Framedlight

Things not being so great insect wise at Paxton Pits I decided to turn my attention to the plants. We were in a meadow looking for the elusive wasp spider which we had been told had taken up residency there, but was hiding from us. As it was September the grasses were looking autumnal and everything was going to seed. I start with an overview of the meadow and then come the plants, finishing with a picture of one of the ponds I took on the way out, attracted by its vibrance. The macro pictures have been taken using a shallow depth of field to get that lovely creamy look.

Alan cycled over and met me at the fen and we had a walk along the Lode. Seeing the windmill reminded me that I had always intended to snap it with the Holga. After lunch the sun was really burning and after the frustrating effort of trying to photograph the dragonflies in the dipping pools I walked back and spent my time by the river. I took a couple of Holga shots and then some macros with a variety of lenses and extension tubes. The first yellow flower picture is of the bladderwort growing at Wicken - a rare carnivorous plant and I was rather taken with the dandelion table with the 4 dining hoverflies. It was Saturday and as it was so fine Wicken became exceedingly busy. As the heat intensified I realised it was time to go home. Thanks to Ann for arranging and hosting the outing.

Last weekend I went to Wicken Fen in Suffolk as part of a trip out with the RPS Nature Group, led by Ann Miles. The weather was overcast and cool in the morning but in the afternoon the sun came out and it got very hot and humid. Good for the dragonflies in the dipping pools where the group was mainly stationed and during the afternoon some effort was put into trying to photograph the brown hawkers who were doing aerial displays back and forth on a swift, tantalizing, zigzag path. Ann managed to get a couple of very good shots but all I saw was a small blur passing the lens and never even managed to press the shutter! Here are a selection of the pictures I took in the morning when the light was even and the dew still on the reeds. I was using a Nikon 105mm f/2.8 macro lens on my D800e body

Of course it's the time of the year for macro photography, so I dusted off the 105mm lens and sallied forth into the garden. Last year I bought a really cheap (around £40) ring flash so used this on a few too. I hope it justifies the expense!!