This stormy and grey weather doesn't invite me to go out. It's the perfect moment after a busy period to remember and review the nice photomoments of 2014 and to select images.
The discovery of Phengaris (endangered species) area's were definitely a high-light like the Alcon Blue on a beautiful warm summer morning in the middle of July.
That morning the dynamic range of my eyes were much greater than the one of my camera; I saw a big orange ball which my camera (sensor) did not see.
As I had no filters with me, I took some over- and under-exposed photo's with this photo as the most acceptable result and the awareness that I need new (more shades of grey) filters.
Like last year, we have summer temperatures (24 degrees C) in October. As most of the trees are coloured between yellow, orange and brown, I was out yesterday and today to chase these colours again. My big wish is to 'catch' a group of Fly Agarics together with the rising sun.
This morning started on the Strabrechtse Heide, a heath area near Eindhoven and I tried to catch the beautiful red sky but unfortunately I forgot the correct ND-grad filter and as I was very unsatisfied about the result, I decided to switch to macro again.
Between the brown heather I found in a kind of hole some remaining purple heather and the red oak in the background gave a special yellowish background.
I left the heather and started my mission 'Fly Agaric'. As they can be often found near birches I searched for them and within minutes I found the first red mushrooms. As I wanted a special background I was happy to find one near a red oak. The complete ground was coloured red/brown by fallen leaves. Although it was early in the morning, the sun was shining powerful and with my tripod and jacket I created shadow on the mushroom and two oak leaves.
Near the bridle-path I found some more beautiful Fly Agarics. Some later I returned to my car as too many horses, bikers and other people were passing by.
Before my last visit to the Alcon Blue last week, I had some photos in mind which I couldn't realize due to the bad weather conditions. As since wednesday the summer has returned, I rescheduled my agreements for a last visit to the heath area. This morning my alarm clock went off early again and it was a joy to be out on this beautiful place with some fog and a perfect sunrise!
Last Sunday I visited the Strabrechtse Heide again. Entering the area I lost my orientation as it looked totally different than some days earlier. A huge bulldozer removed the fallen trees which blocked the footpaths and took down much more black trees. All the things I photographed a few days earlier were gone now……
Although Staatsbosbeheer is warning that the black trees can falling down, I climbed into the remaining small black wood. Sitting there alone and unseen I enjoyed the landscape and the noise of a woodpecker and I discovered that the two Ladybirds which I found earlier are just two out of hundreds…..
Absorbing the landscape I suddenly saw something really beautiful: a bouquet, given to me by mother nature: trametes versicolor.
Portfolio -> Strabrechtse Heide
Canon 7D; tripod; remote release; 180 mm, 0.6s at F22 and ISO100
Although the weather was not really inviting for a photographic trip, I returned to the Strabrechtse Heide a few days ago. I was surprised by the tremendous amount of mushrooms and the decay of the remaining black trees. On many of the black trunks the bark was damaged or gone. Due to the strong wind of the past week a lot of trees have fallen down and blocking the footpaths.
When I was lying on the ground photographing some mushroom growing in the black earth I noticed a red spot. I was surprised (as it is winter) that it was a Ladybird, resting or hiding from the wind between the massive black bark. I also found a spider (which unfortunately ran away), a second Ladybird resting on a rusty can and some flowering Heather…..it’s crazy!
Photographing Ladybirds is always a challenge as their shield shines and reflecting everything; they ‘re like a little mirror. So please smile when photographing a belle Coccinelle!
Portfolio -> Strabrechtse Heide
Canon 7D; tripod; remote release; 180 mm, 1s at F13 and ISO100
Jibt dir dit Leben mal een Buff, denn weene keene Träne. Lach Dir'n Ast und setz Dir druff und baumle mit de Beene.