Bulbous rush

This year was the first that I really noticed this small plant: bulbous rush (Juncus bulbosus / knolrus). Because I love to play with drops I went close to the borders of the ever decreasing fens. Everything sparkled with dewdrops and the rushes are great subjects for tiny landscapes. The flowers are more brown than red, but I increased the hue on orange and red et voila!

Most of these pictures were made with the Lensbaby Velvet 56. When the light was still very soft I used F2.0 to create a soft glow and also the bokeh rings. The rings are out of focus drops close to the lens (before focus). I love to play with that.

It was dry and hot for a few weeks, as if it would never rain again. But once it started it rained almost every day and between the bulbous rush this very fine grass appeared. The yellow stuff is moss (Sphagnum). It holds the water and forms thick soft layers. Nice if you are on your knees!

I made many pictures of these plants, not only because I like them but also because sitting there in the morning, with the sun slowly climbing behind the trees, everything sparkling, was such a joy!

The Velvet 56 is perfect for macro. If you don't want the glow you just close the aperture a bit more.

I like all the little details in these pictures.

Leaves from the reeds had fallen on the ground and were also covered with dewdrops. It looks like a bridge to me.

You may notice that this picture looks a bit different. It was made with a different lens: the Pentacon 50 mm, 1.8. It is a vintage lens that I instantly loved. Although I have to say that I checked if this was made with the Pentacon, because it also has many features of the Velvet if you see them next to each other.


Wide open it gives a bit of a swirl and it is very soft, although this also depends on the light of course!

The sun came up around 6:30 and I was usually in the field around 7:00. Where I go the sun rises behind the trees and even though there is a lot of light, at first it is filtered and soft. Once it reaches the top of the trees everything is blazing in sunlight. The last picture was made under these conditions and you can immediately see the effect. Although with a very soft lens this can even be pleasing. This lens stole my heart!

Morning magic

The last few days of my holiday I got up at 5 o'clock to be in the forest shortly after dawn. On some days there were fog banks when the night sky had been clear. But also with cloudy mornings I had the best time. It's always worth it to get up early. 

This is bulbous rush, growing near the fens on the heath. It has been very dry and warm the last few weeks and the fens are becoming smaller. You can walk to the parts that are normally under water and I love what I found there! All pictures in this post were taken with the Lensbaby Velvet 56 with apertures F1.6, 2.0 and 2.8 to see the glow.

While I was on the ground, in the wet moss, this little guy jumped in front of me. It sat in the perfect spot. These are the little presents you get for just being there. Today I heard them croak. It was the sweetest sound.

I discovered that the rush is going to flower. Then they are even more beautiful.

This little bee suddenly appeared as if it just woke up. It stayed on the leaf and if you look closely you can see its tongue. Either it was licking the leaf or it was sticking it out to me.

Had to give the sundew another go. I name this picture: Yang and Yin, or Happy and Dopey. Today I am Happy, often Dopey ;)

A grasshopper who also revealed himself by jumping away.

This morning I went to a different fen and the light there was so beautiful. The sun did not touch this part yet although it was coming closer. The light was soft and bright. I always shoot out of hand and make a lot of pictures because many are out of focus. A tripod would not have helped me anyway because I was standing close to the water on a thick layer of peat moss. It felt like a thick jumping mattress. This, to me, is a happy accident. I love the effect.

Same but different. A bubbly damselfly!

Damselfies are quite small and they live dangerously. This one thinks I am his big enemy, but does not see what's behind!

A little spider with an inviting web. Ready for breakfast. And you can be it!

After all this I went again to the wet peat moss. Wonderfully cool, because even though I was wearing a full rain suit, my feet were soaked. The light was already very bright and finding the balance was difficult. I like this one.

My plan was to sleep in tomorrow, but this morning was such a joy again that I might go one more time. After that it's back to work and it is going to be unusually hot!