About Rachael

Professional fine art photographer.

Carder bee heaven

Posted on September 9, 2012 by Rachael

It has been several days since a buggy post! Most unlike me. But never fear, the carder bees are here! They have been very happy this weekend, enjoying the lovely warm weather among the late summer flowers in my garden.

I have forgotten the name of this purple flower but no matter; it shall henceforth be known as carder bee heaven.

a carder bee in flight approaching purple flower

Making a bee line

It was rather special, sitting in the border surrounded by gorgeous late summer colour and hordes of very happy bees.

Nearly there!

These small bumble bees are very cute. Or is that just me?

My favourite

This last shot isn’t quite as sharp as I would normally like but I just couldn’t help include it: geronimo!

a carder bee takes off from a purple flower

Heavy lifter

If you want to know my technique for shooting flying bugs, see my earlier post, In-flight entertainment where I reveal all my secrets!

Grosnez castle

Posted on September 8, 2012 by Rachael

Our visit to Jersey gave me an opportunity to add to my castle series. Grosnez Castle was built in the 14th century. Little remains of the castle but it makes a very atmospheric ruin, perched atop the headland at the Northwest corner of the island.

‘Grosnez’ comes from the old Norse, grar nes, meaning ‘grey headland’, rather than the French for ‘big nose’. According to an interpretation board at the site, the castle was probably built in around 1330. It was taken by the French in 1373 and 1381 and was likely demolished during or shortly after the French occupation of 1461-8.

The castle certainly has a commanding view of the Jersey coast. Just along the headland stands another martial construction taking advantage of those views, a German WW2 range-finder tower, part of Hitler’s ‘Atlantic Wall’.

It is a strangely forbidding construction, a stark contrast to the tapestry of heather and wildflowers at its base. The two structures together are a reminder of Jersey’s history of occupation, straddling some of her most beautiful landscape.

Little White Cottage

Posted on September 7, 2012 by Rachael

This image is a little more arty than my usual style but, despite appearances, it is still a photograph. It is made from three exposures, one sharp:

one panned:

and the third, a ‘texture’ made from a close up of the whitewashed walls of the cottage:

The cottage is Le Don Hilton, also known as La Caumine de Marie Best. It stands on the wall above St.Ouen’s beach with spectacular views of the surf and sunsets. It can be rented from Jersey Heritage and makes a charming, if basic, base for surfers. A more straightforward shot of the cottage appears in my earlier post, Jersey Shores.

St. Aubin panorama

Posted on September 6, 2012 by Rachael

This is St. Aubin on Jersey, the next town west of St. Helier. Named after Saint Aubin of Angers, it is the principal settlement of the parish of St.Brelade. It is also very picturesque, especially in the “blue hour” after sunset. A panorama from three exposures.

La Corbière lights up

Posted on September 5, 2012 by Rachael

Most photographers out to capture the sunset go home once the sun has dipped below the horizon. My fellow photographers during my session at La Corbière last week were no exception. But it is always worth waiting around for a little longer. If they had, they would have seen La Corbière lighting up. A different mood from yesterday’s shot, taken at exactly the same location only minutes earlier. Doesn’t the landscape at low tide look otherworldly?

La Corbière

Posted on September 4, 2012 by Rachael

This is La Corbière, the lighthouse on Jersey’s South Western tip. It is the shot I was taking when I posted this: Waiting for the light. Of course, there was a much better sunset the night after I was here. Hey ho.

Lovers on the Cobb

Posted on September 3, 2012 by Rachael

Kissing couple on the Cobb at Lyme Regis

I wonder if he has just proposed?

A couple kiss on the Cobb, Lyme Regis’s iconic harbour wall. Many writers have been inspired by this landmark, including Jane Austen who featured it in Persuasion and John Fowles in The French Lieutenant’s Woman. The scene where the heroine (played by Meryl Streep in the film) walks to the end of the Cobb during a storm has made its way into movie legend. Perhaps this couple are fans.

Sunset, St.Ouen’s Beach

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Rachael

I could live by St.Ouen’s beach and have something new to photograph every day for the rest of my life. St.Ouen’s beach is on the West of the Island. The tower silhouetted here is La Rocco, one of the many Martello Towers in Jersey, built as defensive fortifications during the Napoleonic war.

Now we are back from our travels, I am looking forward to catching up with my favourite blogs.

Release crawlers!

Posted on September 2, 2012 by Rachael

The mother ship launches fighters.
I gave myself a virtual medal for bravery when I took this shot. Good thing I used a tripod for once – my hand was shaking! We are back from our travels, but too late for my daily post. This one is late (it is 1.02am here). Back to normal tomorrow, I mean later today.

Cloud forest

Posted on September 1, 2012 by Rachael

Indulging my love of negative space.

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