View single post by Robert
 Posted: Thu Mar 9th, 2017 16:04
Robert



Joined: Mon Apr 2nd, 2012
Location: South Lakeland, UK
Posts: 4066
Status: 
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 Am busy working on my front room at present but given the weather seemed pretty reasonable I thought I would take a day off and take a look at the North Walney Nature Reserve. I have visited the South Walney Nature Reserve but access is very limited and bikes are banned. At the Northern reserve there don't seem to be many restrictions with completely unrestricted access, allowing early and night time photography, rather than 10 am to 4pm (5pm in summer...) at the Southern reserve.

I decided to take the D300s and the D3, giving a little more reach if I needed it. I have been a little underwhelmed by the D300s, seemingly lacklustre images leading me to leave it at home. However, I had a brainwave and did a two button reset the other day and the images now seem to have a bit more punch. So I wanted to try it out in the field.

This is the first pic I caught a hardy kite surfer braving the cold winds.

D300s with the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR. @ 240mm, 1/640sec at f6.3, ISO200



D300s with the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR. @ 250mm, 1/640sec at f6.3, ISO200



It seems you are guaranteed to see some birds, they are bolted to the main gate!!!





My first encounter with live wildlife was something of a surprise finding two Toads enjoying the sunshine in the middle of the main path. I grabbed for my Nikkor 105 f2.8 Micro and installed it on the D3. I took a few with the 105, but felt I was too close for the Toads, so I switched to the D300s with the 70-300mm VR.

D3, Nikkor 105 f2.8: 1/640sec at f8, ISO 800.



D300s, Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR. @ 280mm, 1/400sec at f6.3, ISO200





North Walney is known for it's Natterjack Toads but I don't know if these two are Natterjack or common toads. According to what I have read, the Natterjack favour darkness.

Finally an example of fungi:

D300s, Nikkor 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR. @ 300mm, 1/640sec at f6.3, ISO200



I am rather impressed with the bokeh of the 70-300mm f4.5-5.6 VR, In some of the above images, the narrow DoF had nice smooth, gradual bokeh which enhances the images.



____________________
Robert.