to learn about the gizmos on it to capture some great footage of me snorkeling when I'm away.

After Park Cameras I headed too Arundel Wetland Center, just outside the center you go down a road with a stream down each side as we drove down there I said to Dad, I have never seen any Water Voles down here even though we always see them at the center. Just after making that remark I spotted one and we quickly pulled over and got out and started photographing the little guy. As he seemed so quite friendly I wanted to try taking some with a flashgun. Below is one of the results.

After we took some photos of the Water Vole we moved on to the Arundel WWT where we made our way around the reserve to see what we could find. The main thing we were looking for were the Water Rails, which eventually we found and one that swam right in front of us and into the reeds before we could get any photos. Our other "targets" lets say included Snipe, Kingfishers and the Bittern which of the three we saw two, the Snipe and the Kingfisher sadly both too far to photograph from the hide.

Tomorrow I will be packing for Egypt and if I have some time photographing a Hyperlapse of my car so I can practice ready for doing some when I'm abroad.

Below are two links to my favorite time-lapses that I have found so far:

One of the desert:
http://vimeo.com/14352658

Probably the best time-lapse made to date:
http://vimeo.com/76440793

Hedgehog Photograhy

This afternoon I was back at Mawnan Smith Hedgehog Rescue to photograph their hedgehogs. For those of you who don't know I have had a slight accident with my arm meaning it is in a sling at the moment until it sorts itself out. This meant that I needed a helping hand with my photography today so asked two of my house mates Dan and Ferne to come with me and help me photograph the hedgehogs and set up some scenes.

Below is one of my images from the afternoon showing a Hedgehog in a Bonfire, I will point out now before anyone get concerned for the hedgehogs safety that I created the bonfire and put him in place and photographed him then put him back before taking the shot again with the smoke which was created using burning paper.

Diving

Had a great dive today off Pendennis Point, swimming out to the wreak off the coat and capturing some great images using the wide angle lens. This allowed me to capture some interesting shots of the starfish that I found on the wreckage.

Unfortunately the dive had to be cut short due to me having an asthma attack and not being able to breath so well through the rig. Thankfully I was near the shore and able to get out the water quickly and all good now as if nothing happened. Just want to get back down there and dive again!

Richmond Park

On Thursday me, Dad and Dan left early and headed over to Richmond park for opening, in the early morning sunlight we were able to capture some amazing shots. While there I was mainly using a Nikon D7000 with a Nikon 300mm F2.8, while using the equipment I noticed some of the images appearing slightly blurred. I put this down to me being used to using Canon kit and the screen being slightly different, but when I got home I found out that 99% of the images had focused about a foot behind where the focus point was really pointing. I straight away notified the Uni and they had suggested I used manual focus until I bought it in on Monday and they can check it out.

While there I used a Nikon 600mm F4 which seemed to be producing great images, below is one shot I took laying down taking a shot of a Great Crested Grebe on one of the many lakes at Richmond deer park.

I will try and save as many as I can and hopefully be uploading more soon.

Other posts to look forward too include my trip to the wildlife rescue center and a trip to London where I visited Billingsgate Market and Borough Market before wandering around photographing the spectacular buildings that create London.

Diving - Tuesday 5th November

On Tuesday I had a great dive at Pendennis Point, while down there I saw some great creatures and captured some of my favorite images I've ever captured, below I have attached some of these images.

Leach's Spider Crab

Nearer the end of the dive Dan (my Buddy) was in the sea weed photographing some blemmies and so I went off to find my own subject, I soon came across a cave and stuck my head in as I shone my light around from left to right as it move to the right I suddenly realized the next to move getting closer was the largest Lobster I have ever seen, it's claws bigger then my hands. I quickly moved out f the cave took a few photos before getting Dan and showing him the huge creature. 

Godrevy at rough seas

A quick trip to Godrevy yesterday lead to an amazing site as they waves smashed against the rocks. Before I'd left the house however I came across of a major issue, probably the most stupid thing I've done this year when it comes to photography!! I left my Nd and Polarising filters inside a bag I hired with a camera from the photography stores last week when I was photography the tide at Swanpool beach. I quickly went and reported my stupidity and am now in wait in hope who ever has the bag notices and is honest enough to give them back.

But back to the shoot itself down in Falmouth it was a bit windy but nothing compared to what we were met with when we got to Godrevy. We could feel it from the car as it hit the sides, when we looked out at the sea the waves were crashing hard against the rock in which we normal stand to photography to lighthouse, even the surfers which normally coat the beach weren't in sight. Most people watched it from the cars, upon arrival we got out the car and had only a short about of time before our lens were coated in water and we were unable to photograph anymore.

Diving off Pendennis Point

Due to the storm hitting last weekend none of us thought we were going to be diving on tuesday so on Tuesday morning the last thing we were all expecting was a text from Gaynor (our dive lecturer) saying we were going to be diving later that day, but as it happens as I woke up I looked at my phone and there it was and we were diving.

When down there we saw a number of different species including one that I don't even know what it is, the key species that was seen were Velvet Swimming crabs which seemed to be everywhere in every crack and crevice.

I have added some photos of a Goby I found that which seemed to be particularly tame, I also added a shot of a edible crab which I found that was large enough to feed a family of 4.

Tehidy Taster Day

Today I was helping out on a taster day, in this I looked after two hopeful students which wanted to see what a day in the life of a student was like. Today was also the first years trip to Tehidy Country Park where they had a brief to capture a number of different images such as landscapes and species shots.

While there I spoke to the taster students about any questions they have about the course and what they thought of it so far. Nearer the end of the day we spoke about photography techniques and how to capture their images in a  different manner to make them stand out.

Grey Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

As always the the squirrels were as friendly as ever and allowed us get close to them, of course as long as we had some nuts.

Grey Squirrel - Sciurus carolinensis

While there we also came across some cauliflower fungus at the stump of a tree. This rare fungus stands out and is easily spotted but is rare and often never seen. 

Cauliflower Fungus - Sparassis

Swanpool at Twilight

Had a great day getting some odd jobs done, all in preparation in going out at sunset and getting some twilight shots from Swanpool. If anyone remembers I tried this earlier on in the year and got some great shots so today was a day to try it out.

Upon arrive I noticed it was high tide which created a few difficulties in itself, the main one being the lack of beach to capture my images. Having said that I was able to capture a could of great shots with the help of a Canon 5D Mark II and a Canon 24-105mm F4L I had hired from the photo stores.

Tomorrow I am out with the 1st years and some college students on a teaser day, the 1st years will be out completing a project and the college students are on the trip to get an idea of what uni life is like. I'm there as a Student Ambassador looking after them and talking to them about what I've experienced so far at uni.

Out Filming

Sadly no dive images again this week, last week was due to bad buoyancy on my side this week because of a bad cold in which my diving buddy has come down with, which means he couldn't dive together so we will have to make up another week.

So instead of wasting the day I met up with a fellow student, who I am working on a moving image project with and we did some filming. For this project we needed to show a process which relates to natural history, the catch is that we can't use any sound or text in the video that has to be exactly 60 seconds (1 minute) long.

Our chosen process is the process of a landscape photographer from getting his stuff ready right through to taking the final photo at the location. At the end of the video we needed a shot of the final shot so here it is, not my best photo but at the same time works well with the video.

Kennall Vale

Had a quick trip up to Kennall Vale this afternoon to see if the fungi had appeared yet and any changes that may have happened since my last visit before summer. Upon arrival I noticed a sing explaining that part of the reserve had been closed due to it being unsafe, over the next 8 weeks they are hoping to fix this and get the reserve back to how it was.

While wondering around I kept an eye out for any fungi but there was so little and none in a nice place to photograph. I am hoping to go back in a few weeks to see if more has appeared and I am able to capture the images in which I am after.

The Search for Stackhouse Cove

Had a great day out yesterday where I went out with two of my house mates in the hope of getting an idea what the fishery at Newlyn is like and then after searching for Stackhouse Cove where we had been shown some great landscapes and told about a friendly Kestrel that had been seen there.

The view from within at Rinsey

So first things first the fishery, we had a wander around the pier area. Where we captured some nice images of all the fishing boats moored at the harbour. We even had the chance to watch two of the fishing boats come in with a fresh load.

Harbour at Newlyn

While there we often found ourselves nears some friendly juvenile Turnstones which seems to patrol the edge of the pier.

Juvenile Turnstones - Arenaria interpres

Along with the Turnstones we also saw a young Cormorant, who was allowing us to get close to him and capture some great photos of him with his feet just dipped in the water.

Juvenile Cormorant - Phalacrocorax carbo

From Newlyn Pier we went searching for Stackhouse Cove, in the process we found a small car park, a beach and a cafe where we asked a number of different people none of which knew where or of Stackhouse Cove, it was as if it didn't exist. We however ended up at a National Trust car park called Rinsey, where we captured a lovely show from inside a chimney and a slow motion show of the waves coming in and out over the rocks surround the coast.

Rocks at Rinsey

After taking some great photos we headed back to base and waited for sun down, where we headed out once again this time to Pendennis Point. Where we captured some images of the amazing stars that cover the star every night and yet most of us are normally indoors at this point and don't see them. 

While there I used my phone torch to light the building or subject for a few seconds then leave the camera shutter open for the remained of the 30" shutter speed I was using to light up the nights sky and allow me to capture some great skyscrapers. Hopefully I will be improving on them in the next few weeks as the sun sets earlier allowing me to get out earlier and earlier.

Stars at Pendennis Point 

While out on Saturday I was using a Nikon D800E which is Nikons new full frame camera with a whooping 36.3MP allowing me to get the best image quality within my images. Over the next year I will get this camera out a few more times and try and get some amazing images with this outstanding number of pixels.

Stars at Pendennis Point 

Hells Mouth + Godrevy

Had a great day out yesterday at Hell Mouth and Godrevy, was in search of the baby seal pups. Almost straight away after arriving at Hells Mouth we spotted them and started to snap away.

Capturing some great images of them interacting with their parents.

Grey Seal Parent with Pup - Halichoerus grypus 

Photo by Rhian Grey

Just as we were leaving it started to pour down so upon arrive at Godrevy we decided it would be best to only go to the closest beach, where although not a great view of the seals we saw a pup and mum swimming along the shoreline. While there we were surrounded by a flock of Turnstones (Arenaria interpres) and Common Sandpipers (Actitis hypoleucos), while flying over head was a Sandwich Tern (Thalasseus sandvicensis).

Dunlin

View from Hells Mouth