Bee fly returns

Posted on May 3, 2013 by Rachael

I love this time for year for many things, including the crab apple blossom that attracts a rather nice little seasonal character, bombylius major, the bee-fly. I am perhaps slightly ridiculously fond of this little furry fly. I did a post about it this time last year and you can see more images of it there. These are three new ones, snapped in my garden this afternoon.

There’s just something about its little round, furry body, and the way it hovers… well, I am a ‘bug lady’ after all.

Come on admit it, it is cute.

Through a forest

Posted on April 22, 2013 by Rachael

The clearest way into the universe is through a forest wilderness. – John Muir

Every now and then I like to experiment. Panning is a fun technique and so easy to do. Just move the camera with a slowish shutter speed. All done in camera; no fuss. With trees, I like to slow the movement at the bottom of the scene to get a little more clarity. I think this helps to ‘ground’ the image. It’s very different from my usual, realistic style but it stops me from taking photography too seriously, and that has to be a good thing, right?

La Serenissima 2

Posted on April 21, 2013 by Rachael

I thought I might share another shot from our recent trip to Venice. This was taken from nearly the same spot, on the same day, as my earlier post, but in very different light. This one was taken at dawn, the other was taken at dusk.

Blazing reflections

Posted on April 17, 2013 by Rachael

I am honoured to have this photograph featured as image of the day at Photobotos, where I explain a little more about it.

Winter unending

Posted on March 25, 2013 by Rachael

When will this winter end? Clearly no-one has remembered to tell these snowflakes, on the windscreen of my car, that it is supposed to be Spring.

Winter either bites with its teeth or lashes with it tail – Proverb

“The English winter — ending in July, To recommence in August.”
– George Gordon Byron

Thank you to those who have enquired about my recent absence from Focused Moments. I am fine, just flat out with college work and having to be very strict with myself about all things photographic as otherwise they might easily take over. ‘Normal service’ will hopefully resume next month, after we return from a brief visit to one of my very favourite European cities where I will be putting my new travel camera through its paces!

Albion

Posted on February 28, 2013 by Rachael

This weekend is the last for the Albion exhibition in which six of my images are included. If you are up in town, why not pop by for lots of interesting photographs exploring Britain and “Britishness” and some lovely, affordable original paintings and sculpture (we bought a beautiful painting for our living room). I will be dropping by on Sunday with my daughter, the only family member yet to see it. Maybe we will see you there!

Albion is open from 11am to 6pm at the Cock ‘n’ Bull Gallery under The Tramshed restaurant, Rivington Street, Shoreditch.

Hardy spider

Posted on February 24, 2013 by Rachael

Hello there!

This tiny spider has been hanging out in my olive tree for weeks now, happily oblivious to freezing temperatures and snow. It is a colourful and rather acrobatic addition to my garden.

And, for my next trick…

“Imperio!”
Moody jerked his wand, and the spider rose onto two of its hind legs and went into what was unmistakably a tap dance.
Everyone was laughing — everyone except Moody.
“Think it’s funny, do you?” he growled. “You’d like it, would you, if I did it to you?”
The laughter died away almost instantly.
― J.K. Rowling, Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire

Exploring moss

Posted on February 17, 2013 by Rachael

Today we had sun! I celebrated by photographing backlit moss with my Raynox DCR250 macro conversion lens attached to my 100mm macro lens to get really close.

Moss really is surprisingly beautiful and interesting when you get close to it.
Like a forest of tiny trees casting long shadows in the afternoon sun.

A single strand of gossamer was caught in the moss.

And I found the tiniest of baby snails on one of the stems. The only way to see it was on the screen at native resolution.

I haven’t been blogging much recently. I need to concentrate on my degree for the next few months and there just doesn’t seem to be enough time to blog and keep up with everyone else’s blogs, and take images, process them, study, be a mum and wife, keep house, etc etc. So I am going to blog once a week for a little while now and hopefully do better at reading the blogs I follow.

‘A rolling stone gathers no moss, but it gains a certain polish.’ Oliver Herford

My first exhibition private view

Posted on February 9, 2013 by Rachael

Thursday was the private viewing of Albion, The Shed Photography’s exhibition at the Cock n Bull Gallery in Shoreditch. It was super to see my images on the wall, especially my London City shot, blown up huge and attracting attention, handily placed as it was next to the champagne.

If you are in town any time between now and 4th March, do consider popping by. You can always treat yourself to some beautifully authentic English cuisine in The Tramshed afterwards. Perhaps we could meet for a coffee?
My other exhibited images: