Photography – Page 2

Speckled Wood Butterfly (as an iPhone Macro test)

23. August 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: iPhone, Nature, Photography

I happened across a Speckled Wood butterfly on our apple tree, that apparently didn't mind me shoving an iPhone about two inches from its delicate self. It was well into a sunny day so I didn't expect it to be so docile.

It also made for an interesting test of iPhone macro camera capability. The results in this picture are fair, though it has smeared the subtle feathery detail in the wing quite badly. I suppose that's to be expected from such a tiny sensor, with lots of anti-noise processing to compensate. The biggest difficulty I found was getting it to reliably focus on the point I was interested in, resulting in lots of shots of an in-focus leaf and a blurry butterfly. Theoretically you can tap the screen to indicate the point for focussing and metering, but I didn't find that to work particularly well. Worst of all it doesn't give any obvious positive or negative feedback on whether it thinks it has successfully locked on or not. I'd like it to flash a green square when it's got a good AF lock, and maybe a red disintegrating one if it has failed.

Note that this is a crop from the original. Click for higher res. Another major annoyance of the iPhone's Camera app is that when viewing the photos, it shows a low-res blurry version when zoomed in, leading you to think that the camera is significantly worse than it is, and making is very difficult to check focus. I really can't understand why they'd do this!

Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill

21. August 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Culture, Nature, Photography, Travel

A good few weeks back now, we visited Anglesey Abbey, Gardens and Lode Mill – a National Trust property near Cambridge. As usual no photos of the house (it's not allowed) so you'll have to take it on trust that it was an enchanting time-warp covering the last several centuries, with a warm, lived-in feeling.

The gardens were large and diverse, with natural woodland, formal gardens, meadows and everything in-between. There was a strong emphasis on nature, with many habitats set up to encourage wildlife. In one corner runs the river smothered in lily pads, to Lode Mill – an interesting building in its own right, but sadly the gear wasn't working when we were there. Moorhen chicks ran across the leafy surface of the river seldom touching the water and Banded Demoiselle damselflies glinted in the sun.

Onto the pictures! First, a rather fun door in the middle of the woods, followed by a Painted Lady butterfly at the edge of the dew pond.

A quick glance of the house itself, with the corner of a formal rose garden, then a nice carved post head – literally.

Finally, the approach to Lode Mill, which I absolutely loved, being a sumptuous watery green pathway.

Woodlouse Spider

18. July 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Nature, Photography

Look what Mrs C found in the bathroom today! A very large woodlouse spider – at least 25mm including legs, which seems to be as large as they come. I've seen smaller ones before, about half this size. Yes, this picture was taken through the side of the pint glass that I put over it! These slightly scary spiders have very large bitey things at the front (technical term chelicerae) and can give a nasty nip apparently, though are unlikely to.

Name That Car

12. July 2009 · 3 comments · Categories: Culture, Photography

A classic car seen at a steam rally in St Albans. But what is it? Answers on a postcard please.

Fly My Pretty

10. July 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Nature, Photography

Shaw’s Corner, at Ayot St Lawrence

09. July 2009 · 1 comment · Categories: Nature, Photography, Travel

On a balmy summer's day (the day of the men's final at Wimbledon) we ventured back to Shaw's Corner for a stroll around its beautifully relaxed gardens. This is where playwright George Bernard Shaw lived for over 40 years. The house and gardens aren't huge, but I like their style – lazy, slow, ambling and pleasant. Lawns, shady paths, vibrant flowerbeds, meadowy orchards, languid trees, and all kept in a not-too-formal style that sees the stresses ooze out of me.

I only had my macro lens, so no sweeping panoramas – you'll have to take my word for it on the descriptions above, or visit the National Trust page I've linked to for that sort of thing.

This is a slightly frayed Comma butterfly, amidst the meadowy flowers and grasses.

Can you dig it?

03. July 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Comedy, Me, Photography, Travel

No, apparently not.

Small Magpie Moth

28. June 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Nature, Photography

Here’s a close up shot of what I think is a Small Magpie Moth drying out its wings after recently emerging. Taken on a compact camera, with reasonable results. Below it is the earlier shot of it with wings still somewhat furled and slowly opening out, which is photographically rather poorer having not had any exposure compensation set.

Helsinki: The Church in the Rock

22. June 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Culture, Photography, Travel

We recently spent a very nice 24 hours in Helsinki, Finland before crossing the strait to Tallinn, Estonia. Helsinki is quite a modern city and its delights are subtle. We very nearly didn't go to the Church in the Rock, having failed to realise that it's one of the top tourist attractions. You wouldn't know it from the humble location in the middle of a rather nondescript residential area.

Built in the late 1960s the church is sunk into the bedrock with just a domed roof poking above the natural lie of the land. It's really not much to look at from the outside, but internally it's a symphony of modernist concrete, rough-hewn stone, glass, wood and polished copper. It really speaks craftsmanship and slightly old fashioned Scandinavian design. It also has fantastic acoustics – there was a woman playing a grand piano as we wandered around, which just set it all off perfectly.

Green-veined White Butterfly

10. June 2009 · Write a comment · Categories: Nature, Photography

A very successful macro shot in the butterfly garden, if I do say so myself (and I do). This is a Green-veined White butterfly – apparently very common in the UK, but looking quite stunning with its wings folded. You can really see the mottled grey pattern on the surface of the eye.

JustTheSam