Fogey

Well, you think right Polly - they are beautiful.

The artist in you is bubbling to the surface - the arrangement of all the images are pleasing to the eye with the  the penultimate one taking first prize.

So give yourself a pat on the back for turning a disaster into something positive.  An innovative and remarkable set .

16 hours ago, Clicker said:

What a magnificent set and accompanying narrative Paul ...  Recording the event must have been  quite  difficult both from and emotional and  a physical  point of view ... sometimes it is hard NOT to  interfere with Nature's  Balance  and  to follow one's instinct to "save "  a creature ... We have interfered  too often with  the balance of nature  on our planet I'm afraid .... The 3 rd  and 4th images are brilliant ...displaying  what feels like  human emotions of shock and horror and suddenly seeing   the predator !  A brilliant set Paul .

Anthropomorphism at it's best.

I think I've seen this series of shots before, Paul.  Indeed, nature is very cruel.

Tangled web spider? and Jumping Zebra spider?  A tragic story told in such detailed images.... I stand in awe.

Ugly little blighter, isn't it.  You can understand why flies are one of the most reviled insects.

A cracking capture, nonetheless.

Wow!  Excellent detail, Mik.  

 

Congratulations, Polly.

So what lens did you use for this image Rob?

It doesn't surprise me Geoff - I've seen a photograph of a Blackbird eating a rat and I have Blackbirds regulary eating the tadpoles in my garden pond.

For a songbird they are voracious predators.

Good Lord Polly, it only seems like last week I remember you telling me about it.  My condolences on your loss - in some way it's comforting to know Patricia will be remembered, year on year.  

I have a rose called 'Whiter Shade of Pale' planted, in memory of my wife;  Anne's favourite Procol Harum song.

A great shot.

Are we showing our ages, Gareth? 

Yes! I remember him, although I'm not sure the younger generation made the connection on the day.  Well spotted and taken.

Interesting!  Seems to me there is almost a touch of infrared about these images.  I can't pick a favourite out of the last two.

I have been following Barry Beckham's tutorials for a number of years now and regard him as the go to man whenever I have a problem.

Excellent work, Gareth.

No, you are not wrong and yes the Shellduck is very fast.

A good capture.

Mark, what you are asking for is much easier than you think.

This is a link to the intermediate 2022 ACR (Adobe Camera Raw), file and how to install it as an attachment to Photoshop.  https://helpx.adobe.com/uk/camera-raw/kb/camera-raw-plug-in-installer.html

Open up your images in Adobe Bridge, menu click, (right click), the image and select 'open In ACR'.

Then follow this 5 minute tutorial.  https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uzXusnsMTXY&t=45s&ab_channel=BarryBeckhamVideos

There are a plethora of videos on photoshop via this link.  https://beckhamdigital.photo/

I have had a play with your image, following the instructions in the tutorial, just to show you what I mean.

Dramatising the sky with the raw file, using this method, will produce a far better result than I can do with the reduced image you have posted.

Sorry Mark, this doesn't work for me.  

The prop blur was against a grey sky and you can see that against the red sunset sky - stands out like a sore thumb.  You would have been better to work on dramatising the original sky, in my view.

1 minute ago, Hatter said:

Wow - that's an incredible cloud pattern!

 

And yet 15 mins later we had 9/10s cloud cover.

I like the way it came out as well.  HDR?

The link is not valid, Mark.

Ummm! what image would that be?  

Welcome to The Independent Photo Forum mikbone.  Do have a look round our site and if there's any questions you only have to ask.

We do have a very active macro photography section, so you should fit right in.