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Michael Coleman

@bikeboy295

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East London, but from elsewhere. Mostly macro, nature & landscape photos. No image sharing without permission.

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Common pond skater (Gerris lacustris) on a Welsh stream. There was a calm patch of water in the lee of a bridge that they were gathered in. I was stood on the bridge with a ridiculously long telephoto lens trying to get them in focus. Luckily a few came out ok.

#insect
#insects
#insekt
#insecte
#pryfyn
#insecto
#insetto
#pondskater
#pond
#pondlife
#om1
#britishwildlife
#welshwildlife
#britishinsect
#waterinsect by @bikeboy295

Three seabird photos from @rspb_bemptoncliffs on 6th and 7th June.
1. Guillemot
2. Pair of razorbills
3. Puffin

My puffin shots were all from a distance, so not the best but always a pleasure to see them.

#birdphoto
#birdphotos
#seabirds
#bemptoncliffs
#birding
#birdwatching
#bird
#birds
#vogel
#oiseaux
#pajaro
#uccello
#fågel
#fugl
#éan
#ptak
#om1
#lovenature
#britishbirds
#rspb
#wildlifephoto
#wildlifephotography
#birdphotography
#ornithology by @bikeboy295

Cormorant in breeding plumage. London, March 2025.

I hired a 600mm equivalent lens - can't afford to buy one. It made a difference...

Oh well, I can dream about owning one.

#birdphoto
#birdphotography
#bird
#cormorant
#londonbirds
#birds
#om1
#naturephotography
#nature
#naturephoto
#waterbird
#britishwildlife
#britishbirds
#rspb_love_nature
#rspb
#ornithology
#ornithologyphotography
#seabirds by @bikeboy295

Feral, not wild, geese, but no less beautiful. These were cruising the shore of the lake in Victoria Park, East London, looking hopeful for a feed. They have as much character as their wild cousins, and (I must admit) are easier to photography!

#birds
#birdphoto
#birdphotography
#ornithology
#geese
#goose
#waterfowl
#wildfowl
#waterbirds
#VictoriaPark
#Londonwildlife
#britishbirds
#britishwildlife
#om1
#autumnlight by @bikeboy295

‘Lost Connection’ by Michael Coleman @bikeboy29 is part of our group exhibition ‘Connected/Disconnected’. Thirty photographers from London Independent Photography’s Central Group (cLIP) respond to this theme with images that range from the documentary to the figurative and conceptual. Join us at Photofusion in Brixton, 2 Beehive Pl, London SW9 7QR, from Oct 27-31. Free admission. Private view: Thu Oct 29/6:30-9 pm.

‘Connected’ is to be joined, linked, or related—whether through a shared story, a chronological sequence, or an emotional bond. Conversely, to be ‘Disconnected’ is to experience the sudden absence of these links, brought about by breakage, separation, loss, or isolation. Sometimes, it is a deliberate detachment: a link that was never meant to be. This exhibition explores the fragile relationship between the two, demonstrating how both connection and disconnection can exist in various forms at the exact same time. see…’

Exhibiting photographers:
Eric Boscia @ericboscia
Andrew Boxer
Astrid Zweynert @outofeffra
Austin Guest @austinthruthelens
Bernard Creely @bernardcreely
Chloe Sastry @chloesastry
Chris Burrows @burrows6192
David Bennett
David Helms
Dorota Boisot @dorotaboisot
Elizabeth Brown @elizabethhaybrown
Eva Turrell @evaturrellphotography
Eve Milner @evemilnerphotography
Frankie McAllister @frankie.mcallister
Fred Kavalier @drkavalier
Grazyna Cydzik @grazynacydzik
Heather Martin @hmartinphotos
Heloise Bergman @heloise_bergman
James Cashmore
Jan Cylwik @jan_cylwik
Jane Ross @janeross15 @janeross15_colour
Jim Paterson @jmpaterson2012
Julian Sainsbury
Kate Coe Temnomeroff @TemnomeroffJournal @TemnomeroffGallery
Mark Friend @friendm301
Michael Coleman @bikeboy295
Pauline Moon @paulinemoon1
Prodeepta Das @prodeepta.das
Robin Maurice Barr @nogreathurry
Steve Jones @stevejones35 by @bikeboy295

A Red Admiral resting on rose hips @rspb_rye_meads yesterday. There are still butterflies flying, especially large whites. I also saw a Clouded Yellow but it was too quick to photograph.

Sadly the RSPB is giving up managing Rye Meads this November and @officialthameswater don't appear to have announced what they intend to do with the site. It is a SSSI, but sadly our environmental protections come second to most anything else you can think of. It is such an important part of the Lee Valley network of nature reserves. Does @leevalleypark know what happens next please?

#rspbryemeads
#rspbreserve
#ryemeads
#leevalley
#butterfly
#redadmiral
#macro
#insect
#butterflies
#insects
#britishwildlife
#britishbutterflies
#OM1
#macrolens
#macrophoto
#macrophotography
#rosehips
#wildlifephoto
#wildlifephotography
#insectphoto
#insectphotography
#buglife by @bikeboy295

Stanhopea wardii is a species of orchid found through Central and South America as far south as Venezuela. It is an epiphyte, growing without soil. The flowers are incredibly intricate but apparently short lived. Photographed in the Princess of Wales Conservatory @kewgardens on 7 August. I used a macro lens and a @cygnustech diffuser to get a decent exposure and bring out the colours and structure. Nature creates such intricate beauty, evolving over millennia (or sometimes much quicker) into such an amazing variety. We should be cherishing this diversity, but there is precious little evidence we will change our ways. Money, apparently, talks so loudly it deafens those with the power to protect the world we live on. It isn't ours - we are stewards at best.

#orchid
#flower
#macro
#orchidphoto
#kewgardens
#orchidflower
#plantphoto
#plantphotography
#flora
#floralphoto
#floralphotography
#om1
#macrophotography
#cygnustech
#macrophoto
#protecttheworld
#macrophotography by @bikeboy295

A Ruby-tailed Wasp (Chrysis ignita agg.), sometimes also known as a Jewel Wasp. They are a 'cuckoo wasp', laying their eggs in the nest of other solitary bees. The larva emerges to eat the host's eggs. They are allegedly common, but I have only seen one twice. They are only 1cm long so easily missed. This one was in the Great Broad Walk borders @kewgardens yesterday. It was a joy to see so many pollinators there, as it should be.

#macro
#insect
#macrophoto
#macrolens
#macrophotography
#insekt
#insecto
#insecte
#feithid
#insetto
#owad
#hmyz
#pryfyn
#biastag
#om1
#wildlifephotography
#gardenwildlife
#wasp
#cuckoowasp
#britishwildlife
#entomology
#buglife
#wildlife
#londonwildlifetrust
#kewgardens
#garden by @bikeboy295

A Hummingbird hawk-moth (Macroglossum stellatarum) in our garden yesterday. It has been a regular visitor in the past week. Not a great photo - I have struggled to follow their rapid flight! They are so exotic, as befits as summer migrant. This summer has been devastating for much wildlife, but the butterflies and moths seems to be faring better. We've had Red Admirals, Painted Ladies, Large Whites and the odd Holly Blue in our tiny East London garden.

#macro
#macrolens
#insect
#insekt
#insecte
#insecto
#pryfyn
#feithid
#canonr5
#macrophoto
#macrophotography
#macrolens
#wildlifephoto
#wildlifephotography
#buglife
#eastlondonwildlife
#londonwildlife
#britishwildlife
#moth
#hummingbirdhawkmoth by @bikeboy295

Two views of the same bronze furrow bee (Halictus tumulorum) in my backyard this evening. They are the main pollinator, along with thick-legged hoverflies (Syritta pipiens). The furrow bees do shine bronze in sunlight - they are maybe 6mm long, constantly moving but stalks with multiple flowers keep them in one place for long enough to photograph.

#macro
#macrolens
#macrophoto
#macrophotography
#macrowildlife
#insect
#insekt
#insecte
#insecto
#insetto
#wildlifephoto
#wildlifephotography
#gardenwildlife
#britishwildlife
#pollinator
#londonwildlife
#bethnalgreen
#bee
#wildbee
#bronzefurrowbee by @bikeboy295

Some macro photos from @chelsea_physic_garden today:

1. A hornet mimic hoverfly (Volucella zonaria), also known as the belted hoverfly.
2. A long hoverfly (Sphaerophoria scripta) on a Cardoon.

The garden is already moving towards the late summer phase, with many of the wildflowers finished and echinacea in full bloom. Plenty of pollinators around, but no spiders (hiding from the birds with fledglings to feed) and only a few ladybirds.

It's been a joy to spend more time there this year, seeing how the garden matures through the seasons.

#macro
#macroinsect
#macrophotography
#hoverfly
#hoverflies
#insects
#insect
#entomology
#chelseaphysicgarden
#om1
#insectphoto
#insectphotography
#londonwildlife
#britishwildlife
#gardenwildlife
#macrophoto
#macrowildlife
#macrolens
#insekt
#insecte
#insecto
#beestje by @bikeboy295

A razorbill @rspb_bemptoncliffs last weekend. I wish the plant immediately behind the beak had been more photogenic, but glad to get the shot of it peaking out. The razorbill pairs were harder to pick out, most using crevices in the cliff face, not the ledges themselves as guillemots do. Razorbills are too often overlooked - a stunning auk, with such delicate markings on its face and bill.

#razorbill
#bemptoncliffs
#auk
#seabird
#rspb
#wildlifephoto
#wildlife
#wildlifephotography
#birdphoto
#birdphotography
#bird
#birds
#vogel
#oiseaux
#pajaro
#uccello
#fugl
#fågel
#northsea
#om1
#britishbirds
#birding
#birdwatching by @bikeboy295