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January 2008
I have been finishing off some of my summer projects and preparing, amongst other things, some house portraits in time for Christmas. Panoramic images are ideal for this kind of subject as they allow a very wide field of view to be captured - allowing the property to be viewed in context with its surrounding environment. It provides a permanent record and makes an ideal gift for a member of the family.
For one of my commissions, I was invited back to take a second portrait of the house - shown below - which has recently been extended at the rear with an Orangery.
This picture consists of seven images stitched together and will be displayed next to the previous portrait taken from the same position - providing a before and after record.
The winter months sees an increase in bird activity in Somerset as migratory visitors spend the winter here. An unexpected opportunity for some pictures occured during the middle of November when a lone Glossy Ibis turned up at Greylake in Somerset. To my amazement this bird completely ignored my presence, and came to within five metres of me !
The Ibis migrate to Europe from Africa and the Middle East, but seldom make it to British shores - it had presumably been blown off course and was one of only thirty birds to be seen in Britain at the time. What makes it even more special, is that it was the first offical count for Somerset - a very rare visitor indeed. You can see more pictures of the Ibis here.
A recent trip to Slimbridge gave me a chance to see and photograph another elusive bird - the Bittern. This surprisingly large bird is a master of concealment and is virtually invisible when it stays amongst the reed beds. Luckily, it could not resist emerging from the reeds briefly to warm itself in the sun - to the delight of several fellow photographers and twitchers who were getting rather cold after a long and patient wait - who says photography is a cushy job !
One of my favourite bird images this year has been that of a female Stonechat. Taken shortly before Christmas on a cold and frosty morning, this little bird was searching for insects among the frozen teasels and grasses. The surrounding fog seemed to make an ideal background, isolating the subject as she was flitting from perch to perch.
Over the next few weeks I hope to be taking many more pictures of the wildfowl that visit The Levels and I will be updating the Update History page regularly.
All in all, it has been a very successful year and has been full of surprises and unusual experiences. Most of all it has been nice meeting up with people who share the same interests, and being able to exchange ideas.
It is also nice to the end the year on a good note, and I was very pleased to be told that another of my images has been selected for the front cover on the Winter edition of a magazine called 'Thatch', dedicated to promoting the rural community throughout Somerset.
I look forward to 2008 with renewed enthusiasm...and will toast a fond fairwell to 2007...
Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year !!!
Previous News
October 2007
July 2007
April 2007
January 2007
September 2006
June 2006
March 2006
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