Chapter 5 is all about the different threats that the dunes face. I decided to go back to Sid the Sand dune and bring in the cartoon element again. This is so the kids can relate to the different situations better. This is a composite of the chapter 5 cartoons. Can you tell what the activities are that are damaging him? :) Sid gets really really sad at this point, but don't worry, he WILL have a happy ending! That's to come soon! Enjoy!

 

Recent Images

Last Sunday I made the most of a day with blue skies and headed out to get a list of shots that I needed for my book. I went to Holywell Bay first to re-shoot my front cover and get some images of blow-outs. Then I headed over to Gwithian to shoot the dune slacks and car parks etc and then finally on to Marazion to improve my images of rabbits for chapter three. Here's some shots from the day - enjoy! 

Dune Slack at Gwithian

Erosion at Gwithian

Erosion at Gwithian

Car Park at Gwithian

Possible front cover image at Holywell

Blow-out at Holywell

Possible front cover image at Holywell

Really pleased with the detail in this image - especially the eye

Chapter 4 title page image

I moved and when I looked through the lens to find the rabbits it happened to have landed on this Heron!! Lucky or what!

This image was a possibility for the chapter 4 title page.

Designs

Last week I decided to splash out with the rest of my birthday money and treat my self to a bamboo graphics tablet, I am loving it! The last couple of days I have been making the most of it working on improving my designs for the book layout. I also re-shot the front cover image last week so now I have a couple to choose from. Enjoy the layouts and any comments very welcome as I'm still very much an amateur with the design malarkey!

Colour version of cartoon

Dune Succession cartoon

I had a tutorial with Jo today to discuss my book. The main thing we discussed was how to visualise the dune character in a stronger way. I'm now going to have a simple cartoon strip running at the bottom of the dune stages pages to make it easier for children to relate to the character. Gave me a good opportunity to dust of the pencils and pens and enjoy doing some drawing again! So this cartoon strip below is what I've been doing today and this evening :). 

Hoping for a good productive shoot before work tomorrow, fingers crossed for some sunny weather!

my cartoon

"I know the dunes are an important ecosystem an' all that, but when they're exposed like this, its like a natural playground!"

Today I headed off to Holywell Bay again to get some shots. I happened to see a family there enjoying the dunes on their half term holidays. They had bought sledges and a custom-made sledge made from a cut surfboard, and were sledging down one of the tallest blow-outs there. I went over, explained what I was doing and asked if they would mind me photographing them. The quote above is from the father with the children, I agree with him, it's important (and great to see) kids outside enjoying the natural world! They were really friendly and apart from the horrible grey skies, I was pleased with some of the shots I got. I also put together a composite of one of the boys sledging down the dune. I also came across some new plants breaking through the sand.

Showing a conservation method for chapter 6 - 'How can we protect the dunes?'

Possibly SpearThistle, dune plants are well adapted, this species has thorns to protect itself from grazers.

Warning sign about Adders on the dunes. I'm hoping I'll find one to photograph once they come out of hibernation!

My composite of one of the kids sledging down the blowout. Not sure whether this shows it best, or just a series of images.

Sea Spurge and Sea Buckthorn for Chapter Three

Sorry for the recent lack of blog updates. I've been a busy bee but unfortunately not photographically. Last week I had my interview for my PGCE primary specialising in Art at Exeter Uni, and this week I found out I got in!!! Just got to get a 2:1 now to get in, next challenge set...

I've also been working on my book text so that I can get it proof read and also get a better idea of what images I need to get. Making the most of the time before most species that I need start emerging.

Here's some images of Sea Spurge and Sea Buckthorn that I took for Chapter 3, 'Plants of the Dunes'.

Enjoy!

Sea Spurge for the Chapter 3 title page image

Sea Buckthorn - a plant of the fixed dune land. It is also sometimes planted to help stabalise dunes threatened by erosion. It can grow up to 6m tall and forms dense thickets which are great shelters for wildlife and nesting birds.

Sea Buckthorns thorns protect its leaves and berries from animals and birds eating them.

Sea Buckthorns berries contain 15 times more vitimin C than oranges. The juices are used for lots of medical purposes. Some Russian astronauts use the oil from the berries to protect them from UV rays in space!

Sea Spurge is a species found on the mobile and semi-fixed dunes. It can grow up to 1m tall and can produce as many as 5000 seeds which spread from beach to beach carried by the tide.

The fleshy, waxy leaves help store water, helping it to live in this harsh environment.

The stem contains a white sap which tastes unpleasant to grazers, particularly rabbits, protecting it from grazing.