This weeks photograph is taken at Castle Espie a WWT reserve here in Northern Ireland. It sit’s on the shore of Strangford lough, which is a sea lough on the east side of the country close to the town of Comber. The reserve was the site of the old Castle Espie brick and pottery factory. This photograph was take from the Lime Kiln Observatory which is built on top of the old lime kiln’s.
Looking over one of the ponds in Castle Espie and the mud flats of Strangford lough.
This weeks photograph comes from Castle Espie on the shore for Strangford lough County down. It is part of the Wildfowl & Wetlands Trust . Link below. After doing the wildfowl area it was into the Secret Swamp were my grandson informed me it’s where the swamp monsters live. So with a few near misses we make it through pass the wishing tree and into the woodland play ground. Along death defying log walks and through pipe tunnels into the safety of the walled fort, only the brave make it. I don’t think I would have made on my own….
The pipe tunnel where no man with a camera should go, only the little folk..
This weeks photograph come from County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. It was one of the Photo points (No.6) on the Irish photo rally 2020. (Link below) The idea is to ride and photograph your motorcycle at each of the given locations. You get to see parts of Ireland you would never dream for going to.
Rossinver Mór National School.
Picture info: Nikon D7200 camera, Sigma 17 – 70mm lens: 1/20sec @ f11 22mm and ISO 126
This weeks photography come from the small coastal town of Killough . It sit’s on the County Down coast looking across the Irish sea towards the Isle of Man. It shows the old windmill that overlooks the harbour end of the town from where this shot was taken.
Todays photograph is from the old Lagan canal which runs from Belfast to Lisburn in County Antrim, Northern Ireland. This bridge is built from sandstone and locally called the high bridge and is still in use has the Ballyskeagh road cross’s it. It also give the bridge it’s name. Ballyskeagh bridge
Ballyskeagh Bridge.
This area is set in the Lagan Valley regional park, the path covers a distance of 14 miles and is also part of a 22 mile cycle route.
Photograph was taken on my mobile/cell phone and edited in Snapseed.
Where I live cats seem to be popular pets, given the number that visit my home. Sitting outside having a coffee when this little cat came and sat at the wheel of my van. I got the camera half expecting it to be gone, but there it sat. I sat down on the lowest step at the door to take this photo. I tried to get it to come closer but no, it sat there just staring at me. Back to my coffee with those bright yellow eyes watching every move, a few minutes later it turned and disappeared under the van.
Photograph Data: Processed in Lightroom and finished with Nik Silver Efex Pro 2
Camera: Nikon D750
Lens: Sigma C 150 – 600 mm telephoto lens: Shot at 150 mm
This weeks black & white image was taken on the shore of Strangford Lough in County Down in Northern Ireland. The photograph shows a Black Headed gull drinking from a small river that flows into the lough. The gull is in its summer plumage where the head is a dark brown to black colour with a white ring around part of the eye.
Black headed gull, summer plumage. ( Chroicocephalus ridibundus)
Camera: Nikon D7200
Lens: Sigma 150 – 600 mm telephoto lens
metadata: f 7.1 at 1/800 sec: ISO 250
edited in Lightroom and finished in Nik Silver efex pro 2
Since I’m still at home and not back to work, my mornings start with a 6 mile walk around the woods and hills near home. The following are some photographs from these walks. Most are taken on a Nikon D7200 with a Sigma 150-600 mm lens.Some off the wildlife I’ve seen but not photographed include Foxes, Badgers, Stoats. Birds still to get Red Kite, Jay’s, owls, and the Cuckoo which will be migrating back to Central Africa in a few weeks time.
Red Deer
The wood contains a small herd of Red Deer which if your lucky you might come across them. I have been lucky a few times to see them, below are a few images. No stags to be seen, all Doe’s.
I was lucky to get within 120 metre’s of this group. Putting a small rock outcrop between me and them had me laying on wet ground looking slightly down on them. Even with a few looking my direction at times, they were settled and grazing on the young tree growth. Got a few images and backed off the way I came in and left them to there breakfast.
The rest of the walk that morning didn’t turn up much until near the finish where I saw the first butterfly this year.
Speckled wood butterfly
Speckled wood butterfly
The second image shows the colouring and texture for the butterfly in close up. I still use a telephoto lens for photographing butterflies, less chance of spooking them and the results can be good.
Hopefully I’ii have a few more images to share soon and until then you all stay safe.
Welcome to another B&W Wednesday, the photograph this week of a Cabbage White butterfly. It was taken with a 150-600 mm telephoto lens. Using a telephoto lens allows you to stand well back from your subject, less chance of spooking them.
Shot in raw format and edited in LR with the final edit in Nik Silver Efex Pro.
Photographed using a Nikon D7200,
Sigma 150-600 mm lens.
ISO: 400, f8 , 1/800 sec. Lens focal length 550 mm.
George McNeill Photography 
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