www.ukbutterflies.co.uk

Yes, that is a good idea initially Jack, tho i do tend to retire them to a usb key sooner or later. Lee's tit is not so bad either, hope he doesn't mind, i had a little play with it. No miracles, just background blurring, and sharpening.

I have looked at Paint.Net but the download seems to insist that I get something called a “MySpace Comments Toolbar”. I am not a fan of toolbars cluttering up my browser. OK, you do need toolbars with image graphics, but that doesn’t seem to be what they are getting at here.

So, what should I be doing to get a simple download of Paint.Net?

Jack

Dont they give you the option of refusing that toolbar Jack? I downloaded the latest version not long ago, and had no trouble from here.
http://download.cnet.com/Paint-NET/3000 ... 38146.html

Don't do the free scan either.

jackharr wrote:I have looked at Paint.Net but the download seems to insist that I get something called a “MySpace Comments Toolbar”. I am not a fan of toolbars cluttering up my browser. OK, you do need toolbars with image graphics, but that doesn’t seem to be what they are getting at here.

So, what should I be doing to get a simple download of Paint.Net?

Jack

I got Paint.net and never recall it asking me to install any toolbars, but I like Paint.net, simple enough and its like a good simpler version of Photoshop with some nice features.

Crikey, I'm not on for a day and Zonda's already fiddling with my Tit! Honestly though, I'm honoured Zonda, thank you!

I think the main problem with mine is that it is hand held at 300mm full zoom and just does not compare to yours, I'd imagine even before post processing (crystal clear focus, lovely detail and tri/monopod I guess). Actually, My Dad's over from Spain this week and I was showing him how you'd 'top trumped' my LTT photo

Anyway, what you've done to my image does show what can be achieved though. Post processing and Photoshop I have yet to explore at all and I've been looking at the DSLR mags in WHS this week to try and understand it a bit more as a lot of you guys on here talk about it. Then I discovered Photoshop was about £600...

In all honesty though I'm not a big fan of changing things too much (it can end up looking unnatural in a way) and generally prefer natural looking backgrounds. I do prefer Zonda's original image, well ok maybe the light areas behind the head could do with changing if you are entering in a comp etc but I prefer the rest of it to the later, blacker image.

Having said that I would still like to try it out and think it might help on things like any 'light patch behind the head' scenarios and the Paint.Net thing looks like it might be a good and cheaper way to try, thanks for the recommendation, I'll have a look.

I also keep an original copy of a photo before I do any changes but until know that has mainly just been cropping.

In fact this thread has answered a couple of queries I had this week, shown that my Tit can be improved upon AND supplied a suggestion to try a cheap image processing thingy. Now you don't get THAT everyday!

Thanks Zonda and all.

Cheers

Lee

PhotoShop Elements 5.0 is available for under £20. More than adequate.

I did get Paint.Net to download but then found it offered no advantages over my PhotoShop Elements 5. Of course, as to be expected for free software, Paint.Net was less flexible.

Jack

Found another new (to me) Purple Hairstreak site near Barnard Castle today.... this egg....



tried to get closer... but not a great result...



they are fantastic very close up, though you wouldn't know it from that!!!

Were you using stilts Paul to get up to the branches of the oak?

Jack

What you need, Paul, is a COMPACT camera.





Just joking - I am perfectly well aware of the limitations of my little compact. But it does do good macros...

Guy

Jack, you may remember I cast a large shadow , if I were on stilts I would look like a Lollipop .... my centre of gravity would be a danger to anyone within sight They lay eggs at all heights, fortunately, this one was barely a metre off the ground... very slopey, which helped 'cos I was on the up side.

Guy.. I have one of those Lumix thingys.. (not a DSLR.. but not that bad).. that was taken holding the branch, the magnifying lens and the camera with macro all at the same time - won't bother repeating that one, though a sunny day would have helped . 20 years in the business and still haven't achieved even a starter level DSLR. must be barmy - your photos are brilliant considering.

I've just seen my first butterfly of 2010. A fly-by Red Admiral.
It has really lifted my spirits.

Denise

Well done Denise!

Funnily enough, it was a spring-like day here too, but nothing flew.

Guy

Nice one, Denise!
After a warm(ish) Saturday, I was hoping to see something on Sunday in some secluded spot...but nothing!
Now we have 5cm of snow and it is still snowing strong! Crazy!
N

Saturday here was miserable, cold and wet. Yesterday was lovely, warm (6-7C) calm and sunny. Today is back to being cold with snow 'till about 11am.
I was lucky to see the Red Admiral. As I went to the bin it just fluttered past me. I hope that it found somewhere dry last night.

Denise

I spent an hour or so today looking for Purple Hairstreak ova in 2 of my regular hotspots and found none. Maybe I'm being paranoid - but I'm wondering if this species actually suffered in 2009

A trip to Pamber Forest is now in the offing. If I don't find them there, I won't find them anywhere!

Cheers,

- Pete

Hi Pete,
The Purple Hairstreak had one of the worst years (2009) I can remember in Sussex and it didn't seem to be in any great numbers wherever else I found myself during the flight season, including locations as far north as Fermyn Wood. Here's an extract from my 2009 summary for the BC Sussex Annual Report (not in print yet).
'The Purple Hairstreak had a very poor year, possibly due to difficulties encountered in its larval stage, as the spring foliage of many oak trees was severely damaged by huge numbers of moth caterpillars, including Tortrix viridana.'
Neil

Thanks Neil,

In a strange way it's reassuring that the sites I visited aren't being mismanaged and that this is a general observation occurring everywhere!

Cheers,

Pete

Cambs & Essex BC report on 2009:
"Purple Hairstreak Neozephyrus quercus had a poor year in 2009 being recorded in 22% less tetrads but there is very little change from the five-year average."
Good or bad - most years I seem to be in the wrong place for PH! There was one down at the entrance to Fermyn woods when I was there early one day ...... But I didn't find it!
This year.....
N