In Search Of Paradise

Just one thing stops this place being a complete photographers paradise, midges. At the time of year I took this namely late Spring the little darlings are swarming all over you. They are in your ears up your nose and their bite is out of all proportion to their tiny size. The situation was exacerbated by the relatively windless conditions but the bitingly sharp clean light persuaded me the effort was well worth the next days lumps.

Pentax 67II, 55-100 zoom, polariser, 0.45ND grad, F22 at 1/4 sec, Velvia.

Certainly looks tranquil and serene Ian

I might have preferred the boat somewhere else either left or right of centre if I was going to be picky, but I'm no landscaper so what do I know

I'm a bit of a regular visitor to a tract of hill top forestry up the Selkirk road out of Moffat - the little brown swine are on you in their tens of thousands the moment you step out of the vehicle. For ages it used to depress me as the only thing I could find that might keep 10% of them at bay was liberal applications of 'DEET' - but that stuff makes me feel ill after a few hours.

Then I found out that the FC rangers were all switched on to Avon Skin So Soft Dry Oil spray - have you tried it?

It works a lot better than Deet for me - I still get bitten but nowhere near as much as with anything else, roe deer seem to accept it if they catch wind of you, and it has the added bonus in that you don't smell quite so much like a goats bum when you get off the hill and into the pub

Hi Andy I've tried it liberal quantities in fact. It does help and the bite number is significantly reduced unfortunately they still go up my nose and in my ears the difference is that now they seem to die there.

Beautiful scene, particularly like the contrast of the reeds poking out of the water with the dark reflections. Tristan

If your not fashion contious, go for the midge head nets work great available from hunting and fishing emporiums

Hi Ian very serene picture and I like the comp. I use a net for the midges.
John
Aberdeen

serene shot wished i was there, until i read about the midges

Oh man, this is great. I think I saw this in a dream:) Me floating in my floating hide and photographing some lovely Crebes:)

Well done.

Edwin Kats

Hello Ian.
This works for me lovely image and nice light and conditions.