Impression of a Bluebell Wood

Impression of a Bluebell Wood

The weather stopped us getting to the bluebell woods last week and we knew it was getting late for them but we decided to go over the Lady's Wood Nature Reserve and see what they were like.

The bluebells had certainly 'gone over' but there was an impression of a blue carpet. I decided rather than take straight photos of the bluebells I would try some ICM techniques I had been thinking about.  I have been reading a book by Freeman Patterson and Andre Gallant called 'Photo Impressionism and the Subjective Image' dating from 2001. 

They where using film cameras and building up multiple exposure similar to the 'Additive' mode on my Canon. They were shooting blind and working out the exposure compensation needed. They built up the ICM effects by taking the same camera position / movement for a few images and then adding another effect.

Certainly building on the knowledge I gained from Doug Chinnery and Velda Bailey on their courses last year.

The saying 'Every day in every way I get a little bit better' comes to mind.

Lady's Wood Infrared Photos

Another outing with my Canon 5Dmkiii IR converted Camera. All images processed with an initial adjustment in Lightroom then worked on in Photoshop. Monochromes have been created in NIK Silver eFex Pro2. Some images have been channel swapped, some with added 'glow' and one processed to 'A shade of Green'

The last two photos where taken with my 'Plastic Holga Pin Hole Lens'

Lady's Wood Bluebells

Going back a few weeks to Easter Sue and I spent a lovely day at Lady's Wood Nature Reserve. This was our second trip this year, the first time we visited with my youngest daughter and her family.

This reserve is managed by 'The Wildlife Trust for Bedfordshire, Cambridgeshire and Northamptonshire' (BCN). It is situated near Upwood in Cambridgeshire

I just love the arch of a blue bell flow as in the first photo. The second photo was of a 'White Bluebell' I started to investigate but got confused, there is also English (Native) Bluebells and Spanish Bluebells and it appears that we should be getting rid of the Spanish Type as they may be invasive.

I took a few ICM (Intentional Movement Photos) and there is one here on this blog. With this image I blended (in Photoshop) it with a 'non moving image' to add to the structure.

You can find information about this Reserve

• on Wikipedia HERE
• On the BCN Website HERE or @wildlifebcn on Twitter

This is a beautiful Nature Reserve and really worth a visit. But be warned there is only a very small car park.