In which there are just enough dinosaurs

I didn't actually set out for dinosaurs, they just ended up happening really. But then I always believe in wholeheartedly embracing dinosaurs where they occur.

So Andy and I actually went to the Natural History Museum in London to see the Wildlife Photographer of the Year exhibition at the weekend. It's simply one of my favourite things. I've been to it many times (well, somewhat annually), and I never fail to be amazed and inspired. I mentioned a while back getting the book of 50 years of the award, with the best of the best. And so now I have the first collection book, since that book. Anyway, it's just incredible photography. I don't have photos of it, because you don't really take photos of photos. You can see all the winners on the site though, but there were even more than this to admire:
http://www.nhm.ac.uk/visit/wpy/gallery/2014/adult.html

I always find it so relaxing to look at, and my personal winner was a photography of a mountain circled by the Northern Lights with a waterfall in the forground. It said he'd taken it as a long exposure using several different lightings during the shot to make it all glow.

There was also a photo of some bright greenish yellow parakeets flying through a cemetry in London which was really inspiring. Andy and I kept thinking that we'd seen parrots in our local nature reserve, but then were convinced we were mad. Parrots? In Britain? But then this photo explained that lots of South African parakeets had migrated to South England. This means I might have some great photography material just down the road! So then, with that exhibition done we had classic scones and cream in the cafe, and then went to look at skeletons. And spent a couple of hours taking pictures of back-lit bones. Just a perfect British day really.

I got that pearly necklace in Spain and have hardly taken it off since. I swear it goes with everything and I love it to bits.

Wonder Woman bag is the best.

Claws!

Jaws!

Breathtaking architecture.

Charles Darwin has had enough of your sass.

Fear the animatronic dinosaurs!

Home time

In which there is sushi and wildlife

I made these! My own crafted rolls!

I haven't got any more outfit photos, but I thought I'd do another 'life shots' post today. The coolest thing I did recently was take a sushi making class (thanks in-laws!) with my husband, and it was so fun. I was worried that it wouldn't really cover much and also that we wouldn't get to eat much. But nope. We made so many things, and we had so much to eat that we filled a box to take home afterwards and had the rest for breakfast the next day.

 I was seduced by an incredible book today. I had been saying recently how one of my ambitions is to own every year's Wildlife Photographer of the Year book. And also all the Portrait Photographer of the Year books too. And maybe some of the Astronomy Photography of the Year too, because wow, those books are brilliant. And then in front of me in Waterstones was this dreamy temptation: 50 Years of Wildlife Photographer of the Year, the best of the best. So you know, I got it. I love having a job.

Yes, this is a photo of a photo, taken in the evening. It does not do the actual photo justice.

The stunning book inspired me to do a little more revision of my own photography skills, because I want to be able to record the trip to Japan in a way I'll be proud of and not a series of out of focus crowd shots. But then reading the Wildlife Photography book, it's amazing to remember that these guys* are not just great photographers, they're determined and dedicated photographers. So many of the shots in the book describe great lengths people went to in order to get the shot. Some say ten years of studying polar bears for one of the greatest shots in all of history. Or maybe just 6 months camped out in a hide in a protected forest, waiting at the beautiful waterfall for a tiger to drink, and pause and look into your eyes. It's the stories of how the pictures are taken which add even more depth and awe to the images.

 

However another bit of my mind just can't understand and is going: "How? How could you spend 3 months travelling with elephants to take the perfect shot? Who is paying you for this? How do you have the time?"
For some of them they are gamekeepers, or park-keepers or scientists or documentary makers, but all the same I struggle to understand how it happens that you can give your life to that shot, to take the 80,000 that leads to the photo of the century. Every time I go to one of the photography exhibits I wonder this same thing, how can you spend so long aiming for that one shot? But also, it is acceptable not to be brilliant because we all make choices and we don't all have that time.

 But there we are, I guess I'll have to meet one and ask them. Any ideas?




*I did notice in the book that nearly all the names mentioned are men, with few exceptions which is a little disappointing, and may go some way to answer something about my question of 'who?' and 'how do they have time?'