Today’s sunrise was a proper treat. I took up painting this weekend and maybe this was natures way of giving me a little inspiration and encouragement. I’ve been doing blending with acrylics and realise nature is far more creative than I will ever be. I shall share some of my painting attempts with you later in the week.
These all happened within the space of 15 minutes.
Definitely a lovely way to start the day.
It just got better and better.
(c) K Wicks
A very pretty flowering tree that was once in my garden. Apparently another common name for this plant is nettlespurge.
(c) K Wicks
I got to see some magnificent sunrises in Spain and this is one of them. Unfiltered and as it was from the impressive beginning to the wonderful end captured by my Nikon. I was transfixed.
(c) K Wicks
I used to collect dead things. I had a small clear cassette box and kept things in there. Its not as bad as it sounds, there was a butterfly that had unfortunately not made it out of the house. Part of a snake skin, a dead bug, and strangely a piece a broken glass – but only because it was quite artistic I remember. That collection has now long since gone, but if I pass something these days, I stop for a moment. To look and think.
This picture was taken in Spain, while out on a walk. This was in a wall, in a gap in the bricks. Of course I had to take it out and photograph it, I have never seen a rat skeleton before and found it fascinating. I left it in a small grassy area with some flowers hiding it, having only taken a few photos.
I could see my husband wasn’t entirely comfortable with me doing this type of photo shoot with holiday makers walking around. But it always feels a bit special to be able to see what has once been, but in the next stage. I guess this is why I like archaeology so much, especially when they find graves. Because without adding any fantasy or make believe to who, how or why – you are looking at someone who once lived. That bit of evidence is undeniable.
(c) K Wicks photographer
A flower I adore, detailed, elegant and loads of different varieties. It’s no surprise to me, my Grandmother had them around her house, but it wasn’t until I took up photography that they became a firm favourite. Turns out though, I am the kiss of death for them when trying to care for them. I am not a natural gardener but enjoy it thoroughly, house plants have a slim chance of overall survival. So I now have a spider plant and one small ficus tree. I remember we had them in my house growing up and they seemed to do well. We had a yukka too, couldn’t get one of those though as my dog has a knack for digging up plants when I am not looking!
But as well as having orchids here and there I also got to see lots in an Orchid house in Florida years ago (the first two pics).
Since the garden centers closed and lockdown made everything weird, I don’t purchase things like this anymore as I like to see and make a choice on the spot. So will just enjoy previous pictures I have of them for now.
They are such wonderfully structures plants, I can’t help but be in awe of nature when I look at them.
I also found some wild orchids out walking in Spain which I will do a separate post for as they are quite different to the ornamental ones. I have seen wild orchids in the UK as well but don’t think I have any photos of them.
(c) K Wicks
One of the most colourful birds I have seen in the wild is this one, the Spanish bee-eater. Only managed to get a few shots and didn’t want to try and get too much closer in case I scared him away before I got any. I have a knack of disturbing the wildlife I am trying to capture!
He only hung around for a few minutes then was off on his travels again but a real treat to have drop into the garden!
(c) K Wicks
Another wonderful find in Spain for me was stumbling across a swallowtail caterpillar quite by accident. I had already seen the butterflies but had no idea this is what they start as – I usually try and identify all the insects I take photos of and this one was easy.
It was quite the find, and over a few months I was lucky enough to find another. Even though they are so bright, they blend in so well.
It’s amazing to think they start as eggs, turn onto caterpillars, then turn into a chrysalis, then into a wonderfully beautiful butterfly. A four stage life process of being different things in each. Awesome.
Once butterflies start landing and staying for a few minutes, it is very difficult to get me to move, I get obsessed with getting a shot. But my overall excited energy usually disturbs them and I have to make a big effort to clam down and keep as still as possible. So I’m pleased I got any of them at all out and about on walks.
(c) K Wicks
Not so much now, but previously was lucky enough to live in a property that had a great garden, with hedges instead of fences and even had a small pond. The amount of wildlife that passed through was much greater than any other fenced garden I have known. I managed to capture a fair few different things in our brief year there.
The birds that visited took much of my attention (as did the squirrels), and I couldn’t help but put food out for them. They had the pond and plenty in nature, but a helping hand here and there doesn’t hurt does it?
The robins seem to get the hint that they should hand around for some photos, and wonderfully a baby robin dropped by as well.
I even caught him having an early bath one day. The blackbirds and sparrows also frequented the pond, it seems they all got along quite well.
Having the time and such a great garden at my disposal was a real treat. It’s not the same going out and about to try and find wildlife. Being able to see the same things and set up in different weathers and conditions was great. It changed every day and each time there were different flowers opening, or different bugs and insects. There isn’t enough available out and about for a photographer like me, I don’t always get the time to stand around waiting for the perfect shot or to get the angle I might like. And I end up feeling self conscious in public when I should be concentrating on the photo. I have a small garden now and have been treated to butterflies, caterpillars and one dragonfly whizzed through, but nothing like a less restricted garden would bring. So I dream of having a nicer garden again so I can capture the awesomeness of nature.
(c) K Wicks
I don’t always know what the names of the flowers are that I take pictures of, but I always try and identify them if I can. This lovely pink flower is a lavatera tree mallow.
(c) K Wicks
Today’s brief bit of early sunrise today led me believe it would be a good one. But this is all there was before the grey moved in.
Still lovely though.
Within 10 minutes, it was gone.
(c) K Wicks
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