Wildlife Photography across the Water: Autumn Colour

Thursday, 10 November 2011

Autumn Colour - UK Style

After Dave's great post of Autumn Colours, and as mentioned in recent blogs by me, here is my take on Autumn Colours.

Taken nearly a couple of weeks back at Westonbirt Arboretum, which is where the Autumnwatch programme was coming from at the time.

I have been to this place many times in my past as I used to live about three miles away for a few years so it was a local haunt. I have been back about three times before, specifically for photography in recent years, but I cannot remember a year as good as this for colour. Maybe the mixed up weather has played a positive part. The downside being that the duration of the colour has been short.

Anyway, the forecast the night before I went was looking to be what I needed. Foggy/misty and then sunny, and quite cold - perfect.

Some of the pictures that I got this time around I had seen in my mind for a number of years, and it still feels like a great adventure setting out in the car in the dark, and travelling a good distance to get the image you only see in your mind.

I wasn't disappointed - just the sorts of images I was looking for.

Walking the reverse direction around the Autumn colour walk, it meant that I was constantly walking into the sun rather than have it behind me. Perfect for what I was looking for.

Not bothering with a tripod, filters or other paraphernalia, I was able to work in a free form style, quickly and capturing the changing moments fast, and avoiding the traditional photographers setting up wide shots around me with the sun behind them on their tripods. I did respect their work though and ask before I walked across the front of their lenses.

Using the 5Dmk2 and my trusty 24-70 f2.8L lens, I really enjoyed the photography.

Here are a few of the images that I got that morning. I will do another post with a few more next time around.

All of these images were taken in the aptly named Acer Glade, a wonderful collection of Maples from around the world.

Martin

6 comments:

robbieb10 November 2011 at 06:46
Lovely set of pictures Martin, I've only been there once and that was ffor one of the floodlit evenings. I was beginning to forget what autumnal colours look like.
Robbie
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WPATW10 November 2011 at 13:49
Its a place that i always meant to visit when i lived in the UK and never got around to it, Great images, Love that last one, Will look good as a large print

Dave
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Me10 November 2011 at 17:19
I JUST am seeing your blog here and am amazed. how much processing did you have to do to get your photos so punchy? with the soft glow through the trees .....GREAt Great photography!
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WPATW11 November 2011 at 07:36
Thanks for the comments. Minimal processing required on these Me. I have been to this place a number of times and never had such fantastic light, and that is the primary reason how these images look. Right place and right time. Next is good gear- the 5Dmk2 + 24-70L is an excellent combo. Shot in RAW, basic processing in Capture One and some minor local tweaks in Photoshop to balance the images. Finally it is worth mentioning the location - this is probably the best UK collection of these colourful Acers, so that helps too
Martin
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Anonymous15 November 2011 at 08:06
Really good advice,tips and techniques and also some very inspiring Autumn Colour images that will inspire me.
Another same article i found here . just for share
http://photograpyreview.blogspot.com/2011/11/how-to-shoot-autumn-colours.html
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Aaron15 November 2011 at 15:13
so great!!!! I just bought a 2.8 24-50 tamron. I like so far!!
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Bio's

David Courtenay, a self taught wildlife and nature photographer, has been capturing images for over 30 years. He has had a passion for wildlife since early childhood and remembers being glued to the television whenever Survival, Wildlife on One and other natural history documentaries were shown. In the 2006 he swapped his established career for the life of a wildlife photographer, such a move demands a measure of uncompromising passion and commitment.

David has travelled extensively throughout Europe as well as spending more than 7 months in India working with local guides and trackers in search of Bengal Tiger, Asian One horned Rhino and Asian Elephant. He has also photographed Wildlife in Australia, Malaysia, Thailand, Sumatra, Africa, Canada and America. Working closely with Conservation companies he tries to raise funds to help Wildlife that has been put on the endangered list by poaching and habitation loss

Martin Dyer has had a passion for avian wildlife since childhood, particularly raptors. Photography was also another keen interest and it was with the specific availability and control of the whole process that digital offers that Martin was then able to combine the two in 2003. Based in the UK, Martin is a regular visitor to Scotland, specifically the Isle of Mull to watch the Eagles resident there. Other trips to Europe and around the UK are usually part of Martin’s agenda in a typical year.

However, as a firm believer on making the most of the local patch, Martin has spent a lot of time and hard work creating a wildlife garden which is reaping the rewards with many new species and varieties of wildlife. A keen member of a number of wildlife photographic groups, Martin is keen to expand his portfolio into other areas of wildlife, and has already established a wide portfolio of images of fungi.