Something Different: Slacklining

Very quickly before I start, I went on a shoot the other day and gained a very positive response with the shots I took. Here they are below. So thank you for that. I have decided to start photographing things that represent Jersey; starting with the Jersey cow and a part of its history - Grosnez castle.

Today I  went out and discovered a couple of places that I want to photograph to show the agriculture and farming side of Jersey. I found a nice place that over looks Gorey castle, which would act as a nice backdrop. However, there were no clouds in the sky so I didn't take any shots worth showing. So landscapes were off the cards for today unless clouds suddenly appeared out of nowhere, but they didn't. Instead, I went slacklining with my older brother.

Slacklining is a very new sport and therefore isn't very well known. Its very simple and anyone can do it! It involves strapping the line against two poles/trees and walking across it. There are several tricks and manoeuvres you can do and behind all this fun it tones your core muscles, without you noticing.

Anyway, did this for a bit and then decided to start photographing my brother, using the fisheye (10.5mm) lens. I wanted to do something similar to the cow shot I took, with the glare from the sun. So heres how they turned out:

Tried it without flash to get this silhouette effect

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





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

Research: Green Lizard

A scary thought hit me that I am graduating in a couple of months and I will need to find a job to fund my wildlife photography. However, all I can think about is what wildlife to shoot this summer and what projects I want to do in the future!
After graduation I will move back to Jersey so I thought it would be good to start a project on Jerseys wildlife.

Jersey is home to some unique wildlife that may not be found anywhere else in Britain; The agile frog, lesser white-toothed shrew, the Jersey bank vole (a litter bigger than UK bank vole), green and wall lizards and also the red squirrel, which I have been working on all year.

I have been researching these species over the past couple of weeks now and today I decided to head to the west coast to see if I could find any green lizards. Although it isn't summer quite yet, the sun was shining so I thought I might have a chance of seeing them basking on rocks and metal sheets that have been placed on the ground for them.

 

Lizards are cold-blooded and therefore rely on heat from the sun or hot surfaces to digest their food and move around. Rocks and these metal sheets absorb heat from the sun, allowing it to stay warm for a long period of time. This is great for the lizards, because not only does it keep them warm but it gives them cover from predators like the populous Kestrels and Marsh Harriers.

Female Green Lizard

 

In total I found 4 green lizards in the area. When lifting the sheets of metal I made sure I placed it back where it was and the lizard was only exposed briefly.
 Come summer these Lizards will be a lot easier to photograph because they will be basking on rocks in the sun, so I won't be causing any disturbance.

Jersey is the only place is the whole of the British Isles where Green Lizards are native. However, they are increasingly under threat, for more information see the Jersey Green Lizard Project - www.greenlizard.org.je

Remember:

• Always put the wildlife before yourself; if the wildlife appears agitated and scared - leave it alone.
• Keep noise levels to a minimum
• Do not overcrowd the species
• Research the species before photographing it.

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





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

Camera Slider

I went to my local Cornish woodland yesterday and tried out some video rail stuff. The contraption was put together using two pieces of 6ft PVC piping and another cut in half to act as the sliders. My mate, Sam Stewart built the slider and I went to try it out. There are a few alterations we need to do to improve the smoothness of the shot but for the first attempt I think it turned out pretty well.

Short video sequence:

Click the Youtube logo and it will relocate you to see it larger.


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

Contact:

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

Support My Work

www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography 

Check out my facebook page, it holds a selection of my photographs in a portfolio style folder.
Aside from this, I post all of my updates on what I am up to and any other relevant information.

Through this page, you can ask me anything you want, whether it be about wildlife, a new camera you have got, any photographic tips in the field.. Tell me whatever you like and I will do my best to help you out!

It would be greatly appreciated if you could support my work.
If you have any friends you feel would like the page, share it to them. www.facebook.com/markfoxphotography


Thanks guys, speak soon

Mark




Contact:
markfoxphoto@hotmail.co.uk