Tim Hunt 9/30/14 Tim Hunt 9/30/14

Recent findings

As the winter months close in, the wildlife in my garden is becoming more scarce, however the vole population is booming as always.
I still continue to document the same creatures such as the common frog, I find that they vary so much in size and colouration, making each one different from the last.

This southern hawker was a visitor to the newly built pond and also became the first of its species to appear on my field studio.

Southern hawker - Aeshna cyanea

Smooth newt - Lissotriton vulgaris

Bank vole (juvenile) - Clethrionomys glareolus

Common frog - Rana temporaria

Tim Hunt 8/16/14 Tim Hunt 8/16/14

Common shrew

Since starting the study of my garden I have wanted to photograph a shrew with my field studio. Unlike the other mammals in my garden the common shrew is very elusive. I was once fortunate to come across a nest containing a litter of common shrews, but these types of situations are best left undisturbed.

I found this shrew (pictured below) under one the boards that I placed down in the paddock. The image does not show size but I can tell you it was only around 5cm long (body only), so very small.

Its long pointed nose and tiny eyes makes the shrew stand out from other mammals such as voles and mice. Their short life-span means that it is uncommon for them to live for more than 12 months. Their diet consists of mainly insects but they will also eat slugs, snails and earthworms.

The common shrew can be found widespread throughout Britain and comes in at second place in being the most numerous Mammal in Britain.

Common shrew - Sorex araneus

Tim Hunt 6/27/14 Tim Hunt 6/27/14

Some recent additions to the Meet Your Neighbours project

Bank vole

Grass snake

High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-

http://www.timhuntphotography.co.uk/untitled/recent-images

Tim Hunt 5/19/14 Tim Hunt 5/19/14

A few 'Meet Your Neighbours' highlights from last week

Rabbit Oryctolagus cuniculus

Snipe Fly Rhagia scolopacea

Crab spider Philodromus sp

Running crab spider Philodromus dispar

Species TBC

Common frog Rana temporaria

Millipede Diplodpoda

Species TBC

High resolution images can be viewed with the following link:-

http://www.timhuntphotography.co.uk/untitled/recent-images

Tim Hunt 10/15/13 Tim Hunt 10/15/13

The white background setup

The white background setup has somewhat become an obsession over the last several months. It really is a great way to show the beauty of the subject without the distraction of anything else in the frame.

At this time of year the ground comes alive with a whole host of fungi. Now a lot of these are unsuitable for the white background approach, as many do not grow to a height that would allow a background.

But this one species that I recently came across did. The common stinkhorn Phallus impudicus grows up to a hight of 20cm, which is perfect for utilizing the white background technique.

Before heading into the woods with my equipment, I recced the location beforehand to find some good spots. Upon finding some good fungi, I returned later with everything I needed to successfully photograph my subjects on white.

My setup includes: -

Lighting - Elinchrom Ranger Quadra kit with two flash heads

Lighting Stands – 1x boom, 1x regular

Lighting modifiers – 1x softbox, 1 reflector

1x A2 sheet of white perspex

1x small tripod and clamp to hold the perspex

1x backpack