HAPPY HOLIDAYS

December 22, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

Wow, getting towards the last few days of 2011 already. Doesn’t time just fly? The last six months especially, was just a blur.

The first half of the year I was out in the field a fair bit. Working with the brood of fox cubs for example, I was out practically every evening for two and a half months. Weekends included. It’s great when you’re able to submerge yourself in a project like this. You really get to know your subjects very well. Seeing them grow up. Having said that, I had very little to show for it this time round. Learnt a lot though, and looking forward to next year.

I was also fortunate enough to be able to work with subject that I have never photographed before, but always wanted to, like the Black Grouse. To revisit locations that I discovered last year and work with the same subjects again was equally rewarding. Second time round you’re that bit wiser and clearer on what you try to achieve and the results reflect that. Understanding the habitats and the subjects’ behaviour enabled me to refine my techniques.

From middle of the year onwards, I was more engrossed with the mundane part of managing the business aspects of my work. It’s a necessary evil. I can remember a number of mornings where I was cursing that I had to be stuck indoors when I can see the light outside was simply sublime. I do have a couple of trips planned in the next couple of months, just need to remember how to use the camera!

As this is likely to be my last post of the year, I’d like to use this opportunity to wish you all happy holidays, and a prosperous new year. See you in 2012.

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A LUCKY SHOT

December 9, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

Often people say to me: ” you’ve gotta be so lucky to catch that image “. It’s not that I disagree, but not many realise the actual amount of time you have to spend in the field in order to be ‘in the right place at the right time’.

Yes, luck is needed, and welcomed. But you increase your chances of success by putting in the hours, doing the research, and by continually refining techniques and approach. For every image that I succeeded in capturing, there were plenty more where I’ve failed.

However, this image is a contradiction of all the above. It was neither planned, prepared, nor foreseen. Just pure luck.

It all came about while I was trying to photograph the Nuthatches in my back garden. This beautiful female Sparrowhawk appeared out of nowhere, and landed on my fence post. She only stopped for a few seconds, but I grabbed the opportunity with both hands and managed a handful of frames. This was one of them.

So next time when comments about luck are thrown my way, I’ll have to bite my tongue and nod in agreement, because sometimes, just on the odd occasion,  it’s all about luck.

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BEHAVIOURAL SHOTS

November 28, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

Here are a few more of this magnificent bird in action. This one shows its concentration when honing-in for a prey.

Diving for dinner… though not always successful.

Aerial battles often break out when there are more than one bird in the same hunting ground, presumably over territory.

On this rare occasion, the Short-eared Owl managed to fence off a pestering Magpie. Corvids often raid the owls of their precious food, much like a pack of Hyenas over a Cheetah with a fresh kill.

Gliding effortlessly in an often short-lived but beautiful, pink evening light.

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SHORT-EARED OWL

November 25, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

‘Shorties’ as they are often affectionately known as, are arguably my favourite of all owls. There seems to be an influx of them at the moment, up and down the country. Great for photographers and bird-lovers alike.

A couple of years ago at one of the sites I visited, I witnessed some rather irresponsible acts by a few photographers. Namely venturing into the fields where these magnificent birds nest and hunt. I understand the frustrations of wanting to get a closer shot, believe me I do. But why they think that by getting ‘closer’ it would yield a frame-filled shot is beyond me. This subject has wings, need I say more? The phrase ‘bird-brain’ springs to mind.

Aside from the obvious damage that these few individuals will cause to the ground-nesting birds, they are also jeopardising our reputation as wildlife photographers. I have posted a few less conventional shots here, depicting more habitat and hopefully giving context to their environment. I hope you like them, and agree with me that closer isn’t always necessary or better.

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BACK CATALOGUE

November 14, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

Just looked at my ‘to be processed’ folder. Not a good thing to do right after dinner – instant indigestion. Currently I have a shade under 3,500 vetted, but unprocessed photos. Don’t really know how I got here. May be I should have stuck with films – just photograph and let the lab do all the hard work.

I’ve seriously got to start chipping away before the point of no return, or am I already too late? Another job for the growing list titled: new year’s resolution…

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THE CALL OF FALL

November 5, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

For many wildlife photographers, this is a time where our focus turns to the annual rutting of deer. However, much like last year, the unseasonably warm and dry weather has produced a much less spectacular event. To ensure a better chance of getting the type of images I want, weather-watching has become my latest favourite past-time, not!

I don’t know if it’s just me, but I find the Met Office prediction is at best mediocre. I often don’t make the final decision until the night before, to have any chance of knowing what the lighting condition is going to be like. If you know of a better way of getting it right, please let me know!

By the way, I hope you like the new look of the site, and find it easy to use. One of the new features of this blog format, is that you can now participate by leaving comments. I look forward to hearing what you think.

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HIGHLY COMMENDED IN BWPA

October 31, 2011 by admin | Leave a comment

This is the second consecutive year that one of my images has been awarded in the British Wildlife Photography Awards. For me, a competition such as the BWPA is not just about recognition, but is also an annual ‘MOT’ of my work. It’s a chance to take stock and see if it cuts the mustard. In my opinion, there’s no better way to challenge oneself, than to enter national and international photo competitions.

I have in total six images featured in the BWPA book and my commended image will also be in the nationwide travelling exhibition.

In addition to the BWPA, I’m also a finalist in this year’s Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition (41,000 entries from around the world); semi-finalist in the European Wildlife Photographer of the Year competition (14,000 entries from 39 countries); and Nature’s Best (21,000 entries).

I emphasise the above four because they are the best and the most competitive in the world, in this discipline. Unlike many other competitions, they stringently police against digital manipulations. This is of particular importance since this practice is very prevalent (especially in other genres) and protracts from a true, great capture. After all, we’re recording Mother Nature’s greatest creations.

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