Jenny's 52 - Part 2 - Week 52 - The End

[jennyb]

Oh dear, after a good week last week I am feeling really down about my photography this week I have tried so many things and none have worked.

Because I am planning to make a book with these photos, I would really like to get a good representation of most of the things that I see in the garden throughout the year. I am very aware that I have not yet managed any shots of birds of prey - not through lack of trying! There were 5 buzzards circling overhead yesterday, but I did not manage any shots. One of the buzzards sits on a fence post in the middle of the field in front of our house most mornings but every time I try to get a photo it disappears. There was a kestrel on the fence last week. Still no photo. And, the sparrowhawk was trying to get one of the little birds on the feeder last week. Still no photos If I don't manage to get one before the end of the 52, I will have to cheat and use one of the red kite shots I took at Nicki's place. We get red kites here all the time too, but they are not as well trained as Nicki's!

So, this week I really wanted to do something special for TP day on Monday. The problem with wildlife and nature shots is that you cannot really plan anything. It is just a question of what turns up on the day. I was tearing my hair out on Monday. I tried all sorts of things and they were all rubbish.

This is my entry. The best I could get and it is put to shame by many of the stunning TP day entries

Next, a couple of really horrible shots. If you are eating, please look away now.















I found a pair of slugs mating. I felt like a voyeur taking these photos, but I have never seen this before and felt obliged to record the event

I can't decide which photo is best. I really like the symmetry of the first, but the second is more recognisable. I am only including them as shots of interest rather than technical merit!

Finally, more fungi. Nothing really special but I think they help to show the diversity of the fungi world. The first is a funnel cap, so named for obvious reasons. I was looking in my book to find out which one. Most were listed as edible until I reached one that looked exactly the same and was listed as deadly poisonous. I guess the moral is don't eat anything you are unsure of and wash your hands carefully after handling.

Next, another mediocre shot but I find coral fungi quite intriguing. One of the Ramaria species, but I have no idea which. I wanted to go back with my flash and reshoot, but found it had deteriorated so could not get a better shot.

Finally, another marmite shot. I actually like this one. Amethyst Deceivers are tiny little fungi with a cap 1 - 2 cms across. As the name suggests they are purple and they are also edible, although I have never tried them. I tried all sorts of angles and could not get a decent shot. However, I noticed that when the sun shone through the cap, they really glowed and were very pretty. Hence the next shot.

This is an excellent example of "multistable perception" which Jean mentioned in Tracer's thread earlier in the week. I had to look it up but basically the eye finds it ambiguous. To provide some help, the light areas are further away and the dark areas closer.

So, IMO my only decent shot of the week.

I have others which show more of the stem and the cap at an angle, if anyone thinks that would be better. Personally, I like the abstractness of this one.

C & C very welcome.

Jenny

 

[mmcp42]

well the fungus shots are just astounding,
but the "mating" well that's just pure porn and !!

 

[clud17]

Im with Mike, i love all your fungi shots, the're amazing, especially the Larch Bolete. The slugs make an interesting shot, ive never seen this before, they are especially disgusting though.

 

[dlh]

More great colours from your fungi pics. Your butterfly is far from rubbish as well. The slugs on the other hand are just gross

Hope you get some luck with your buzzard pics.

 

[jennyb]

well the fungus shots are just astounding,
but the "mating" well that's just pure porn and !!

Thanks, Mike. People probably think I am a bit of a sad case taking pictures of fungi, but I find them intriguing.

Im with Mike, i love all your fungi shots, the're amazing, especially the Larch Bolete. The slugs make an interesting shot, ive never seen this before, they are especially disgusting though.

Thanks, Chris. Actually, slugs probably think we are disgusting, too! I am sure that he thinks she is beautiful

More great colours from your fungi pics. Your butterfly is far from rubbish as well. The slugs on the other hand are just gross

Hope you get some luck with your buzzard pics.

Thanks, Darren. No luck with the buzzard yet, except those taken from inside the house (too far away even with the 500mm). Now I know where "eyes like a hawk" comes from - it is off as soon as I put my head over the hedge

Jenny

 

[jennyb]

Feeling rather pleased today I entered one of my '52' images into the Plantlife photo competition and it was selected as one of the winners! The competition was for the Plantlife calendar and my entry is going to be used for March. LOL, they probably only got 12 entries!

Fantastic prize - a copy of the calendar!!!

The image was a lichen shot which was the first one I posted in the 52. You can see it at http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=191976.

Jenny

 

[jgs001]

You've been collecting a very very good series of shots here Jenny. The nuthatch is a cracker, you know, I don't think it matters about the tail feathers, the eye is sharp and the pose with the seed in it's beak are the key points.

I really like that butterfly... as for mating slugs... yeauch,...

and Congratulations on winning the prize

 

[dlh]

Congratulations on your competition win. The lichen shot is a favourite of mine and I have no doubt that if you'd entered a few more you could have filled the calendar on your own

 

[jeangenie]

Hello Jenny, I'm sorry I've been neglecting your thread for a couple of weeks, but what a treat the catching-up has been - a feast of fantastic wildlife.

Specifically:

Week 34: That was good timing for the weather! With gardens you just can't win - the brown lawns we were bemoaning a few weeks ago now need cutting every few days. Grrr ....

Russula: I think the dof is spot on - and I like the pov, too. Lovely shot.

Larch bolete: beautifully captured and the colours are amazing, although it does look as though it's been glazed with E numbers!

Water Lily: Well done - it's not easy getting that balance between open flower and bright sunlight, and I think you've got this spot on. The petals have a lovely pure, almost transparent look and I can imagine a little creative processing could produce a very striking posterized abstract look - 2 shots for the price of one.

Rose Hips (1): Yes, I agree not your most eye-catching shot, but I wonder if a farily hard crop to make a landscape panoramic would give it a twist and make good use of the negative space? :shrug:

Rose Hips (2): Lovely shot, Jenny, and I think you were between a rock and a hard place with the leaves - if you'd included the tips I think the change in composition would have lessened the impact of those beautiful hips. I'd vote for 'no change'.


Week 35:

Speckled Wood Butterfly: Yes, it's a little soft, but in a way that suits the fragility of the butterfly, and the colours against the ripening blackberries work a treat.

Mating slugs: The things we do for photography! I guess the only place a slug is going to find love is with another slug. It looks a messy business, being a slug in love. I prefer (not quite sure that's the right word) the second shot just because the one on the left is waving its tentacles around - exhibitionist.

I thought TPers might 'enjoy' this entry on Wikki (big warning - don't read it if you're squeamish!!!)

Slugs are hermaphrodites, having both female and male reproductive organs.

Once a slug has located a mate, they encircle each other and sperm is exchanged through their protruded genitalia. A few days later the slugs lay around 30 eggs in a hole in the ground, or beneath the cover of an object such as a fallen log.

Apophallation is a commonly seen practice among many slugs. In apophallating species, the penis curls like a corkscrew and during mating often becomes entangled in the mate's genitalia. Apophallation allows the slugs to separate themselves by one or both of the slugs chewing off the other's penis. Once its penis has been removed, the slug is still able to mate using only the female parts of its reproductive system.

Funnel Cap and Coral Fungus: both excellent shots - clear and detailed.

Amethyst Deceiver: I agree this makes a terrific graphic abstract, but my multistable perceptions aren't working. Try as I might, I can only 'see' the light areas as protruding and the dark areas stay stubbornly further back. :bang: But still an excellent shot, especially given the size of it.

A fantastic couple of weeks, Jenny - this thread just goes from strength to strength and your book will be a stunner.

Jean

 

[jennyb]

You've been collecting a very very good series of shots here Jenny. The nuthatch is a cracker, you know, I don't think it matters about the tail feathers, the eye is sharp and the pose with the seed in it's beak are the key points.

I really like that butterfly... as for mating slugs... yeauch,...

and Congratulations on winning the prize

Thanks, John. I don't think there will be any prizes for the mating slugs!

Congratulations on your competition win. The lichen shot is a favourite of mine and I have no doubt that if you'd entered a few more you could have filled the calendar on your own

Thanks, Darren. I will be inflicting a calendar of my own on my unsuspecting relatives this Christmas, but I will need to take a December shot early in the month to make it happen.

Jenny

 

[jennyb]

Hello Jenny, I'm sorry I've been neglecting your thread for a couple of weeks, but what a treat the catching-up has been - a feast of fantastic wildlife.

Specifically:

Week 34: That was good timing for the weather! With gardens you just can't win - the brown lawns we were bemoaning a few weeks ago now need cutting every few days. Grrr ....

Russula: I think the dof is spot on - and I like the pov, too. Lovely shot.

Larch bolete: beautifully captured and the colours are amazing, although it does look as though it's been glazed with E numbers!

Water Lily: Well done - it's not easy getting that balance between open flower and bright sunlight, and I think you've got this spot on. The petals have a lovely pure, almost transparent look and I can imagine a little creative processing could produce a very striking posterized abstract look - 2 shots for the price of one.

Rose Hips (1): Yes, I agree not your most eye-catching shot, but I wonder if a farily hard crop to make a landscape panoramic would give it a twist and make good use of the negative space? :shrug:

Rose Hips (2): Lovely shot, Jenny, and I think you were between a rock and a hard place with the leaves - if you'd included the tips I think the change in composition would have lessened the impact of those beautiful hips. I'd vote for 'no change'.


Week 35:

Speckled Wood Butterfly: Yes, it's a little soft, but in a way that suits the fragility of the butterfly, and the colours against the ripening blackberries work a treat.

Mating slugs: The things we do for photography! I guess the only place a slug is going to find love is with another slug. It looks a messy business, being a slug in love. I prefer (not quite sure that's the right word) the second shot just because the one on the left is waving its tentacles around - exhibitionist.

I thought TPers might 'enjoy' this entry on Wikki (big warning - don't read it if you're squeamish!!!)

Slugs are hermaphrodites, having both female and male reproductive organs.

Once a slug has located a mate, they encircle each other and sperm is exchanged through their protruded genitalia. A few days later the slugs lay around 30 eggs in a hole in the ground, or beneath the cover of an object such as a fallen log.

Apophallation is a commonly seen practice among many slugs. In apophallating species, the penis curls like a corkscrew and during mating often becomes entangled in the mate's genitalia. Apophallation allows the slugs to separate themselves by one or both of the slugs chewing off the other's penis. Once its penis has been removed, the slug is still able to mate using only the female parts of its reproductive system.

Funnel Cap and Coral Fungus: both excellent shots - clear and detailed.

Amethyst Deceiver: I agree this makes a terrific graphic abstract, but my multistable perceptions aren't working. Try as I might, I can only 'see' the light areas as protruding and the dark areas stay stubbornly further back. :bang: But still an excellent shot, especially given the size of it.

A fantastic couple of weeks, Jenny - this thread just goes from strength to strength and your book will be a stunner.

Jean

Wow, Jean, you really do give value for money with your critiques. It is very much appreciated.

You learn something every day on this forum. I am sure that understanding the mating habits of slugs will be invaluable! Does this mean that both slugs lay the eggs, I wonder? I can also assure any anxious readers that apophallation did not occur this time. I saw them unfurl and make off in their separate directions without the need to gnaw off each others private parts

About the Amethyst Deceiver - look at the dark bit of the stem showing bottom centre, then follow the dark coloured gills upwards. The dark gills are closer to the camera than the light coloured cap with the sun shining through.

Jenny

 

[SarahLee]

Feeling rather pleased today I entered one of my '52' images into the Plantlife photo competition and it was selected as one of the winners! The competition was for the Plantlife calendar and my entry is going to be used for March. LOL, they probably only got 12 entries!

Fantastic prize - a copy of the calendar!!!

The image was a lichen shot which was the first one I posted in the 52. You can see it at http://www.talkphotography.co.uk/forums/showthread.php?t=191976.

Jenny

Well done Jenny and very well deserved - I remember that lichen shot, it was one of my favourites.

As for this week. Slug porn (and Jean did you REALLY need to share that gem of knowledge with us???)
These are very interesting in their own way though - I've never seen this before and there's a sort of Yin and Yang abstract feel to the first one.

The fungi shots are all beautiful - the amethyst deceiver in particular. And yes I'm getting the multistable perception happening there.

As for your TP Day shot, I think you're being far too hard on yourself with that one.

 

[jeangenie]

You learn something every day on this forum. I am sure that understanding the mating habits of slugs will be invaluable! Does this mean that both slugs lay the eggs, I wonder? I can also assure any anxious readers that apophallation did not occur this time. I saw them unfurl and make off in their separate directions without the need to gnaw off each others private parts

I've no idea about the eggs, but I wonder what would happen if two slugs meeet, apophallation occurs and then they meet up again. :shrug: Anyway, I'm glad your two survived. Omg, I can't believe I've just hoped for two slugs to procreate. :bonk:

About the Amethyst Deceiver - look at the dark bit of the stem showing bottom centre, then follow the dark coloured gills upwards. The dark gills are closer to the camera than the light coloured cap with the sun shining through.

Jenny

After 2 or 3 glasses of wine at dinner and a largish (hic) nightcap, plus your very good instructions, my multistable perception has finally kicked in and I can 'see' the Amethyst Deceiver properly! It's now an even better shot.

Jean

 

[dade_f]

Your fungi shots are FANTASTIC. Love them, really interesting, nice colours and great detail. I managed to snap a few myself this week, but nothing on this level

 

[jennyb]

Well done Jenny and very well deserved - I remember that lichen shot, it was one of my favourites.

As for this week. Slug porn (and Jean did you REALLY need to share that gem of knowledge with us???)
These are very interesting in their own way though - I've never seen this before and there's a sort of Yin and Yang abstract feel to the first one.

The fungi shots are all beautiful - the amethyst deceiver in particular. And yes I'm getting the multistable perception happening there.

As for your TP Day shot, I think you're being far too hard on yourself with that one.

Thanks, Sarah. I think this week's shots will be less pornographic!

After 2 or 3 glasses of wine at dinner and a largish (hic) nightcap, plus your very good instructions, my multistable perception has finally kicked in and I can 'see' the Amethyst Deceiver properly! It's now an even better shot.

Jean

LOL, Jean. My photos always look better after a couple of glasses of wine

Your fungi shots are FANTASTIC. Love them, really interesting, nice colours and great detail. I managed to snap a few myself this week, but nothing on this level

Thanks, Dade. I make a point of seeking out fungi in good condition. They get eaten by animals and slugs very quickly, so I have a quick tour round the garden most days to try to catch them when they have just come through and before they become moth-eaten.

I have a problem that my tripod does not go down low enough so spend much of my time on my hands and knees with the camera on a beanbag. Thank goodness for my right-angle viewfinder.

I often wonder what the neighbours must think of me

Jenny

 

[jennyb]

I struggled again this week trying various things that did not work out. At least this challenge is making me get out with the camera and experiment.

I mentioned the buzzards last week. Well, one of them has been behaving strangely all week. I think it must be a youngster that does not realise that buzzards normally sit in trees or on fences. This one has been playing around on the grass. It seems to listen then runs across the grass. It must be trying to catch mice or something, but I don't think it has had any success.

Unfortunately, it is too far away for a decent shot, but I will post one this week anyway. This is quite a heavy crop and also taken through the window, which does not help. My first BOP of the 52 - posted for interest value only.

This summer has been absolutely amazing for berries. There must be millions of blackberries. I have freezer full already and every time I go out there seem to be more ripening. We did not plant any of these, they grow wild over our fence.

I wanted a shot that tried to show a lot of berries, but I think I should have taken this shot from further away. I am not sure whether or not it works.

My only fungus shot this week is glistening inkcaps. Inkcaps come in all shapes and sizes and are rather intriguing. They last just a very short time and deliquesce into a black inky liquid (hence the name inkcap). So, you have to catch them quickly. I was not happy with this photo so went back the next day to try again and they were gone! These ones are called glistening inkcaps because of the little white mica-like grains on the surface of the caps.

Next a shot that I am happy with. I was trying to show just how many berries there are this year and I am pleased with the blurred berries in the background.

I thought that would be it for this week with today's weather forecast, but this morning I noticed a single rose hanging there in the rain. This photo really clashes with the pyracantha berries so I am going to move down the page a bit so that you don't see them too close together.













Not sure if this works or not. The colour is a bit over-powering but it really is that colour.

Finally, while photographing the rose, I noticed a visitor. Difficult to get him completely in focus but I think the important bits are.

It looks like next week will be fungi week. There are hundreds of them all over the garden, but in the meantime, I would appreciate any comments or suggestions on this week's offerings.

Jenny

 

[dade_f]

ohhh liking the cricket, nice colours and detail, good use of space.

 

[dlh]

Well done for getting a shot of a buzzard in, perseverance will no doubt get you the shot you want in the end. And having that goal must be a boon to inspire your photography.

The berries look wonderful. Any further away and you would lose the giant fluffy juicy feeling that gives this lots of impact.

The rose is fantastic as well. Big bright and bold with detail galore. And then you go and better that with the cricket shot. Simply beautiful

 

[clud17]

" i struggled this week" , looking at the results im not sure i agree Jean
One again i love the fungi shots, i seem to see a few damaged fungi when im out with my dog but i havnt really got to grips with photographing them. Your shots do inspire me though. The rainy day rose is simply stunning. Wonderful soft colours and i can almost smell it.

 

[justlooking]

That rose is beautiful. As Chris says you can almost smell it!

 

[jennyb]

ohhh liking the cricket, nice colours and detail, good use of space.

Thanks, Dade. It is nice to get a bonus with a shot. The cricket was totally unexpected.

Well done for getting a shot of a buzzard in, perseverance will no doubt get you the shot you want in the end. And having that goal must be a boon to inspire your photography.

The berries look wonderful. Any further away and you would lose the giant fluffy juicy feeling that gives this lots of impact.

The rose is fantastic as well. Big bright and bold with detail galore. And then you go and better that with the cricket shot. Simply beautiful

Thanks, Darren. I am not convinced that I will get a better buzzard shot. I should really set up my hide and put out some bait, but frankly, I just don't have time - a job and too many other commitments

The cricket was tricky because it was quite large with long antenna and to get close enough for plenty of detail it was difficult to fit the whole thing into the picture. He was also not planning on hanging around for long, so no time to experiment.

" i struggled this week" , looking at the results im not sure i agree Jean
One again i love the fungi shots, i seem to see a few damaged fungi when im out with my dog but i havnt really got to grips with photographing them. Your shots do inspire me though. The rainy day rose is simply stunning. Wonderful soft colours and i can almost smell it.

Thanks, Chris. Actually you have to look very closely to spot fungi. They tend to blend well into background especially when there are fallen leaves around.

I was lucky to get the rose. We can only grow climbers because the deer eat them. They only flower above grazing height.

That rose is beautiful. As Chris says you can almost smell it!

Thanks, JL. I was not sure about it. It seems to hurt my eyes because it is so bright. Maybe I have my monitor turned up too bright.

Jenny

 

[blakester]

Another good week Jenny, I like the side story about the young buzzard .
They are all cracking photographs Jenny but stand-out images are the berries and the cricket, I continue to be in awe of the range and creativity of your 52. Iain

 

[jennyb]

Another good week Jenny, I like the side story about the young buzzard .
They are all cracking photographs Jenny but stand-out images are the berries and the cricket, I continue to be in awe of the range and creativity of your 52. Iain

Thanks, Iain. I have had a thought about the buzzard. There are lots of molehills in that bit of the garden. I am wondering if it is listening for moles. Good luck to it, if it is!

I spotted it 3 times on the grass today.

Jenny

 

[philthejuggler]

Great stuff Jenny! As always a strong set of pictures. I particularly like your fungi shots and this one is no exception. The cricket is outstanding!

Phil

 

[SarahLee]

Another rose fan here!
I absolutely love this and the detail in the raindrops is beautiful. We have a few roses left in bloom, but after the rain and wind they're not looking anywhere near as photogenic as your version.

Personally I think you judged the blackberry shot perfectly. Beautiful focus on that one fruit and definitely a good feel of how many you have there. In fact, this is my favourite out of your set this week. I almost feel like I could reach in and touch them.

As always with this type of shot you've executed the ink caps and pyracantha perfectly. They definitely deserve a mention even though they don't jump out as much as your other shots this week.

Keep persevering with that buzzard - you got pretty close with this week and I'm sure you'll nail it before long.

 

[jennyb]

Great stuff Jenny! As always a strong set of pictures. I particularly like your fungi shots and this one is no exception. The cricket is outstanding!

Phil

Thanks, Phil. Plenty of fungi shots this week, if you are interested. The cricket was just plain lucky!

Another rose fan here!
I absolutely love this and the detail in the raindrops is beautiful. We have a few roses left in bloom, but after the rain and wind they're not looking anywhere near as photogenic as your version.

Personally I think you judged the blackberry shot perfectly. Beautiful focus on that one fruit and definitely a good feel of how many you have there. In fact, this is my favourite out of your set this week. I almost feel like I could reach in and touch them.

As always with this type of shot you've executed the ink caps and pyracantha perfectly. They definitely deserve a mention even though they don't jump out as much as your other shots this week.

Keep persevering with that buzzard - you got pretty close with this week and I'm sure you'll nail it before long.

Thanks, Sarah. I am thinking that I need to put my hide out to get closer to the buzzard, maybe some chicken legs too! Lack of time is the problem.

I am glad I posted the blackberry shot. I really was not sure about it.

Jenny

 

[jennyb]

Definitely a fungi week this week. So many that I cannot resist photographing them.

Firstly, though, a shot that I didn't know whether to post or not - a comma butterfly. I think the shape of the wings is really intriguing and that was what I was trying to capture. I think I have broken the rules by shooting it with its back to the camera, but I wanted to get the outline of the wings, some of the beautiful colours on the top of the wings and also the comma on the underside which gives it its name.

Next, the fungi. More broken rules in the next 2 shots. I was trying to get close to get as much detail as possible. This means that both of them ended up slap bang in the middle of the photo - not very imaginative.

The first is a Cep, sometimes called Penny Bun for obvious reasons. Apparently they are really nice to eat, but, no, I have not tried it. I am a complete coward.

Next is a Shaggy Inkcap. You can see the black edges of the cap where it is starting to deliquesce into black ink. The cap just dissolves upwards within about a day. I tried shooting from another angle shooting upwards with sky above, but there just was not enough contrast between the sky and the cap.

These are also edible before they start to deliquesce, and, no, I have not tried these either. There were probably about a dozen of them.

The next are Shaggy Parasols, so-called because they open up into a parasol shape. There are dozens of these and have been for several weeks.

Next is Hen of the Woods, another edible fungus when young. This is different to Chicken of the Woods which I posted a few weeks ago.

Finally, my favourite for this week, probably Brown Birch Boletes, although I am not completely sure. The animals are really enjoying all this fungus. I went back to see these again the next day and all the tops had been eaten, but they left the stalks.

I have just previewed this post and realise that some people may find this week's offerings EXCEEDINGLY boring. I think what I am trying to show is the diversity even among fungi that are not very colourful - just plain brown.

On reflection, the only one I am happy with is the boletes. Maybe I should not have posted them No time to reshoot because I am busy this weekend.

C & C very welcome. If you think they are rubbish, please say so.

Jenny

 

[clud17]

loving the troop of Boletes Jean, you have served up a real mushroom treat this week. Glad to see a few edibles too, i think i'd have a go at them if i learnt what was good and what was bad/deadly.

 

[jeangenie]

Hi Jeanny, you're certainly on the ball with this week's post - I dropped in to catch up on Week 36.

Week 36: Well done on your first BOP - I'm sure he'll learn about what he's supposed to be doing and perhaps give you a chance to get a closer shot.

Blackberries: What a feast. I think you were right to go in close, and you've done a good job on controlling the light shining off the berries. I like the dof. I think the issues you had with this one are very like the daffodil conversations we had earlier - it's hard to decide just where to place the focus and compose round it. What you did worked well.

Glistening Inkcaps: I think this is my second favourite this week - they really do look as though they're glistening. They've arranged themselves very nicely for you and your composition and lighting are spot on.

Pyracantha Berries: This is definitely my favourite this week - those berries really leap out of the picture. Excellent shot.

Rainy day Rose: I can see why you took this one - it's a beautiful, perfect flower. It looks a little bit light on my screen (and I appreciate that it was this totally gorgeous colour), but a bit darker might bring out the raindrops a bit more. So really - I'm not sure either.

Cricket: Well done on getting this one - he'd definitely speckled and he's got his beady little eye on you! I bet you had to grab this one quickly - well done.

Week 37: Comma butterfly - rules? What rules? I love this and the angle really does emphasise the intricate shape of the wings. Lovely.

That cep really does look good enough to eat! It's sturdy enough to sit in the centre of the frame. Personally, I like it as it is, and the grass adds interest, colour and texture.

Shaggy Inkcap: Another winner. The pov is spot on and you've brought out the shaggy texture beautifully. Are you lying flat on the ground to get these shots or using a tripod?

Shaggy Parasols: Yet another winner. I like the composition - lots to look at - the little baby ones on the right are a nice touch, and the background really complements the colours in the parasols.

Hen of the Woods: Good dof and I like the bokeh. I don't suppose it was possible to get the tips of the ones that are cut off at the bottom of the frame, which is a pity. But it doesn't dtract from an interestintg shot.

Brown Birch Boletes: These are my favourites, too. This one's got everything going for it - terrific detail in both the stems and the caps, interesting background with colours that really enhance the fungi, good grouping and composition, lovely bokeh.

Boring? No way! I've learnt so much about fungi from your thread this year and you've encouraged me to look more closely to appreciate the complexity and variety of them.

Jean

 

[philthejuggler]

Firstly, I confess to not being keen on the butterfly shot - it's not because it's shot from behind, but it is somehow visually confusing like a Escher drawing or a Necker cube.

Fantastic set of fungi pictures - I especially love the 'hen of the woods' - what a fascinating plant!

Phil

 

[dlh]

Phil makes a very good point about the butterfly, but I actually find that makes the image all the more intriguing. The wing shape caught my attention as soon as I saw the photograph so job done there I'm amazed you have things like this still flying where you are.

More good fungi shots, particularly the ink cap and the penny bun which does indeed look good enough to eat. I have to agree on your favourite though, the little family of boletes certainly on a par with your best.

 

[jennyb]

loving the troop of Boletes Jean, you have served up a real mushroom treat this week. Glad to see a few edibles too, i think i'd have a go at them if i learnt what was good and what was bad/deadly.

Thanks, Chris. You really should be very careful eating any fungi that you are unsure about. If you are interested, it would probably be best to go on an organised fungi foray led by an expert. I just play safe and don't eat any of them.

Hi Jeanny, you're certainly on the ball with this week's post - I dropped in to catch up on Week 36.

Week 36: Well done on your first BOP - I'm sure he'll learn about what he's supposed to be doing and perhaps give you a chance to get a closer shot.

Blackberries: What a feast. I think you were right to go in close, and you've done a good job on controlling the light shining off the berries. I like the dof. I think the issues you had with this one are very like the daffodil conversations we had earlier - it's hard to decide just where to place the focus and compose round it. What you did worked well.

Glistening Inkcaps: I think this is my second favourite this week - they really do look as though they're glistening. They've arranged themselves very nicely for you and your composition and lighting are spot on.

Pyracantha Berries: This is definitely my favourite this week - those berries really leap out of the picture. Excellent shot.

Rainy day Rose: I can see why you took this one - it's a beautiful, perfect flower. It looks a little bit light on my screen (and I appreciate that it was this totally gorgeous colour), but a bit darker might bring out the raindrops a bit more. So really - I'm not sure either.

Cricket: Well done on getting this one - he'd definitely speckled and he's got his beady little eye on you! I bet you had to grab this one quickly - well done.

Week 37: Comma butterfly - rules? What rules? I love this and the angle really does emphasise the intricate shape of the wings. Lovely.

That cep really does look good enough to eat! It's sturdy enough to sit in the centre of the frame. Personally, I like it as it is, and the grass adds interest, colour and texture.

Shaggy Inkcap: Another winner. The pov is spot on and you've brought out the shaggy texture beautifully. Are you lying flat on the ground to get these shots or using a tripod?

Shaggy Parasols: Yet another winner. I like the composition - lots to look at - the little baby ones on the right are a nice touch, and the background really complements the colours in the parasols.

Hen of the Woods: Good dof and I like the bokeh. I don't suppose it was possible to get the tips of the ones that are cut off at the bottom of the frame, which is a pity. But it doesn't dtract from an interestintg shot.

Brown Birch Boletes: These are my favourites, too. This one's got everything going for it - terrific detail in both the stems and the caps, interesting background with colours that really enhance the fungi, good grouping and composition, lovely bokeh.

Boring? No way! I've learnt so much about fungi from your thread this year and you've encouraged me to look more closely to appreciate the complexity and variety of them.

Jean

Thanks, Jean, for your usual detailed appraisal. It is much appreciated. When I did a preview of my post I suddenly had a crisis of confidence, decided they were all rubbish and nearly deleted them. It was only because I had spent so much time putting the post together that I decided I might as well finish the post.

I will have another go at processing the rose. It looks unnaturally bright to me.

For the fungi shots, I can rarely use the tripod. It does not go down low enough (must send out some hints for Christmas for a lower one). More often, I use a beanbag. I am always on my hands and knees when I take them but I have a right-angle viewfinder which helps a lot (and keeps my hair out of the mud!)

I have another shot of hen of the woods which does not chop off the lower bits. I chose this one, though becuase the other was too symmetrical for my taste. The chopped off bits irritate me, though and it was a close call which one I used.

Firstly, I confess to not being keen on the butterfly shot - it's not because it's shot from behind, but it is somehow visually confusing like a Escher drawing or a Necker cube.

Fantastic set of fungi pictures - I especially love the 'hen of the woods' - what a fascinating plant!

Phil

Thanks, Phil. I was very undecided about the butterfly but just wanted to try something different.

Phil makes a very good point about the butterfly, but I actually find that makes the image all the more intriguing. The wing shape caught my attention as soon as I saw the photograph so job done there I'm amazed you have things like this still flying where you are.

More good fungi shots, particularly the ink cap and the penny bun which does indeed look good enough to eat. I have to agree on your favourite though, the little family of boletes certainly on a par with your best.

Thanks, Darren. When the sun comes out, so do the butterflies. There were 5 commas on the blackberries the other day. I really wanted to include a comma photo because they are so different. When their wings are closed, they look completely black. When they open them, they are exquisite.

When I saw the bolete shot, I was very pleased with it. I just love the way they were stood there and in such good condition, too. Glad you like it.

Jenny

 

[Tracer]

I'm afraid I've been getting behind again with your thread, Jenny - you have some wonderful shots here and I am particularly enjoying seeing all the different fungi. You are getting wonderful detail and lighting in them all.

 

[jgs001]

All excellent Jenny, great details in all of them... I'm really impressed with the Buzzard. of the first set, the Blackberries and the glistening ink caps stand out. Of the second set, the shaggy ink cap is the stand out for me. The textures are amazing.

 

[SarahLee]

When I did a preview of my post I suddenly had a crisis of confidence, decided they were all rubbish and nearly deleted them. It was only because I had spent so much time putting the post together that I decided I might as well finish the post.

Well I'm glad that you did finish it. Absolutely nothing wrong with any of these IMO

Your favourite shot of the Boletes is the stand out shot for me too this week. The angle and the DoF is spot on and the lighting is perfect.

The comma butterfly comes a close second though. Rules are made to be broken from time to time and I think that shooting from the position you did absolutely brings out the shape of the wings.
I also like the fact that you have captured the thin side on view of his right wing.

The other two that I really like this week are the Shaggy Ink Cap and the Han of the Woods.
The first because you've caught the detail in the black rim brilliantly and you were absolutely right to break the rules here - IMO it needed to be framed centrally.
And the second because it's just so strange looking Almost like some alien life form. It's also very well composed and executed.
I refuse to use the word "bokeh" because it really irritates me - but you have some very nice "b-stuff" in this one too

 

[clud17]

Thanks, Chris. You really should be very careful eating any fungi that you are unsure about. If you are interested, it would probably be best to go on an organised fungi foray led by an expert. I just play safe and don't eat any of them.

don't worry Jean that's the last thing i would do, even if i did have any knowledge id still be a little worried.

 

[jennyb]

I'm afraid I've been getting behind again with your thread, Jenny - you have some wonderful shots here and I am particularly enjoying seeing all the different fungi. You are getting wonderful detail and lighting in them all.

Thanks, Tracer. I don't really know much about fungi but I find them fascinating - such weird and wonderful organisms that most people just trample underfoot.

All excellent Jenny, great details in all of them... I'm really impressed with the Buzzard. of the first set, the Blackberries and the glistening ink caps stand out. Of the second set, the shaggy ink cap is the stand out for me. The textures are amazing.

Thanks, John. I would love to get a better shot of the buzzard but, not surprisingly, he just does not come close enough.

Yes, I love the textures, shapes and colours of fungi. They make great subjects - and don't blow in the wind like flowers!

Well I'm glad that you did finish it. Absolutely nothing wrong with any of these IMO

Your favourite shot of the Boletes is the stand out shot for me too this week. The angle and the DoF is spot on and the lighting is perfect.

The comma butterfly comes a close second though. Rules are made to be broken from time to time and I think that shooting from the position you did absolutely brings out the shape of the wings.
I also like the fact that you have captured the thin side on view of his right wing.

The other two that I really like this week are the Shaggy Ink Cap and the Han of the Woods.
The first because you've caught the detail in the black rim brilliantly and you were absolutely right to break the rules here - IMO it needed to be framed centrally.
And the second because it's just so strange looking Almost like some alien life form. It's also very well composed and executed.
I refuse to use the word "bokeh" because it really irritates me - but you have some very nice "b-stuff" in this one too

Thanks, Sarah. I really appreciate the words of encouragment. I don't know what got into me last week - I just sort of panicked. Glad I continued the post.

I am also pleased you liked the comma. I was just trying to do something different and it does not always work. But, that is what I am enjoying about this challenge. I am constantly trying to find different ways of looking at things.

I will be careful about the B word in future but I have some in this week's offerings!

Jenny

 

[jennyb]

I've got a mixed bag this week.

First, I tried an experiment. It did not turn out quite as I was hoping but I am posting it anyway. It is the bark of a Scots Pine tree - really fascinating texture when you look closely.

What I really wanted was to light it from the side to cast shadows. However, the sun does not hit this particular tree in the right place at the right time. I tried using a flash with a reflector, but I don't have a clue about artificial lighting and with the size of the tree, a flash attached to the camera is relatively useless. I could not find any other way of lighting it. So here it is - an abstract with disappointing lighting....

Next a flower. I did several versions of this and had trouble choosing which one I preferred. There are some strange lines on the edge of the petals which make it look like it has been over-sharpened. That is not the case, however, because those lines were there before I sharpened it. They are a bit narrow to clone out effectively so I just left them.

Next, one that had to be included - the quinessential toadstool. I thought about putting a fairy on top but thought that would trivialise it, so did not bother. Again, slap bang in the middle of the shot, but I thought that was the best way to show the detail.

I decided to add another of these to show how they look when they are young. A slightly better composition, I think, but I would have preferred better lighting.

Finally, around 6 o'clock yesterday evening, we had a thunder storm. It was very pretty - to the east it was sunny and to the west very dark thunder clouds, so of course, a beautiful rainbow. Actually two of them. I took this photo through my living room window. The second rainbow is not showing on the shot - to the right (I preferred my portrait shot rather than my landscape shot). But, to the right of this rainbow the sky was very dark as you can see from the shot. While I was setting up the shot a bolt of lightening shot horizontally between the rainbows. Really annoyed that I did not capture that

Anyway, landscapes are not my "thing" but I could not resist this shaft of bright light in front of the thunder cloud and this is my version of a pot of gold at the bottom of the garden (or maybe next door's field!).

C & C very welcome.

Jenny

 

[dlh]

Jenny, fantastic texture in the bark and must have been disappointing not to capture it the way you wanted. Did the shadows not appear as you moved round the tree?

Beautiful colour in the flower and the toadstools. But my favourite of your selection this week is undoubtedly the rainbow. If you'd drawn the fairy on the toadstool you'd have had to add the leprechaun here One teeny tiny niggle is that very small light area in the trees to the right of the bottom of the rainbow. Now I've seen it I keep being drawn to it Clone tool

 

[jennyb]

Jenny, fantastic texture in the bark and must have been disappointing not to capture it the way you wanted. Did the shadows not appear as you moved round the tree?

Beautiful colour in the flower and the toadstools. But my favourite of your selection this week is undoubtedly the rainbow. If you'd drawn the fairy on the toadstool you'd have had to add the leprechaun here One teeny tiny niggle is that very small light area in the trees to the right of the bottom of the rainbow. Now I've seen it I keep being drawn to it Clone tool

Thanks, Darren - light bit duly removed. I had not even noticed it. I think it must have been a building of some kind.

When the sun decides to come back out, I will have to keep an eye on the Scots pines to see where the natural sunlight strikes the bark. There are quite a lot of other trees around them and much of the time the trunks are in shade. Nice sunrise or sunset lighting on it would make a huge difference.

Jenny