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Archive 2014 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)

  
 
philshoots
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p.1 #1 · p.1 #1 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Dungeons and Dragons [w field notes]

I’m very lucky to live in Wales. We have lots of great castles, three within striking distance of my home. This is the real thing from the 1400’s straight out of Harry Potter stuff.
I’m working on a swallow project and castles are good places for Barn Swallows. I’m trying to get a shot of them drinking in the moat, as you do. Things are slow so while waiting I shoot a baby Moorhen then start shooting dragonflies. One dragonfly swoops down and grabs a snail, I’ve never seen this before and think to myself, fabulous, what a great day. Picture isn’t that great but still lovely to see novel natural history. Well it got better.
I abandoned the moat and nosed around the castle finding a huge swarm of bees nesting in an old wall. Just then an adult swallow whizzes by snatching one, then another. What happen next was so fast and furious it was absolute madness! The bees don’t take kindly to this and start chasing them around the courtyard with me running after 400mm in hand. Lots of the images are soft but what an event. The adult swallows could out maneuver the bees but they also chased the fledglings who aren’t such good flyers. I did get a few keepers but have to save them for the published story. Anyway I hope you forgive some very soft images and go with it. Please enjoy the following from a wild and wooly day of nature photography.

Best wishes,
Phil






1400’s Des Res







Gargoyles are good fun

















Welsh countryside




Jul 08, 2014 at 11:31 AM
philshoots
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p.1 #2 · p.1 #2 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


.





The coolest dragonfly pond ever







Jr the Moorhen

















A dragon with a taste for escargot




Jul 08, 2014 at 11:34 AM
philshoots
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p.1 #3 · p.1 #3 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


.










I’ll just grab a bee – Ooops they noticed!







The chase is on!














Jul 08, 2014 at 11:36 AM
philshoots
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p.1 #4 · p.1 #4 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


.





Going after a teenager!

















The bee gives up







He looks over his shoulder




Jul 08, 2014 at 11:38 AM
philshoots
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p.1 #5 · p.1 #5 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


.





Checks the other way







Then looks strait at me as if to say “DID YOU SEE THAT!!!!”




Jul 08, 2014 at 11:39 AM
CaddisCO
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p.1 #6 · p.1 #6 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Pretty cool. Nice job capturing some of the action! Smug little swallow at the end, there.

Kevin



Jul 08, 2014 at 11:51 AM
eyelaser
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p.1 #7 · p.1 #7 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Dragon with a snail has to be the winner here...never even thought that was possible. You certainly didn't pick easy subjects to follow...I mean the castle walls are a little less challenging from a movement perspective and those are quite beautiful.
Eric



Jul 08, 2014 at 12:10 PM
surgemaster
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p.1 #8 · p.1 #8 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Nice story and shots, Phil. The dragon with the snail is great and to catch that!!!!
Rex



Jul 08, 2014 at 12:36 PM
birdied
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p.1 #9 · p.1 #9 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Phil this is marvelous ! I love seeing the country and the castles, just beautiful. The dragons are out of this world and the one with the snail - super !!

Love the series of with the swallow, what an amazing nature show.

Great set, bravo ! Makes me want to try and get more small things in flight

Birdie



Jul 08, 2014 at 12:53 PM
BeeBalm
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p.1 #10 · p.1 #10 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Great variety set Phil!
The first dragon fly is awesome!
BeeBalm



Jul 08, 2014 at 01:43 PM
kmunroe
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p.1 #11 · p.1 #11 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


it's a sweet set phil


Jul 08, 2014 at 02:27 PM
Tim Kuhn
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p.1 #12 · p.1 #12 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Wow, this is different I think I could have spent all day shooting the castle, then again we don't have ANY in my neck of the woods so they are pretty special to me. I do like the angles and comps of the castle. The dfly with a snail is first for me as well, really cool catch While I'm on the never have seen this before bent.. I certainly haven't seen bees chasing swallows before. I can certainly picture myself chasing them around and looking rather silly doing it What fun!!

Great set Phil, I like it

Tim



Jul 08, 2014 at 04:56 PM
unclechuck
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p.1 #13 · p.1 #13 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Amazing series! (Additional superlatives on back order)


Jul 08, 2014 at 07:08 PM
morris
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p.1 #14 · p.1 #14 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Way too realistic for D&D :-} The first of your dragons is my pick and you did a fine job with the swallows in the air. Nice castle photos as well

Morris



Jul 08, 2014 at 07:13 PM
psharvic
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p.1 #15 · p.1 #15 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Some very nice pics, Phil. Welch Country Side caught my eye but I'd go back and do a focus blend with the foreground sharp.


Jul 08, 2014 at 07:48 PM
philshoots
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p.1 #16 · p.1 #16 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Many thanks for your notes and kind comments. It was a day I won't forget. I've researched the dfly dinner and there are photos online if dfly larvae eating snails but have yet to see an adult.

@ psharvic that is a very good idea and something I can reshoot easily. Thank you.

Thanks again for going with it - for me it was such an interesting natural event it was worth sharing even with substandard images.
Cheers
Phil



Jul 09, 2014 at 12:27 AM
brimull
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p.1 #17 · p.1 #17 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Interesting images from the historical view to super fast action series. Well done! Good luck with your future swallow excursions.

Brian M.



Jul 09, 2014 at 04:36 AM
surfnron
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p.1 #18 · p.1 #18 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Great action Phil. I've never seen a d'fly with a snail either ~ Ron


Jul 09, 2014 at 07:34 AM
teked
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p.1 #19 · p.1 #19 · Dungeons & Dragons! (22)


Wonderful stuff, Phil. Got some terrific in flight dragons. Love the chase scene.

Ed



Jul 09, 2014 at 09:31 AM





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