Friday 20 January 2012

Walk from Kynance Cove to Lizard Point

Last Friday I went out with professional photographer David Chapman to Kynance cove and then we walked along the coast to the Lizard point. This field trip was very informative and I learned a lot  about the geological structure and history about the place, as well as identifying species of plants and birds.

Here are a few shots that I took on the day;




Wheatear

Wheatear
Male Stonechat

Female Stonechat
Female Stonechat


Pair of Fulmar


Jackdaw



Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk
www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography






Thursday 19 January 2012

Red squirrel improvement

This edit features footage from day 3 in Scotland. Day 2 consisted of removing an old unnecessary feeder and thinking about where to place my hide.
I tried to incorporate more squirrel footage in this video and kept it shorter then the last video.


Hide and the feeder






Tips to take from the video:

  • Build a hide and commit to staying in it
  • Do not move out from the hide until wildlife has gone
  • Keep noise level as minimal as you can
  • Its Winter so wrap up warm to reduce distractions
  • Placing bait down is a great way of attracting wildlife
  • Be sure to research the subject thoroughly before photographing it


To look at the journey I took to get to Scotland, scroll to the 'older post' button on the bottom right.



Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk
www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography

Tuesday 17 January 2012

First contact with the red squirrels

Finally my first edit with my encounters of the red squirrel. This has taken me ages to edit due to technical aspects of the video, however, it is here and ready to watch.
This video edit is on my first day in Scotland filming the red squirrels. Like I said in my last videoblog, the rangers were called off site due to very strong winds so I was very weary about leaving. It took until the early afternoon to venture out. I had never been to this place before so it was a new experience for me. Nevertheless, my photographic instinct kicked in and this is what I got up to.
Wildlife was shot on Nikon d7000 and presenting was on gopro.

Not a bad hide!



I would be very grateful if you could leave any comments about the video. 




Tips to take from the video:

  • I wouldn't recommend going to a woodland in strong winds
  • A building makes a great hide when in the right place
  • If you can, avoid shooting through windows/glass as you lose quality and light
  • Standing outside, waiting without a hide won't benefit either yourself or the subject
  • Be aware, patient & quiet! 
  • Don't do anything to harm the subject 


To look at the journey I took to get to Scotland, scroll to the 'older post' button on the bottom right.



Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk
www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography

Friday 13 January 2012

Video Blog: Arrive in Accommodation

I'm in my accommodation at last! This accomodation is on the grounds of Brodick Castle and it is where the rangers stay, however, they are off season at the moment so I was able to live in there for a week.

Just so you have an idea of where I am I have included a labelled map of the grounds.
So my accommodation was in the bottom left, a short 5minute walk north-east, through the woodland will take you to the castle and then the ranger centre (where I based my filming) is located just behind the castle.



This edit is just a video blog I did updating the situation I was in when I had just arrived into the accommodation. Leaving London at around 11pm and arriving in Arran the following evening at around 5pm  so I was pretty relieved when I was finally in my accommodation!
Nothing special but may be of interest to some of you if you want to know about my experience..




To look at the journey I took to get to Scotland, scroll to the 'older post' button on the bottom right.



Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk
www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography

Thursday 12 January 2012

Part Three: Glasgow to Isle of Arran

In order to start on existing work I need to power through the backlog of work I did over Christmas. As most of you know, most of this work was done in Scotland, where I spent a week filming the red squirrels.
My task is to go through that painful, tedious process we call editing. Over these next couple of days I will be posting my video blogs so if you feel like you may have missed one just check the previous post for the missing gap.
Yesterday, I edited the bus journey from London to Glasgow, now I am posting the train and ferry journey from Glasgow to Arran (where my filming begins). I am sorry if these videos may seem a little boring at the moment but they need to be done for the next chapter to 'flow'.

So low and behold the final video on my travelling experience!! (like all others - all footage shot on gopro)





Tips to take from the video:


  • Travelling from Cornwall to Scotland by bus is a very cheap but long process so be prepared to be uncomfortable, have very little sleep
  • On big journeys like these, boredom becomes your best friend
  • When travelling in Winter, the weather will NOT be your best friend and will cause many delays
  • The gopro camera is very reliable and I recommend it to anyone



To look at my previous journeys, scroll to the 'older post' button on the bottom right.



Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk
www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography

Wednesday 11 January 2012

Part Two: London to Scotland

Happy new year everyone and hope you had a wonderful Christmas!
Now the Christmas period is over and i'm back at uni, I am starting to get back into the swing of things. I had my first productive day yesterday and managed to edit my second half of the journey from London to Scotland.
This video is about when I took an incredibly lengthy bus journey (735miles) from Falmouth in Cornwall to the Isle of Arran, a little island off the coast of west Scotland. I took this extensive trip purely because it was the cheapest option costing roughly £30 to get there.
This video focuses on the part from London to Glasgow.
All footage was shot using a gopro hd camera.


From Glasgow I still need to grab the train for an hour and then wait for an hour crossing on the ferry and then a short 2mile drive to my destination, Brodick Castle. Once this series has been completed I can then start filming the red squirrels I have longed to see.


To look at my previous journeys, scroll to the 'older post' button on the bottom right.



Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk
www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography