Sean Holt Photography

Sean Holt Photography Sean Holt Photography

A split second at 1/100s as Nicolas Hamilton flashes past in the EXCLR8 Motorsport Hyundai i30N during today's intense B...
07/06/2026

A split second at 1/100s as Nicolas Hamilton flashes past in the EXCLR8 Motorsport Hyundai i30N during today's intense BTCC rounds at Oulton Park.

Capturing motorsport is all about conveying that raw sensation of speed. To get this shot, I tracked the car smoothly across the frame to keep the chassis tack sharp against a completely blurred background, with the dull light helping to keep reflections manageable.

Tech Spec:

* Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II
* Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6L IS II USM
* Focal Length: 135mm
* Aperture: F8.0
* Shutter Speed: 1/100s
* ISO: 125

Did you catch any of the racing action today, or were you out tracking something else with your camera? Drop your favourite trackside photography tips or thoughts on the race in the comments below.





The visitor that's got everyone talking... 🐦‍⬛ ​I spent some time at Speke Hall this afternoon and finally caught up wit...
04/05/2026

The visitor that's got everyone talking... 🐦‍⬛

​I spent some time at Speke Hall this afternoon and finally caught up with the famous Great-tailed Grackle. It’s hard to miss this "mega" rarity when it struts across the grass; its iridescent plumage catching the light in shades of deep purple and oil-slick black is simply stunning.

​Seeing a bird that usually calls the southern US and Mexico home right here in Merseyside is a surreal experience. These are incredibly social and "vocal" birds—often described as having an ear-splitting repertoire of clicks, whistles, and rattles. Watching it forage alongside our local Magpies (swipe to see the size comparison!) really highlights just how substantial that keel-shaped tail is.

25/04/2026

The night shift has officially started. There is a specific kind of magic in that window between sunset and total darkness when the silhouettes change. Seeing a bat's erratic, jerky flight as it dances across the garden is the ultimate sign of a healthy local ecosystem. They are nature’s very own pest control, yet we so rarely get a good look at them.

​In this clip, you can see those sharp, angular turns as it hunts for midges and moths. Most likely a Common Pipistrelle, given the suburban setting, these tiny mammals can eat up to 3,000 insects in a single night!

Filming these in low light is always a challenge for the autofocus, but capturing that movement against the blue hour sky is worth the effort.

​Do you have any bats visiting your garden this spring, or are you still waiting for the first sighting of the year?

​ ​ ​ ​ ​

Spotted a rainbow on water! 🌈✨Spent a magical afternoon at Reddish Vale, capturing the stunning Mandarin Duck. 🦆 Those m...
19/04/2026

Spotted a rainbow on water! 🌈✨

Spent a magical afternoon at Reddish Vale, capturing the stunning Mandarin Duck. 🦆 Those metallic greens and deep oranges against the calm water were breathtaking. Did you know these beauties are from East Asia but now call the UK home?

📸 Pro tip: Stay low and be patient for that perfect light to make their "sail" feathers pop!

Tech Specs:

Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II + 1.4x III
Settings: 560mm | 1/320s | f/8.0 | ISO 320 |

Have you ever seen this shy visitor at your local park? Let me know! 👇

👀 Ever felt watched while wandering the woods? 🌲Today at Reddish Vale, I had a magical moment with a Long-tailed Tit, th...
19/04/2026

👀 Ever felt watched while wandering the woods? 🌲

Today at Reddish Vale, I had a magical moment with a Long-tailed Tit, the "flying teaspoon" of British hedgerows. These tiny acrobats rarely sit still, flitting about in search of insects. Capturing this little one required patience and quick reflexes! 📸✨

Did you know? In winter, they huddle in groups to keep warm, sometimes piling onto a single branch!

Have you spotted these charming birds at your feeders or in the wild? Share your tales! 🐦💬

Those bright orange legs are hard to miss! 🧡There is something so quintessentially British about the sight of a Common R...
19/04/2026

Those bright orange legs are hard to miss! 🧡

There is something so quintessentially British about the sight of a Common Redshank wading through the shallows. I caught this one yesterday morning at RSPB St Aidan’s, meticulously probing the marshy edges for its next meal. The way the rippling blue water in the background contrasts with its mottled plumage and those signature "red" legs really makes the subject pop.

Known as the "sentinel of the marshes," Redshanks are famous among birders for their loud, piping alarm call. They are usually the first species to fly off when they spot a predator—or a clumsy photographer—effectively warning every other bird in the vicinity that trouble is afoot. Thankfully, this individual was happy to let me observe its feeding behaviour from a respectful distance.

📸 Kit & Settings:

Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II + 1.4x III
Settings: 560mm | 1/2000s | f/8.0 | ISO 2500

Have you ever been "scolded" by a Redshank while out on a walk? They certainly aren't shy about sharing their opinions!

Double trouble over the Leeds skyline. 🐦🐦There is no mistaking that deeply forked tail and those striking white patches ...
19/04/2026

Double trouble over the Leeds skyline. 🐦🐦

There is no mistaking that deeply forked tail and those striking white patches under the wings. I managed to track this pair of Red Kites yesterday at RSPB St Aidan’s as they rode the thermals together, effortlessly scanning the ground below. Watching them interact in the air is a masterclass in aerial agility; they use their tails like a rudder, twisting and turning with incredible precision.

Once a rare sight in England, the Red Kite is one of the UK’s greatest conservation success stories. They were nearly extinct here in the 1900s, but following one of the longest-running reintroduction projects in the world, they are now a common and beloved sight over places like West Yorkshire. They are primarily scavengers, which is why you’ll often see them hanging around recently cut fields or near busy roadsides.

📸 Kit & Settings:

Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II with EF 1.4x III
Settings: 560mm | 1/2500s | f/8.0 | ISO 2000

Red Kites are becoming much more common in urban areas now—have you started seeing them over your garden yet, or do you still have to head out to the reserves to find them?

The master of the reedbed split. ⚖️There is nothing quite like the "pinging" call of a Bearded Tit to get your heart rac...
19/04/2026

The master of the reedbed split. ⚖️

There is nothing quite like the "pinging" call of a Bearded Tit to get your heart racing, but getting a clear view is another story entirely. I spent some time at RSPB St Aidan's yesterday watching this beautiful female expertly navigating the reedbeds. It is incredible to see them perform those iconic "splits," gripping two different reeds at once to stay steady while foraging.

She clearly had a successful afternoon, with a beak absolutely packed with insects. Interestingly, Bearded T**s (or Bearded Reedlings) are the only British songbirds that stay in the reedbeds all year round. To survive the winter when insects disappear, they actually change their digestive system to handle a diet of hard reed seeds instead!

📸 Kit & Settings:

Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II
Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II + 1.4x III
Settings: 560mm | 1/2500s | f/8.0 | ISO 4000

Have you been lucky enough to see a "Beardie" this season, or are they still on your photography bucket list?

Those eyes don’t miss a thing. 🦅There is something uniquely striking about seeing a Common Kestrel perched not on a bran...
19/04/2026

Those eyes don’t miss a thing. 🦅

There is something uniquely striking about seeing a Common Kestrel perched not on a branch, but on the weathered textures of man-made structures. I found this beauty yesterday at RSPB St Aidan’s, looking remarkably composed against the rusted steel of the "Oddball" dragline. The way the soft, morning light hits those chest speckles really highlights the intricate patterns that make these falcons so special.

Kestrels are famous for their "hovering" hunt, but they are just as lethal when scanning from a high vantage point like this. Did you know they can see near-ultraviolet light? This allows them to track the urine trails of voles on the ground, making them one of the most efficient hunters in the British countryside.

Technical Specs:

Camera: Canon EOS R6 Mark II

Lens: Canon EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II + 1.4x III

Settings: 560mm | 1/2000s | f/8.0 | ISO 1250

I’m curious—do you prefer seeing wildlife in completely natural settings, or do you enjoy the contrast of nature reclaiming industrial landscapes like this? Let me know in the comments!

Locked on target! 🎯 The Common Tern, or 'sea-swallow', is a true master of the skies at RSPB St Aidan's. Watching them h...
19/04/2026

Locked on target! 🎯 The Common Tern, or 'sea-swallow', is a true master of the skies at RSPB St Aidan's. Watching them hover and plunge-dive is a thrilling test of skill and patience. 📸✨

Every spring, they embark on an epic journey from the west coast of Africa to grace our beaches and gravel pits. 🌍✈️

🔍 Want to challenge your flight tracking skills? Spend a morning with these aerial acrobats for the ultimate training session.

📸 Gear Talk:
Canon EOS R6 Mark II
EF 100-400mm f/4.5-5.6 L IS USM II + 1.4x III
560mm | f/8 | 1/2500 sec | ISO 500

Have you captured these plunge-divers this season? Share your shots or thoughts below! 👇

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