This is an image taken in the uni kitchen today. It came out better than expected seeing as I never had a macro lens and in order to get focus as the Sigma 120-400mm lenses don't focus at this sort of close range I had to use the full 400mm length. I wasn't after or indeed expecting any results, the subject was smacking itself against the window so I just thought I'd see what I could take. Maybe if I'd cleaned the glass I might have been able to get a shot that appeared to have taken the wasp in mid air flight. Now that would be jammy, its takes practice to photograph birds in flight let alone track a wasp. The thing is maybe if more people looked at wasps or even photographs rather than just scream at them they might be more appreciated. Compositionally its very similar to the puffin picture which is interesting and I'll have to think about.

Taken on a uni trip to Port Carlisle whilst we sat in a pub garden. The tones and focus on the eye make for a nice little image but it stands as a reminder to one of the lessons our photography teacher taught us. To eliminate/reduce imperfections. If only I had removed the splinter and that flake of paint/plaster it would have made a more useable image. I have to make this along with other thoughts instinctive.

As a new photographer I sometimes wonder where the line is between artistic expression and 'No, just no'. I've seen images where photographers have heavily blurred the entire photo and something of which most people would otherwise delete they class as expression of movement. My personal opinion is unless done tastefully and skilfully with honed technique they tend to cross that line. So where does this image fall? I honestly don't know, I like the skin tones from the fire light and the atmosphere yet it is what it is. You decide. Expression is a big part of photography and how to approach and form it is something else I need to/am develop(ing).

Best from the Farne

This picture was a result from a trip with some friends to the Farne Islands. Taken hand held with a heavy low range sigma lens at 1/1250 of a second whilst on the boat headed towards the island it is surprisingly sharp. If only it was carrying sand eels then I think it might have been a mind blower of an image compared to everything else I have taken to date.

Best of the day

This image was one of my first attempts at this location and as we only had a few sightings that day practice and photographic opportunites were low. They are one of those subjects though that photographers can photograph time and time again and still come away with something new and so you will be seeing many more images as I return to try my hand again and again at photographing these amazing little creatures.