Back at the end of November 2012 I entered 12 images into the S.N.P Awards.I’ve just been informed that 5 of them have been shortlisted (same as last year).The final judging takes place over the next 2/3 weeks. Fingers crossed.
These are the 5 shortlisted images.
S.N.P.A Wildlife Behaviour category.
S.N.P.A Wildlife Portrait Category.
S.N.P.A Botanical category.
S.N.P.A Wildlife Behaviour category.
S.N.P.A Wildlife Portrait category.
……. I hear you say.Well unfortunately I’ve not been out much lately with the camera and so pictures have been few and far between.Here’s a small selection of my ‘fall back’ subject,the grey heron,down by the River Whiteadder in varying weather conditions,in the last few weeks.
At the waters’ edge,in the mist.
That’s All Folks.
Ollie and I went for our usual walk,down to the River Whiteadder in Berwickshire.On the way down we came across a heap of old grain sweepings from one of the farmers’ sheds,probably dumped for the local pheasants.In the winter time this food store also benefits other wildlife and one of the local birds taking advantage was the yellowhammer.So Ollie and I sat on the snowy banking for a while and took a few pictures.
It was pretty cold but I had my fleece jacket and thermals.Ollie on the other hand,…didn’t.Apparently not one of his better walks!
That’s all folks.
Ollie and I were walking down by the river and there was nothing much to see and definitely nothing to photograph.The river had been in flood,yet again, and there was mud everywhere.I called Ollie over. ”My name’s not over,it’s Ollie” he said. ”Ha Ha,very funny”,I said. ”Do you fancy going for a drive in the car?”I said.”See if we can see any wildlife to picture”. ”Do I have a choice?” ”No.” ”Can we have a picnic?” ”It’s december Ollie,too cold”. ”We can have a bonfire.” ”Get in the car”,I said. After much grumbling,tutting and sighing Ollie jumped in the back of the car and off we set on our latest adventure.
Shaking out its’ feathers.
Is that my next snack?
A bit of wing stretching.
I’ll just turn around and stretch the same one.
Getting carried away.
Could do with a sit down after all that!
The End.
On Wednesday 14th November 2012 there was the Annual Photographic Competition for photographers across the Scottish Borders.The competition is divided into two sections,for the Prints and the Projected Digital Images.Those 2 sections then have 6 categories within each.I entered 4 prints and 6 digital images and 8 of them were commended or better.
My image ‘Yellow Dung Fly and raindrops’ won 1st prize in the PDI nature category.It then went on to compete against the other 5 PDI winners and was judged to be the best over all Projected Digital Image.The judge was well respected professional photographer,Duncan McEwan from Paisley C.C.
In the Print section the same process was carried out by judge,Robert Fulton,to find the best over all Print.And then the 2 best images went head to head and the guest farmer on the night judged my ‘Yellow Dung Fly and raindrops’ as the Champion image.
Here are my top 8 images.
Best nature category PDI,Best over all PDI, and Champion image 2012.
Commended in the Nature category PDI.
3rd in the Nature category,of the Print section.
Commended in the Nature category of the Print section.
Commended in the Landscape category of the PDI section.
Commended in the Open category of the PDI section.
Commended in the Open category of the Print section.
Commended in the Open category of the Print section.
Here’s a few more images of Ollies’ and my friend, on our Whiteadder river walks.
If you go out on cool,damp days,when the insects are still about,you’re more likely to be able to get close to subjects like this drone fly that I photographed down by the River Whiteadder.The water droplets add a little extra to the image and with the insect being so inactive,you have more time to hopefully get a decent image.The spider was backlit by a weak sun, against a cliff face that was in shadow.Both images taken with the macro lens,on a tripod,with a cable release and using the mirror lock up facility on the camera.The buzzard images were also taken on a very grey day,with a bird that allowed a closer approach than normal.Again this was down by the river,this time with the long lens and Ollie was there to offer his advice and guidance throughout………..!
Looking down on the river cascading over rocks,in the late afternoon light.
That’s it for another blog.
Bye Bye.
And Thank you for looking.
Here’s a few more images of the dipper that Ollie and I sat and watched down by the River Whiteadder,Berwickshire in the Scottish Borders.
And then it was time to go and find some lunch.
Good Bye from Dippy,
And Good Bye from us.
Another walk along the River Whiteadder and this time Ollie and I came across a Dipper at the waters’ edge.It was very busy feeding,preening and stretching and again we managed a few pictures,some of which will appear in the next blog.Here I’ve included a few more Goosander images from the previous encounter down by the riverside.
When Ollie and I walk down by the River Whiteadder,here in Berwickshire,we quite often see a goosander or two.This large sawbilled,diving duck is normally seen in groups and usually we don’t get within 50 metres of them before they’re off and away.Last week we came across a lone individual that tolerated us within 20 metres.It happened 2 days running,the first time I only had my macro lens,but the bird was kind enough to come back the next day and pose for me when I had my long lens.It went through its’ preening and stretching ritual and even finished with a swim past in front of us,before taking off from the river and disappearing around a bend.
If only all my subjects were as co operative.Anyway,here are some of the images from that encounter.
