dannygreenphotography Blog
31st March 2010
Up-close and personal
What do I do, what can I photograph, I need something to photograph, Why! Because I have a new toy in the shape of the latest Canon 1D MK4 and I am desperate to try it out, so I thought I know Brown Hares bring em on. I picked up my new camera from the Flash Centre in Birmingham and after a quick demo and chat with Kev I was now armed with a brand new camera, the first time since my 1D MK11 all those years ago. I have taken some nice stuff on my old gear but I have felt for a long time it was time for a change and so I have taken the plunge. My first impressions of the new camera are great, it focuses quick, very quick and the ease of use especially checking images on that lovely new screen and also how easy it is to delete unwanted images (remember I have used a 1D MK11 for five years).
It is early days yet and I haven't really started putting it through it paces but I will say one thing and that is about the raw files and how easy they are to process in photoshop which is a huge plus for me because I hate computers. The detail is amazing and they are miles better than anything I have worked on in the past. As for the Hares well they duly obliged me in my quest and the first three images are of one which was unbelievebly tame for a Brown Hare. I have been working with Brown Hares now for nearly 20 years and have never come across one so tame and he allowed me to take a number of very close-up portraits.
The one thing about Brown Hares that I always love is they are always doing something and over a period of time you can get many different behavioural images. The best time to photograph them is from early February to late April as that is the start of the breeding season and the one reason I always go back to the Hares is to try and capture that unique behaviour of Boxing, where the females warn of the close attention of the males. I always seem to miss this but it is very difficult to record as an image. They are plenty of images to try for though and I also love the way Hares stretch after a long period of just resting.
This Hare and myself got caught out in a rain shower and I really liked the one below where his fur is wet showing the lovely texture to it, is he praying for the rain to stop or just that pesky photographer to bugger off.
So first impressions are very good and it coped well with the Hares but I need to test it for action shots. I am going to Sweden at the weekend to work on Cranes which are just in the middle of their migration as they head on north back to their breeding grounds, so this should give me an opportunity to really check out the Auto focus on the MK4 and I will post my findings on the blog when I get back.
22nd March 2010
Springs emerging reptiles
Early spring is the best time of the year to photograph reptiles as they have spent the long winter months hibernating and at the first sign of spring they start to emerge to bask in the spring sunshine. Spring is late this year and after such a hard winter they will be itching to get going again. Adders are usually the first to emerge and males are always the first which are about two weeks before the females. Once the females are above ground the males are very territorial and this is your best chance of spotting one of natures most facinating rituals, the dance of the adders. I have only ever witnessed this once before and I would love to capture it in the form of an image.
Common Lizards can also be out in late March and this species is not that difficult to get images of them because in my experience they allow a much closer approach than most other reptiles, again early morning is best as they can be very sluggish and need the suns warmth to heat up their bodies before they go about finding food, this is a critical time for lizards because they are also the main prey item for adders.
Common Toads are very traditional in their habits and habitats and when conditions are right a mass migration gets underway. The first thing Toads do at the first sign of spring is head to their breeding ponds which can be many miles from their hibernating places. This mass migration is one of natures greatest events and now is the time to get out and witness it.
16th March 2010
Brings back Memories
Its been over two years since I last photographed Water Voles as I have been busy with other subjects but after spending two weeks behind the computer screen I was starting to go mad and just had to get out with the camera. I spent nearly two years photographing this beautiful creature and today brought back all those memories of my time with this delightful rodent. The light was nice first thing and as there was no wind the reflections were perfect and thats when I got my favorite stuff.
I have seen Water Voles eat all kinds of food sources but this one took me by surprise as he tucked into this Orange peel that had been discarded by a walker.
Whilst I was taking pictures of the Voles I also kept an eye on the local Little Grebes as well because they were busily defending territories ready for the forth coming breeding season. This one is in a threatening posture directed at another Grebe, seconds later he launched an attack.
3rd March 2010
Snettisham Spectacular
The UK has so much to offer in terms of wildlife watching but one of the most spectacular sights is the huge concentration of birds that spend the winter months feeding around our estuaries. Snettisham is an RSPB reserve that is part of the Wash and international important populations of Waders and Wildfowl depend on it as a feeding and roosting area through out the winter. I have found Snettisham very productive in terms of images over the years and I always try and go each winter for my wader fix. The trick with this location is the timing of your visit and it is important to know and understand your tides. Spring tides which are the highest tides of the year are what you need to look out for and if you can go on one of these tides then you will witness one of the great natural wonders of the world.
About twenty thousand Pink-footed Geese use the reserve each night to roost and if you can get there for dawn, then you stand a good chance of getting flock formations as they fly past on their way to their day time feeding sites in land.
At peak times in October/November upto 80,000 knot use the reserve to sit out the hide tides and if it is a spring tide they head towards the pits along with thousands of other birds like Oystercatcher, Godwits, Redshanks and Dunlin. The noise and sight is really something special to witness and it is a fantastic opportunity for photography.
This is the first time I have seen such big numbers of Avocets on the reserve and managed to get some images as they were flying around in front of the hides.
Walking back along the coast can also produce images especially when the tide is on the way out as the waders are keen to start feeding again on the exposed mud. This is a shot of a flock of Bar-tailed Godwits dropping into to feed alongside these Shelduck.
24th February 2010
Wild Wonders of Europe Blog
I was chosen as one of the photographers to be part of a huge and ground breaking project called Wild Wonders of Europe. Around 60 of the top wildlife photographers in Europe was each given a mission to document a certain subject in a different country. My mission was to cover some of the most important and impressive Gannet colonies in Scotland. I went to St Kilda, The Flannans and also Bass Rock. If you would like to read my account of these amazing adventures then please follow this link wild wonders blog. The main website is www.wild-wonders.com it is a great website with some of the most amazing images captured by some of best photographers around and really shows us the nature and beautiful places what Europe has to offer and therefore protect for future generations.
21st February 2010
Majestic Goldies
At the beginning of February I spent a week in Flatanger, Norway photographing Golden Eagles at my good friend Ole Martin Dahl's special Eagle hides. I have been to Ole's place many times and I never tire of it and always come away with something in the bag. This was the third time I have been in the winter and Norway is such a beautiful place during the winter months. This time I was determined to get some action images of the Goldies as my previous stuff was pretty static. The weather was fantastic with clear skies so I had no problem with shutter speeds but predicting the action was not easy and I only got a few flight shots.
I also got lucky when two Eagles came to the bait at the same time and had little stand-off which again is the first time this has happened for me.
This selection of images would take me years to produce in this country, in fact they would be impossible to do because as soon as you mention baiting Golden Eagles the phone goes dead for some reason. I can't wait until my next stint back at Ole's, I love the place, cheers mate you are a star my Viking friend.
19th February 2010
Wild Norfolk
I have just spent four days in Norfolk looking for Barn Owls and other species of birds that can be found along the north Norfolk coast during the winter months. I have been visiting this area for many years and it has always been a very productive area for me. I will be going back over the next few months because I will be spending a lot of time working on this barn owl site. I have photographed this beautiful owl many times so I am looking at producing something a little different from my previous stuff, so I am after more environmental type images which appeals to me more anyway.
This one was my favorite from the four days as I love the light coming through its wings and also the intense look that it is doing just prior to pouncing on a vole.
I really liked this one as well because the way the wind was swaying the reeds and also the soft back lighting. I also worked on a small flock of Snow Buntings as well whilst there and wanted to try and get some reflections of this hardy passerine as it was feeding on seed put down by myself.
All in all not bad for a four day break, Norfolk is certainly a great place for photography during the winter.
17th February 2010
Reds in the Snow
I love Red Squirrels there are beautiful mammals and are such good subjects to get your teeth into. I have photographed them many times over the years at different times of the year, in many different types of settings but never in snow. So this winter I set out to get some shots, as I live in Leicestershire and as far as I know there are no Red Squirrels left, I needed some help in my quest. So I booked a couple of sessions in a hide set-up by Pete Cairns and as Pete has worked on his local Squirrels for many years and the chance of squirrels coming to the feeders is very high I finally got my Snowy Red images.
They look cracking in Winter conditions as it really brings out the colour of their beautiful coats and of course their eartufts are at their best and I think this is the best time of the year to get images of them.
16th February 2010
Welcome to my blog, I can't believe I am saying this as five years ago I couldn't even work out my emails and now I am doing a blog, you see there is hope. Anyway after going on about it for two years I have finally got a new website where I have complete control over so I can update with new images and news at anytime. It has taken me a long time to get to this stage and I am pleased with how it looks, especially the galleries as thats what websites are all about showing images. I have been extremely busy over the last couple of years going to many parts of the UK and Europe in search of images so there are lots of new images that people haven't seen. I will be trying to keep upto date with this blog as well and now at last can add my own image of the month on a monthly basis. The blog will cover many things to do with the world of nature photography from how to work with different subjects and how to tackle them, I will also be doing some equipement reviews from time to time so plenty of stuff for you to take in and lots of info along the way.