Signs of Spring
I’ve seen many more toads in comparison to frogs so far this spring but with a bit of looking there are still plenty around. 1/320s F2.8 300mm ISO 500.
Spring is finally here! I cannot tell you how happy I am now that the clocks have gone forward, and we have daylight into the evenings again. These longer days definitely help to invigorate and wash away the last of the winter blues. With that comes warmer weather and the emergence of all sorts of animal and plant life. Most recently I have been taking photos of the frogs and toads that have emerged on mass locally to spawn and they certainly provide a lot of entertainment as they wrestle with each other. No tadpoles yet but judging by the amount of spawn, the ponds and ditches will soon be swimming with them. Living in Hertfordshire I am also going to make sure I give the emerging bluebells the proper attention they deserve but we still have a few more weeks to wait for that.
Cherry blossom (Sakura) is Japan’s most famous attraction, there’s plenty of it in the UK though and the National Trust’s Blossom Watch initiative aims to get more of them planted as well as get more people interested. 1/125s F16 150mm Portra 800 (Bronica SQ-A with S-36 Extension Tube).
In the meantime, we have tree blossom with the blackthorn and many cherry trees already in bloom. The National Trust has launched a fantastic initiative called Blossom Watch which aims to get people outside to celebrate this beautiful sign of spring much like people already do in Japan. As part of this they are also organising the planting of ornamental trees in London and around the country. You can find out more here, including a helpful map to find places in bloom near you: https://www.nationaltrust.org.uk/features/blossom-watch
As hinted by their name, the Winter Aconite is one of the earliest emerging flowers. 1/100s F11 105mm ISO 640.
Easter is celebrated as a time of rebirth and renewal and so I hope everyone gets a chance to catch up with friends and family they have been missing over these past few months. Let’s hope 2021 comes into bloom in a way that 2020 didn’t.
A toad basks in the early spring sunshine but the idyllic looking water is however far from warm! 1/320s F2.8 300mm ISO 320.
A toad floats next to the nearby spawn, their eyes shine like orange gems in the sun. Notice the clumps of frog spawn in the foreground in contrast to the long strands of toad spawn that sit underneath the toad. 1/320s F2.8 300mm ISO 250.
Another early emerger is the ornamental quince. Their bright red flowers are very visible compared to the surrounding vegetation that has yet to leaf or flower. 1/50s F11 105mm ISO 200.
A confused frog latching on to an unsuspecting toad makes for a comical sight. Perhaps there really is a shortage of frogs in this particular pool. 1/80s F5.6 105mm ISO 1600.
The first of the Blackthorn bloom, much of it is yet to still emerge though unfortunately people often crudely hack them back before they get a chance to flower. 1/15s F5.6 150mm Portra 160 (Bronica SQ-A with S-36 Extension Tube).
My best attempt at capturing the amphibian life with the Bronica. With manual focus, manual exposure and the mirrored viewfinder it’s certainly not a simple and easy task, especially as they don’t often sit still for long once you approach them. The 150mm lens is just not long enough either. 1/125s F5.6 150mm Portra 800 (Bronica SQ-A with S-36 Extension Tube).
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