Graded Unit - Natural History Portfolio

[peterjclarke]

I've recently completed my graded unit as part of my HND in photography and I chose to do natural history. Here is the portfolio I submitted.




Bluetits


Fulmar


Black Tailed Godwits (photomerge)


Rook with Moss


European Wolf


Mute Swan Signet


Maidenhair Spleenwort


Purple Saxifrage


Velvet Ground Beetle


Gannets Bonding


Pink Footed Geese (photomerge)


Red Squirrel


Common Sandpiper


Lapwing Fending off Pheasant


Common Frog


Common Frogs Mating


Red Kite


Osprey with Fish


Grey Heron


Black Headed Gulls in Flight

[Wild-Woman]

Wow! That's some portfolio. Fantastic images. Thank you for sharing your work with us.

[agrumpycow]

Fantastic series of photos. You've posted that shot of red squirrel before, haven't you? It's a cracking shot

[clicka15]

Absolutely superb photography - this is the kind of work that I aspire to! I'd be very interested to learn what equipment you use and exposure details (if you're willing to share it).

Cheers,
Steve.

[Paul mabbott]

Beautiful pics including a couple of innovative ones .... but ... I've never heard of a 'velvet ground beetle' .......

[peterjclarke]

Originally Posted by clicka15

Absolutely superb photography - this is the kind of work that I aspire to! I'd be very interested to learn what equipment you use and exposure details (if you're willing to share it).

Cheers,
Steve.

No problem. I'm using Nikon D200's with mainly a Sigma 50-500mm nearly always mounted on a heavy Gitzo tripod with a Manfrotto 501 fluid head. I nearly always use a cable release and often use mirror lock where I can to ensure maximum sharpness. I mainly use matrix metering on aperture priority dialling exposure compensation when required.

The female fox was not actually part of my portfolio just the welcome slide. I've been photographing an urban fox and her cubs over the last few weeks and I'm only just getting good results. Anyway the fox was ISO 500 500mm and 1.4x teleconverter F9 @ 1/80th sec.

Bluetits 500mm F8 ISO400 1/200th

Fulmar 500mm ISO 400 F7.1 1/160th

Blacktailed Godwits is a merge of a shot of the moon and the godwits on mass.

Rook with moss was 500mm ISO800 F6.3 1/250th shot from a moving car ( I was not driving!)

European wolf ISO400 500mm f6.3 1/80 (looking down from a viewing platform on the wolf)

Mute Swan 500mm ISO400 F6.3 1/1600th sec

Maidenhair Spleenwort Nikon 18-70mm F22 1.3 sec

Purple Saxifrage 18-70mm F22 1.3 sec

Ground Beetle Nikon 70-200 F2.8 VR, Canon 77mm close focus filter (canon's one is better than the Nikon version) Nikon 1.7x Teleconverter. ISO250 F16 1/6th sec

Gannets bonding Pentax Z1 Pentax 320mm Kodak Ektachrome 100VS F8 1/250th sec

Pink footed geese is another photomerge

Red Squirrel 500mm ISO400 F6.3 1/60th & fill flash (Nikon SB800)

Common sandpiper 500mm F6.3 ISO400 F6.3 1/640th

Lapwing 500mm ISO 400 F6.3 1/640th

Common frog 500mm ISO400 F14 1/40th

Frogs mating 500mm ISO400 F25 1/40th

Red Kite 500mm ISO400 F10 1/320th

Osprey 500mm ISO320 F6.3 1/750th

Heron 500mm & 1.4x TC ISO640 F14 1/750th

Black headed gulls 500mm & 1.4x TC ISO100 F40 1/4 sec

[hachidori]

I especially love the beetle. I'm learning about macro stuff at the moment, and i'm going on an Insect photography course in August. I have just bought a new macro lens for my canon (it is the 100mm 2.8 macro) and I can't recommend it enough! It makes me look like I know what I'm doing! But this beetle is lovely - there is something so great about macro stuff that makes you feel like you have a doorway into another world!

[DaiTheDragon]

Vert nice portfolio with some great images. I did a HND in computer graphics when I was 47, now 54 and I intend doing a HND in photograph next September.

Dai

[clicka15]

[quote=peterjclarke;125275]No problem. I'm using Nikon D200's with mainly a Sigma 50-500mm nearly always mounted on a heavy Gitzo tripod with a Manfrotto 501 fluid head...
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That's great - thanks for sharing that. I use a Canon 20D and, by chance, I too have a Sigma 50-500mm lens. I've got a long way to go before I reach your standard though!

I was considering a photography HND after I finish my Environmental Studies BSc in a couple of years, but I'm not sure just yet.

I've just started uploading some stuff onto Flickr - just recent images up to now. You're welcome to take a look:

Flickr: Photos from clickas15

Thanks again and best of luck with your impressive portfolio.

Steve.