In Pure Spirit

For open minds

  • Brains
  • Peculiar
  • Beliefs
  • Places
  • Meanings
  • Gaia
  • About

Photography Tips & Tricks for Capturing the BEST British Wildlife Images

April 25, 2022 by Guest Author Leave a Comment

Interested in wildlife photography? Whether you’re a beginner or pro, our helpful guide from experts at Lafayette Photography will ensure you snap award-worthy pictures of these native creatures and critters. 

British Birds

British birds

There’s nothing more iconic than images of a Robin Redbreast set against a wintry background. These common birds are easy to find, but why not discover rare British birds for an even more striking photograph.

From dainty Willow Tits to majestic White-Tailed Eagles, you can stalk these super rare subjects to ensure jaw-dropping dramatic shots with every click. 

Scotland is home to some of the most magnificent winged wildlife in the world. So head to the highlands armed with weather-resistant lenses that allow maximum zoom and Panasonic settings to include breathtaking backgrounds. Make sure your camera is blur proof by using a tripod and shooting in burst mode. Choose secluded areas like glens and natural parks and try to blend in by wearing muted colours.

As a last resort, why not befriend a fellow birder who can lead the way to an excellent experience with remarkable birdlife and secure that winning shot. 

Butterflies

photo credit Chemihv Flickr
(Photo credit Chemihv Flickr)

British butterflies were born to be photographed. Thanks to their aesthetics and elegant flutter, these special species are a real treat for wildlife photographers everywhere. 

The best time to capture butterflies is early morning or late afternoon. This is when you’ll find them perched upon a plant absorbing warmth from the sun. When approaching the butterfly, be as gentle and lightfooted as possible because they’re super sensitive to vibrations and will depart before getting your picture.

Butterflies aren’t super fast. In fact, their dainty, ethereal movements can be shot on your everyday iPhone. But if you want a more professional feel, choose a digital camera with a fast shutter speed and lie on the ground to capture them mid-flight. 

If you’re one of the lucky people to have a butterfly alight upon your body, then put your camera away and just enjoy the magical moment. 

 

Squirrels

Photo credit Ervin Kobakci
(Photo credit Ervin Kobakci)

Red squirrels are rare, so snapping one in their natural habitat is a real feat. These fluffy-tailed animals are super fast, so it’s essential to remain stealthy and give them a wide birth for natural-looking pictures. 

To find British Red Squirrels, head to woodland in Autumn time. A practical tip to attract them is to take some squirrel snacks along, like pine nuts and sunflowers seeds and sprinkle them around as you scour the scene for the perfect picture. Next, use a camera with a fast shutter speed lens which will enable you to keep your distance without startling your subject. 

Timing is everything when it comes to capturing images of squirrels. And waiting is the name of the game when trying to take excellent shots of nature. So, wear comfy shoes and wait for your furry friends to strike a pose. 

 

Foxes 

Focusing on foxes can produce images of all kinds. Whether dark and macabre or lighthearted and humorous, these cunning Canidae make the best photography subjects. 

photo credit Naturetti
(Photo credit Naturetti)

Foxes are super easy to find too! Most urban areas in the UK have a wondering fox or two, making wildlife photography a breeze. The tricky part is they only surface after dark, so make sure you stay safe when searching for your foxy pictures. 

Even though you’ll need to edit night images, it’s critical to use lenses with a dynamic range when shooting without light. Otherwise, you won’t have clear, crisp pictures of your Mr Fox. Equally important is the need for reduced noise, so a camera that allows for sensory control will help you get those exciting shots without scaring your subject away. 

British Badgers

photo credit Robert Canis
(Photo credit Robert Canis)

Trying to shoot pictures of wild badgers can get a little complicated. Of course, this is excellent news for the more adventurous photographer, but if you’re a beginner, here are some simple tricks to get you started.

Badgers come out after dusk, so head to woodland areas before that time. Getting there early gives you a chance to look out for badger droppings, so you know where to set up, bait and wait. 

If you didn’t already know, badgers are fierce, have an epic sense of smell, and move quickly in the opposite direction if you’re wearing strong scents. Remote photography would be best for these unique animals if you have the specialised equipment. 

To create the clearest, most charming photographs of badgers, always use a wide lens to paint a storybook picture people can invest in. 

In Pure Spirit

What tips do you have for wildlife photography?

This article was written by Faye Lord on behalf of Lafayette Photography, UK and Ireland’s leading photography company since 1880; services include portraiture, corporate photography, graduate ceremonies and historical photography. In Pure Spirit was not paid to host it and received no other compensation.

Incredible footage of wolves running on a Canadian highway

April 13, 2020 by Andrew Leave a Comment

Music blasts from the radio and road ahead is clear. Sun shines, and the landscape glistens with snow.

That’s when the people inside the car saw the wolves.

In Pure Spirit

Have you ever been that close to such majestic hunters in the wild?

Why is it starting to rain octopus?

June 18, 2018 by Andrew Leave a Comment

As a freak storm battled the Chinese city of Qingdao social media began to buzz with the term ‘Seafood Rain’. Why?

It was raining octopuses, starfish and molluscs.

The bizarre storm featured winds as fast as 78mph and rain heavy enough to shatter windows. The weather in the Yellow Sea created waterspouts.

This octopus storm isn’t the first time that extreme climate conditions have resulted in sea creatures being sucked out of the sea and blown over land in a storm. Just last year a similar thing happened in the village of Jaffna in Sri Lanka, according to The Mirror who carried the story.

In Pure Spirit

Do you think we’ll start to see even stranger weather as the climate change takes effect?

Image credit: AsiaWire.

For a second the sand looks normal…

June 6, 2016 by Andrew Leave a Comment

Watch as thousands of clams emerge from the damp sands in Topsail Island, NC.

These are conquina clams and respond to the incoming waves. They’ll eat tiny plans and even animals that exist in the Atlantic waters. All along the beach, for miles and miles, these calms emerge at once to the same triggers and in this case, because so many appeared at once, it may have been a breeding event.

In Pure Spirit

Does this give you reason to wonder what might be under your feet on your next summer holiday?

Chinese New Year 2016: What does the Year of the Monkey mean?

January 24, 2016 by Geist Escrigui 1 Comment

Year of the Monkey fashion collection

With the advent of 2016, the Chinese New Year is almost beginning and in tandem with the Chinese zodiac, it is the Monkey’s Year. It is set to start on Monday, 8th February. If this year is to be the Year of the Monkey what does that mean?

The Chinese Zodiac.

The Chinese zodiac is a method in the Chinese folklore of naming personality traits in association with zodiac animals according to the person’s year of birth. This system has 12 animals, and thus, the cycle rotates over a period of 12 years. The following animals are considered zodiac animals;

  1. Goat-People born in the year of the goat are often associated with these traits; sensitivity, kindness, politeness and creativity.Some of the years are;1931, 1943, 1955, 1967, 1979, 1991, 2003, 2015,2027.
  2. Monkey-People in the year of the monkey is known to be witty and quite intelligent. Some of the Monkey years are 1932, 1944, 1956, 1968, 1980, 1992, 2004, 2016,2028.
  3. Rooster-Independence and punctuality are the traits associated with people born in the Rooster years;1933, 1945, 1957, 1969, 1981, 1993, 2005, 2017, 2029.
  4. Dog-Honesty and loyalty are the major traits associated with people born in these years 1934, 1946, 1958, 1970, 1982, 1994, 2006, 2018, 2030.
  5. Pig-People born in these years are friendly and lazy;1935, 1947, 1959, 1971, 1983, 1995, 2007, 2019, 2031.
  6. Rat-Adaptability and intuition are an association of the people born in the year of the rat. The years include;1936, 1948, 1960, 1972, 1984, 1996, 2008, 2020.
  7. Ox –People born in these years 1937, 1949, 1961, 1973, 1985, 1997, 2009, 2021,2033 are known to be conscientious and moral.
  8. Tiger-Courage, unpredictability and stubbornness are traits associated with people born in the year of the tiger.They are; 1938, 1950, 1962, 1974, 1986, 1998, 2010, 2022, 2034.
  9. Rabbit-People born in these years 1939, 1951, 1963, 1975, 1987, 1999, 2011, 2023,2035 are associated with compassion, modesty and are known to be impulsive.
  10. Dragon-Confidence, wit and dominance are traits associated with these years 1940, 1952, 1964, 1976, 1988, 2000, 2012, 2024,2036.
  11. Snake-Intelligence, wisdom and privacy are traits associated with the year of the snake 1941, 1953, 1965, 1977, 1989, 2001, 2013, 2025,2037.
  12. Horse-People born in this year are popular, free spirited, hard working and intelligent. The zodiac years are 1942, 1954, 1966, 1978, 1990, 2002, 2014, 2026, 2038.

So, if you’re a Monkey, according to the Chinese zodiac you are lively, smart and witty. You are also short-tempered and jealous, but you are quite gentle and honest.

Love.

In matters of love, Monkeys are more compatible with the Ox and the Rabbit though they should avoid the Tiger and the Pig because they are considered a bad omen.
This year, however, will be a challenging year for Monkeys. They will have colourless relationships though they have higher chances of getting lucky during the 7th and 12th Chinese lunar months.

Lucky and Unlucky Numbers.

Like a Monkey, your lucky numbers are 1,7 and 8.However, you should avoid 2, 5 and 9.

Career.

Monkeys will have prosperous careers this year if correctly aligned with the year Monkeys will have prosperous careers if properly aligned with the Tai Sui star. Monkeys should focus on their jobs and discipline themselves otherwise; they won’t achieve anything.Monkeys should be wary of untrustworthy people and be taught to avoid getting in trouble. They should seize opportunities during the 2nd, 5th and 12th Chinese lunar months as these are their luckiest.

Health.

Monkeys will experience minor illness, but they won’t come to a lot of harm if they are careful.They should take caution of traffic when going about their daily activities and avoid taking risks.

Some famous monkeys include; Tom Hanks, Mick Jagger and Kim Cattrall.

In Pure Spirit

Is the Chinese New Year special to you? What does the Year of the Monkey mean for your family? Share your thoughts in the comments below.

Watch in awe as piranhas feed in a frenzy

January 16, 2016 by Andrew Leave a Comment

This footage was shot in Brazil. You can see the locals throwing dirty slabs of meat in between those fragile looking boats. The result? Chaos!

With each throw the feeding piranhas get more and more violent. You can see entire fish leaving the water as they flip back and forth in a frenzy while latched on to the meat.

The dangers of piranhas are often over stated but they are dangerous. Anyone can see that getting on to these fishing boats would be a high risk gambit while the shoal was in.

In Pure Spirit

What stories have you heard about piranhas that you believe to be true?

Strange ants demonstrate the invisible power of our smartphones

October 28, 2015 by Andrew 1 Comment

The video starts off with an iPhone sitting right in the middle of a stream of ants. There’s about 300 making their way around the device.

You’ll see what happens when the phone starts to ring.

The ants form into a circle and make their way anti-clockwise around the device. Ants navigate with sigh but also vibration and magnetism so something like a magnetic speaker in the phone could disrupt their inertial navigation or perhaps the vibrations from the phone were strong enough.

In Pure Spirit

Why do you think the ants reacted to the ringing iPhone like this?

The weird ant that uses acid to shield itself from enemy venom

January 29, 2015 by Andrew Leave a Comment

In this odd video from the New Scientist we encounter the tawny crazy ant. This ant successfully takes on the dread fire ant.

How? The invasive fire ants have been doing lots of harm to southern American states since they arrived there in 1930. Their sting is powerful enough to kill small animals and no native ant can stop them.

Until now.

In the last ten years the tawny crazy ant battles the fire ant for food – even invading nests. The trick the tawny crazy ant uses (called crazy because of the way it runs) is to wash itself with its own acid and use that as a shield. After the encounter the tawny crazy ant washes itself clean.

In Pure Spirit

What’s the most remarkable creature you know?

Worried about ants and your pets? In the UK Pet-Supermarket.co.uk is the largest online pet store. In the US, In Pure Spirit readers might like to know about Only Natural Pet that helps out with pets in a positive way.

North Carolina beach complete with a shark feeding frenzy

January 10, 2015 by Andrew Leave a Comment

If you’re just walking along the sand, the breaking waves washing against your feet would you end up in the middle of a shark feeding frenzy?

You could.

This video shows the shore of a beach in North Carolina host more than 100 sharks. The sharks were caught in a feeding frenzy, chomping their way through a school of fish they had pushed into the shallows.

In Pure Spirit

True shark fans know all about the Discovery Channel’s Shark Week and have all the goodies. Others are keen to avoid these impressive predators at all times. Where are you on the shark scale?

Incredible! These smart birds have figured out how to open doors

January 5, 2015 by Andrew Leave a Comment

This is something out of a spooky Alfred Hitchcock movie. This pair of nesting Swallows have reacted to new, heavy but automatic doors being installed in an underground bike park by learning how to open them.

The birds flutter in front of the sensors until they’re detected by the system and the doors open in response.

In Pure Spirit

What’s the most remarkable thing you’ve seen a bird learn to do? Are their any clever birds that visit your garden?

Keen gardener? On the look out for bird friendly solutions? Check out Gardeners.com or Gardening Direct.

Next Page »

Search

Trending

The meaning of itches and their omens
The Mill Pond Wizard of Easton Conservation
The meaning of April
A list of standing stones in Northern Ireland

Join us

Join us

In Pure Spirit via Email

Enter your email address to subscribe to this blog and receive notifications of new posts by email.

Join 2,005 other subscribers.

Disclosure

This blog discusses ideas and causes. Urban myth, science and faith combine here. So do editorials and technology; In Pure Spirit uses affiliate marketing and some links might earn us money. You can read more about that here.

Policies

  • Contact us
  • Privacy
  • How we earn money
  • Writing about belief

Member of The Internet Defence League

Copyright © 2023 · Beautiful Pro Theme on Genesis Framework · WordPress · Log in

 

Loading Comments...